Mrs. Graham's 5th grade

Today I went on my last visit to TZ intermediate school. I was kinda sad to be done, but really learned a lot through my 3 visits to TZ. I have decided that I really like the concept of an intermediate school and I think it adds a different vibe to the "elementary school" setting.

Today I went to Mrs. Graham's 5th grade class. I was surprised to find out that at TZ each grade has its own special ed teacher who has their own classroom. Mrs. Graham is TZ's 5th grade special ed teacher. Because TZ is an inclusion school, I got to travel with Mrs. Graham from classroom to classroom. It was really neat to look at inclusion in practice with proper special ed support.

Below is a picture of one of Mrs. Graham's students using an alpha smart. I think alpha smarts are so cool and allow students to get typing experience without being on an "actual" computer.


On of the neat things that Mrs. Graham and the other fifth grade teachers do is a classroom economic system. The kids in the 5th grade are "paid " to do their classroom jobs, "paid" for accomplishments and "paid" for good behavior. You can see the money below. Not only do these 5th graders make money, but they also have to pay up!! The students are charged taxes, insurance and are fined for talking during quite time, forgetting to push in their chairs etc. I thought this was a really unique way to get kids thinking and understanding economics!


As you can see below, this is the jar that students deposited their "insurance payments". Students could also spend money on special treats like a lunch out with the teacher ($100) or for convenient things ($50) to turn in a late paper for full credit!

During my visit I was also able to sit down and help struggling students. It was a fun day and I really enjoyed getting a peak into Mrs. Graham's life as a special ed teacher!

Mrs. Ames' 4th Grade Class

Today I got to go back to TZ and visit Mrs. Ames' 4th grade class! It was a very interactive and fun day!!

I arrived at TZ at 10:00 and entered the "4th grade pod". TZ is set up in a pod design. 4 classrooms share 1 pod. The pod is a common area that has 6 computers, sinks, bathrooms & sinks. The 4th grade pod was decorated with work from all of the different 4th grade classes. Below you you will see the animal fact reports that were made by Mrs. Ames' students.

I love to see teachers combine education and technology. Although adding a technology component takes extra time, I really think it's an important skill that often is missed in Elementary schools.

I was very impressed with the work that these 4th graders did. Not only were their posters impressive looking, but the content was also very impressive!


When I entered Mrs. Ames' classroom, I instantly noticed her attention to detail. Below is a "race track" with student's names and pictures on them. Her students try to "stay on track" the whole day! I thought this was a very cute way of making students feel apart of the classroom community.


Shortly after arriving, the students broke up into small groups throughout the classroom. It was fun to see how they built their ideas off each other and worked as a team. This 4th grade class definitely worked well as a group! They had great classroom dynamic and really seamed to get along!

During lunch I helped Mrs. Ames' set up science stations. In 4th grade, teachers rotate students from teacher to teacher for one hour a day. It was fun to help set up and execute the science lesson for the 3 different classes that day!

Above is a station we created to have students test magnetic attraction.

At the station above, students were able to transfer magnetic current and "make their own magnets"

This last station (above) let students experiment how "negatives attract".

Below you will see the students traveling from station to station! The activities were great and I was so happy that I could be apart of this lesson!





When we got back to the classroom, the students showed me the "animal alliterations" that they just had created! They were so proud of these little animals and I thought it was a great way to have students apply their knowledge of alliteration.








One of my favorite things about TZ is all the amazing artwork all throughout the school. The art teacher there is really good about combining art with other learning. Below you will see the robots that this 4th grade class is working on. The robots are made of all recycled materials and the students are learning about "going green" and being Eco-friendly.



The students also had to create fliers (as seen below) to market and sell their robot. Again, the art teacher really made the scope of the project extend to much more than just "art".


Another fun activity that the class got to do (as seen below) was to create a color wheel out of cookies and frosting!! I loved this idea and thought it was very cute and interactive. I'm sure that the kids in this 4th grade class will remember this activity always!

The hallways of TZ was lined with these wind charms (as seen below) created by the 4th graders. I loved how the halways of TZ were lined with these fun and cheery projects. I think that displaying childrens work helps to create a sence of community.





Below is another art project that the 4th graders have done this year!



I ended my day at 2pm, tired, but very fufilled. I really enjoyed shadowing Mrs. Ames and really learned alot from her!

