When you Stop to Think About Things....

There is a lot going on these days. A lot of conflict and tribalism. A lot of separation and finger pointing. It is amazing what you hear when you stop to listen. Most people are optimistic. If you sit in a restaurant you hear laughter and boisterous conversations. Most people seem jovial and just happy to be out and about. There is a certain comfort in being out and about. It feels like life is progressing. 

Most people are not wearing masks. Spending the weekend at Inn of the Mountain Gods in the forest of New Mexico - was very eye opening to me. It was loud in certain areas- mingling and upbeat conversations a buzz. There were quiet spots where people were gazing reflectively upon the lake, others where people were sitting in oversized chairs reading. It was a beautiful place to be. Boats or ziplining but also walks and horseback riding. 

I sat quietly a lot. There was a forest fire, 1 of 4 locally here- you could smell the smoke. It gave me pause. It made me think about the homes, wild life, nature succumbing to the flames. I have never seen so many deer. I counted 50 at one time- lingering about the grounds, fleeing the fire. A helicopter came to the lake throughout the day filling a basket with water and then dropping it on the fire. It was a juxtaposition of loud and quiet, clean fresh mountain air and smoky billows. Laughter and reflection.

When you stop to think about things you allow your mind to wander. Your thoughts to trickle out and like a vine wrap around other ideas and motivations. I am motivated more now to write and read. To reflect and ponder. Back in the bustle of the city and classroom life- I am allowing moments to ponder- for that is my release, my escape. Amidst the laughter of students today, I can envision the lake, the billow of natures destruction- and I am thankful for what I have.

One More Time, With Feeling

The crescendo begins, rising and building

it is close, the accumulation

adaptation, pivot and soar

content, knowledge and collaboration

unfolds and roars

the faces will change, the voices will become new

but the learning will endure

the relationships will be secure

because they were forged, like the sound of growth

in steel motivation and molten inspiration

these faces, I will miss

these voices, I will miss

and as another cohort enters- one more time

with feeling

another opportunity to inspire and allow

collisions and crescendos

and I am ready for the cymbals to clang

Why is Ordinary not Extraordinary?

Ordinary sounds less than extraordinary. Add a few extra letters- 5 in fact and the word changes. I feel ordinary most of the time. This is not to say I lack confidence or self-value. I know I am awesome. I search for ways of betterment. I love being a teacher and I am never complacent about it. I know what  do is important. But this does not bring to my mind extraordinary skills. I am good at what I do- but am I worthy of those extra 5 letters?

I do not seek them. I seek to be ordinary because most of us are- we are not less than or mere unordinary- we are us. I always say to people- "Be You"- flamboyant and energetic, calm and introverted. Be kind. Make the world a better place. Strive for mindfulness and finding joy in the little things. But do so, being you. When you are positive, friendly and open-minded you are ordinary. For most of us are. This does not devalue our experiences or existence it just puts things into perspective.

When you grow up being told you are extraordinary, that you are perfect- this creates a sense of entitlement. But when you are told you are ordinary and kind- that you make the world better because you.... then you feel not entitled but invested. You want to do the things that bring joy to others. You want to participate and grow. You want to stay ordinary and amazing. This might seem an odd way to look at the world- and it is.

I was bullied severely as a child- told I was the weirdo or nerd. The unordinary, awkward geek. I heard others being told they were extraordinary- that they had what it takes to be a GOAT. I thought that was odd. Not me, the ordinary girl from California. I did not want to stand out. But I also did not want to be considered unordinary. I liked the thought of ordinary- it put me where I needed to be- with others like me. Those who were themselves and worked hard and treated others with kindness.

These days being ordinary seems to have a connotation of less than. But the extraordinary people to me are not those who are preaching kindness- they are those frustrated and causing havoc - throwing fits on airplanes and performing acts of violence or sending out negative and mean Tweets, videos etc. These are the extraordinary- not because they are better but because they are outliers. Extra to me does not mean better, it simply means different.

So for me- I appreciate that I am ordinary. That I have amazing qualities. That I work hard to earn my keep. That I am open-minded and I accept different points of view. I am not demeaning myself by believing I am ordinary because I am in the largest group, the group of people who value kindness and growth. So here I stay an ordinary girl from California. Bettering myself and learning every day. I do not need the extra five letters- extra does not mean better. I prefer the six letters: growth. The seven letters: mindful. The eight letters: learning.

The Value of Google Classroom

I spent eight years on Canvas, a platform organized for student learning. It organized lessons, assignments, assessments. Much like Google Classroom does. The main difference is Canvas is not free- Google Classroom is available to all. The way teachers can organize and set up classes is similar- day by day or weekly, quizzes, assignments or materials -uploading is simple. BUT, if you have a Google Drive linking documents is quicker and more efficient on Google Classroom. Everything links.

The functionality makes teaching streamlined and efficient, but it is only a calendar, to do list, submission platform. The rest- the teaching, investigations, interactions, collaboration- this is all separate. I use it to have a place students go to see assignments and submit- digital versions of assignments. They can see slide shows, video clips, even hard copy notes and review material all in Google Classroom.

But, the bulk of what we do is hands on. Digits over digital I say. But if I can save paper and have them complete rather on a Google Document or Google Slide- I do that. That way they won't lose it and always have access to all assignments. But coloring, diagrams, lab sheets etc. I print those out. Students collaborate on assignments in class, they digitally complete web quests and escape rooms, virtual games and even draw and create 3D models on-line.

The value in this type of organization is immeasurable- as long as it is not used solely. As long as students are not sitting quietly for class periods just completing work on-line. This detracts from its purpose. Its purpose being- an organizational tool, not an instructional one. But, it comes in extremely handy on virtual learning days, snow days etc. We have used it to keep our school functioning during Covid and other days of virtual learning due to a boiler malfunction and flu outbreak.

