Sunday | June 22, 2008

Chapter 3 - Creativity

If I can say one thing about my visit to the RCA, it is that this entire school is based upon the creative vision of Ron Clark and Kim Bearden.  Every classroom is themed; the SS classroom is a Delta airplane; the science classroom is a space shuttle....Get my drift?  Moreso, the students feel an ownership of this school because it was created for them by people who want to make their dreams come true.  In Chapter 3 of The Excellent 11, Ron writes, "One of the keys to having a successful classroom and a high-performing school is to create unity.  When all the students feel ownership of their school and feel part of a place they are proud of, they are going to enjoy being there and become better students."  Well, this concept is the same for us as educators.  We have to feel ownership of our workplace.  We must take pride in the fact that our ideas are going to be heard and that we are free to "think outside the box" so that we can be creative in our instruction.  I started laughing at the end of the chapter when Ron writes "as a parent or teacher it's also important that we remember not to take ourselves too seriously at times."  For those of you who know me,  this quote sums me up perfectly.  I guess that is why I love working as an educator in a school setting - I am still a kid at heart!  (Having a four year old will also do this to you, too!) 

As a sidenote, we just returned from a wonderfully professional conference of school administrators at the beach.  I had the special opportunity to present with Jennifer Ard (Kindergarten team leader) and Vickie Norton (Intervention Specialist) about our Kindergarten regrouping this year.  Our flexible grouping worked for a group of 23 Kindergartners and we look forward to using this experience to springboard to other grade levels.  This type of creativity and flexibility is exactly what Ron Clark alludes.  I thank them for their leadership and assistance with sharing a success story from this school year!  They did a super job presenting!  I also had the opportunity to facilitate the presentation led by Camden High School's leadership team - It was wonderful to support them and to hear about their staff's professional development this year.  Got lots of ideas....get ready!  I am taking my grade level chairs on a leadership retreat this week.  We will continue to discuss our Ron Clark reading as well as spend some time articulating about our plans to work on our math curriculum. 

Keep reading.....on to Chapter 4.....
Posted by Ginger at 11:44:14 | Permanent Link | Comments (5) |
Comments
1 - I just finished reading the book and I am so inspired. I gained quite a few ideas from reading each chapter and I am looking forward to next year. While reading chapter 3, I felt that I could relate to the need for creativity in the classroom. Try lecturing to 20 6 year olds and see how long you keep their attention. I have to be creative and to act silly just to keep their attention most days. It takes a lot of effort to plan "exciting lessons" and that is why I love my team. We talk with each other and share ideas. It is tough to be creative all the time!! Sometimes I am braindead and exhausted, then I go to a team mate and I see what she is doing. That is when I become inspired and energized again. I am thankful for the first grade team, my friends, for helping spark creativity in our classrooms. (Comment this)

Written by: Pam Britton at 2008/06/22 - 17:40:52
2 - Creativity is so important as you work with 2nd graders. I remember just starting at DME, coming from teaching middle school math, and having the hardest time teaching my 2nd graders subtractions with regrouping. I went to Myra very upset - and Myra being Myra, instantly showed me a cute, fun story to act out to teach the lesson. IT WORKED! Thanks, Myra!! Ron Clark stated that "The most important thing anyone who stands before a group of people must do is know his audience." That is so try. We as teachers must know our class and present to them in ways in which they will understand.
 (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/06/22 - 22:11:12
3 - I hope everyone is having a nice summer. I feel like I have hit the "BIG TIME!" :)
This is my first time bloggin' and on Sunday I figured out what my password was to
check my e-mails for the first time! YEA!

I was able to start the book two days ago after a roaring start to the summer break with my
sister's wedding and coordinating VBS.
The book is a "WOW" book, and all of his classroomm examples for each of the essential 11 are awe-inspiring.

Being creative in the classroom is such a powerful teaching tool. I want to adapt the game, "Elimination Ball," to review concepts in my classroom. He simply did not play a game that benefited the students who knew the answers but adapted the game to hold each student accountable.

My brain is already working on how I can be more creative in the classroom by turning mundane lessons that I feel can only be taught one way into FUN and EXCITING thrillers! (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/06/26 - 12:56:34
4 - I have just completed reading chapters 4 and 5. After reading chapter four, I reflected on the books that our students are given the opportunity to publish each year. When the idea first began, I envisioned that each child would be able to publish a book that they would be able to look back upon when he/she was older. I hope that those who were encouraged to publish will hold these books near and dear once they leave our school. However, as often is the case, students who did not publish in school will not have this opportunity due to the variables at home. I hope if we have the opportunity this year that all children will be able to have this as a memory. Thanks to Betsy and Mrs. Dorsey for helping once they arrived-checking them in for the students to check out. Chapter 5- I used the Essential 55 this year with my group of children. The one that stuck the most was giving compliments. I don't think a day went by that they did not compliment somebody. I hope as they grow older they will remember others and apply them in their lives. (Comment this)

Written by: Jennifer at 2008/07/01 - 20:29:57
profile
5 - Wow, I could write volumes on chapter 3 and how I find myself already doing so much of what he talked about. Of course, we at DME are ALL about safety.

"Teachable Moments" I call "Bird Walking". (Thanks to Teri Butts.) I love Bird Walking! I do some of my best teaching when I least expect it. Reminds me of a lesson on 9/11 that went in a direction that I hadn't planned, but the kids needed background information to understand why the USA is the way it is today. I am teaching children now who were 1 when 9/11 occured. They don't know a world with terrorism on the news every night.

I thought of a trophy idea for my room. I love his idea of five circles. I have a 25 item job list for my classroom which rotates weekly (Yes, some think I'm crazy.) because it gives my students ownership of the class.

Lastly, you must know your children. No I mean REALLY know them. Know their likes and dislikes, what is home like, who's at home, is anyone at home? Then tell about yourself. Show and give them respect. In turn ask for nothing less than respect back. If students know that they have diappointed you - that is powerful! I whole-heartedly believe that RESPECT is the "Key to Discipline". (Comment this)

Written by: The Butterfly Lady at 2008/08/01 - 18:03:12
Write a comment