Christmas is a celebration, a time for giving and not simply a day we exchange gifts. Love, Faith, and Hope is in the Spirit of Christmas. The spirit of Christmas isn’t about receiving material things, it’s in the thought to which you put into thinking about others, it’s a selfless time, where we forgive, take stock of what’s important and become ‘better’ versions of ourselves.
This time of the season is for me to spend time with those that I love and love me. Family is important. I have often heard some administrators often say to their teachers, “it’s your family or your job”. I’ll always choose my family. First year teachers and veteran teachers, they NEED you now. The times have changed. Your responsibilities are to those that you are close to. These moments you will never replace.
Choose you and when you do that all things fall into place. There will always be a classroom waiting for a teacher to fill but you can never bring back time that you should have spent with your loved ones. If you are sick or you are caring for an elderly parent, they come first. Family above the job comes first.
I’ll leave my classroom Friday, December 16th at 3:15 p.m. and not give a second thought to what I may forgotten to do, to post in Google Class, send home to parents, or copy for when I get back next year.
My thoughts will be on “How am I going to celebrate my Winter Break with my family and loved ones?” Life is too short to lose sleep over things you can’t control. Once the school doors close all you can do is forget about it. So, if you plan now you can leave that Friday knowing that you’ve done your best and you can finally relax and enjoy those Netflix moments with those you cherish.
For me, I choose those that I love. I chose to do my best to close out the school year planning ahead for the things I’ll need when I get back next year. For this holiday season I plan to make beautiful memories with those that I love. I’ll choose some recipes from this magazine and cook for anyone that wants to eat!
As teachers we are so used to giving of ourselves and this time, I am asking you not to do that and take the time for yourself. Don’t worry about the kids at school, or what you should have done, just forget all that. That will still be there when you get back but for this holiday I suggest that you get your rest, laugh a lot, play, sing, dance, cuddle up with a good book or movie, and come back to school rejuvenated.
By Elaine Clanton Harpine, Ph. D.
Vowel clustering is a teaching method that works with struggling or failing students—all ages. Vowel clustering even works with special need students or students learning English as a second language. Vowel clustering teaches words by sounds rather than by rules. Vowel clustering directly connects letters and sounds—no pictures. Students learn to identify letter sounds by matching letters to sounds or sound clusters.
With vowel clustering, there are no rules to memorize, and students are never allowed to guess at a word. Vowel clustering teaches spelling, handwriting, oral reading fluency, comprehension, and story writing. Vowel clustering has been tested and proven to work with struggling, at-risk, and failing students for over 20 years. One student, who failed for nine years, learned to read in 3 ½ years using vowel clustering. I have even had struggling students move up four grade levels in one year using vowel clustering. These were students who had
failed multiple years in schools that taught whole language, balanced literacy, and phonics.
You might be asking, is there proof that vowel clustering works? Yes, my research is published, but let me share a few success stories:
•A student diagnosed with ADHD and failing in reading moved up two grade levels in one year.
•A student diagnosed with dyslexia and whose parents tried everything, including expensive private one-on-one tutoring in phonics, learned to read, and moved up to beginning chapter books in one year.
•Six children who entered the program reading at the (pre-K) level ended the year reading at the 2nd grade reading level. Only one child in the group was a first grader.
◘•One student started at the pre-K level and ended the year reading at the third-grade level, while a second grader started the year reading below first grade and ended at the fourth-grade level.
•One student moved up four grade levels in reading, four students moved up three grade levels in reading, and eight students moved up two grade levels in reading. Christmas Project
Following step-by-step directions is one of the best ways to build comprehension skills. My Christment books provide step-by-step directions, patterns, and pictures.
Yes, you actually help students learn to comprehend what they are reading when they apply what they read to a hands-on project.
If you have questions, I am always happy to help. For links to my published research on vowel clustering or for the candle project, go to: https:// www.groupcentered.com/reading-blog
Christmas project. Vowel clustering methods also help students who are struggling with comprehension. Children (even 4-year-olds) can make a candle. Children read and follow stepby-step directions to string the beads and make a candle.
www.workingdogresources.com
by Rivette Pena
Who doesn’t love a Christmas cookie? Such beauty and imagination wrapped up in delightfully, delicious treat. But did you know that it can be educational? It can develop fine and gross motor skills, problem solving, and enrich vocabulary. Not to mention math and reading skills.
North Shore Pediatric therapy conducted an activity analysis on cookie baking. They have a blog entry on their page. They have broken their analysis into 9 skills.
• Bilateral Coordination is the ability to use both sides of your body at the same time. It indicates that both sides of the brain are communitcating to each other. Examples would be to hold the measuring cup in one hand and pour the milk with the other hand, to stabilize the bowl with one hand and stir the spoon with the other hand.
