How teaching is like roller skating...

When I was a child, roller skating was one of my favorite activities. I would roller skate at the roller skating rink, in the driveway, or down the street at my friend's house pretending we were in the Olympics. The thing is, when I was learning to skate, there wasn't a lot of instruction and support. My dad did give me a few tips: the rubber stopper is to stop you; if you fall, be careful that you don't run over your fingers when you get up; always skate counter-clockwise around the rink. We figured it out from watching others and just trying until we got it. Recently, my youngest son, Brody, was invited to a skating party for a friend's birthday. He met the day full of trepidation and worry over the unknown. He worried about not knowing how to skate and what to expect when he got there. I gave him my dad's 3 key instructions, helped him get his skates on, and sent him off. Bad idea. Knowing everything I know about direct instruction, feedback, and gradual release, why would I not put those tools to use here??? So I picked my sweet boy up off the floor (again) and took him aside. I gave him some instruction on skating, along with some feedback on what I had seen so far. But then I realized he needed more support. In the corner of the skating rink, I spotted some super cool pvc pipe contraptions that kiddos can use as a support. GENIUS! Soon Brody was on his way to skating! All he needed was  explicit instruction on skating, a little feedback, time and  the pvc support to keep him moving while he was learning. The support didn't skate for him, but it offered him something to lean on when he felt like he was in trouble and kept him from crashing and burning. Soon, I noticed Brody would use the support for a little bit and then when he felt like he could do it on his own, he set the pvc support aside and gave it a try. There were times when he might go back and use the support for reinforcement, but as time moved on he needed the support less and less. 

I thought about what a great metaphor this skating experience is for our instruction in literacy. Our students need our instruction, they can't play the game if they don't know the strategies to play; however, they also need support. Not the kind of support that does it for them, but support that is there for them to use when needed, yet gives them the option to let it go when they feel like they are ready to try it on their own. In my classroom, I have lots of those supports in place. They might be mentor texts, anchor charts, our CAFE menu, checklists and rubrics for kids to use when self-assessing and setting goals to keep moving forward.  I think these supports are necessary in a student's journey. They give kids an opportunity to feel success without an all or nothing weight around their neck. What a great way to honor a child's individual learning journey! What are supports that you offer in your classroom to keep your kids going?

Sincerely,
Tara Reed

Community

One thing I love about teaching elementary is watching the children develop their sense of community. They are so accepting of one another. As we were preparing to dismiss this afternoon, I watched my students and marveled at how they have built relationships and care for one another. I have a couple of students new to our school this year, and you would be hard pressed to pick those kiddos out of a lineup. 😊 I love how genuine they are with their feelings. They serve as such a great example of how things should be. In light of such a heavy day today, it certainly was refreshing to see that there is hope.

Sincerely,

Tara Teed

Trust

I watched my daughter's future teammates play in the NCAA women's basketball tournament this evening. They are a really great team. They play hard, are coached very well, and trust themselves and each other to do their jobs effectively. Tonight they faced an opponent seated much higher than they were. However, true to who they are, these women came out fighting. Bit by bit the other team showed what made them elite. Bit by bit I watched these young women lose their confidence and their their fight. They stopped trusting in their skills and panicked. In the end, it wasn't meant to be for the Lady Hoosiers today. As I watched them second-guess themselves and lose their stride, I was reminded of so many of my students, past and present. Much too often kids stop trusting themselves to do their jobs effectively when they are faced with challenges. They begin to question the strategies that are still not routine in their reading process and fall back on less mature ways of tackling text. It is scary when you feel like you have to climb the whole mountain. My job is to help them realize they can do it, maybe not yet... but soon! Independence is vital for success and the best way to help readers achieve that independence is to show them strategies and set them loose to read. Uninterrupted. Every day.

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

Writers!!!!!

Slowly but surely I've been trying to get ready for school tomorrow. It isn't easy when you don't feel well! However, I spent part of the afternoon looking at my students' writing. Wow! Finally, I see writers! I see kids with opinions who are trying very hard to support those opinions with evidence and examples. They are choosing their words more carefully, looking for ways to draw in their readers. From the most proficient to the most struggling, each one of these kids is a writer! They have a voice. They use their voices to talk about why things matter to them. For quite some time, they have been really good at looking at samples of writing and sorting the strong and weak. They have become quite adept at picking out what makes good writing strong and engaging. As I read through their essays today, I saw a lot of those qualities in their work. Of course there are some writers who are very eloquent and can incorporate their voice in more mature ways. I am thankful for those students and use their work as mentor texts for our class. I have also noticed some of the more reluctant writers become more confident in their ability and try some of the craft moves they see in other pieces of writing and borrow them for their own. It's exciting! I have to say that I am a HUGE supporter of the Units of Study in Writing (Lucy Caulkins). I think these Units have contributed greatly to my students' ability to lift the level of their writing. My hope for these young writers is that they will take some of what they learn in 4th grade and put that in their Life Skill Toolbox, holding on to some of the craft moves that good writers use. I have said it before, words are powerful... If I can teach these writers that their words matter and are so important, then perhaps I will have helped them become more successful citizens. Their voices matter! The future is bright, that is for sure!

