Do you still like teaching?

...he asked at graduation night.

I replied quickly. "Yes." And then I didn't know how to follow up. I think I said something along the lines of "there are always a few kids that really make your day difficult. But then you get a 'thank you' letter from another student and you think, I can stay a bit longer."

I don't know why he asked me. Is it because he hasn't seen a tweet from my account since December? Is it because now I present on "Shifting Away from Stress"? It is because my TikToks are about the tough parts of teaching? The question sat with me when I was falling asleep, and it was still there in the morning.

Was I honest with my answer? Yes. There are myriad reasons for me to (still) like teaching. 

• What REALLY makes me still enjoy teaching is thank you letters from students who I didn't get much feedback from during the school year. The quiet students I couldn't read. The ones I didn't have a strong connection with. The children I thought didn't care much for me or the class. To get those letters reaffirms that much of what I'm doing is good. Right. Just. Through all the chaos that happens around them, these students have shared that I'm calm, always smiling, and that I provide a welcoming environment. Of course, these letters are in my scrapbook, and sometimes I take a photo of one to keep near me on difficult days. This one may be hard to read, but it's the most recent that I keep by my desk:
  
• I'm SLOWLY learning that I do not have control over students' actions or words, yet I DO have control of my own. And when students are disrespectful to me or to other students, I can stay calm. I can provide consequences. I can continue the rest of the period ignoring the disrespect while I make connections with students who are respectful that day. I now even share with students that they make their own decisions, and I am not to blame for what they do or say. I can only provide a role model for how to react - or not react. Each year, I improve my own demeanor, and I go home knowing that bad behavior by a student was not my fault. 
• I've been practicing how to take care of myself. I eat healthy, with some chocolate thrown in. I exercise each day. I make time for myself each night - reading and then making slow circles with my head, stretching my neck (where most of my stress lies). Part of taking care of myself is making decisions in class that I would normally leave up to students. It's just this year that I've realized that when I do "take a vote," it's the loud(er), more often disrespectful students who run the show. I'm done with that. I've been making decisions that benefit me, and in turn they probably benefit the respectful students.
• I keep in mind that the children I teach are children. Adolescence is probably the toughest age. It's the age where they're figuring out who they want to be, how they want to act, and what boundaries they want to test. They take a lot of risks, and they worry so much about what others think of them. They want to be liked - some act out to be liked, and some simply hide so no one notices them. What an age. I, myself, hated being 12 and 13. I hope I'm helping some have a pleasant 80 minutes. And if not pleasant, I hope they find I'm a safe person to share troubles or anxieties with.
• The laughter keeps me smiling at work. What other job has so many funny (and sometimes) crazy stories? Even when a student is being immature or receives a consequence for a bad choice, many times I smile when I get home. I know they're testing me and themselves, and I hope they're learning valuable lessons.
• As an ELA teacher, I LOVE sharing great books. Many have lost the love of reading at this age. I love it when just ONE student picks up a book I've shared. And when he or she likes it, too, I glow. I feel I've sparked a love of reading once again. I also love sharing that I've written - and published - two books. The questions they ask when they find out are so fun for me to answer. I love sharing that a total stranger picked my book apart... that I had to read it FIVE times before all the editing was done, and that feedback is so valuable for our writing. When students get my video feedback, I love when they decide to revisit what they've written and revise using my suggestions. They often thank me for taking the time to make the video of me reading their writing. And... when they get a choice in writing and fly with it... I love seeing budding authors excitedly at work and proud of their work.

So... yeah. I enjoy teaching. I will never master it, as students and situations change yearly (daily!), but sometimes the challenge makes me enjoy it, too. I feel as if not many people can do what I do. Sometimes I feel beat down, but I've come back each time now, and I'm stronger than ever. Sure, someone will replace me some day, but right now I'm getting experience that not many other professions can claim to have. It's certainly not for everybody, but I'm making the most of it.

Small Wins Are Bigger These Days

I feel things more (stronger?) these days. Hot is hotter, ice is more painful, contentment stays with me longer. I'm feeling all the feels from this first week back at school. Today I'm at peace, so I'm going to take a few moments and share a few small wins from three days with students...

I've got a few self-proclaimed readers. One, after checking out a book from our classroom library, just keeps reading (even as I'm giving directions). As I nudge him to close his book, he says, "This is going to happen a lot. My teachers are always taking my book away." This is a good problem for me to have. (Even if it's not so great for the other teachers on the team.)

At least TEN students checked out books from our classroom library so far.

We found out that our homeroom students speak eight other languages: Romanian, Polish, Hindi, Greek, Spanish, Assyrian, Lebanese, and Arabic.

One class was 10 minutes longer than my longest (I had a 30-min class, a 60-min, and a 50-min class), so I took them out for a walk around the building. One student walked with me the entire way, and we took turns asking each other questions and sharing stories. 

As I was going over classroom expectations (which I'd stopped doing for a number of years and now I'm back doing - because it's needed), one student was upset that I'd put the cushions away if they weren't used properly. Another replied, "No, it's okay, because it's a privilege, not a right." <<Insert hug here!>>

Five students shared their quick writing with the class already. One started to share, then realized he couldn't read his own handwriting. He took it in stride and he may decide to improve it. (??)

