I can't believe the changes in my classrooms since I started this blog! I've been rolling with the Responsibility Classroom, but I see it more by another name. The Choice Classroom. I still expect students to be responsible, but I have come to believe they develop responsibility most through the choices they make.
Over these five years, I have started to allow more and more choice. I do a lot of small groups based on need and require students with those needs to participate. I also allow anyone who wishes to join us to come and be apart of the group. It is an open invitation that some take advantage of every now and then and some never have. That's okay though. Part of being responsible is making choices, and for some the skill is something they excel at so joining would not be beneficial to them.
I also do thumb checks on math skills. Thumbs up "I totally get this and could show others how"; thumbs down "I don't get this at all"; and thumbs sideways "I get it most of the time, but could use more practice". It's a quick check for me to identify who needs more practice or reteaching. It also is beneficial to them because it allows them to self check and make a responsible choice. The choice being remaining with the thumbs down students to practice more. My thumbs up are allowed to leave and work on other math skills. Thumbs sideways are to stay until they feel they are more thumbs up and then are free to choose math skills to work on. Many times, a thumbs up person will stay just to practice more.
I still do I Mays and I Wills, and love it. We periodically will review what are some good I Mays in a given subject. I now simply write "review _____" in those spaces or "practice _____" because a county visitor didn't like that I referenced so many online resources in those spaces. Meanwhile, we have been asked to use more technology and less paper in our upper elementary grades. That's a whole other issue.
We still cushion seats; regular seats in groups, pairs, and by themselves; and stools with high desks and tables. We were up to four stability balls last year, but one student purposefully popped one and then two were accidentally popped this year. Including one very funny moment when a pretty skinny kid sat on one and it just popped. His facial expression was priceless, and obviously it popped because it was getting old. The last one was deflated, because my current group couldn't handle not bouncing to the ceiling on the thing. Next year, it will come back out and I will need to get more as well. A major difference this year is that I took 4 area rugs and put them together to form one large carpet area. Around this area we have a number of low desks that can be sat at or sat on. We also have some camp chairs that may be used around the edges of the carpet. Our whole group instruction happens in this carpet area. When working alone or in groups students can spread out around the room, including to nooks that I have created with bookshelves.
A great change happened last year, and my state decided that flexible seating was allowed during testing. Last year's class and this year's decided what kind of seats they want to sit at for the long hours of testing. I arrange my rows accordingly. Yesterday, four students helped me arrange the room to what the class wanted.
Are there still kiddos who make irresponsible choices? Yes! Are their still parents who don't support my efforts? Yes! But over these last five years of responsibility/choice classes developing responsibility students far out the ones who choose not to be. Each year more parents request me for their child's teacher because of my classroom. Ones who walk in at Open House in August, skeptical usually walk away in June pleased with their child's progress in responsibility. And the classroom that I model has begun to spread across the school. There are many varying degrees of flexible seating classrooms in my school now. Last year, I was asked to do a training of flexible seating for my colleagues. I am not an expert and not into what research says, but I believe in trying ways to help my students to make more responsible choices and develop more responsibility. I couldn't be more pleased with my five year experiment and look forward to the years that are ahead that include new ways to help my students succeed.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Saturday, November 21, 2015
My Class Service Club
While filling out my PDP (professional development plan - do other states besides North Carolina have anything similar?) I decided to focus on helping my students develop leadership skills. I thought we could do our own service club. I presented the idea to my class, and they enthusiastically agreed.
I asked them what sort of ideas for serving they had. Hands shot up quickly. Our school is down to one evening custodian, so one idea was to help clean until the other custodian returns. Another was to read to and with younger students. They also want to go help in the EC classrooms. A plan to go around the school grounds and pick up trash also. Reshelfing books in the media center was a favorite suggestion.
For my part, I sent out a mass email to the staff asking if any of them needed help. Within a few hours, we had willing teachers accepting their help. The next day I told my students who wanted help and what the tasks were. I have to admit I was surprised at how many them wanted to sweep floors. There were just as many wanting to read with students, reshelf books, help in the EC classrooms, and even sharpen pencils and clean brushes in the art room.