Sincerely,
Tara Reed

Sick!

So I'm sick. Boo! I hate spending the end of my break sick! However, I am thankful this didn't set in during our trip to Florida. I'm also thankful that if I had to get sick it was while I had a break from school so I didn't miss out on time with my students. Maybe tomorrow will be better!!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

I'll do better!

How easy it is to become distracted. I admit I have been hit and miss this year with my Slice of Life blog. I have had excellent intentions. I really love reflecting in this way and I truly love looking back each day to what I wrote last year. Some of what I wrote wasn't half bad! So I am recommitting for this last half of the month. I will do better. I want to have this reflective piece of me so I will have that thread of who I am and what I hold dear right now and have the opportunity to see what changes or stays the same. Blogging rocks whether or not anyone reads it!!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

Just what I needed

This trip to Florida is just what i needed! Spending time with my family (minus one who had to stay home for work), relaxing, and keeping no schedule is fabulous. Times like these are what helps with the push through to the end of the year. It is also a wonderful opportunity to spend time together without any interruptions. I love these moments because I know they will look different once Bre is off to college. I hope your week is just as refreshing!!!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

 

Finally!!!

Spring Break is finally here!!! Tomorrow we are headed to Florida and I can't wait!!! I am looking forward to spending time with my family, reading, and recharging!!! Woo hoo!!!

Sincerely, 

Tara Reed

I Need Spring Break

I Need Spring Break

So

Please

Remember 

I 

Need to

Get away too!

Believe me!

Right now

Educators

All around me

Know this feeling!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

My silly dog

Last week we had quite a scare at the Reed household. Our English bulldog, Dezzy, was missing. The worst part is that my 7 year old left the gate open, and he felt horrible that the dog was gone. It was a very stressful few hours for our family. We have some amazing friends and neighbors, however, who were willing to get out there and help us look for her. I have to say that social media isn't always my favorite thing, but it sure did come in handy on that night! Anyhoo... after getting a sad little boy to sleep, I prayed what I felt was a pretty insignificant prayer, just let someone ring the doorbell and have our puppy. About 9:30 the doorbell rang. What! When I went to answer it, there was my neighbor with our sweet Dezzy. What! Apparently Dezzy somehow managed to get inside of their house as they were leaving without them seeing her. When they got home from dinner, there sat our girl INSIDE their house happy as a lark. We had some very happy kiddos the next morning!

Just a reminder to never forget... God is good all the time.

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

Data Analysis and YET

If the title didn't excite you, I don't know what will! :) Today my students did some work analyzing their reading benchmarks from last week. It was pretty interesting to watch them make graphs out of their data and try and determine their strengths and weaknesses. I have found time and time again, data is something to which all kids can relate. They sort of geek out at seeing how they did (whether it was stellar or not). For some students, it can be a real wake up call to areas in which they need some additional work. Data doesn't lie, so for some kids it is easier to swallow seeing it in black and white. For other kids, it is really more of an affirmation of what they probably already know about themselves as learners. The coolest part for me is to see that kid who looks at their data, thinks on it for a bit, and then comes up to me and says that they did so much better than they did last year (even if it is just a couple of questions better). Those are my yet kids. They realize they don't have it all figured out yet, but they see the growth they have made and they are willing to climb the mountain. I love the yet kids. They inspire me to do better. They are the ones who I think about on those days when I really don't want to get out of bed or feel more like having a little pity party when the day or lesson might not go the way I was hoping. They get it. They know that school isn't about being the best one all the time. They understand that sometimes learning is hard, but worth it in the long run. I think I am a yet kid too. I know I don't have it all figured out. I learn that lesson a little more every day. What I do know for sure is that I, too, am willing to climb the mountain and hopefully be an example (most of the time) of what it means to keep going and know that it's OK not to have it all figured out yet.

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

Spring!

I Today was just what this weary teacher needed - a trip to a place that is filled with beauty and fun. The Dallas Arboretum is fabulous! I enjoyed the gorgeous flowers, but the rich conversation with members of my tribe certainly filled my soul. Thanks for a great day Mandy and Tenille!!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

Why I love my child's high school...

My family is very fortunate to feed into a great high school. To say our school community has suffered some staggering losses would be an understatement. Since my daughter has entered Guyer, there have been 6 young lives that have been lost way too soon. That is too many. I have heard a lot of people talk about what is wrong with our community or our school or our kids... Well, I am again choosing to focus on my own perspective. For my children, we have been blessed with wonderful experiences in this high school family. My oldest was a member of our football team that won 2 back to back state championships (if you know anything about Texas high school football, that is pretty amazing). He had teachers who went out of their way to stay connected and invest in him and his academic and personal wellbeing. When my daughter made her way into that same Wildcat family, I had no doubt we would see similar things. We did, but so much more. My daughter's class has seen much more than their share of situations that you wish your child to never witness. Throughout all of this, however, the fabric of what it means to be a Wildcat has never wavered. Our administrators have risen to the top each time our students have had their legs knocked out from under them. They have stood side by side with these children and families and offered to do what they could to help make the situations a little more bearable. I know these educators have been afraid, angry, and maybe not always sure of the decisions they have made. But I also know that they have made those decisions because they believed that particular choice was what was best for our children in that moment and situation. Personally, I would like to celebrate them today as they have definitely celebrated my children. I am grateful for Mrs. Fisher, Mr. Perry, Mr. Haley, and the many outstanding teachers and coaches at Guyer High School who have worked so hard to help my children be ready for the future. They have made my children feel accepted, valued, and appreciated. I am confident in the academic abilities of my kids because they were well prepared for the future. I am confident in their decision-making skills because the staff at Guyer sat with my children and helped them to work through all of the adversity that came their way. Our school slogan has become 'Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat'. That has been applicable to those graduating and moving on with their lives, but also for those children who didn't get the opportunity to be an alumni of our school because their light was snuffed much too early. It also applies to families. Although my time at Guyer is quickly coming to a close (until my little one gets there), I too feel like I will always be a Wildcat, and very proud of it.

