Dreaming Big

Habakkuk 1:5  "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."

Sunday mornings.  Aren't they the best?  I feel like Sunday is the most UN-rushed day of the week for me.  Thank goodness for night church services, right? :)

This morning as I was having my coffee with my dad (daddy's girl forever), we were watching the news.  There was a clip shown featuring Shakira and what she does to give back to her home country, Colombia.
http://www.fundacionpiesdescalzos.com/barefoot-fundation/pages/about/about_mission_en.php  
There are many things about me that people don't know.  My heart has so much passion and so many huge dreams.

One of my many passions is the love of Spanish speaking people.  From children to adults... I am so enthralled with the language and culture.  Something else many do not know about me is that before I began my first year of teaching, I almost accepted a 6th grade position in Brazil.  Right next door to the Amazon Rainforest.  Sounds dreamy, right?  They had offered me the position, but things didn't quite work out.  

After my second year of teaching, I spent 2 and a half weeks in Shanghai, China teaching students from age 11-24 about the American culture and the English language.  It was the most exhilarating, exhausting, and challenging experience of my life, and I am ever so grateful I had that opportunity.

My ultimate DREAM is to change the WORLD for education.  This dream doesn't seem as farfetched as it used to.  It only takes one.  However, I know I'm not alone in this dream.  That makes it even more attainable.  

One of my biggest passions is for children from other countries.  Hence, why I love to travel, teaching ESOL students, and why I was so hypnotized by the news clip this morning on Shakira.  She has opened several schools in Colombia because she wants to give every child in Colombia the chance for an education.  This is so huge.  There are teachers who teach in schools with no electricity, no AC, ZERO technology, no textbooks, and no materials.  Yet, why is it that in America we have so many teachers who complain?


 

I have to say, I'm guilty.  I've complained before just like every other human being on earth.  However, it's news clips like I saw today and trips to other countries that put things back into perspective.  While I'm stressing about using the best apps for my classroom iPads and Chromebooks, there are other teachers who are stressing about running water and finding pencils for their students to use.  Why do we complain so much?  It's shameful.

One day, I'll start a school in another country or even here in America.  There are plenty areas in our country that do not have what we have the luxury of.  I'll bring even more hope to these teachers and students.  Before ever starting a school, I want to spend as much time as possible as the teachers do in their current situation.  I want to learn from them.  If you have literally nothing tangible to give to your students, imagine all of the non-tangible things they are able to give them.  Teachers are givers.  This means, these teachers are giving all the love, all the hope, all the encouragement, all the confidence, all the joy, and all the authentic knowledge within their means to their students.  Could it be these teachers and students actually have more than the teachers and students who seem to have everything?

Children are children no matter where you go.  They all deserve a chance at a future.  Some don't even realize what a future is because their parents never had one.  What we have isn't a job, we are a part of the Great Commission.  If all we give our students is love, everything else is a bonus!  Out of all of the pressure that comes with teaching these days, I will never lower my standards for myself.  At the end of the day, the questions I ask myself are:  Would I have followed me today? and  Did I love my children well?  If I can't answer "Yes" to both of these questions, then I didn't have a successful day.  I have to answer yes to those questions.
I'm not the best teacher in the world.  I fail everyday.  One thing I do have is a big heart for education and children and families in every country in our whole world.  It takes one heart, one person, one dream to serve as an agent of change.  You may never know how far your dream can stretch. Take Action. Dream big.

Lots of Laughs, Lots of Learning, Lots of Love

This week was a WHIRLWIND!  Seriously, where did the time go?!  We had a G-R-E-A-T week!!  Some of my favorite weeks are when we don't have anything special planned, and we still have a super week!  That's when you know raw learning is happening!  To keep this post short and sweet, I've put lots of pictures with lots of captions to show off the fun learning that took place this week!

Have I mentioned I love teaching?! :)

What's the largest polygon they can create?

Polygon Playground!

Cutting, creating, and partitioning shapes!

Creating!

Exploring!

 

Then someone famous came to our school... Deandre Hopkins!

One of our students showed just how COOL she really is by having her famous cousin come eat lunch with her for her birthday!  She was quite the star at lunch!  What a great sport and testimony proving dreams can be a reality!








THEN... a FAMOUS author came to our school to tell our students that each of them have equal opportunity to become authors one day!  Such an incredible message that was inspiring to even me!