Mrs. Ramsey's 3rd Grade Class

Today I went to Mrs. Ramsey's 3rd grade classroom at Tzouanakis Elementary school in Greencastle. It was such a treat to be in Mrs. Ramsey's class! She warmly greeted me and let me observe her class for a 4 hour block. When I first arrived the class was in the Library. I sat and observed how well behaved her class was. They were very good listeners and were quite and respectful while the librarian read to them. I was very impressed with their manners as they are only 3rd graders!!

After library, the class went back to Mrs. Ramsey's room and transitioned into English by singing 4 English songs by Shurley. The songs were so cute. Mrs. Ramsey gave me a copy of the songs which I will list below!

Un-Quigley, Un-Quigley

Un-Quigley, Un-Quigley
What are you going to do?
You've got a frown on your face,
And you're singing the blues!
You're not organized, Quigley;
You are not prepared.
You're not listening,
And your mind's not there.
You don't have plans, and you don't have goals.
Your homework's unfinished,
And you've been told.
You need to get your act together
'Cause you don't have a clue.
You've got the Study Skill Blues!

O-Quigley, O-Quigley
Now, you see what to do.
You've got a smile on your face,
And your lookin' cool!
You're so organized, Quigley;
You are so prepared.
You're listening carefully,
And your mind is there.
You've got plans, and you've got goals.
Your homework is finished;
You don't have to be told.
You've got your act together, Quigley.
'Cause you followed the clues.
And you're not singing the Study Skills Blues!


The Sentence Jingle

A sentence, sentence, sentence
Is complete, complete, complete
When five simple rules
It meets, meets, meets.

It has a subject, subject, subject
And a verb, verb, verb.
And it make sense, sense, sense
With every word, word word.

Add a capital letter
And a punctuation mark.
And now our sentence has all its parts!

But REMEMBER-
Subject and verb and complete sense.
With a a capital letter and an end mark, too.
Our sentence is complete,
And now we're through!


The Verb Jingle

A verb, a verb
What is a verb?
Haven't you heard?
There are two kinds of verbs:
The action verb
And the linking verb.

The action verb
Shows a state of action
Like stand and sit and smile.
The action verb is always in motion
Because it tells what the subject does.
We stand! We sit! We smile!

The linking verb shows a state of being.
Like am, is, are, was, and were,
Looks, becomes, grows, and feels.
The linking verb shows no action
Because it tells what the subject is.
He is a clown. He looks funny.


The Noun Jingle

This is a noun jingle, my friend,
A noun jingle, my friend.
You can shake it to the left
And shake it to the right.
Find yourself a noun,
And then recite:

A noun names a person.
A noun names a thing.
A noun names a person,
Place, thing,
And sometimes an idea.

Person, place, thing, idea!
Person, place, thing, idea!

So shake it to the left,
And shake it to the right.
Find yourself a noun,
And feel just right!

I thought these songs were so cute and served as a great transition tool after being away from the classroom. After the songs, Mrs. Ramsey worked on identifying nouns and verbs with her students. She made it very interactive and used the smart board as seen below.


The smart board is a great classroom tool! I think that more classrooms should be equip with these! It's great that a teacher can save his or her board work to his or her computer. I would imagine that this makes it much easier for students who missed class to catch up!

After the English activity, the students went to lunch. After lunch they pulled out their library books and read silently for 10 minutes. This time allowed Mrs. Ramsey to finish putting up the drawing that the students had made onto the bulletin board. Also during this time, Mrs. Ramsey rotated students to do "fast math" on the computer. I thought this was a very effective time management tacit.

After silent reading, the students gathered on the classroom rug to listen to a girl name Rose read a story she wrote and submitted to reading rainbow. Apparently the class had seen a reading rainbow video the week before with Rose talking about the book she submitted last year that one 3rd place out of 400 entries. The story was so cute and the illustrations that she did herself were AMAZING!! One thing I quickly noticed in Mrs. Ramsey's class was that she was very good at pointing out the talents of each of her students! Allowing Rose to share her story with the class was good for Rose's self esteem, but it was also a good eye opening experience for the rest of the students in the class. They were all eager to ask Rose how she found out about this contest and how long it took her to create the book. It was really neat to be apart of this class activity! Below is a photo of Rose reading her story to the class.


One things I noticed about Tzouanakis in general is that it was very bright and cheery building. The walls were painted blue and green and artwork was proudly displayed throughout all the halls. Below is part of a mural that the 3rd grade class painted. Each grade at TZ had a wall mural that was hung in the halls of the school. The artwork and color really made the school feel like "home" and it was clear that the teachers at TZ were very proud of their students work!!


