What is My Job?

I was recently on Facebook and I was looking at profiles of some of my friends I have not seen for a while. Looking at their career information made me feel a little depressed. On that night jobs like doctor, athletic trainer, manager and owner all sounded more impressive then being a teacher.  I mentioned to my husband that I was feeling like a slacker because many of my friends seem to have more important and impressive jobs. This led to a conversation about what being a teacher actually means. I don't mean to discredit any profession.  All professions are important, but sometimes the title does not clearly explain what the job entails. I strongly believe in the power of teachers and I see how important our job is to the future of our communities and our country as a whole. 

What It Means To Be A Teacher

1. Teachers model for students correct behavior. Teachers are role models who help instil behavior that is expected at home. Manners, respect and many life skills are taught and strengthened at school.

2. Teachers manage classrooms full of students who are all working towards a common goal of mastering new content. They cultivate a love of learning in their classrooms. 

3. Teachers evaluate students and create lessons and projects that strengthen their student's weaknesses.  All of this is done without the ability to fire students. Teachers work hard to help all of their students find success. 

As teachers, we have an amazing job! The foundation of our student's futures are built in our classrooms. It may not seem glamorous, but we are not just teachers. 

AFC Has Talent 2013

I will openly admit that I complained a lot about having to organize the end of the year Talent Show. As a first year teacher, I don't have a lot of say when it comes to school traditions. My school cut elementary music for a few years and a teacher started the Talent Show as a way to incorporate music without having music class. Although I complained a lot and it was a time consuming process, the final product was amazing!  I work at a K-4 Elementary School and the Talent Show is open to all students. My school has around two hundred students and we had thirty performance that involved forty seven students. 

The Talent Show this Year was a great success and I look forward to organizing it next year. In years past it has been called AFC Idol and this year I changed it to AFC Has Talent, which allowed students to play an instrument as well as sing. 

Top 5 Reasons Why Every School Should Host A Talent Show

1. It allows students a chance to showcase a talent that might otherwise be hidden to their classmates and teachers. I was amazed at the musical talent of many of my students who performed. 

2. Music and the arts in general give students who struggle in traditional academics an outlet and a platform to be successful. 

3. It gives students the opportunity to practice performing infront of a crowd. 

4. It is a great school tradition that students look forward to each year. 

5. It is a wonderful way to advocate for music and to showcase the music abilities of a school. 

What I Learned From Teaching in Alaska

In the summer of 2010 I moved to Alaska for a teaching job. Music jobs were hard to find in the Midwest at that time, so I decided to move when I was offered a position. I taught at a K-6 school with around 100 students.  I was hired as the music and physical education teacher.  My other duties as assigned included teaching second grade math one year and kindergarten math and reading my second year. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to teach in Alaska. I learned so much and my time there helped me grow as a teacher and a person. 

Top 10 Things I Learned from Teaching in Alaska

1. Relationships are the most important thing: between teachers, between teachers/students and between the school and families/communities. 

2. School may be the only consistent stabilizing force for students who have very difficult home lives. 

3. Strong traditions add to the school experience. All school Thanksgiving Dinner, 6th Grade vs Faculty Game and the end of the year 5K were three of my favorites. 

4. Working as a staff team makes life more enjoyable and successful. 

5. Many students miss out on experiences if they do not get them at school. Schools need to find and fill the needs of their community. 