We put our plan into action on Monday and they served in many classrooms for the rest of the week. Even on Friday, they were disappointed if the weren't scheduled to serve and those that were enthusiastically left my room to go complete their tasks. I know one of the first things I'll be asked Monday morning is who is going to sharpen pencils in the art room.
I know it's only been a week and that enthusiasm will likely wane, but I am amazed at the level of willingness to serve that this class has demonstrated over the last few days. The week after Thanksgiving they will be collecting non-perishable food items that students across the school will be bringing in. I think, no I know, that they will be some of the most enthusiastic collectors ever.
I look forward to seeing these children develop their leadership skills through their service.
I asked them what sort of ideas for serving they had. Hands shot up quickly. Our school is down to one evening custodian, so one idea was to help clean until the other custodian returns. Another was to read to and with younger students. They also want to go help in the EC classrooms. A plan to go around the school grounds and pick up trash also. Reshelfing books in the media center was a favorite suggestion.
For my part, I sent out a mass email to the staff asking if any of them needed help. Within a few hours, we had willing teachers accepting their help. The next day I told my students who wanted help and what the tasks were. I have to admit I was surprised at how many them wanted to sweep floors. There were just as many wanting to read with students, reshelf books, help in the EC classrooms, and even sharpen pencils and clean brushes in the art room.
We put our plan into action on Monday and they served in many classrooms for the rest of the week. Even on Friday, they were disappointed if the weren't scheduled to serve and those that were enthusiastically left my room to go complete their tasks. I know one of the first things I'll be asked Monday morning is who is going to sharpen pencils in the art room.
I know it's only been a week and that enthusiasm will likely wane, but I am amazed at the level of willingness to serve that this class has demonstrated over the last few days. The week after Thanksgiving they will be collecting non-perishable food items that students across the school will be bringing in. I think, no I know, that they will be some of the most enthusiastic collectors ever.
I look forward to seeing these children develop their leadership skills through their service.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Wow! I Need to Get Better at This!
Seriously, I am bad at blogging about my class adventures! The sad thing is this past year my class gave me so many wonderful things to write about. The good thing is I am looping with most of them, so they should give me much to write about.
Since I wrote nothing about them last school year, I thought I'd do a quick recap.
I had a total of 28 students this year, but not at the same time. I started with 25, 14 girls and 11 boys. One of the girls moved to Japan, yup Japan. We missed her and remained email pals throughout the year. Right after winter break I got a new student, a boy. That made our numbers 13 girls and 13 boys. I thought that was perfect! Then one week later we got another new student. He came from the Philippines and I freaked. He was a great boy, but I thought, "how am I going to teach this boy?" He made it easy though and soon he was an important part of the class. Then the powers that be decided he was in the wrong grade. They moved him back to 3rd. About two months before the school year ended we got another boy. So we ended the year with 26.
This past year I continued the idea of students choosing their seats daily. Unlike the year before, this class moved around a lot. There were a few of them who picked the same area, or even the same desk often, but most moved around. We still had individual seats, pairs, and groups of four.
The cool thing about those seats were some of them were cushions on the floor with desks with the legs removed. Now I could have never sat like that all day, but they were the most popular seats in the room. We even had to come up with a plan, so they could be enjoyed by all who wanted them. We also had two stability balls. Those were the second most popular seats. The round table in the room became a seating option and finally I raised the legs of two desks as far as they would go and stools to go with them. Late in the year I saw something online and decided to try it. I get exercise bands and put them on the front legs of some of the desks. This gave them a quiet way to move their feet. Honestly, they were quiet with them.
I didn't realize how well these options helped my students until I had to take them all away to get ready for the End of Grade tests.They went from quiet students to talkative ones who were up and moving all the time! Seriously, it was like night and day. They were still great, don't get me wrong, but they became and active bunch. My own personal "research says" is that students do best with choice and movement.
Okay, I was going to write more, there still more, but it'll have to wait for another post.
