15 places to visit by the age of 15

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/24/15.places.before.15/index.html?hpt=C2

This information is from Budget Travel. They came up with 15 places every kid should see by age 15.

I saw this link on CNN this morning before I went to work. I debated showing it to my students, but the truth is, with budget cuts, the recession, job cuts, etc.--these travel ideas are great in theory, but they are probably not very feasible for many families. Sadly, that’s not news.

I have been to seven places on the list, and my parents really tried to take my sister and I on various trips around the country.

I compiled a list of the places I have been:

1. The Grand Canyon
2. Monticello, VA
3. Niagra Falls
4. The National Mall
5. Williamsburg, VA
6. Walt Disney World, FL
7. San Diego Zoo

You will have to check out the link if you want to see what else is on the list. :)

*My parents took my sister and I to Washington D.C, Monticello, and Williamsburg., when I was 13. We went during the fourth of July, and it was truly awesome to see fireworks while we sat on the lawn of the National Mall. I remember it was about a two week trip and looking back on it, it must have cost a fortune to stay in hotels for that long. Of course, being a punk teenager, I didn’t fully appreciate the opportunity my parents were presenting me with.

On the other hand, it just makes me realize I need to call my mom and dad to thank them for allowing my sister and me to be able to go to so many cool places!

Flip Camera Filming

Ok, I have to admit this blogging thing is kind of addictive. I didn’t think I would blog so often, but today was another one of those crazy in a good way days.

I had a feeling the instructional strategist who runs our STEM program would be coming in today, to film me as I taught. She mentioned it a few weeks ago, but I never got a confirmation. A part of me was hoping she forgot. Regardless, I had planned a fairly good lesson in science. I had my PowerPoint ready, and I knew what I was talking about—you know, tongue rolling, hitchhikers thumbs, widows peaks, etc.

Of course the two hours I teach science came and went, and no instructional strategist.

It was finally time for recess, and as I was walking my kids to lunch, that’s when my strategist appeared. My counterpart across the hall was able to speak with her and confirmed she’d be coming by this afternoon.

Hmmm…what to do now? My plan for the rest of the afternoon was fairly simple. I was going to wrap up an activity from the morning about the Civil War. Then, I had some persuasion/summarizing Language Arts stuff for the afternoon. But, I wanted something more exciting, something more impressive.

Yesterday my kids were obsessed with the earthquake and the devastation in Japan. I had found some links this morning on how advances in engineering had actually saved quite a few lives in Japan. I had put those links on my website, and I figured I could come up with something pretty quick. I wrote some open ended questions, and they were good to go.

One of the greatest advantages to having access to technology is that it really allows the kids to learn independently—given the proper level of scaffolding. I gave them their assignment, and with their mini laptops in hand, the kids began their engineering activity.

As I let them loose, and started monitoring their progress, finally my instructional strategist came in. She set up the flip camera and then went to work on her laptop.

After 30 minutes, my kids were still working on their assignments. I answered their questions, gave all sorts of feedback, and admittedly, things were going fairly well. The end of day was fast approaching, and so I set my timer and gave them ten minutes to completely finish. Then, we started our wrap up to discuss what we had discovered.

At the end of the day, I had to watch the video and evaluate how it went with my strategist.

I will say this, if you have never video taped yourself while teaching, it is extremely interesting.

This is what I learned:

1. I hate the sound of my own voice.
2. T.V. must really add ten pounds, because I know I lost 20 pounds in the last year, (my scale tells me so) but according to the video, I have no idea where.
3. 5th graders are really quite mean to each other—even to people they call their friends.
4. 5th graders have mastered the art of looking busy—when in actuality, they are not.
5. I never give kids the answer. (I am always asking them to elaborate, or asking them what they think—how annoying!)
6. Nothing is too hard for my 5th graders, they impress me daily! I asked them some really difficult questions and they were able to do it without complaining/major issues.
7. I don’t need a PowerPoint for everything. An activity that took ten minutes to create kept my kids just as engaged as something that I worked on for hours.

Same teacher, same routine

Whenever we get back from a break, I welcome my students with a smile and then I tell them in my most serious voice, “I am still the same Mrs. Campbell as when you left for your break. I still expect you to follow the same rules that I have always had, etc, etc. I have not changed a bit.” The seriousness usually lasts about two minutes until there is some sort of fifth grade drama/inappropriate comment/ flatulence /all of the above.

But, today I really had their attention. I continued with my “serious” discussion. I felt it was a proper time to notify them that we are only TEN days away from our first state standardized test in fifth grade, known as the TAKS test. GASP. The consensus was that the class had absolutely no idea the test was so close!

I proceeded to let my students know we are approaching “game time”. I described it as the crucial moment where all of their hard work will come to fruition.

I was really on my soap box now.

Next, I decided to tie in the inspirational story of Michael Robles, the Arizona State University wrestler who won the NCAA National Championship in the 125 pound weight class. More amazingly I told them, Robles was born without a right leg! I pulled up the article on the internet and began discussing it with my students. If I could have shown them the video, it would have been much more effective—but YouTube is blocked, and ABC news was not coming up.

