Every June after the school year ends I always "Reflect"...well I try! I look back on my year and say "What could I have done different?" In years past, I focused on BIG changes in my classroom, which is great but...you know what? It's the nitty-gritty-itty-bitty stuff that we forget that drives us up the wall in mid-year!
C'mon, you know...the things that make you look like this:
Making larger changes are great but it's these tiny things such as "I really need more return bins" or "I need to investigate getting a student-use computer for online independent study" or even "I need more white board cleaner (hoping the old bottle will get you to the end of the year). BUT, we don't realize these itty bitty fixes, (to-do listers) when we are sipping our sangrias on the beaches of Florida, right? I know I don't!
This is why I am urging to REFLECT NOW...NOT LATER. I'm super corny and a super list maker. Yep, go figure. I have created a list that sits taped to my wall right beside my desk that I am constantly adding to! (Obviously I need to add "Buy tape to the list") This list means nothing to anyone else but I interpret it perfectly and these are bigger and smaller projects that will help me be a better teacher next year!
Right now, we are knee deep in the chaos and really seeing "WHAT" we need to work on whether its adding supplies, creating assessments, dividing curriculum of levels, or just simply needing to mix up (throw out) some old resources. Write it down now because we know the end is such a blur.
If you have a second and you're truly knee deep in the chaos, ask your kids. "Would it be easier....", "Would you guys prefer...." If your kiddos are anything like mine, they'll be super honest :)
Thought for the day!
God Bless,
Britt B.
Hola Sra Baxter! I just LOVE your blog. =) Quick question- which textbooks do you use? Our Spanish program is new at the school I'm at, and I've been on the hunt for good textbooks for middle school (both beginner and intermediate level). Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWearehealed.me - I JUST now saw this comment! Ahhh, I am so sorry. I FINALLY linked my comments to my daily email and now I am seeing them and wanting to kick myself for not being able to respond!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, thank you SOOO much for the compliment! I try to put everything I have into it and I'm really excited to make it a lot better this year.
Now, onto your question: We use expresate. They DO make a middle school version of it too! I love it but here's my deep dark secret: my kids DO NOT get textbooks! I refuse to give them out. I want everything to be really interactive, hands on, and I'm constantly adding to the book/mixing it up. I let the book be my guide just because I do have 2 other teachers in my department so I need to be on track with them but the kids do not get access to it. I am actually going to be producing an entry pretty soon calling "Ditch the Textbook?" I used Buen Viaje at my other school but I don't recommend it for middle school. If you're going textbook route, definitely get Expresate middle school version!
Hope this helps!!! Thank you for your support and I hope you have a BLESSED year!!!
Wearehealed.me - I JUST now saw this comment! Ahhh, I am so sorry. I FINALLY linked my comments to my daily email and now I am seeing them and wanting to kick myself for not being able to respond!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, thank you SOOO much for the compliment! I try to put everything I have into it and I'm really excited to make it a lot better this year.
Now, onto your question: We use expresate. They DO make a middle school version of it too! I love it but here's my deep dark secret: my kids DO NOT get textbooks! I refuse to give them out. I want everything to be really interactive, hands on, and I'm constantly adding to the book/mixing it up. I let the book be my guide just because I do have 2 other teachers in my department so I need to be on track with them but the kids do not get access to it. I am actually going to be producing an entry pretty soon calling "Ditch the Textbook?" I used Buen Viaje at my other school but I don't recommend it for middle school. If you're going textbook route, definitely get Expresate middle school version!
Hope this helps!!! Thank you for your support and I hope you have a BLESSED year!!!