I recently read a post from the Two Writing Teachers blog that caught my attention. The author, Tara Smith, explains how she, like many teachers, spends much of September teaching good habits and establishing classroom routines. The goal is to spend a lot of time doing this in the beginning of the year so that the rest of the year runs smoothly as students dive into learning. And in the perfect classroom, every day would look something like this. The teacher would have twenty attentive and still students sitting at the carpet during a workshop minilesson. Directly after, students would quietly and quickly head back to their seats to diligently work independently or collaboratively on the task at hand. This would, of course, leave the teacher with plenty of time for productive conferences or small group work.
Smith’s blog post points out what we have all experienced - some students will hang on your every word while others will not. In reality, there will always be some students who seem more concerned with sharing personal stories or nudging a classmate than the minilesson at hand. These same students then slowly meander back to their seats while taking a pencil sharpening detour on their way back. When they finally take out all of the necessary supplies (weren't they supposed to already be out and ready?!?), they seem to forget what they were supposed to do. So they interrupt the teacher conference for a minilesson recap or decide to take a bathroom break without following the proper procedure. We as teachers are left feeling bewildered wondering why these students are not able to follow already-established, basic routines.
If this sounds vaguely familiar and some days feel like the workshop has gone off the rails, it probably has. If some days teaching feels like an uphill battle, it probably is. Do not assume that what you teach in September will still be fresh in students’ minds in December. Or especially after an extended winter break.
This is where the “reset button” may become a saving grace. As Smith so poignantly states, sometimes it is wiser to take a step back and hit the “reset button” when things aren't running smoothly. Assume students don’t know it all and spend a workshop session reteaching those good habits and classroom routines that make your classroom run smoothly with the quiet buzz of learning. Even though this may cut into your valuable teaching time, it may very well be necessary and will pay off in the long run. As the winter break approaches, I encourage you to consider hitting the “reset button” when your students return in January. Consider it a fresh start. Who doesn't love the idea of a fresh start for the new year?
Smith’s blog post points out what we have all experienced - some students will hang on your every word while others will not. In reality, there will always be some students who seem more concerned with sharing personal stories or nudging a classmate than the minilesson at hand. These same students then slowly meander back to their seats while taking a pencil sharpening detour on their way back. When they finally take out all of the necessary supplies (weren't they supposed to already be out and ready?!?), they seem to forget what they were supposed to do. So they interrupt the teacher conference for a minilesson recap or decide to take a bathroom break without following the proper procedure. We as teachers are left feeling bewildered wondering why these students are not able to follow already-established, basic routines.
If this sounds vaguely familiar and some days feel like the workshop has gone off the rails, it probably has. If some days teaching feels like an uphill battle, it probably is. Do not assume that what you teach in September will still be fresh in students’ minds in December. Or especially after an extended winter break.
This is where the “reset button” may become a saving grace. As Smith so poignantly states, sometimes it is wiser to take a step back and hit the “reset button” when things aren't running smoothly. Assume students don’t know it all and spend a workshop session reteaching those good habits and classroom routines that make your classroom run smoothly with the quiet buzz of learning. Even though this may cut into your valuable teaching time, it may very well be necessary and will pay off in the long run. As the winter break approaches, I encourage you to consider hitting the “reset button” when your students return in January. Consider it a fresh start. Who doesn't love the idea of a fresh start for the new year?
Here are a few ideas (other than reviewing good habits and routines) to reset your classroom:
• Sit in a circle rather than a big group during the read aloud.
• Try having a “grand conversation” with building blocks (to build off of other’s thoughts) or pennies (penny for your thoughts.)
• Model a new approach to the reading or writing notebook.
• Have students blog about reading.
• Form book clubs.
I would love to hear how you plan to hit the “reset button” in your classroom!
• Sit in a circle rather than a big group during the read aloud.
• Try having a “grand conversation” with building blocks (to build off of other’s thoughts) or pennies (penny for your thoughts.)
• Model a new approach to the reading or writing notebook.
• Have students blog about reading.
• Form book clubs.
I would love to hear how you plan to hit the “reset button” in your classroom!