Since I wrote nothing about them last school year, I thought I'd do a quick recap.
I had a total of 28 students this year, but not at the same time. I started with 25, 14 girls and 11 boys. One of the girls moved to Japan, yup Japan. We missed her and remained email pals throughout the year. Right after winter break I got a new student, a boy. That made our numbers 13 girls and 13 boys. I thought that was perfect! Then one week later we got another new student. He came from the Philippines and I freaked. He was a great boy, but I thought, "how am I going to teach this boy?" He made it easy though and soon he was an important part of the class. Then the powers that be decided he was in the wrong grade. They moved him back to 3rd. About two months before the school year ended we got another boy. So we ended the year with 26.
This past year I continued the idea of students choosing their seats daily. Unlike the year before, this class moved around a lot. There were a few of them who picked the same area, or even the same desk often, but most moved around. We still had individual seats, pairs, and groups of four.
The cool thing about those seats were some of them were cushions on the floor with desks with the legs removed. Now I could have never sat like that all day, but they were the most popular seats in the room. We even had to come up with a plan, so they could be enjoyed by all who wanted them. We also had two stability balls. Those were the second most popular seats. The round table in the room became a seating option and finally I raised the legs of two desks as far as they would go and stools to go with them. Late in the year I saw something online and decided to try it. I get exercise bands and put them on the front legs of some of the desks. This gave them a quiet way to move their feet. Honestly, they were quiet with them.
I didn't realize how well these options helped my students until I had to take them all away to get ready for the End of Grade tests.They went from quiet students to talkative ones who were up and moving all the time! Seriously, it was like night and day. They were still great, don't get me wrong, but they became and active bunch. My own personal "research says" is that students do best with choice and movement.
Okay, I was going to write more, there still more, but it'll have to wait for another post.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Year Two Is A Comin' With Some New Ideas!
Back to school for teachers is a little over a week away. It's my second chance to turn a traditional classroom into a non-traditional classroom. Well, I guess I've really been experimenting with non-traditional classrooms for years, but on a small scale. This year, phase two!
Just like last year, my room is set up differently than the traditional rows, which I think really only exist in a small number of classrooms really, or in small groups. Maybe rows should now be considered non-traditional! I once again have a couple of individual desks, a few sets a pairs, and groups of three and groups of four. I also have a round table that students can choose. That's new! But the really new thing is two of my desks have no legs! Well, actually their legs and the screws are safely tucked away. These two desks are in the front of the class and sit on a carpet. There are also two large round pillows that students may choose to use to sit on. I think the child who always wants to put his feet in the chair might just like the idea of there not being a chair.
In the back of my room, I raised the legs on two desks to their full height. These desks, although they will still have chairs or stools if I can find some the right height, are for the students who want to stand. Personal that drives me crazy, but it's not really about me. There are always those students who just want to stand, and this option gives them the chance to. Although I wish the desks could go higher, this is a good start. Maybe some day I can convince someone to purchase a couple of those desks for my room.
That's not all! I have two desks that are designated for exercise balls. I have seen students sit on a ball and it was surprisingly effective for them. I decided to give it a try. One of those desks are by themselves and another is in a group of four. Both desks are on the outside edge of the desk configuration. I might have non-traditional groupings, but I like a sense of balance, therefor the desks still fit into a structure of sorts.
The rest of the desks are at traditional heights and with plain old blue student chairs. So what happens if I find more students want to sit on the floor, or stand, or sit on a ball? Well, then I adjust the desks to fit them. I believe that students will learn best when they are physically comfortable. When I was in school, I remember more times than not being distracted because my butt had grown numb. Admit it so did yours!
Just like last year, students will pick their desks as they arrive each day, but I think this year I will start off the first couple of weeks with asking students to try each of the desk options, both the number of desks in a group or individual and the different type of seat. Once they have each gotten to try everything I'll know if I need to get the Allen Wrench out and go to work on any chair legs.