• Visual motor skills (e.g. to read the recipe card) You can find many recipes written at children’s level and if you don’t it is a great opportunity to have small vocabulary lesson before they embark on the recipe. One way is to ask your child to look over the recipe and to highlight any words they do not know or understand. Review the words with them before you start.
• Upper body strength (e.g. to stir the ingredients together to form ball of dough) if you have ever rolled dough then you know that it takes some upper body strenth. Also if you hand mix your ingredients you will definitely get in a work out. There’s all the clean up.
• Following directions is so important. Kids need to be able to follow directions because it helps children learn what behavior is helpful and hurtful, and provides them with structure and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
• Safety awareness (e.g. wearing oven mitts to put the cookie sheet in the oven) Safety around kitchen appliances. Learning the danger of heat and electricity.
• Fine motor skills (e.g. rolling dough into small balls and/or manipulating cookie cutters, tying a bow on an apron such as shoe tying) Let those little finger into the cookie dough. They wil love the sensory component of the dough. They will also enjoy decorating the cookies. You can use tweezers to arrange the sprinkles and decorations on the cookies for further fine motor skills.
• Problem solving (e.g. if you forgot an ingredient or complete a step in the wrong order) Ask questions of your child, (age appropriate) like “The recipe calls for 3/4 cup flour but I only have 1/4, 1/2 and 1 cup. How can I figure out how much to use?” “Can you find the measuring spoon marked 1/2 tsp?” “ Which of the sprinkles are the green ones” “How can I divide this cookie dough into twelve cookies?”
• Body awareness (e.g. to be mindful of ingredients around you- so that you don’t spill or bump into someone) If you have any kids like me, (aka The Spiller) then you know this is important.
• Taking turns (e.g. if it is a family activity- who is going to go first? Who gets to pour which ingredients into the bowl?) Siblings don’t always play nice together but if you remain calm and give everyone a job to do then you just may have a chance?
So take out all those ingredients, your favorite recipes and gather the family together. It’s time to start baking.
INGREDIENTS
2-3 packages of candy canes (you are going to want extras in case of breakage.)
1 bag red tinsel balls
1 bag of red, green and white pipe cleaners
1 bag of googly eyes glue Directions
1. Wrap the pipe cleaners around a candy cane. Twist and mold them to form antlers. 2. Glue on Nose. 3. Glue on eyes. 4. Accessorize as you see fit. (i.e. scarf, tophat, bell etc)
Great as a day before the holiday art activity or a sweet gift from Teacher. Please submit any recipes you would like to share by sending them to articles4magazine@gmail.com subject: recipes visit www.testprepcertification.com for submission requirements
Some qualities of a good teacher include skills in communication, listening, collaboration, adaptability and adjusting, engaging, and empathy.
Teachers are:
• Great Communicators.
• Great Listeners
• Great Collaborators
• Great at Adapting and Adjusting
• Great at Engaging
• Great at Showing Empathy
Great communication doesn’t stop when the teacher is done talking. Listening is also a great skill to have. I know this skill too well because when you are teaching 2nd graders you have to repeat what you said in a variety of ways and languages. I’ve used pictures, music, and manipulatives to help my students understand what I am explaining to them.
Working in education means you’re never truly working alone. From paraprofessionals to other classroom teachers and school leaders, working as a teacher often means working effectively in a group. It’s also important to keep an open mind and learn from other educators even if you hold a doctorate degree.
Effective teachers need to be able to work in a constantly evolving environment and adjust their teaching methods based on the age of their students, the resources available and changing curriculum, practices and requirements. Change is the only constant and learning how to adapt and adjust has been one of the skills that’s been most helpful in my career. I went from teaching 6th and 7th grade the last five years to teaching a self-contained 2nd grade classroom this year. This was quite an adjustment, mentally and physically. I had to adapt to my new audience that constantly ask, “can I sharpen my pencil?” and my response is, “as long as I am NOT teaching you can sharpen it any time.”
Being able to engage students with humor, creative lessons and a strong classroom presence is an important part of what makes someone a great teacher. My students like it when I sing to them. I even get asked for encores. Of course, my encores are the same songs.
Everyone learns differently, whether it be faster or slower than normal, keep in mind that not all kids are the same. Just like not all teachers teach the same way. Teachers need to always keep this in mind and always pay close attention to ensure each student is on the track they need to be. WE are their success engineers!