I think it is a tool that can be amazing. But, as with all other software/technology it is only as good as far as it reaches. While my school is a Chromebook school (every student is required to own or lease one) many schools do not have access to technology on campus or at home. But if you do- this is an amazing tool to keep students organized and set up lessons in advance (always changeable) and communicate with them via steam or email.

The Evolution and Solution: Classroom Synergy

Classrooms evolve. Voices once quiet become heard. Imaginations change and flow with the topics. Familiarity enhances relationships. Days of good behavior overlap those with shenanigan's and outbursts. Every day is different. The routines might be consistent but the interest level, conversations and attitudes adapt and evolve.

Every class period is unique. And within that uniqueness, there is diversity and vivid personalities playing off of one another- making a cadence of learning. Dynamic and fluid- classrooms are the embodiment of flexibility and challenge. Offering opportunities and growth experiences. They are why teachers become teachers. They are the landscape of our dreams- for we are always planning ahead, and imagining our ecosystems.

Days of desert transform into savannahs and jungles of growth. Icy moments melt to become oceans thriving with life and interaction. We do not need to create these places- they will germinate and pollinate all on their own- if we provide the radiant energy. If we provide an environment ready to transform- our students will dig and plant, feed and nurture their space and merge into the glorious spaces we call classrooms.

When they solve - they discover, build and tinker- students are more than the abiotic factors of learning- they are the vessels the natural beings that embody the ecosystem. They are not the soil nor the rocks but the growth itself. I see this every day: my classroom shifting and flipping, transforming and settling. It takes on the spirit of the voices and attitudes that enter it. I merely the light that beings the process. They the energy, synergy- life of the landscape.

So this week I am watching - staying a mere observer in the tussle and bustle of growth. I trim, I prune but they overgrow their habitats, creating a new succession of growth. and this right here...is pure magic.

Here are a Few of My Favorite Things....to do in a SCIENCE CLASSROOM

I am a science teacher through and through. I live and breathe science. I read social science and psychology books, I watch science shows, listen to science podcasts. Have I said I love science. It invigorates me. So this passion and interest flows from every pore in my classroom. I love to bridge different topics and discuss current findings in science. I think the more students hear about innovation and design, forward thinking and discover the more inspired they get to learn.

I have two classroom motto's

"Colliding with Science- Buckle up, we are going to do Collide with science today."

"I am not hear to teach you science, I am hear to teach you how to teach yourself science."

Science class should be messy, interactive, and energetic. These are the results of any collision. Yes, there are times when quiet ensues, or students work independently- but most of the time they are collaborating and analyzing text or building models, testing hypotheses. This is what science means to me. A mingling, overlapping and synergy of ideas and action.

Students love to build models and share ideas. Puppet shows are a great outlet for their creativity. I even built a puppet show stage. They love to do skits and write raps and songs to perform about science topics. They actually appreciate a moment or two to perform and learn from one another. They love to play with LEGO or Play-Doh and create colorful models.

This week they build giant organelles that we put into a giant cell. They build structures to withstand heat or cold- insulators. They are designing superhero's. My high schoolers are enhancing body systems (6) to accommodate their powers and writing origin stories. My middle schoolers are creating hero's or villains who use thermal energy in their powers. They are making 3D models of their hero/villain and my high schoolers are drawing portraits of theirs.

The last week, we did an experiment with an egg about osmosis. Students placed the egg in vinegar over night to dissolve the shell. Then water over night, corn syrup over night and then a different solution (soda, OJ or even milk) overnight. We discussed hypertonic vs hypotonic solutions and cellular membrane phospholipids- but talking didn't do it- they needed a week long experiment, investigation, to really understand the concept. Then we went outside and filmed the eggs as we dropped them on the ground. It was awesome.

Having students lead the discussion is a great way for them to take responsibility for their learning. Hold them accountable to demonstrate their understanding. Students usually sign up for a day to present something of interest about a topic. We do 1-2 a day and this allows them to learn from one another, not just me. Shy students start to open up after presenting and it really sparks conversation to life after they see one another go through the process.

Lastly, 1 minute-check in's are my go to. Every week - 1 minute with every student. A check in, a time to chat or review with them individually. This fosters communication, lessens stress and builds relationships. It heightens awareness and brings my classroom into a more mindful mindset. These are a few of my favorite things to do- they work for me, I tweak as necessary, extend when needed and together our collisions are frequent and our learning growth oriented.

Superhero Bonanza!

The superhero craze is very much alive. Students talk about them, compare powers, discuss movies. It is something everyone can relate to. The struggles of Peter Parker. The strength of Thor. The villainy of Ultron and Thanos. How can we bring these fantastical characters into our classroom? There are so, so many ways. The science behind them, the physics of their powers, the psychology of their behavior, the mathematics of their speed, strength etc.

My classes are creating superheroes. My 6th graders are creating superheroes with powers that interact with heat- thermodynamics. They can have powers that utilize particle motion shifts, the collection or release of heat, the harnessing of cold- in other words thermal energy transfer. We are discussing how to create and write an origin story and they also need to create a 3D model of their character. Villains are allowed as well and some students are combining their characters into stories. 

My high schoolers need to go deeper. They are creating superheroes or villains that mutate or enhance physically. They need to explain 6 body systems and how they have altered to create the characteristics of their superhero. They are creating a story to explain the origin and transformation of their character and drawing portraits of their characters.

This week is all about Superheros and it is AMAZING! Bam! Pow! Excelsior!