Our school librarian had us check out books from the library on the third day of school!

I get to eat my 40-minute lunch with great colleagues.

My co-homeroom teacher greets kids at the door with me (and we have time to socialize!).

Yesterday, one of my classes found the bookmarks I've made for them. :D

I'm giving out intermittent rewards (T-Wolf tickets students can use as currency for a new school store), which the students and I are excited about!

This year, my co-planner and I decided to do what we saw a sixth-grade ELA teacher do - collect the sticky notes that students are supposed to bring in. I found this awesome big jar we've had at home for awhile. Now we have a place for them, and everyone will be able to use them!

When I did our first read-aloud (First-Chapter Friday - Ghost Boys was yesterday's pick), I thanked the students for listening so well, even though I hadn't gone over that expectation. One student said, "We know when to be quiet." I smiled (NOT through a mask - another win!) and replied, "I would think so, but it's difficult to get back into school mode after a summer off. Thank you for practicing this skill with us today." And I felt corny, and old, and totally okay with all of it.

I'm grateful for all the last two years has taught me. (I won't go so far to say I'm grateful for the challenges that have helped me learn these lessons, but I suppose that's really what it is, right??) I know there will be more tough lessons in the future, should I choose to see the challenges as a tool for learning. I always learn the best from my mistakes, rather than from someone just telling me how to do something. I hope these lessons stick with me for the next six years, and I hope this year is much better than the last two as a result. 

Two Good Stories from My Week

Story #1

Our last day all remote, April 12, even though our MOU says our district is staying remote on Mondays... I put my laptop on my raised table, as I stand on our remote days. I am able to sing loudly, dance, and be overall more ME on Mondays, so I use the raised table. Even though I remember to plug in the document camera and the dongle to my other screen, I guess I don't plug in the charger. I only realize this when everything turns off in the middle of my sentence. I lose everyone and everything. I swear (no worries - I'm not in front of any 12-13-year-olds at the moment). I plug it in, turn it on, and the new host (we'll call him Harvey) lets me in right away. I turn on the chat and I see a peer (we'll call him Hank) type in "Do the right thing, [Harvey]." Suddenly I start observing what I didn't even think I should be observing - some fear in some children's eyes, some relief, some confusion... and another student unmutes and asks, "Mrs. Kirr, can you put my camera back on? [Harvey] turned it off." I asked the class if there was something they felt they needed to share with me. I asked for direct messages if something needs to be said, and no one said anything. Harvey had already made me the host, and so we proceeded with the lesson. The next day, I was sure to head over to Harvey and Hank and thank them for whatever they prevented. Such maturity. I'm so proud of them.

Story #2

In one class, I have one student (out of two) who is consistently a minute or two (or more) late to the Zoom. The other was on the absent list. I opened the Zoom, put it half-way over the Jamboard warm up projected on the screen, greeted the in-person students, and waited for the tone to signal this student had arrived. The phone rang - it was the office saying that the one student was trying to get on the Zoom link. I told her it's open, so we'll look for them. Then one student told me to look at the Jamboard. Looking up, the entire thing was covered by a large (virtual) sticky note. It said, "We're trying to get into the Zoom!!" I'd done it. 120+ days into the school year, I'd started the wrong Zoom link. What a great way to get your teacher to know something!! Kudos to those two (yup - the one was suddenly not absent) for their quick thinking!

I love these stories. I had to document them, while still hoping we don't have Zoom open next year.

Book Giveaways

Here's the scoop. I was near the end of reading The Zen Teacher by Dan Tricarico, and thought of an idea... Clean off that shelf - at least somewhat.

I quickly rounded up books I'd already taken notes on in my Google Docs, and then started typing in the notes from the ones I had highlighted and written in but not taken digital notes yet. Once I stacked them up, it was a pretty tall list. It made a lot of room on my shelf. I did NOT round up the books I like to take with me when I present (I have a duplicate copy of Pure Genius I'm keeping), the books I still use for reference, the books my district provided for a book study (those will stay in our school), or the books that I just love dearly and can't let go.

I accumulated the following books in various ways...

• I won some at EdCamps. 
• I won some through raffles, or by answering questions in presentations.
• I was sent some to review on this blog.
• I was sent some because my work or a quote was in them.
• I was given a couple because I'm loved.
• I traded Shift This for a couple of them.
• I actually purchased some.
• I'm a connected educator. You aren't yet? It's time to become connected.
• None of them were purchased by my district or school to use for the classroom (one was for a book study outside the ELA curriculum).

I read them in various ways...

• I highlighted some.
• I wrote notes in some.
• I wrote a chapter of one.
• I used sticky notes in some.
• I took digital notes for some.
• I highlighted, wrote in, and took digital notes for some.
• I used some to help me with Genius Hour or going without points/marks.
• I actually didn't read some of these, or started them and realized they were not for me (and I'm not telling you which ones). Reading is so very personal - we all have our own tastes and needs when it comes to books. I hope you win one and it helps you on your educational journey!