Another key quality to engaging students and improving their learning is to treat each student as an individual, by being empathetic and understanding what may be going on in their lives. It’s so important to be observant, attentive, empathetic and always have a positive attitude. My second graders often ask for recognition for their good work. I see this when we have Spelling Tests. I often get pictures to post on My refrigerator not theirs. Of course, I send them home for their parents to scrutinize.
In case you are questioning my use of the word engineer.
Engineer means a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or public works.
Something that may be easy for one student may not be so easy for another. So, anytime that you can share a praise or two please do that with your students because they desperately need it too. A praise is worth its weight in gold for that child that lacks attention at home.
Our students have a working mind that you are designing for greatness! Keep up the great work and know that you are valued and valuable!!!
1. Prep lesson plans and materials for when you come back. You will be gone for 2 weeks you don’t wnat to be scrambilng around the night before you return.
2. Clean your desk. You deserve to come back to a neat, clean and organized work station. You will set the tone for the new year.
5. Throw out all food. You do not want to come back to little visitors. Once a student hid a milk behind a shelf. It was disgusting.
6. Finally! Enjoy your break. Come back ready for a new beginning. You will wipe the slate clean and love all your little angels as if they weren’t unruly goblins before you left.
3. Turn your email to “Out of Office” . You are on break. Do not be answering emails to parents. Take this time to spend it with your family making memories.
4. Do not take work home. I repeat. DO NOT TAKE WORK HOME!!!! This is your break too. Enjoy it. If grades are due when you come back, make it know you are finishing before you leave. You will not be accepting or grading anything during the holidays. Turn them in and don’t look back.
“A recent RAND survey of teachers who voluntarily left teaching during the pandemic found a full 64% of respondents said their pay wasn’t sufficient to merit the risk or stress. Offering more competitive compensation is an important strategy for both retaining current teachers and recruiting new ones.” –
Tara Kini: Chief of Staff and Director of State Policy at the Learning Policy InstituteWhile teacher shortages continue to grow across the United States and numerous other countries very few if any new proposals have come forward. Almost every study done has pointed to the low salaries of both entry level and experienced teachers as a major contributing factor.
An educational crisis: An educational crisis is a crisis of capability; the only resolution is learning and transformation. Individually, we experience these quite often, when more is asked of us than we can give, the only solution is to learn, to grow, and to develop new capabilities.
There is no doubt that teacher shortages, has created such a crisis. Our pipelines that had been relied on for many years are no longer able to keep up with the need. The universities as the major pipeline for these years, is failing to keep up and has dropped over fifty percent of the graduates in teaching over the past ten years.
Bonding may offer the quick fix needed now
School bonds are like home loans and/or corporate and business bonds. Bonding allows the schools to spend money when needed and then the bonds must be paid back over a designated period. Schools in the U.S. and some other countries already use bonding to build or rebuild school buildings. It has been noted that when school districts approve bonding they must pay back the bond money and some interest to those investing. This is done over a specified time, i.e. five to seven years.
A former state senator told this author that legislative bodies have been reluctant over the years to consider ‘bonding’ for salaries. While
this was undoubtedly true in the past the same legislative bodies did not to face the growing teacher shortages that now exist.
Created under Section 1621(a) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): This program provides limited financial bonding for school districts to fund the rehabilitation or repair of an existing public school facility, construction of a new public school facility, equipment associated with repair or construction.
Since the bond proceeds can be used for building rehabilitation and repair, districts will be able to issue these low-to-no interest bonds in lieu of Fire Prevention (health, life, and safety) bonds that would be at a higher interest rate.
This proposal would provide school districts the ability to raise teacher salaries to a level competitive with other professional careers. It will also give school districts the ability to draw upon the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to make necessary salary adjustments that will help rehabilitate the classroom school climate across the schools. It can also help end the ‘crisis’ presently leading teachers to take early retirements and/or leave the profession.
These adjustments are to allow schools to issue bonds at low-to-no interest as is allowed in the Qualified School Construction Bonds for rehabilitation of professional teacher salaries in a parallel manner as is done in the repair of or building new public school facilities.
• No other known proposal has been offered to date that would get this off of dead center.
• Almost every study done on why teachers leave the profession or do not decide to enter the profession focuses on salaries at the top or very near the top of all studies.
• Salaries continue to lag behind most other professions with the same education levels.
• Teachers leaving earlier now than expected (a.) Retirement; (b.) moving to other professions
• The gap in shortages will grow severely after the recent years of the pandemic; teachers are worn out, feel less respected, and see no end to the low salaries on the horizon.
• A new bonding law or expanding the existing laws would give every school district the same opportunity to bond to meet their particular needs.
• Schools with very adequate salaries may choose not to bond; rural and inner city school districts appear to have the most pressing
Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 5, December
need to bond to move salaries up to a professional and competitive level for present teachers and new teachers coming out of the pipelines.
