New School Resolutions

Well…time is winding down and I, like many other teachers, am in survival mode.  I am so ready for this state test to come and go, then soon after that SCHOOL’S OUT!  I have learned so many bad habits and I’ve experimented with so many different techniques, routines, procedures, consequences, etc in my class this year.  Whenever something didn’t work like I’d expected in class, I would decide to change it “starting next week.”  And pretty soon, that brilliant idea is out of the window with the last 4 and I am plotting to start another “new thing the kids will love” the following week.  Sigh.  This whole year has been more of a trial and error than anything for me. 

Because the year is slowly, but oh so surely coming to a close, my “starting next week” has become “starting next year.”  Now, because I say this so often, I definitely don’t remember every new “great idea” I have, but here are a few:

·       Remain consistent and persistent with the consequences- at the beginning of the school year, I was the Consequence Queen…but not anymore.  One large reason is because of the lack of structure and consequences at my school from the administration.  When my consequence ladder has reached the maximum punishment, I have nowhere to turn for additional help.  Because of that my consequences became less feared and eventually fizzled out.

·       Track my students using TFA’s Student Mastery Tracker (and other data collecting/analyzing resources) and keep students aware of their progress in class- Using the tracker will allow me to better serve my students in the areas where they need the most assistance.  Before being introduced to TFA’s method of using data, I would collect grades and create fancy spreadsheets to “analyze” the data--just to realize later that I had no idea what conclusions should be made based on the data collected.

o   In addition to tracking my students, I plan to keep the students abreast of their standing in class using some form of visual representation.

·       Teach Like A Champion- This book is a game changer!  I do believe my teaching is pretty decent, but I’m ready to enter the big leagues.  TLAC is an excellent resource for any teacher who is ready to take their teaching to the next level.  One where students are engaged, time if being efficiently used, and lessons are the most effective.  I have yet to complete the book because of my crazy workload, but this summer I plan to diligently study the techniques mentioned in Doug Lemov’s book, so that on my first day at my NEW school, I can deliver a lesson unlike anything they have ever seen.