DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Burlington Book Study
HTML https://burlingtonbookstudy.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Class 2011
*****************************************************
#Post#: 129--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harry Wong
DIR By: Carrie
Date: August 6, 2011, 11:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I sure appreciate all of you and all you do for our students and
community!
I loved the quote "One of the greatest gifts a caring teacher
can contribute to children is to help them learn to sit when
they feel like running, to raise their hand when they feel like
talking. To be polite to their neighbor, to stand in line
without pushing, and to do their homework when they feel like
playing."
I would like to come and re-do my observing in the classroom. By
the time we come into sub, the procedures and routines are
established. As it should be, but sometimes I feel a bit lost
and timid about doing something wrong or messing with the
already wonderfully taught routines. I really enjoy watching you
all work your majic in the classroom.
Ok, and I guess I'd better do some confessing. I have been known
to stand outside your doors and listen to you all teach! I just
love to learn and you have all taught me alot!
#Post#: 130--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harry Wong
DIR By: Susie
Date: August 7, 2011, 10:38 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Terrific comments from everyone! Someone told me that in real
estate the mantra is "location, location, location!" I think
with school it should be "Attitude, attitude, attitude!" I'm
working on mine--been a difficult few weeks. But I'm excited to
do some narrative (and other types) of writing with the
students--outgrowth of Wyoming Writers. I've experimented a bit
in summer school with some of the ideas I've had and have been
astonished with the results. Some students open up more easily,
of course, but there are some amazing writers in our students.
Not surprisingly, all of the summer school students told me in a
survey that they don't like writing, don't consider themselves
writers, and/or approach writing with fear. That's something
I'd like to work to change, even if it means some sacrifice of
my red pens!
While I like many of Wong's ideas and aspire to have an
organized clasroom with respect to routines and preparation, I
also think it's like some of the Quantum Learning stuff. Some
of it fits our teaching style, and some of it doesn't. What
comes through loud and clear, however, is the need to foster
respect for and in our students and the need for high
expectations. Carol, do you really think that you have
expectations that are too high? I think the admiration and
respect that students have for you--long after they have been in
your classroom as well as currently--says that you bring out the
best.
The dilemma of how to address family members in school is one
I think about--it seems artificial to force one mode of address
in school with another in less formal settings. And yet it does
impact other students. I don't know the answer.
One of the best parts of my summer classes in Laramie was the
opportunity to interact and share with other professionals. I
don't think we do enough of that in a setting with an
opportunity to share, for example, one pedogogical work we've
enjoyed, or one technique that has us excited. We have people
with vast amounts of expertise in the district, and while I
value some of the outside presenters, I think we're luck to have
people who have lots to share right here.
Collaboration with others is another area we could be using
more--at least in my admittedly limited viewpoint. Beverly Chen
did a presentation for us on teaching the Holocaust that left me
speechless with so many ideas floating around. Great original
and secondary source material, assuredly not appropriate for all
ages.
Wow, I've really rambled on. I guess it's because I've been
"thinking school" and doing some planning. Oh--one last
thought. I don't feel comfortable with friending and have
stopped using Facebook the little bit that I had. I think
students need confidants sometimes, but I don't like that
format.
#Post#: 135--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harry Wong
DIR By: Anne
Date: August 8, 2011, 7:44 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Years ago as a substitute I read Harry Wong's First days of
School and I remember that I thought that was such a helpful
book of how tos. I was glad to read it again and find new things
this time. Sometimes it is humbling to read it and see things in
the "inefficient teaching" examples that I do. But it helps to
immediately go to the efficient teaching column to find the
solution to that. I thought this time the new thing that I read
was the definition of research in education. It should be
obvious I guess that the definition is to search and search
again. But I never thought of research that way before and I
think it made the idea of doing research somehow simpler and
more palatable to just say all we are doing is looking for
answers and looking again.
There are many good messages that each of you have pointed out.
Attitude that Susie said was a good one. I think being organized
and ready is probably vital in everyone's class. I know if I am
not ready for the day it will not go well so I think everything
that I do to get ready pays off in less stress.
Things that I have to get ready for that none of the rest of you
have to deal with, (except maybe Pam) are things like having
extra clothes for kids who wet their pants. Every year I have to
get more because some never bring the spares back from home and
this simple first of the year prep pays off in less stress
during a crises. I do think that just because in Kindergarten
there may be days that have so many procedure breakdowns because
not one procedure is new but nearly every procedure is new that
his saying that if you have a bad first day you are going to
have a bad year. That, is one thing that I don't agree with.
Almost every year getting through September with children not
napping for the first time, staying a whole day, etc. After
their bodies adjust to the rigors of staying the whole day the
rest of the year tends to be easier, whether or not I had a good
"first day" or not.But I do get what he is saying by that and
agree that being ready with procedures, attitude, polite words,
correct dress, etc. are all good things to be mindful of.
#Post#: 136--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harry Wong
DIR By: Pam
Date: August 9, 2011, 8:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The first several weeks of school are exhausting for me
because of trying to teach procedures and routines. In a month
or so, life for me is so much better. As I finished the last
reading, I realized that I did not model or practice routines
enough for the the children to master them. Many students that
are so young would benefit from a visual reminder of what they
should do. I hope to do better in planning those routines and
teaching them this year.
#Post#: 137--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harry Wong
DIR By: Pam
Date: August 11, 2011, 5:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
There are many ways to be inviting as Harry Wong points
out. That really is about teaching since each child can choose
either to learn or not to learn. It is such a delight to teach
young children because almost all of them wants to participate
and learn. It may not be what you want them to learn at that
moment but I guess that is where and when we need to become
masters at inviting them to pay attention to those skills and
ideas that are so important to them later. I am so excited to
be working with you soon. I do love the smell and feel of
school especially at the first of the year.
*****************************************************
Page 2 of 2
DIR Previous Page