Oh wait... there's MORE!  Our principal had a really awesome idea to test run Chrome Books for our 3rd graders... let's just say... they're a HIT!!!  Here's just ONE way we've used them so far.. listening to children's books online!

Oh yeahhhh, then it rained... which means no recess.... OR it means learning how to stretch like REAL LIVE Olympians do!  Who can say no to that?!

Those pictures are just from Monday-Friday... can you say FUN or what???  But then, Saturday came.  Folks, the fun wasn't over.  It never ends!  I went to the park to stroll around with my friend and her little girl.  Miss Fincher's class knows how to party on the weekend!  I ran into THIS gem Saturday afternoon!

I love laughing with these guys.  I love learning with these guys.  I love loving these guys.  I could never consider this a "job".  It's not an obligation, it's not an entitlement, it's not a burden.  It's an opportunity to change lives, enrich minds, and love children well.  Teaching is an absolute privilege, and I'm so grateful for every second I get to spend with the children placed in my classroom. 

10 Signs Your Students are Making a Difference

Last week, our principal sent out an article on 20 signs you're actually making a difference as a teacher.  It was refreshing, heart warming, and convicting.  After studying the list and writing it in my journal, I feel certain I can improve, first as a person, then as a teacher.  At our school, we have leadership that models these 20 things.  Monkey see monkey do, right?  Our school is becoming a better place, and in my opinion, it starts with the top.

I have decided to generate my own list.  At the end of every year I've taught, I have been absolutely blown away by how much of a difference my students make in MY own life.  It's crazy.  I don't have another adjective to describe it.  So... my list celebrates students.  This list is a generic list that ANY teacher could use to describe their students (I hope), but when I mention the things on this list, I'm thinking about my students (this year and the years before).  I'm a better person because of them.

Here it goes....

10 Signs Your Students are Making a Difference:
1.  They make you laugh:  Not just a "fake it til you make it" laugh.  A "gut from the stomach" laugh.  They're funny.  Spending time listening to them will reveal this.

2.  They hug you and hold your hand... just because:  I've always thought that students have a good character radar.  They can tell who is "good".  They can feel that vibe.  If they tackle you in the mornings... or walking down the hall... or in the lunch line... sheesh, even in the middle of you teaching... they're seeing something in you maybe you don't see in yourself.  Amazing.

3.  They invite you to share their same interests:  They bring their baseball or wrestling cards, loom bracelet maker, birthday invitation, sports schedule and they WANT you to be at these things... I think this is evidence that your presence is enough.  Teachers like to talk.  I know I do, BUT sometimes no words is a powerful thing.  This shows that.  

4.  They volunteer to try something new... with NO fear:  They want to learn how to work a problem in more than one way.  They want to try "4th grade" things.  All of this is reassuring for our world.  This generation WANTS to.. doesn't feel entitled to.  Man, we can learn from that!  They remind me that change isn't just a good thing, it's a beautiful thing!  We can't be fearful of change!

5.  They stand up for what's right:  It starts with one.  Then one encourages another.  So on and so forth.  Before long, you have an army of students standing up for what's RIGHT!  They're in your classroom!

6.  They use their manners:  One of the things I am the most proud of in our classroom community.  This has the power to change. the. world.  Train up a child in the way they should go!  Others will recognize it!

7.  They play the teacher role:  Students teaching students.  Leaders building leaders.  Leaves me speechless every time.

8.  They WANT to help the community and brainstorm ideas to do so:  This year, my students have brought up the idea of having a yard sale with all of the things we don't need anymore and giving them to children who do need them.  Guys, this is NOT normal.  If this is weird, I want to be weird for the rest of my life!

9.  They ask for more work:  Another thing that's NOT normal.

10.  They challenge and encourage YOU:  Teachers can't preach all day and not take something away from their students.  I'm just calling you out now.. if you don't learn something from your students, something is missing.  Be effective and learn from them!  This is the missing piece to the puzzle!  We teach encouragers!  Students do make us better people.  

I am so grateful for my profession.  Although every day may not be great, every day is still good.  During my visit at the Ron Clark Academy, a teacher said to look at your students as children, not students.  This will change everything.  It has for me.

Dancing Queens (and Kings)!