I am sitting down at my desk, and I am speaking to my lovelies. They are engaged, they are listening, and some even have their hands raised! Of course, this is when my assistant principal walks into the room to do a walk through.

As soon as she comes in, I feel that it is necessary for me to explain to her why I am sitting down. (Sitting down at your desk is a big no-no, and I really am a rule follower!) I stammer, “we just got into the room no more than five minutes earlier, and we were catching up from spring break.” She smiles and nods her head.

I proceeded to mention my students were just notified that the TAKS test was only in two weeks! I really think I was more concerned than she was, but this is when the class discussion came full circle.

Thankfully one of my students did catch my drift. This insightful boy said, “if Robles can do something so amazing and inspirational, I can pass a measly TAKS test!”

Check, please!

Spring Break!

Spring Break

Ok, I will admit. I truly love my job, BUT I also love my vacation time. I figure I deserve it. If you don’t know a teacher, you may not know that teachers work over 40 hours a week. There is this myth in the “real world” that teachers have these cushy jobs, put in less than 40 hours a week, have nothing to do on the weekends, and get their summers off. I wish this was the case.

As a matter of fact, the week before spring break, I counted up my hours and I worked almost 60 hours. Granted, I had 4 meetings after school, but that is usually the norm, rather than the exception. The 60 hours is only the time I spent at school. I actually did quite a bit of work on the weekend, and that’s not to mention answering parent emails.

So, this week is spring break. No, I don’t do the crazy spring break thing. This week, I have slept in every day, I have run errands, I got a pedicure, I saw some friends I haven’t seen since the fall, I traveled to the zoo with my husband, I went to the eye doctor, and I did more lesson plans and Power Points for next week. (Maybe I do have a PowerPoint problem?)

I don’t know why I do this, but I always know exactly how many days there are from one break to the next. For example, when we came back from Christmas break I knew that spring break was 54 days away. Since we had a snow day, in February we won’t have another break until Memorial Day. But, if you are a glass is half full kind of person, there are only 51 more days of school left until the end of the year. I know, the countdown is weird.

I really do love my job, but there comes a time when those 60 hour weeks catch up to you. Luckily, there is usually a break right around the corner.

See you in 51 days, summer.

High Expectations

As a teacher, you hear it all the time, if you expect the most from your students they will achieve them. My problem with this sage wisdom is, how? I never know exactly how to go about doing this.

I had the opportunity to teach in a STEM elementary program for 4th and 5th graders. As this year was my fifth as a teacher, my experience came from high school and middle school. Needless to say, fifth grade has been an adjustment.

While I prepare each lesson, I try to be mindful of maintaining a high level of rigor, using Bloom's Taxonomy verbiage and asking open ended questions. I did this as a middle school teacher and this is something I do everyday in elementary school. I work with kids who are the brightest and the best, and it is my duty to challenge them with quality lessons.

I take many of the lessons I used to teach in middle school and use them in elementary school. Often times when I am creating a test, I will go to my 7th grade questions and see if any of them fit.

Yes, my tests are hard and so is my questioning. At one point this year, one of my GT/ESL kids raised his hand and said, "Mrs. Campbell, you are talking like an expert scientist, and I don't understand. Can you speak like an elementary school scientist?" Luckily, they aren't afraid to ask questions and I really do appreciate their feedback.

Sadly, the only thing we can use to measure if our kids are really learning is our state tests. We had our second round of benchmarks (which is like a practice round of state tests) before spring break and the other teacher who is in the 5th grade STEM program and I, we have found our kids did quite well.

I will keep you posted when we have the "real thing" and the test results come out. But for now, I will keep planning my lessons and expecting 100% from my students.

They can do it, sometimes they need a little assistance--but that's why I am there.

Politics

I used to work as an intern for a lobbyist in Michigan, I never admitted to the organization whether I was a Democrat or a Republican. At the time, I was only 20 years old and didn't really have much to stand for. Regardless, it was at that time I began to get semi-involved in politics. My sister convinced me to help her with the Dems, as they were working to elect various candidates in Michigan. I attended a few rallies, helped with placing signs in proper places and cheered when "our" candidates won.

Now, as I have been living and working in Texas as a teacher for the last five years, I see there is a problem at hand. Five years ago, teachers could move freely from district to district. There were more than enough jobs out there, and you didn't have to worry if you would find a position at the end of the school year. So much has changed in a short amount of time! Just last week alone, the school I work in cut 4 good teachers--because of the budget shortfall in Texas. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see those teachers who were cut; their tear stained faces hugging their students...I can't imagine preparing for the rest of the school year when I know my job is being eliminated.

I am not one to protest, and I will admit, I must update my voter registration. I know I can't sit back and do nothing. There are many little things I can do, starting with emailing and calling my local representatives. I also read as many newspapers as I possibly can and I try to get as informed as possible on both sides of the issues.

I am predicting right now, the current discussion about unions will not be going away any time soon.

I won't forget my history. My great grandfather was one of the original sit down strikers in Flint, Michigan. That union is one I am proud to remember. Yes, unions (as we know them now) have worn out their welcome and they have not changed as they should have. But we can't sit back and watch. We must become informed and aware.

I will start with updating my voter registration so I am more than ready for 2012.