• The bonding for school improvements or new school buildings would not be possible for many school districts without the legislation that was passed to allow for it in many countries.
Comparative outcomes for Bonding for Buildings and Bonding for Salary Adjustments
Bonding for a new building at $5 million U.S.; one year later building completed; five years later bonds paid off with interest; in the sixth year bonding for another new building $7 million; 16 months later building completed; five years later bonds paid off.
• Teacher salaries become competitive with other professions Early teacher retirements slow down dramatically
• Students have quality certified teachers in every grade level and all subject areas
• Teachers regain pride in themselves and their profession
Two new buildings exist for staff and students.
Bonding for salary adjustments $5 million; five years later salary adjustments bonding paid off with interest; in the sixth year bonding for salary adjustments $6 million; five years later bonds paid off.
The above proposal provides an addition way for countries to consider a new way to fund the teachers’ salary adjustments that need to be made has been outlined for consideration. This should be considered as a means of addressing an educational crisis as was outlined at the top of this article. A longer range solution should also be worked on that will allow school districts to move out of bonding for the salary adjustments for teachers over time.
Dr. Hans Andrews is the Distinguished Fellow in Community College Leadership through Olney Central College in Olney, Illinois. He is a former president of the college. He also served as Dean of Instruction at Illinois Valley Community College and Vice President for Community and Student Services at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was an adjunct teacher for Illinois State University and a business teachercounselor in two secondary schools.
by Cathy Coker
All excerpts are taken from this delightful children’s book about A Critter’s Christmas Eve the Timid Rabbit Series ®.
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It was a cold winter night and the people from the village where Rabbit lives were all in their homes snuggled under their warm blankets. The children were excited because the next day was Christmas Day. They were eager to open presents and eat Christmas dinner with their family and friends. But this Christmas Eve was going to be a very cold night. Not even a mouse was stirring, not even the dirty rat Mitch the Snitch and he was always stirring trouble for everyone. But not tonight. He went to bed early because he wanted to make sure that Santa Claus would drop off all the gifts that he had been asking for since July.
Mitch was ready to eat the leftover Christmas Dinner that the humans would leave behind the next day. His stockings were hung with care knowing that Santa Claus would soon be there. Why did Mitch hang two stockings? nobody knows. He probably asked Santa for extra gifts this year like he did every year. Mitch liked to keep his gifts under his bed, and he could not fit any more gifts under his bed. Not tonight. Today even the children obeyed their parents.They had not gone outside to play very much today because the weatherman had predicted a blizzard for the village that night. The children wanted to earn some more brownie points extra toys in his big red bag that he wanted to give away to good boys and girls. They even helped clean their rooms first thing that morning in anticipation of Santa’s arrival later that night.
An excerpt from The Timid Rabbit Series Book 8: A Critter’s Christmas Eve
1. Describe the setting of the story. (Write at least 3 full sentences.)
2. What does the phrase “brownie points” mean and why do the children want them?
3. Why do you think Mitch the Snitch hung two stockings for himself?
As 2022 comes to an end so does a semester and 1/2 of our school year is in the rearview mirror. Let’s leave behind our disappointments, our negative thoughts and our anxieties. Let us go forth with positivity and hope. In our not so distant future many of us have testing and a slew of new anxieties. Let’s do some things to make our new year a little easier.
As the year ends, take all those ungraded papers and to do lists and burn them. At the very least file them in file 13.
Set some attainable goals for 2023.
One-week Goal: set a goal that can be accomplished your first week back. Make it reasonable and attainable.
• “I will take attendance on time each day for one week.”
• “I will greet each student by name when they enter the room for one week.”
• “I will gather all the test scores from previous years to have a one page view of past test performance.”
One-Month Goal: Set an attainable and measureable goal that you can accomplish in one month.
• I will put the minimum number of grades into the grade book each week by the end of said week for one month.
• I will spend my lunchtime listening to my favorite podcast for one month.
You want to start the year anew. No tasks looming overhead. Clear your desk before you leave for the holidays.
Put up a new bulletin board so the kids come back to a fresh start. All the old decorations are in the past. Looking to a brighter semester.
• I will leave 30 minutes after the last bell each day for one month.
One-Semester Goal: Set an attainable and measureable goal that you can accomplish in one semester.
• I will contact each parent with an update on their child’s progress.
• I will write a letter to each student telling them how proud I am of how much they have accomplished this year and how much I will miss them next year.
• I will track growth of each child over the course of the semester in order to show growth.
Whatever your goals may be, may your next semster be one of promise and hope.
