For example, during math we were reviewing coins and how to add them. I set the class on a journey to play Race to a Dollar. Disclaimer: I did not make this fabulous product.
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They had the above spinner with varying coin values on it and a dreaded "Start Over" section. It was really easy for the kids to identify what coins they landed on and gave them that little bit of movement while playing. I will say that the pennies are hard to read when using black and white copies. They were still darker than the rest though, so the ones that were playing didn't have trouble identifying it after we went over it.
Honestly, my kids were great. I could hear everyone playing the game, see them out of my peripherals writing their coin values down, but they. were. so. LOUD! I was working with a small group on more coin identification activities at my floor table. I did not realize that I had actually been shouting at them.
"WHAT COIN IS THIS? YES, WASHINGTON HAS THE CURLY HAIR AND JEFFERSON DOES NOT."
Three claps to get their attention, a reminder to watch their voice level, and we all went back to what we were doing. Maaaybe 10 minutes later. Three claps. No really, watch your voice level. I'm shouting again. Back to what we were doing. THREE CLAPS. Again, they were doing what I asked them to do. It just became this domino effect that I have come to recognize:
- One table gets excited and starts to shout
- Other table can't hear each other so they proceed to get louder
- Table across the room begins to hear loud voices and wants to match that excitement
- Last table doesn't even realize they're doing it and begins to shout the loudest
We had to pause and I announced a minute without sound. I did reiterate to them that they were doing what I asked them to do, absolutely. We just kept getting so noisy that I couldn't teach. Their little heads were nodding and agreeing, so we had a nice moment of our day that was devoid of sound. We all put our heads down and enjoyed it. I've started to grasp the idea that sometimes we need it. It's hard with 6 and 7 year old minds and bodies to just stop and wind down. It's also hard with a frustrated 23 year old mind and body to not let frustrating moments get the best of you. I've used this minute without sound before for myself. We stop whatever we're doing, put our heads down, and breathe. It gives me a moment to process my feelings immediately get over them because I can't let it become a battle.
Side tip from me to you: it's not about winning. Don't let yourself get so worked up and frustrated that it turns into a battle because you will honestly lose in the end. Take that extra moment to stop everyone and all breathe when you really need it. It works wonders and you can get back to being the teacher that you want to be. The teacher that comes before the minute is not how you want the kids to remember you. If you are a high school teacher, please take a picture of a room full of teenagers with their heads down. It would make me giggle and we can have a good laugh together. Seriously, don't be afraid of doing a minute of silence with the big kids too! I can only imagine how beneficial it might be for some of them to slow down and just breathe. Give those hormones a rest for a second.
My absolute favorite moment of the day was my read aloud though. I went to our local resale bookstore, Recycled Books, and found a Holy Grail of picture book series...Black Lagoon books!! About five them all snuggled together in the bin. It was a proud moment for me. I shared this with my kids as well, but I remember devouring these books in elementary school. I loved the humor and it paralleled my anxiety about having new teachers. I was such an anxious kid and they gave me the opportunity to laugh at myself for thinking such crazy things. I was right about apprehension for Mrs. Craddock's hissing cockroaches in 4th grade. Those really were from the Black Lagoon.
Anyways, I also talked to the kids about picture books also having series. Elephant and Piggy, If You Give a..., and the Black Lagoon are all a series even though they're not chapter books. The reading interventionist at my school really opened my eyes about how important it is to introduce any type of series of books to kids through read alouds. If they're hooked, they have so many more to read on their own! And boy, were they hooked! I will say that for books like this I have a flare for the dramatics. I make my voice high or drop it low; I flail my arms for emphasis; and I go silent for the climactic pause. (If I didn't use those semicolons right, feel free to correct me.) We came to a certain part of the book, towards the end I think, where the kid has detailed all of these horrifying things about their new gym teacher he's heard. The kid says "and the worst part is...."
QUICK! Turn to the person next to you and tell them what you predict the worst part is! *Insert frenzied conversation* 3, 2, 1, stop!
"...square dancing with the GIRLS!" Oh man, if you could have seen their faces and heard them the second that they heard it, processed it, and the second they reacted. Silence and then boom! They were equal parts shock and awe. It was hilarious! Read alouds have to be one of the most consistently favorite parts of my day. The kids are the most focused I see them all day and we get to share amazing stories together. If I could capture it in a bottle!
I saw this on social media yesterday, and it made today's moment even more hilarious to me.
Put everything you have into those read alouds. Especially with the littles. You could be the spark that makes them love reading. However, don't downplay read alouds to the big ones too. No one is too old to be read to. You can pull out a picture book or classic chapter book and have teenagers in a puddle on the floor, engrossed and excited about reading again. Most importantly though,
don't underestimate your influence.
You are valuable. You are loved. You will be remembered.
Ms. K
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