Friday, September 7th, 2018 – A TEACHER’S AUGUST THOUGHTS: ANTICIPATION!
Here are the DEEP THOUGHTS of a teacher at the end of August, just before school starts… With my summer tan in full bloom, it’s hard to believe that in a few short days, I’ll be meeting 21 new sweet souls and their families, with whom I’ll spend the next 10 months. These days just before the start of school are so interesting – and nerve-wracking. The mind goes wild with thoughts: Will they like me? Will they work hard for me and for themselves? Will we build a classroom family built on love and respect?
While I’m sure the answer will be a resounding YES!, these next few days are akin to the final dress rehearsal before Opening Night. The curtain has yet to rise, the show has yet to start, and the applause has yet to thunder in response to a magnificent performance. The mind is riddled with doubt, yet ecstatic about what possible triumphs lie ahead. And it dawns on me that it must feel exactly the same right now for my 21 sweet souls as it does for me…
But let’s flash forward to the end of the show. By June, the entire Cast of Characters in the Watson’s Winners Extravaganza will hit it out of the ballpark. They will win the Tony Award. They will receive a Standing O. They will become legendary in their awesomeness and fabulosity…
And so we look forward to the start of the show, knowing that by the end, the angst, the hard work and effort, and the joy and love shared by each supporting player will result in that MAGNIFICENT performance. Get ready to take a bow…
A TEACHER’S POST-LABOR DAY THOUGHTS: THEY WERE WORTH THE WAIT…
It’s now Day 6 – the Curtain has lifted and the show has begun! And let me tell you, these kids were worth the wait. Despite the sticky heat and the necessary droning on by me regarding all the new routines, procedures, etc., the kids have been engaged, are practicing how to listen well the first time, are asking thoughtful questions of me and of each other, and are increasing their stamina for classroom life. But this week is all about dipping our toes in the pool…
The school pool, that is. Believe me when I tell you that I will challenge your kids this year. But the best way to maximize those challenges is to set them up for success and ease into new expectations one item at a time. Our focus over the next few weeks will be on building a loving, supportive classroom family, learning how to listen well the first time (ask them about “listening with your eyes,” and “ask a friend who listened” strategies), and setting up/using processes and systems for getting work done and staying organized. Finally, a major focus is in asking students to become more reflective about their behaviors and examining how, to be respectful, they need to moderate their behavior for the setting and act differently as a member of a community than they would as an individual at home. An idea our class has explored, related to building and maintaining respectful communities, is that of The Model Citizen. Feel free to ask your child about what it means to be a Model Citizen in any community.
Now to some Factoid Info –
· The “Homework At a Glance” Page in the pink bar above shows nightly homework. Just click on the bright green box and it will pop up bigger.
· The “Parent Place and Student Resource Center” Page (also above) has some great info for parents as well as online copies of many important things the kids will need throughout the year. I do not give out extra copies of these things to kids if they lose them – they can print them from the blog page as needed. There are also docs for parents, such as my Open House Overview and the 5th Grade Supply List.
· Speaking of that, below is a link to both the 5th Grade Supply List, and the Homework Planner from Success By Design. Please use the list and link to order these items for your child if you have not already done so.
5th Grade Supply List 2018 – 2019
Homework Planner: https://successbydesign.com/shop/student-planners/elementary-school-student-planners/2020d-build-character-build-community-block-format.html
Your kids are awesome. I fall a little bit more in love each day with these Sweetlings, and I look forward to learning and executing all the ways in which I might help them become their best selves going forward. I have a poster on my door which we discussed as a class that says, “What is Popular is not Always Right…What is Right is not Always Popular.” And while I may not always be popular when asking them to step it up throughout the year, I know in my heart that I will be doing what is right for each of your children for their future success.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A TRIANGLE…
In order for a child to achieve maximum success in school, there needs to be a triangular relationship in place between the parents, their child and the teacher. Parents need to feel comfortable working with their child — giving constructive feedback and tips, offering opinions on the quality of work, etc. Their children need to be open to such feedback and welcome it as an opportunity for growth – not give pushback and attitude to parents. And of course, the teacher needs to give to and receive feedback from the parent AND the child in order to serve the needs of the student and family best. Students seem to take feedback and advice naturally from their teachers here at school, but often they don’t see their parents in quite the same light…
In class, I have had this talk with your kids. After this talk, they should understand the following: That nobody loves you more than your parents; that your parents are your first, last and best teachers; that your parents MADE YOU and/or CHOSE YOU, so therefore your efforts make them proud, or your lack thereof infuriates them; that parents HAVE DONE FIFTH GRADE ALREADY, and they hold a crystal ball into your future that shows what it takes to survive and thrive; that having parents care enough to spend time on your academic & personal growth and development is a precious gift to be seen as an OPPORTUNITY not a burden. Therefore, when you decide you’d like to be a resource for them at home, THE KIDS ARE NOT TO GIVE YOU LIP…ATTITUDE… EYE ROLLS, TEETH SUCKS or any other such thing resembling DISRESPECT! Of this they should Capeesh…
Having said that, it’s also important for parents to realize that, for their child to become more independent, what was fine for parents to do in second grade is no longer okay in fifth. Guide your child but let him or her make mistakes. MISTAKES ARE JUST KNOWLEDGE WAITING TO HAPPEN! Let him leave his homework folder or instrument at home and have him face The Wrath of Watson for missed homework. Let her struggle a bit with time management at home before you offer to help her…
But when you do offer, your kiddo should be open to your time and attention without complaint. If lip, attitude, eye rolls, teeth sucks or any other such thing resembling disrespect start to make their way into your world at home, simply close the triangle and let me know. With that triangle now secure and strong, they have nowhere to hide…
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow – Cathy
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