6. All teachers have strengths and skills that other teachers can learn from. 

7. Each classroom should be unique and bring characteristics that are specific to the individual teacher.

8. As a teacher respect cannot be demands, it must be earned. 

9. Learning is fun!

10. Kids want to know that someone cares about them. Building a relationship and trust is vital!

Summer Reading 2013

Challenge Started: May 22, 2013

1. Daphne's Book by Mary Downing Hawn-5/22/13

2. Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hawn-5/23/13

3. Teaching and Learning are Lifelong Journeys-5/24/13

4. You Can't Say You Can't Play by Vivian Gussin Paley-5/25/13

5. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder-5/26/13

6. The Book of 1 Thessalonians-5/27/13

7. The Book of 2 Thessalonians-5/28/13

8. In Christ Alone by Sinclair B. Ferguson-5/29/13

9. Candide by Voltaire-5/30/13

10. The Father's Guide to the Meaning of Life by Joe Kita-5/31/13

May Totals:  10 Days-10 Books

11. The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oke-6/1/13

12. Puppy Come Home by Laura Yirak-6/1/13

13. They Call Me Coach by John Wooden-6/2/13

14. Imposter (A Protectors Novel) by Karen Fenech-6/2/13

15. The Book of 1 Timothy-6/3/13

16. The Stress Free You by Elizabeth O'Brien-6/4/13

17. The Book of 2 Timothy-6/4/13

18. Wounded Healer by Donna Fleisher-6/4/13

19. Blacklist by Brad Thor-6/5/13

20. The Book of Titus-6/6/13

21. The Book of Philemon-6/6/13

22. The Book of Joel-6/7/13

23. The Book of Obadiah-6/8/13

24. The Book of Habakkuk-6/9/13

25. Helping People Win at Work by Ken Blanchard and Garry Ridge-6/10/13

26. The Book of Zephaniah-6/11/13

27. The Rules of Work by Richard Templar-6/12/13

28. The Womens Murder Club: 1st to Die by James Patterson-6/13/13
29. The Essential 55 Workbook by Ron Clark-6/13/13

30. The Book of Nahum-6/14/13 

31. The Book of Haggai-6/15/13

32. The Book of Jonah-6/16/13

33. The Book of Malachi-6/17/13

34. The Book of Ruth-6/18/13

35. Brian's Return by Gary Paulsen-6/19/13

36. The River by Gary Paulsen-6/21/13

37. The Book of Jude-6/22/13

38. The Book of Colossians-6/23/13

39. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew by C.S Lewis-6/24/13

40. The Book of 1 John-6/25/13

41. The Book of 2 John-6/26/13

42. The Book of 3 John-6/26/13

43. The Book of Philippeans-6/27/13

44. The Book of James-6/28/14

45. The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis-6/29/13

46. The Book of 1 Peter-6/30/13

June Totals: 30 Days-36 Books

47. The Book of 2 Peter-7/1/13

48. Notorious Nighteen by Janet Evonovich-7/2/13

49. The Book of Lamentations-7/3/13

50. Bonnie by Iris Johansen-7/4/13

51. Taking Eve by Iris Johansen-7/5/13

52. The Book of Galations-7/7/13

53. The Book of Ephesians-7/8/13

54. Plum Luck by Janet Evonovich-7/10/13

55. The Book of Micah-7/11/13

56. Full Black by Brad Thor-7/14/13

57. One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber-7/16/13

58. 57 Ways to Take Control of Your Time and Your Life by Jim Meisenheimer-7/16/13

59. A Wanted Man: Jack Reacher by Lee Child-7/17/13

60. 20 Things I've Learned As An Entrepenuer by Alicia Morga-7/18/13

61. Called To Write by KM and Rev. CM Logan-7/18/13

62. Being Happy by David Tuffley-7/18/13

63. Ten Interesting Things About Human Behavior by Suzanne L. Davis-7/18/13

64. How To Start A Successful Blog In One Hour by Steve Scott-7/19/13

65. Cougar Cub Tales: The Sneezy Wheezy Day by Sharon Cramer-7/20/13

66. Princess Diadora: Ordinary Princess by Eddie Bee & Teri Lee-7/20/13

67. A Different Princess: Space Princess by Amy Potter-7/20/13

68. The Rainbow Stick Boy by Michael Santolini-7/20/13

69. Cougar Cub Tales: I'm Just Like You by Sharon Cramer-7/20/13

70. Cougar Cub Tales: Lost and Alone by Sharon Cramer-7/20/13

71. App Design Checklist by MindSea-7/20/13

72. What the Fox Learnt by Four Fables by Aesop-7/20/13

73. 7 Reasons Why Your Blog Is Failing by Terry Anders-7/22/13

74. How To Start A Blog That People Will Actually Read by Mike Omar-7/23/13

75. In Too Deep by Katheryn Shay-7/24/13

76. The Dirty Dozen Abdominal Workout by Pete Genot-7/24/13

77. Forbidden Disclosure: A Billinaire in Disguise by Terri Marie-7/24/13

78. The Workout Series: 4 Week Home Bodyweight Workout by Arnel Ricafranca- 7/24/13

July Totals: 31 Days-32 Books

79. Ransom River by Meg Gardiner- 8/3/13

80. How Childen Succeed by Paul Tough-8/4/13

81. Expert Blogging by Nick Thacker-8/6/13

82. How To Discipline Without Shouting or Spanking by Jerry Wyckoff-8/10/13

83. Useful Things by Thomas Faustin Huiskiny-8/10/13

84. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C.S Lewis-8/12/13

85. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S Lewis-8/13/13

86. Rhythm of the Game by Bernie Williams-8/18/13

Chorus Repertoire

Today was our last 5th/6th Chorus rehearsal of the year, so I had my students reflect on our year and then we picked out music for next year. I am working on building my 5th/6th grade chorus, so I am trying my best to build interest.  My goal is to balance traditional choir selections with popular selections (which my students are interested in).  I feel like singing popular music breaks an unwritten rule of teaching choir, but I also realize that students need to be interested in the material in order for them to work on it. These are the songs my students have selected. 

They Really Liked

1. Keep Your Lamps-This group loves Spirituals. Shut De Do is another favorite. 

2. The Climb-Miley Cyrus

3. Never There-Cake

4. Zum Gali Gali

5. When Can I See You Again?-Owl City

These Are OK

1. Ching A Ring

2. For Good-Wicked

3. May It Be-Enya

4. Africa-Toto

Student Reflection Cards

I decided to step out on a limb and try something new this year. I have read a lot of articles lately about having students complete reflection forms at the end of the year.  It serves as a way to have students reflect on the year, while also giving feedback to their teacher. 

I gave all of my students in third and fourth grades a notecard and I wrote the four questions on the board. 

1. Favorite thing

2. Least favorite thing

3. Something we should spend more time on 

4. Advice for Mrs. Wren

I am always striving to improve my teaching, my lessons and our classroom. These cards have given me important information from my students on how to make things better.  I use recorder karate in fourth grade and one of the students recommended rearranging the room so they could see the karate board better. He would like to be babble o write his own name once he accomplishes a belt. So far I have leaned a lot about what my students like and don't like about my class/room. 

Summer Reading Challenge

I recently saw a link on Twitter about the "Book A Day Challenge."  I was immediately intrigued by the name and decided to read more about it.  The corresponding blog post explained how many teachers are challenging themselves this summer to read a book a day.  I love to read and one of my favorite things about summer is that it allows me more time to read.  I have decided to partake in this challenge.  It is really just an excuse I now have to explain why I am reading so much this summer.

I am going to start my challenge on Saturday, June 1st.  I plan on reading a variety of material: books for fun (James Patterson, Tess Gerritsen, Nicholas Sparks, JD Robb, Iris Johanson, Janet Evanovich and Deb Macomber are some of my favorite authors), children's literature (searching for possibilities to add to my classroom library), autobiographies, biographies and non-fiction (music, running, coaching and teaching.)

Anyone else filling their summer with reading or have any book suggestions?  I cannot wait to begin filling my summer days with hours of reading. It is going to be a great three months!

Here is the list of the books I have read so far this summer.