Last Thursday, we had our Valentine's Family Dance.  It was a B-L-A-S-T!!  Let me just say, I left it ALL on the dance floor!  The dance lasted from 6-8, and I danced from 6-8.  I think I now understand why people say, "I'm getting too old for this."  I may ONLY be 24, but this 24-year old teacher was SORE!  I'm not sure if it was from turning in circles all night or learning the Gangnam Style.  Either way, Friday morning didn't come easy!  Was dancing with our students all night a choice?  Absolutely!  Let me explain why:

Someone was told me that no matter what, I should always make the MOST out of EVERY moment.  Ever since I heard this, it just stuck with me.  I love when that happens!  So, for me, this dance was a moment, and I made the most of it!  From dancing with the Montessori students all the way up to the 6th graders and teachers... let's just say I experienced the REAL evolution of dance!  We took selfies, made up our own dance moves, took more selfies, and made up some more dance moves... I didn't stop smiling or laughing all night!  Here's proof of us making the most out of this moment!

Leaders Building Leaders

Would I have followed me today?  This is a quote I have on my bookshelf in my classroom.


In my opinion, leadership is one of the most important qualities a person can offer.  I really do believe that everyone has leadership qualities inside of them.  The problem is, not everyone believes that so there are many people who have lost potential.  In the past 2 years of my life, there have been people placed in my path who have spoken potential into me and brought out a leader that I didn't know existed.  Then I think, if I had a teacher who had spoken to my leadership potential when I was in elementary, middle, and high school, I could be an even stronger leader.  However, the point is, I am a leader.  I have the amazing opportunity to lead a classroom of 19 students every day.  I don't limit that to Monday-Friday because teachers can't "turn off" their love for their students on the weekends.

Someone once said, "Leadership is stewardship."  I can't agree with that more.  This is something I try to live out every day, and although I fail, my students seem to always pick me up where I falter.  I see a huge potential in each of my students.  I see a leader in all of them as well.  They lead each other, and they help lead me.  That's how a family operates, right?  Leadership isn't a one-way street. 

In this picture, you see a group of my students working together.  This picture warms my heart.  Working together isn't a skill that is learned over night, and let's face it, not everyone has mastered this skill even as adults.  These kids have, and they didn't need me to do it.  They were born as leaders!  They allow each other to talk, they listen... let me say that again.. THEY LISTEN to each other.  Complete amazement.  I truly believe that they build leaders.  Some leaders are born with the quality and others may learn it through life.  So, when you walk in my classroom, you WILL see leaders building leaders without my help.  They do it on their own because they believe in each other.  They want each other to do well.  They want to see their friends succeed.  They know that there is something good in each of the bodies sitting in our classroom.  We are a family.  We have each others' backs.  We want to be better than we were yesterday.  We all speak potential into each other.  We win the day, and we will win the year. 

I couldn't be any prouder.  My passion for leadership and this career and out of this world.  We will all continue to stretch each other, and never allow complacency in our actions.  Life is too important to waste, so we're making it count!

Equivalent Fractions

Take a look at what we've done with Fractions in the past couple of weeks.  Have I mentioned how smart my class is?!?

Recess is for Teachers Too

Recess.  This word usually means "kids go play and give teachers a break from doing anything with them".  That is actually the farthest from what that word means.  I am so thankful to work in a school where the teachers don't believe that's what recess means.  At PES, we all believe what recess means is "let's get on our students' levels and play fun games with them to take a small break from learning". 

One of the most valuable lessons someone has taught me since being a teacher is to remember kids are kids and it's okay for them to act that way.  If we're being honest, I LOVE getting on their level.  I love being weird with them.  I look forward to the conversations we are going to have about anything and everything under the sun.  I enjoy laughing about little things.  Did you know that children can be so hilarious that they can make you laugh so hard you cry?  I know I'm not the only one that does that, but I'm not afraid to admit it.  Here's a look at the fun we have... daily!

Back in Action!

Snowpocalypse.  Do you think that held my class back???  Not at ALL!  Tuesday morning, my children came in the classroom ready to learn and take on any task given to them.  We had a GREAT week back together!  In fact, it may have been one of the best weeks at school of the whole year so far!  We accomplished a lot and learned even more!  

One of our favorite parts of the week were the math groups we did through the week.  Through these math groups, students were learning on their own and teaching their classmates.  It was an incredible thing to watch!  They were challenged to be their very best (by doing even 4th grade skills) and to take their learning to the next level.  Here are some examples of what they worked on (successfully)!

And That's a Wrap! (for 2nd nine weeks)

Seriously?!  Half of the school year is over??  When did this happen?  How does this always happen so quickly?  I've been telling my students that now the ball is in their court, and it's time to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.  At this point, they KNOW how smart they are.  They KNOW what they are capable of.  They KNOW hard work pays off.  They just know. 