Just like last year, my room is set up differently than the traditional rows, which I think really only exist in a small number of classrooms really, or in small groups. Maybe rows should now be considered non-traditional! I once again have a couple of individual desks, a few sets a pairs, and groups of three and groups of four. I also have a round table that students can choose. That's new! But the really new thing is two of my desks have no legs! Well, actually their legs and the screws are safely tucked away. These two desks are in the front of the class and sit on a carpet. There are also two large round pillows that students may choose to use to sit on. I think the child who always wants to put his feet in the chair might just like the idea of there not being a chair.
In the back of my room, I raised the legs on two desks to their full height. These desks, although they will still have chairs or stools if I can find some the right height, are for the students who want to stand. Personal that drives me crazy, but it's not really about me. There are always those students who just want to stand, and this option gives them the chance to. Although I wish the desks could go higher, this is a good start. Maybe some day I can convince someone to purchase a couple of those desks for my room.
That's not all! I have two desks that are designated for exercise balls. I have seen students sit on a ball and it was surprisingly effective for them. I decided to give it a try. One of those desks are by themselves and another is in a group of four. Both desks are on the outside edge of the desk configuration. I might have non-traditional groupings, but I like a sense of balance, therefor the desks still fit into a structure of sorts.
The rest of the desks are at traditional heights and with plain old blue student chairs. So what happens if I find more students want to sit on the floor, or stand, or sit on a ball? Well, then I adjust the desks to fit them. I believe that students will learn best when they are physically comfortable. When I was in school, I remember more times than not being distracted because my butt had grown numb. Admit it so did yours!
Just like last year, students will pick their desks as they arrive each day, but I think this year I will start off the first couple of weeks with asking students to try each of the desk options, both the number of desks in a group or individual and the different type of seat. Once they have each gotten to try everything I'll know if I need to get the Allen Wrench out and go to work on any chair legs.
Friday, June 20, 2014
End of the Year Reflections.
Well, in many ways the experiment worked wonderfully and in others it didn't!
I would say that 90% of my students left the 5th grade more responsible for their learning and their behavior.Unfortunately, that means some didn't. One in particular stands out and unfortunately all the other students would agree. The problem of creating and maintaining a personal responsibility classroom is that there is no guarantee of complete buy in by the students or their parents. This student didn't buy in because his parents didn't. However, this post is not about him.
Rather it is a reflection. I can look back and see the good that came out of this class. I know many of them walked out the door on the last day feeling like they were responsible for the grades on their report card and for turning around behaviors. They walked out taller, not just literally, than when they came in back in August.
I can look back at the choices I made to help instill a sense of responsibility in them. I can think of ways to take that to the next level and ways to do it more effectively. I can also look back at the things that I thought would work, but didn't. I can either scrap them or revamp them for next year. I know that I need to be better prepared in some areas and that others can continue as they are.
Overall, I am very pleased with the results of the year, and I look forward to creating an even more personal responsibility classroom next year!
I would say that 90% of my students left the 5th grade more responsible for their learning and their behavior.Unfortunately, that means some didn't. One in particular stands out and unfortunately all the other students would agree. The problem of creating and maintaining a personal responsibility classroom is that there is no guarantee of complete buy in by the students or their parents. This student didn't buy in because his parents didn't. However, this post is not about him.
Rather it is a reflection. I can look back and see the good that came out of this class. I know many of them walked out the door on the last day feeling like they were responsible for the grades on their report card and for turning around behaviors. They walked out taller, not just literally, than when they came in back in August.
I can look back at the choices I made to help instill a sense of responsibility in them. I can think of ways to take that to the next level and ways to do it more effectively. I can also look back at the things that I thought would work, but didn't. I can either scrap them or revamp them for next year. I know that I need to be better prepared in some areas and that others can continue as they are.
Overall, I am very pleased with the results of the year, and I look forward to creating an even more personal responsibility classroom next year!