Sincerely,
Tara Reed

Day 4: When did that happen??

Today has been a weird day. My oldest son turned 20. 20! I'm not real sure how 20 years snuck up on me like that. Then I see so many of my friends' kids heading off to the 8th grade formal and I think about how it really doesn't seem like it has been that long since Tripp was that age. Time just flies by, and we are all so busy that we miss a lot of it. Physically I have been at every major event my kids have been in, but I sometimes wonder if they would say I was present, really present. I wonder if I had done a better job of capturing those moments in a bottle, maybe I would have a more clear memory of what it was like in the moment. Time passes through that hourglass and there is nothing we can do to stop it. 20 years! My one little word this year is perspective. I have tried to focus on that word a lot. If I'm not careful, the thought of being the mother of a 20 year old will very quickly send me down the slippery slope of feeling sorry for myself because my babies are growing up. I have to keep it all in perspective. This is the season within which I find myself. Now my season is a little spring and a little fall, I guess, since I have a 7 year old and a 17 year old to complement my 20 year trip down the motherhood trail. But it isn't easy thinking about how my oldest child no longer needs me in the same way that he did when he was getting ready for his last hoorah of middle school or first day of high school. While I know all 3 of them will always need me in one way or another, it is just different. It isn't something I can put into words just yet. All I know for sure is that I am just so very thankful that I have them and that God chose me to be their mom...for 20 years!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed

Day 3: Feedback

Feedback has been my friend and nemesis for quite some time. I know the value of it and I work very hard to make my feedback to students as effective as possible. I spent quite a bit of time this year modeling what it looks like to give and receive feedback, beginning with using my principal as my writing partner (yikes!). It was good for my students to see that interaction between colleagues and notice how neither of us melted when receiving next steps for success. Last week, we used our feedback skills in a fun way. Each student laid out their writing and we all did a gallery walk, stopping to read each other's writing. Our goal on this day was to focus on delivering a 'compliment' on the writing of others that was meaningful and specific to a craft move that the author used in an effective way. As we were talking through what this would look like, I had several students ask their classmates to make sure they didn't give 'junk' or 'wasted' or 'empty' feedback. They wanted something to help them move forward as writers. My heart soared as I thought of the possibilities. With Beethoven playing in the background, we began our journey. The kids surpassed my expectations. They were very invested in reading each other's work and looking to offer words that were positive, but very targeted and specific. Later I received my own feedback from a parent. She wanted me to know that she overheard her daughter and some friends discussing the feedback work they did in class that day and were engaged in discussion on whether or not their feedback was meaningful, how they could have delivered it differently, and how they planned to use it with future writing pieces. WHAT? That rocks! It just goes to show that when you aren't sure that you are getting your point across or making a difference, your students are getting a lot more than you think they are. These kids have worked so hard to become more thoughtful and reflective writers. They set goals that are attainable and real. They crave feedback that will help them reach these goals, and when they are successful, they jump in and look for the next piece to move them along.

I may have a long way to go, but I finally feel like I am at least on the right road!

Sincerely,

Tara Reed  

Day 2: Hurry up!

 Why is it that during this season of nonstop testing, whether benchmark or STAAR, I feel like in my classroom we are always in a hurry? We need to hurry to get from place to place so that we have more time in the classroom. We need to hurry in the restroom so that we don't dawdle and become too loud for the other children in our school. We must hurry to 'cover' those things the state has deemed most important. We need to hurry up and learn some strategies to be successful because I don't feel like it would be fair to send them to the wolves with no preparation at all. Today, on Dr. Seuss's birthday, we are taking a benchmark. We chose the day, so it is our own fault, but I hate that on a day to celebrate reading, we are testing. SO... I have decided to look at it from another perspective. We are reading today - test reading. I am thankful to Stephanie Harvey for reminding us that test taking is a genre of reading. It may not be the desired genre for our kids, but it is reading, analyzing, synthesizing, and problem solving. It is a like skill that they need to have if they are planning on becoming professionals in our society. I reminded my students this morning that today is Texas Independence Day and we will celebrate that by getting our minds right and focusing on the battle we face with this benchmark just like the brave Texans who battled before us. 

Now I need to hurry up and get this posted! 

Sincerely,
Tara Reed