In order to celebrate 2nd nine weeks, we had our academic pep rally (where Reveur was named house champs... as a reminder). :)  These pep rallies are so much fun!  I may have a little more fun than the children sometimes... especially at game time.  I am one of the most competitive people you'll ever met.  When I do something, I'm going to DO it all out!  There's no time to play around.  It's serious.  So, when it was game time, nothing could hold Reveur down!  I love playing games and interacting with my children in this way.  It's so much fun!  I always look forward to these! 

Just so you know I take these things seriously... You can see I took ownership of coaching Buckethead.  Naturally, we owned it!

Edible Rocks

We've been learning about the different classifications of rocks in science.  In order to make this come to life, we created rocks out of food!  We made Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks!  If you're interested in learning more, ask your child to study with YOU!  They will teach you songs, chants, raps, and hand motions to go with our rocks unit!  As I always tell my students, "When you say it AND do it, you remember it!"  So, I dare you... ask them to study with you!  I guarantee you'll learn a thing or two from them!

Math Matters

Math.  It's either a word that you love or one that you hate.  Thankfully I have always grown math and been pretty good at it.  I understand very well, that many people cringe at the word "math".  In fact, at the beginning of the year, many of my students said they hated math and it was their least favorite subject.  Crisis.  How could this be?  I love math!  Something had to change.  As the year started, math was rocky.  No one wanted to participate.  Crisis.  However, as the year has progressed, they have found that they are actually incredible at math.  We have so much fun!  That first hour of the day is now one of the most fun, exciting, and eye opening hours of the day.  They are doing math, that sometimes I don't even plan for the day.  They ask for a challenge, and if they are ASKING for a challenge, you know you have a special group of children.  So... they ask, they receive, they conquer.  Don't believe me?  Take a look for yourself.

Just a couple extras...

Indoor recess and our infamous lunch talks.

I've never found so much joy than listening to my students talk to me and each other at lunch.  These are when the BEST conversations happen... and the funniest! :)

Big Shots!

Yesterday, I was able to go back to my high school for a pageant.  While I was spectating, there were so many great talent acts.  Some of these freshman students were voted best singer in the district, best dancer in the district, etc.  Then, it hit me.  I have students sitting in my classroom who also have talents like these.  They will grow up to be like those students one day.  They will shine, they will win awards.  They will do GREAT things.  I can't wait to see who these wide-eyed, vivacious children grow up to be.

Do you know how talented your child is?  They can KILL it academically, play sports, have deep conversations, be friends, give advice, receive advice, challenge themselves, challenge others, make a difference... the list goes on and on.  This week, I had the opportunity to see several of my students participate in extracurricular activities!  It was the best time! 

Celebrate!

My students are so incredible.  Literally, they're incredible!  We have been doing MAP testing the past couple of weeks, and not only have these students rose to the occasion, they've KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK!  I've never seen a group of students work so hard to be the best they can be in EVERY area!  I am truly blessed to teach these sweet souls!  In order to celebrate their accomplishments, we had  "Dress for Success" Day!  We dressed our Sunday best in order to show that we mean business!  Their achievement was recognized, and when they were asked why they were dressed up, they were able to brag on themselves.  You know, sometimes it's okay to do that... we must teach our children to celebrate their success and believe that they are great!  I also made stickers for them that said, "Ask me how I did on MAP!"  They wore these loud and proud!  I was in awe at how excited something so small could impact a group of children.  It pushes me, if nothing else.  As a teacher, I am creating memories.  My BEST school memories come from third grade.  I hope these children grow up to remember the times we celebrated their success, and I hope they remember to continually celebrate their success.  It's a hard lesson to learn in motivating ourselves, but it's one of the most important lessons we must learn.  Our drive is what creates our passion, and our passion creates who we will be one day, and who we will be one day has the potential to change the world... so, CELEBRATE!

The Best of 2013 in Room 521!

And just like THAT, it's 2014!  This is the year that these 3rd graders become 4th graders.  This is the year that they will leave my classroom and enter a new one.  I'm not ready to talk about that yet, so instead here are some pictures that show off the BEST of Miss Fincher's Class in 2013! :) Enjoy!

Community Service Opportunity at Clemson Community Care!

Just hanging around! :)

Writing Buddies hard at work!

I love to see them working together!

Doing multiplication like it's our JOB!