Monday, January 6, 2014
New Year...Sort Of
Well, today was the first day of a new year. Okay, the first day of 2014 with the kiddos. Changes started right from the start. I meet the students at the door and told them that they could choose a single seat, but if they chose to sit at a group 2 then had to be one girl and one boy. I also told them there is still groups of 4 and that they needed to be half and half, but that isn't a new rule. I also told them that was their seat for the day, so choose wisely. Oh, and I told them that I would move them if needed. By the end of the day I had to move a boy and girl today for talking.
That was change number one. Change two came in Math class. Actually many changes. I gave each student a plastic folder with prongs. I gave each of the three front and back pages of division notes. I told them that would be their math "book" for this unit. We would add practice pages as we work through the unit. They were actually pretty excited about the new math "book".
I also told them our schedule would be different. We would no longer go over homework at the beginning of class. In part because they would be choosing three homework assignments to complete each week and had to have all three turned in by Friday. Each Monday there will be a number of homework sheets on the back table and they need to choose three from them. Of course, I pointed out that they need to choose ones that they really need to work on, not ones that they are already good at. One of my least responsible students pipes up, "that will make us responsible for what we learn!". Yes, I agreed with her it certainly would.
I also informed them that we would work on that day's topic, for example today we did estimating quotients, right from the start. Thirty minutes into class I loose seven students who get pulled out for EC services. When they left before I pulled two small groups to work on the skills while the others had their choice time. Well, choice time is no more. Instead, we will do some more skill work and then they will have to finish working on it on their own. The last twenty minutes of the day is where choice comes in. Students who are done with their practice work can come to a review group that I will have. Today's group was order of operations. I had two students. If they finish their practice work, and choose not to join the review group, they can review math facts in their agenda.
What happened to the laptops? Oh they may use them only when I give an assignment on them and on quiz/test days.Once they are finished with their quiz or test, and after the required check-your-work time, they may use the laptops to pull review games or view review videos. That went over with complete silence. I mean if a cricket had been in the room that would have been the only sound. Then I told them the last change.
I used to let them correct their weekly quiz and would give them bonus points, but no more. I told them they would have one shot at the quiz. That was still meet with silence and literally dropped jaws.
So we had our first math class of 2014 and I have to say I like the changes. Next post I'll tell you some other 2014 changes that started today.
That was change number one. Change two came in Math class. Actually many changes. I gave each student a plastic folder with prongs. I gave each of the three front and back pages of division notes. I told them that would be their math "book" for this unit. We would add practice pages as we work through the unit. They were actually pretty excited about the new math "book".
I also told them our schedule would be different. We would no longer go over homework at the beginning of class. In part because they would be choosing three homework assignments to complete each week and had to have all three turned in by Friday. Each Monday there will be a number of homework sheets on the back table and they need to choose three from them. Of course, I pointed out that they need to choose ones that they really need to work on, not ones that they are already good at. One of my least responsible students pipes up, "that will make us responsible for what we learn!". Yes, I agreed with her it certainly would.
I also informed them that we would work on that day's topic, for example today we did estimating quotients, right from the start. Thirty minutes into class I loose seven students who get pulled out for EC services. When they left before I pulled two small groups to work on the skills while the others had their choice time. Well, choice time is no more. Instead, we will do some more skill work and then they will have to finish working on it on their own. The last twenty minutes of the day is where choice comes in. Students who are done with their practice work can come to a review group that I will have. Today's group was order of operations. I had two students. If they finish their practice work, and choose not to join the review group, they can review math facts in their agenda.
What happened to the laptops? Oh they may use them only when I give an assignment on them and on quiz/test days.Once they are finished with their quiz or test, and after the required check-your-work time, they may use the laptops to pull review games or view review videos. That went over with complete silence. I mean if a cricket had been in the room that would have been the only sound. Then I told them the last change.
I used to let them correct their weekly quiz and would give them bonus points, but no more. I told them they would have one shot at the quiz. That was still meet with silence and literally dropped jaws.
So we had our first math class of 2014 and I have to say I like the changes. Next post I'll tell you some other 2014 changes that started today.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Making Changes
I haven't blogged about how things have been going because it has been going downhill lately. I have a handful of students who continue to make choices that demonstrate that they really are taking responsibility for their education. Unfortunately, only a handful. The others just make sure they are sitting with their friends and doing the bare minimum. That will need to change!
