How Important is Praise?

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-schools-self-esteem-boosting-is-losing-favor-to-rigor-finer-tuned-praise/2012/01/11/gIQAXFnF1P_story.html?hpid=z3 

Earlier this morning, I read an interesting article from the Washington Post (see link above).  When I read the following excerpt, five of my student popped instantly into my head.

Alfie Kohn, author of the book “Punished by Rewards,” has said most praise, even for effort, encourages children to be “praise junkies” dependent on outside feedback rather than cultivating their own judgment and motivation to learn.

Read the article for yourself.  What do you think?  While I agree that confidence is important, I do not want my students to work only for praise and external factors.  I want them to become independent critical thinkers.  I want them to realize that not everything comes easily; some things require work hard and persistence.  I also want them to realize how great it feels when they truly succeed.

"I have a dream..."

This week in class, my students learned about Martin Luther King Junior's heroic contributions to our country.  We started by using a class set of books from our third grade storage room.

Students volunteered and took turns reading the pages of the story together as a class.  We stopped throughout the story to discuss how life would have been different without MLK Jr.  Students also shared similarities and differences between MLK and themselves.  For example, many students learned that MLK Jr. enjoyed playing basketball when he was young.  They also couldn't believe that young Martin was told he had to stop playing with two of his friends just because they had different skin colors.

http://www.lauracandler.com/filecabinet/seasonal/MLKBrainPOPVideoPacket.pdf

After reading the story together, students had small group discussions to discuss their reactions.  I was impressed the students' conversations which demonstrated higher level thinking.  Following the discussions, we learned new vocabulary (segregate, civil rights, etc.) using Laura Candler's vocabulary cards.  Each student received a set of flashcards printed on colorful card stock.  Candler provided vocabulary activities, discussion questions, sequence cards, and so much more.  In small groups, students completed the sequence cards to create a timeline.  Students glued the cards to construction paper and added illustrations to each event.  To conclude the lesson, our class watched a short BrainPop video (http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/martinlutherkingjr/).  Students enjoyed the video so much they asked how to access the content at home!

2012 Wedding!!

In 2002, I met Justin when I was a high school sophomore.  We rowed together for our high school team and shared several mutual friends.  I had an embarrassingly large crush on him (and everyone, including him, knew it) but he didn't want to date anyone so we became friends.  We would talk together in the halls after school before rowing practice so often that one of my teacher's felt the need to call my dad about it!  Apparently, I should have spent more time on my homework during that time...

On June 18, 2004 he FINALLY asked me out (the day AFTER I graduated).   We had a long distance relationship for our entire college experience.  I went to the University of Tulsa and he went to Cornell University.  It was extremely difficult because we only saw each other during summer break, winter break, and several days in fall and spring.  However, the distance didn't keep us completely apart.  We spent hours on the phone together, which caused for some unfortunate cell phone bills.  I believe our record was somewhere around six hours.  In December of 2009 we were reunited when he returned home with his Masters' degree.

In December 2010 he took me on a romantic (and surprise) trip to New York City!  We skated at Rockefeller Center (where someone got down on one knee in the middle of the ice), went to the Empire State Building (where yet another proposal occurred), ate delicious sandwiches at Carnegie Deli, and SO much more.  When we first got up to NYC, I thought to myself, this could be it!  I might be engaged by the end of this trip.  But after all of the engagements that were occurring literally just feet from us, and no word from Justin, a couple days into the trip I decided that he wasn't going to ask so I should just get a grip!

Well...later that evening he proved me wrong.  We ate dinner at Lombardi's Pizza and then took the Subway back to our hotel on Broadway where we changed for a show.  We saw Promises, Promises with Sean Hayes, Molly Shannon, and Kristin Chenoweth (who was, unfortunately, not performing that night).  The show was amazing, to say the least.  At the end, people were able to meet the actors and get autographs, however, Justin pulled me out fast and lead me to Central Park.  We took a horse and carriage ride with a beautiful white horse named Jimmy.  There was a blizzard right before we arrived, so there was snow everywhere.  It was beautiful (and cold)!  At one point, the carriage stopped and Justin and I got out at the fountain they taped the opening credits for the tv show Friends.  We had a picture taken and then the next thing I know, Justin was proposing.  He even got down on one knee in the snow and ice.  What a gentleman!  I had lots of happy tears and we took some more pictures.  We started walking back to the hotel and stopped to buy me a red rose.  Next, we went to the lounge upstairs.  We sipped on a bottle of champagne as we talked, stared at my sparkly ring, and overlooked Times Square.  A perfect end to a perfect day!


Now, we're planning our wedding for August 11th in Arlington, Virginia.  Our venue is on the top floor of a building and overlooks Washington DC and is perfectly lined up with the Mall.  There are wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony so there will be a great view no matter where you are inside.  We're having an evening wedding in anticipation of a beautiful sunset followed by illuminated monuments.

I had a wonderful time last year.  I can't wait to see what is in store for me this year!  Happy 2012!

Character Traits

It was a Friday afternoon less than an hour away from dismissal when we started learning about character traits.  I first demonstrated how character traits are all around us; they're not just in books, but every person has these traits.  I gave them a great two-sided list that I had found on Pinterest, and we discussed a few of my character traits. 

First, I gave them this example:  When I walk through the halls at school, I always smile at people and say hello when I walk by.  Using their lists, students came up with the traits friendly, happy, cheerful, polite, etc.  Second, I gave them another example of how I was as a child.  We discussed that character traits can change, just like many characters do in stories.  We had one brave student share what the inside of her desk looks like and the class came up with character traits that described this student.  Lastly, I gave the students a four-square page with a box for their name in the middle.  Students had to use the list to come up with four traits that described them and then provide evidence as to why these are appropriate traits for them.