They're in various conditions...

• Some are in perfectly new condition.
• Some are written in.
• Some are highlighted.
• Some are signed by the author(s).
• Some have sticky notes (although I tried to clear most out).
• Some pages are dog-eared.
• Some bindings are broken.

I'm celebrating...

• life
• my 40s (I'm loving my 40s and there are 40 books here)
• our profession
• being so fortunate to have owned and read (most of) these books,
• being so fortunate to have learned from them, and used the authors' words to transform my thinking (and teaching, in many cases),
• books, in general, and...
• the fact that WORD SHIFT comes out this summer! 

HOW TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ACQUIRE ONE OF THESE BOOKS:

• You must provide an address in the United States. (It costs the price of the book for me to send it elsewhere - I'm so sorry to my friends on other parts of the globe!)
• You must look at the book descriptions online to find out what they're about if you don't already know.
• You must fill in the Google form below.
• You may fill in the form multiple times.
• You must wait patiently for the month to be over.
• All winners will be announced and contacted by July 1st.

I understand, once these books are out of my hands, they are yours to do with as you please. I only ask that you do not sell them. If you don't want the book after you read it, please give it away. Please do the research to see which you can benefit from, and which to leave to someone else. Winners' names will be added to this post after the contest is complete. The books are in order here by title:

Assessment 3.0 by Mark Barnes -- WINNER: ANDREW BROERE
The Best Lesson Series: Literature - 15 Master Teachers Share What Works edited by Brian Sztabnik -- WINNER: SANDRA HENDERSON
Book Love by Penny Kittle -- WINNER: KERRY HANNING
Code Breaker by Brian Aspinall -- WINNER: KAREN BURKE
Common Core English Language Arts in a PLC at Work Grades 6-8 by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey -- WINNER: BRITTANY SCHMIDT
Digital Citizenship in Action by Kristen Mattson -- WINNER: JOSHUA BODEN
Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller -- WINNER: KRISTEN WILTON 
Drive by Daniel Pink -- WINNER: EMILY PHARMORNSUWANA 
Eight Myths of Student Disengagement by Jennifer A. Fredricks -- WINNER: JENNA MOLLER
The Element by Sir Ken Robinson -- WINNER: KIMBERLY ISHAM
Escaping the School Leader's Dunk Tank by Rebecca Coda and Rick Jetter -- WINNER: MIKE STEIN
Falling in Love with Close Reading by Christopher Lehman and Kate Roberts -- WINNER: CONNIE HAMILTON
The Flexible ELA Classroom by Amber Chandler -- WINNER: MEGAN LEE
Flipping 2.0 compiled by Jason Bretzmann -- WINNER: DAVID ISBELL
Flipping Your English Class to Reach All Learners by Troy Cockrum
Hacking Assessment by Starr Sackstein -- WINNER: TRACY MAILLOUX 
Hacking the Common Core by Michael Fisher
Hacking Education by Mark Barnes and Jennifer Gonzalez
The Human Side of School Change by Robert Evans
Instant Relevance by Denis Sheeran -- WINNER: MEGHAN KESTNER 
It's Like Riding a Bike by David M. Schmittou
Kids Deserve It! by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome -- WINNER: JULIA GALVAN
Make Writing by Angela Stockman -- WINNER: VICKI STUCZYNSKI 
The Passion-Driven Classroom by Angela Maiers and Amy Sandvold -- WINNER: AMY BROWN
Pure Genius by Don Wettrick -- WINNER: MARIE BOWERS
Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller -- WINNER: ELIZABETH GONSALVES
Reclaiming Our Calling by Brad Gusftason -- WINNER: TRACY MITCHELL 
ROLE Reversal by Mark Barnes -- WINNER: AMANDA DAUPHINAIS 
Shattering the Perfect Teacher Myth by Aaron Hogan -- WINNER: TJ RAINES 
Spark Learning by Ramsey Musallam -- WINNER: LAURA VON STADEN
Steal the Show by Michael Port
Stories in EDU compiled by Jason Bretzmann and Kenny Bosch
Teaching with Tablets by Nancy Frey, Doug Fisher, Alex Gonzalez
Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re)Invigorate Your Teaching by Meenoo Rami -- WINNER: MARLA DUNCAN
Unmapped Potential by Julie Hasson and Missy Lennard -- WINNER: LISA GAEDE
Well Spoken by Erik Palmer
What Color Is Your Brain? by Sheila N. Glazov -- WINNER: MORGAN BOLES 
What Connected Educators Do Differently by Todd Whitaker, Jeffrey Zoul, and Jimmy Casas -- WINNER: TRACIE ROBERSON
Who Owns the Learning? by Alan November -- WINNER: KATHRYN FINCH
The Zen Teacher by Dan Tricarico -- WINNER: KAREN FIELD

Update 6/30/19:
I am NOT looking forward to only one person winning each book! I've got to get over the guilt of not being able to send one to everyone, and instead, be happy that I AM able to afford to send these off to good homes.
Winners will be announced TOMORROW!

Shift This Readers ROCK!

I've got three things to celebrate - thanks to readers of Shift This...