Resilience - The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Teaching requires more emotional resilience than most other professions. Lacking resilience is a common thread that creates burnout and leaving the profession. Resilience is not something we are taught in school, but there are things that we can do to strengthen our resilience.
Don’t isolate yourself in your classroom. Get to know other teachers in your building and your students’ parents. Building relationships with your co-workers and parents can strengthen your resilience. Take care of yourself. If you’re worn out and not feeling well, you are more likely to isolate and avoid others.
What is your resilience level?
What are some strategies for adjusting my pacing when students need more time to grasp key concepts?
In intervention groups we have students do 1-2 mins each session of either vision tracking, vision memory/or sequencing, or RAN activities. How do you help your students work on visual skills to support decoding and other reading skills?
Michigan Department of Education shares several resources for family literacy and home to school connections. It is entitled: Family Engagement for Literacy. Here are a few of the documents included:
Supporting Families in the Essential Practice of Read Alouds; Sharing Why the Read Aloud Is an Essential Practice With Families
Does your state department of education share valuable resources you can use to collaborate and build understanding with families?
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards/literacy/family-engagement-for-literacy
If you have never looked at sand under a 🔬 have your students bring samples from their trips. Make an index card slide by cutting a hole in the middle of the index card and placing a pice of packing tape over one side of the hole. Dip the sticky side into the sand sample and tape over it. Write on the index card where the sand came from. Your students will quickly observe how sand is formed from the erosion, weathering and deposition of the native rocks from that region. It is truly powerful!
What are you reading? As summer hits I have so much more time to kick back and do what I love, read! Share your favorite professional book as well as a good summer read for enjoyment!
I'm always looking for some good brain teasers for students for the transition into math intervention. I came across this link and thought I'd share!
https://www.weareteachers.com/math-brain-teasers-for-kids/
Any other great brain-teasers you use for your students?
During state testing there is not much I can do to help the students. So, I give them each an elephant figurine. Since elephants are my favorite animal, I tell them that they are part of the “herd”. I use this to help relieve stress that the students might have with test anxiety.
What are some strategies for helping students catch up after they’ve missed several days of school?
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One of the toughest things (but also most rewarding when the mindset shift occurs) is students believing that they can do whatever it is you are asking them to do. As a math interventionist, I work with students who, based on test scores, are struggling in math. While I know that one test score (or even a few) don't define a student, unfortunately, the score(s) travel with them. Once I start meeting with students, I can usually see pretty quickly that some of their 'struggle' has nothing to do with math, it has to do with mindset. We have very honest and real conversations about their experiences in math and what they like vs. what they don't like (or haven't liked in the past). It happens over time, and I recognize that my job is far different than others, but it begins the same: building relationships with students is the foundation to success. Once a student becomes mine, I begin building their confidence slowly and surely by being their biggest cheerleader. I ask that teachers share with me successes in the classroom too so that I can be excited for them. What are some ways you help students build their confidence?
One of the biggest challenges in data analysis is understanding the outcomes from different tests given to our students throughout the school year. How do you, or how does your school, help to establish assessment literacy among staff?
200 FREE Voices to use with your students, families or friends! Make literacy learning joyful and engaging!
https://www.ginapepin.com/blank-10-1
What are some strategies for teaching students to organize their writing and develop a strong thesis statement?
When creating sub plans, make sure that you include the little day to day things that might be overlooked. For example, I have a list of students that are pulled for services and the times that they are pulled to help the substitute with classroom management. I also have a list of jobs that the students have that ill minimize the confusion in the classroom when students try to push the limits. I also have notes about certain students that will help the substitute understand the student better. I have also created an "emergency" substitute folder that has activities and resources in case I am not able to set up for a substitute in advance (hence the emergency). Class prep is also important. Part of the routine that I set in place is letting the students know that if I am not in the classroom, the expectations remain the same. What are some other things that you have done to prepare for a substitute?
Modeling ethics when working with student data involves maintaining confidentiality, using data responsibly, and being transparent about its purpose.
How do you model ethics when working with student data?
What are some things you do at the start of the school year to build relationships with students?
What are some of your favorite review activities (I’m thinking before a summative assessment) for math?
Is there anything you would shy away from when teaching special education students about phonics and using individual syllables?
