My Thoughts

This is my grandma. In the first photo, she is with my 6-year-old son, and in the second photo, she is with my newborn daughter. These are her handwritten kindergarten lesson plans from 1955, kept in a binder. My grandma was proud to say she was a kindergarten teacher, and she loved sharing her stories about her years working for the New York Public School System. One of her favorite things was when I came over and talked to her about my students — my classroom — my day. ...

On Monday morning, I sat at the kitchen counter — my usual spot. With my coffee and a book. Before heading out to work. Three weeks ago, I read Nicholas Fair Nowak’s story , “Teachers on Medium Assemble,” where I learned about Neuro Teach. A few days later, it arrived. Monday morning. I took something I read, something clearly meant for high schoolers, and went with it. “We have found that there is a brief, fragile, fleeting moment of honesty and vulnerability immediately after an assessment (activity) that we can tap into — provided the earnest trust of the teacher is there — when many students will reflect on their learning with a remarkable level of insight and honesty. As teachers, we find that taking the time to read these (to talk with students) and reply back very promptly goes a long way to helping forge these important ongoing discussions between the student and teacher about his or her learning” (Whitman, Kelleher, 2016, p. 55). ...

The minute I heard about Netflix’s Tidying Up, I knew I had to watch. Nobody loves to tidy up more than I do. And the more I watched. The more I understood. “Her effortless tidying and careful, considerate regard for her home inspired Marie to cherish what you own and to live with intention and care.” And this led to my effortless tidying and careful, considerate regard for my classroom which inspired me to cherish what I have and teach with intention and care. The KonMari Method™️. “Designed to help you never revert to clutter again, Marie’s teachings are centered by the Method’s one-of-a-kind selection criterion — if something brings you joy, keep it!” ...

On Tuesday morning I got to see four of my five reading groups. 16 seven and eight-year-olds who are just finding learning to read more difficult than others. Maybe how Gracie felt trying to reach the top of the water bottle. I wanted to take the time to share their joy with Mr. Spiers and all of those who clapped and commented for Gracie We Love You. I felt like I owed everyone a PS. ...

Part 1: Making Our Schools Feel Smaller I work at an elementary school with over one-thousand students. Prekindergarten, kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth and fifth grade classes are strewn throughout the main building. There is an office inside. Inside that office, you will find the principal, two assistant principals, a literacy coach, and two guidance counselors. Exit the main building and walk down the covered pathway. Double doors welcome you to a three-story building, with second grade, third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade classrooms — and empty classrooms too. ...

On Monday, February 14, I took off work. It’s a day to remember. It’s a day to mourn. Four years ago, I made a promise. To teach my students what kindness looks like. To show my students that kindness matters. To love them and listen to them and show them that they matter. Thank you, John Spiers — for helping me keep this promise. Kindness looks like you. I choose my Read Alouds very carefully. On Tuesday, February 15, I read aloud a picture book I had planned for weeks before Peep! arrived in the mail. Wednesday, I had an all-day RTI meeting so Thursday would be the day that I eagerly introduced my students to their new book, a small chapter book. We would read one chapter a day. ...

I wake up with these thoughts They just pop in my head Tuesday’s math groups were bleh So we’ll do this instead. They’ll get three paper squares Writing numbers on each I’ll tape them together After that I will teach. I’ll cut long paper strips Fold them into a stack They will use them today To count forward and back. Drinking coffee with cream Is my self-given perk I jump into my car Heading straight off to work. ...

I remember the first time I was told I was going to have an LLI group. I was an ELA Specials teacher, part of the rotation with Art, Music, PE, Media, and Science. My literacy coach called me into her office and told me that instead of meeting with pre-k at 8:30am, I would now be taking an LLI group. I started crying. Real tears. Not the crocodile kind. LLI, Leveled Literacy Intervention is a purchased program that “provides daily, intensive, small-group instruction, which supplements classroom literacy teaching.” ...

Being a teacher these last two years has not been easy. This year, I accepted a new position. Each morning, I am supposed to meet with five reading groups. Each week, I am supposed to go into eight classrooms to run a writing workshop. Each afternoon, I am supposed to provide an extra dose of number sense. This week, I did none of these. Instead, I was a substitute teacher — again. ...

“The purpose of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund) is to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation.” Our county used these funds to hire ESSER teachers, and at the end of the 2020–2021 school year, I, without hesitation, accepted the offer to be an ESSER teacher for the upcoming school year. I provide academic support to second graders. ...