Are you at the point that you can’t walk into the builiding not even one more time? Unfortunately you are not alone. Many teachers leave at this point for many different reasons. When I left, it was for mental and physical issues, I was grieving the recent loss of my daughter. I came to the realization that I had given 20 years to a district that didn’t appreciate my sacrifices. I really had no one to blame but myself. I willingly gave of myself, my time, my money and my spirit.
I could sit and play the blame game or I could leave the district and begin to heal. I chose healing. So what to do next.
I started by contacting human resources and explained to them that I was going to retire. I had just enough time in to retire. At least I thought I did.
After 20 years, all I got was ok send it in writing. No arguments on their part. Once again I felt the love. #sarcasm. Oh but it wasn’t over, because I’d missed so many days, I didn’t earn my 1/2 credit needed for my retirement. So they released me from my contract and never looked back.
I was now unemployed and no money coming in. My first bit of advise to anyone deciding to leave at mid-year is have a plan. I acted rashly and that put me in a financial bind.
Research your options. Make sure you qualify. If you are retiring then make sure you fill out your paperwork and file it in a timely manner. You don’t want to be left without pay for any amount of time. Mid-year is common for retirement Starting a new outside of the classroom adventure and begin your retirement journey.
districts may ask you to stay until they fill your position others may require you to fulfill your obligation.
If leaving mid-year is the best choice for you, then remember that the district may not be so willing to let you go. If you are not released from your contract and you refuse to go back to work. The district may have options.
The district may threaten to suspend your license. They may or may not follow through but I know of a teacher in Texas whose license was suspended and he wasn’t able to get a job for a year. Do not make this decision lightly. Not to mention that these are the people you will be using as references. Don’t burn bridges you may need to use one day.
Other Reasons.
Mental health, physical health or to care for a loved one are all valid reasons to leave and may be received in a more understanding manner. Make sure you have the paperwork to justify your reasons for leaving.
I had my doctor fill out my FMLA paperwork with diagnosis depression and anxiety due to grief. In retrospect, I could have taken a leave of absence and still been able to return in the fall.
A new job or better paying job is not always received well and you may experience backlash.
You are under contract and are therefore bound to serve out that contract unless the school district realeases you from said contract. Because you are under contract its not as easy as just putting in your two weeks. I’m not a lawyer and I am merely offering advise based on my experience.
Read your contract. Research what reasons your district has released other teachers from their contracts. In view of the teacher shortage, you may come across some resistance. While some
Some districts fine the employees and make them pay a penalty for leaving before the end of the contract. Read you contract, some districts lay out the fees and charges in the contract. Check with your union rep as well. They can help you decipher the contract.
Leaving in the middle of the year may leave you feeling guilty for not finishing the year with your students. You may feel bad about abanding your coworkers or team of teachers. It is ok to put yourself first.
If you are in any teacher groups, then you may have seen that they are all abuzz about the Unfair Game. By name it doesn’t seem like it is something I would want to play in my class. It makes me think of probability. But low and behold it is a review game that can be adapted to any subject or grade level, any worksheet or test. The rules are as follows.
1. The teacher assigns everyone the same question. All students work on the problem.
2. After an allotted amount of time, the teacher spins the wheel with all the students names on it.
4. If the student gets it right then that student goes to the board that has a list of prizes. (a homework pass, a soda, 5 points on the quiz, a bag of chips, etc.) They place their name next to a prize.
5. Here is the UNFAIR part of the game. If a child
3. The student that is called upon answers the question. If they don’t know they can pass. They can only pass twice in a game. They can ask for help from deskmates when they are working the problem. If the student passes, the wheel is spun again. This of course is the teacher’s discression. I might put my students in pairs to play this game so that my weaker students had a chance.
,gets the answer right and goes to the board to pick a prize and it has already been taken, then they can erase that students name and replace it with their own.
6. The last names on the board when the game is done are the winners.
A spinner with your student names on it. There is an awesome website called ClassroomScreen. com that has everything you need in one place. You can make a screen with a spinner, a timer, the instructions...you can personalize it.
The prizes don’t have to put you out. People are using things they have in their desk, the vending machines, or things that aren’t tangible such:
• A chance to sit in the teachers chair/desk.
• Points on the next quiz/test
• A homework pass
• An extra rr pass
• Sit next to a friend
• Lunch with the teacher
• Let your imagination run wild Unfair Part
But what about the kids that don’t get anything? Well there are five prizes and five winners. I’m not in the mindset that everyone should get a trophy. While most of the teachers say their students are happy to play the game, some give out a small candy to everyone else for effort. That is your choice.
I hope you try this game and let me know how your kids enjoyed it.
by C&P Educational Consultants
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