Next, we read the story David Goes to School by David Shannon.  As I read the story, students laughed along and filled in a four-square sheet with character traits that described evidence, just like the one they had completed about themselves. 

 At this point, we were almost out of time so I wrapped up the lesson for the day.  We reviewed what a character trait is and how it is different from an adjective.  I told them we would be started the novel Freckle Juice, by Judy Blume, (Guided Reading M) and read the blurb on the back of the book.  The students were so excited.  They even let out a big "Awwwwwww" when they had to pack up for the weekend.  I'd say that lesson went well!

Now, student are finishing up the last chapter in the novel.  I only have 12 copies of the book for my 24 students.  I had created a packet to accompany the novel.  Before, during, and after, students had to complete activities and answer questions that demonstrated their knowledge of vocabulary, comprehension, etc.  There is also an ongoing character traits page for the students to add traits and evidence about Andrew, the main character of the story.

Later this week, we will start Bunnicula (Guided Reading Q)!  We will  be learning about a new genre, mysteries!  Also, this is a great book to introduce homophones, since the characters mix up stake and steak.  This is another novel which is great to reinforce character traits as well.

Blog...take two!

I started a blog several months ago.  Then...life seemed to get in the way.  Now that things are calming down (somewhat) I figured I would take a stab at it again.

This year is my third year teaching and I am out in the trailers.  Oops, I mean, I'm in the learning cottages.  My team likes to refer to it as "the Park on the Hill."  We think it sounds classier. 

Life in the trailers certainly has its ups and downs.  For starters, we have had an INCREDIBLE amount of rain this year.  We even had school off one day due to flooding.  Luckily, our classroom hasn't been carried away...yet!  Whenever the parents ask us about the rain, I tell them that "it's a great bonding experience."  Plus, we are learning about weathering and erosion in science.  I call this a unique first hand experience as we walk through the muck to get to the school.  Silver lining?  I'm trying.  The most disruptive thing about the trailers is the bathroom situation.  They have special times to go during the day, but you always have that handful of students who just can't seem to make the schedule work for them.  Sadly, a lot of class time is being used as bathroom breaks or simply traveling to the cafeteria, music, etc.

However, I do enjoy life at the Park, at times. For example, after an assembly the kids have tons of energy.  I allow them to run two laps around the blacktop next to our room before they come back in.  Most of the students LOVE this and take of sprinting.  In addition, fire alarms do not disrupt the day nearly as much anymore.  We simply walk outside, stand in line, and walk back in.

Project #1 - Kitchen makeover

I moved into my townhouse approximately three months ago.  It was built in 1990 and is in FANTASTIC shape.  When Justin and I visited this house for the first time (about five months ago?) he told me that the kitchen was a deal breaker.

Kitchen - Before

Above: Breakfast nook and part of the french doors that lead to the patio.

Views of kitchen and appliances

At first I couldn't understand why.  It had a breakfast nook, decent appliances, french doors to the back patio, and beautiful GRANITE counter tops.  In my opinion it was a great place to live after moving out of our parents' houses.  The truth came out that evening when he said he the yellow walls made it unbearable (he abhors yellow).

Luckily, paint is an easy fix.  Unfortunately, we didn't realize that we needed to do a lot more than cover up the yellow!  I realized the yellow was peeling off at the edges of the room.  After yanking the chip, I realized it had been painted over two layers of wallpaper.  We used DIF (purchased at Home Depot) to strip the wallpaper off the walls.  It worked wonders!

Under the wallpaper we found the real gem.  Poorly executed white/blue sponge painting that gave the feeling of floating through the clouds.  Plus, we found a wonderful 80s stencil border around the entire kitchen of grapevines.  (Now remember, the house was built in 1990 so clearly someone was stuck in the 80s!)  

This lovely stencil could be found around the entire kitchen.

Justin and I painted the kitchen all week after getting home from work.  We would paint a wall or two each night (the paint needed two coats because of the grapes just wouldn't go away).  We finished painting on Thursday night at about midnight.

I had the day off on Friday so I cleaned the kitchen and did the final touches.  When Justin came home that night he willingly hung up my pictures.  To be fair to Justin, they are a pain because the wire used on the back to hang the series of paintings up was not the same length.  They certainly were a challenge (and still not perfect) but that is why I am so happy that Justin agreed to do it.  (Originally I tried and failed miserably, but that's what engineers are for!)  The pictures below weren't taken with my camera (I haven't located the charger since I moved) so sorry for the poor picture quality and lighting!  Oh, and we painted the kitchen using Behr Rejuvenate!

 Above:  A close up of the tablecloth I bought from Home Goods.  The picture doesn't do it justice!

 Above: The lighting doesn't show the true color of the paint.  Oh well, I tried!

I love these little containers that Justin's mom gave us.

Well, that's about it for this post.  I will try to get some better pictures with my camera as soon as I locate my charger.  Next time, I will post about a wreath that I am in the process of making from the front door.  Cross your fingers for me; I'm a bit nervous that it won't turn out!

Welcome!

I have been an avid blog follower for quite some time now.  After much deliberation, I've decided to start my own blog.  The purpose of this blog will be to share my "findings" and ideas about everything from my classroom to my wedding planning.  I also can't forget about the transformations going on at my new townhouse!!

I hope you enjoy what you will find here and perhaps take a few ideas away for yourself!


PS  Stay tuned.  Details about my kitchen transformation complete with pictures will be posted soon!