It is Christmas Break, okay officially Winter Break, but we have it so we can celebrate Christmas, so I call it what it is. Anyway, I am revamping things so when we go back to school they will either make the choices to responsible for themselves or I will make the choices for them.
I have rearranged the room. There are no three person-desk arrangements anymore. There are single seats still. I have a number of students who like them because they get their work done with less distraction. There will also be two person-desk arrangements and four person-desk arrangements. The big change for them is who can sit at them. There will have to be an even number of boys and girls at each. This will help break-up some of those "friendship groupings" that were becoming a problem.
Another change will be in how I teach Math and Reading. I already made some changes in Reading and the students have embraced them. They went from having complete choice during "May" time to have a limited amount of selections. Actually, that was what I had originally planned to do. They may choose to be part of a student-led group one day a week for example. At this point, the student-led group choice is a strategy study group. I have online and paper-pencil activities already set up that they can do in a small group. There are also activities that they can do up to two days each week, and also activities that can be done up to three days. Obviously, the three day activities are the ones that focus the most on reading skills and strategies.
I also have added a weekly folder that they keep all their papers in that we are working on that week. We still use the cow notebook for some of the work, but shrinking everything was getting impractical. They will still take home the notebook at the end of the week for their parents to review and sign, but now the folder will go home as well. Each Monday, they will take the papers in the folder and place it in a binder to keep everything for future reference. Unless of course we are still using it, then it will stay in the folder. We used the folder for two weeks and the students actually were excited about it.
In Math, I have a few ideas rolling around in my head. The notebook we have been using has not been working for most of them, so I need to rethink that. Also the daily availability of using laptops to review videos and play games will go away. That will be allowed once a week, after the weekly review quiz. Students will also no longer be able to copy notes during class. I had originally planned for that to be homework, and now it will be. I have a few other ideas that I plan to put into place.
I do plan to write more often as I continue to create a responsibility classroom. Wish me luck!
It is Christmas Break, okay officially Winter Break, but we have it so we can celebrate Christmas, so I call it what it is. Anyway, I am revamping things so when we go back to school they will either make the choices to responsible for themselves or I will make the choices for them.
I have rearranged the room. There are no three person-desk arrangements anymore. There are single seats still. I have a number of students who like them because they get their work done with less distraction. There will also be two person-desk arrangements and four person-desk arrangements. The big change for them is who can sit at them. There will have to be an even number of boys and girls at each. This will help break-up some of those "friendship groupings" that were becoming a problem.
Another change will be in how I teach Math and Reading. I already made some changes in Reading and the students have embraced them. They went from having complete choice during "May" time to have a limited amount of selections. Actually, that was what I had originally planned to do. They may choose to be part of a student-led group one day a week for example. At this point, the student-led group choice is a strategy study group. I have online and paper-pencil activities already set up that they can do in a small group. There are also activities that they can do up to two days each week, and also activities that can be done up to three days. Obviously, the three day activities are the ones that focus the most on reading skills and strategies.
I also have added a weekly folder that they keep all their papers in that we are working on that week. We still use the cow notebook for some of the work, but shrinking everything was getting impractical. They will still take home the notebook at the end of the week for their parents to review and sign, but now the folder will go home as well. Each Monday, they will take the papers in the folder and place it in a binder to keep everything for future reference. Unless of course we are still using it, then it will stay in the folder. We used the folder for two weeks and the students actually were excited about it.
In Math, I have a few ideas rolling around in my head. The notebook we have been using has not been working for most of them, so I need to rethink that. Also the daily availability of using laptops to review videos and play games will go away. That will be allowed once a week, after the weekly review quiz. Students will also no longer be able to copy notes during class. I had originally planned for that to be homework, and now it will be. I have a few other ideas that I plan to put into place.
I do plan to write more often as I continue to create a responsibility classroom. Wish me luck!
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