Below is a picture of the fish that were hanging in the hall! I loved these fish! What a great use for old 2 liter bottles! Each fish was decorated uniquely and adorned the hallways! It helped to keep that warm open environment!

Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to TZ and Mrs. Ramsey's 3rd grade class! I can't wait to go back next week and check out 4th grade!!

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 11 Resilence

Clark opens the final chapter with the following quote, "There is no greater job in the world than raising a child. It is also unfortunately, one of the most difficult tasks anyone can ever undertake. As parents and teachers we must remember that when times are rough and difficulties arise through the learning and growing process, we have to stand strong and remain committed to doing whatever is necessary to raise our children with optimism, understanding, and love." (231)

Clark begins by talking about how overenthusiasm leads to teacher burn out. Teaching is a very demanding profession, and it it easy for teachers to feel burnt out, under appreciated, overworked and emotionally drained. Clark talks about as teachers, we have to learn to say no and put ourselves first. Often times teachers feel as though they can't say no, or feel guilty doing so, but if you don't do this, a burn out is enviable. Clark talks about refueling yourself so that you can be resilient and work through hard and draining points of teaching. He says that if you want to make teaching a lifelong profession, you have to take breaks along the way.

This chapter was short, but to the point, as a teacher you have to work through the hard points (because you know they are going to be there) and be resilient by taking care of yourself. You have to remind yourself and discover you love and passion within teaching and constantly remind yourself of it. I know personally that I have gone on a roller coaster trying to decide if teaching is the right profession for me. I know that my heart and my passion is totally in teaching, but I worry about keeping up with the demands and burning out. It has forced me to analyze and see if traditional classroom teaching is the right field for me. I think what I have learned most about Clark's books is that teaching skills are life skills. We are all teachers in some facet, and that the skills he is talking about can be adapted into almost any and every field.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 10 Appreciation

Chapter 10: Appreciation

In this chapter, Clark stresses the importance of teaching students appreciation and showing students that you appreciate them. We live in a day and age where skills like appreciation are not always taught at home, and sometimes never learned. What Clark attempts to do in all his work, is to equip his students with the skills they need to succeed in life. Teaching appreciation is just another way that Clark is equipping and preparing his students.

Clark writes, " At school I talk with the students about how important it is to go out of your way to show appreciation to those who help you. I point out how the custodians are working hard every day to make the school the best possible environment for them to learn in. In order to thank them, I have the students bring in drinks, chips, and covered dishes from home, and at lunchtime we spread tablecloths on the desks, set out the food, turn down the lights, put on some soft music, and hang a banner that reads, "We appreciate you'." (207) I was lucky to be raised by a mother and father who really paid attention to manners and enforced displaying gratitude. I remember as a child dreading handwriting thank you notes. But now, as an Adult, I realize how and why they were so important. My grandmother is very ill and when we went to go visit her over fall break, she told me how much it means to hear that I write her letters and thank you notes all the time. Out of her 20 grandchildren, she said only 5 of them write her thanks you notes. I really was shocked to hear that she didn't get thanks from her other grand children, because to me, it was second nature. But what I have realized is that sometimes appreciation skills and displayments of gratitude are not taught to children. I think that Clark is really helping out his students in the long run. By giving them these skills, they will succeed and be better for it in the future.

In the next section, Clark talks about appreciation for teachers and all the work they do. In order to teach, you must have passion and drive, because often times it's a thankless job. Teachers don't see their thanks in their paychecks and often times don't hear it through the mouths of their students. Clark talks about how many teachers leave the profession because they don't receive any thanks or appreciation at all. I think the hardest thing about going into teaching is knowing that it will be a relatively thankless job. Teachers put the hear, soul and lives into their students, only to loose them a year later. It's important to recognize teachers for the great things they do, are doing and will continue to do.

Clark also talks about the importance for teachers to show appreciation to the administration. When teachers and administrative staff work well together, it helps to make a more streamlined and cohesive unit in the school system. Teachers need to go out of their way to work with the administration to make school a better place. Clark talks about avoiding negativity and trying to look at things in a positive and uplifting light. It's amazing how much better you feel when you start to look at the glass half full rather than half empty. Positive attitudes spread and can lift the moral of a school and district. Clark also talks about being apart of a solution rather than the problem. He writes, "When the students aren't motivated there are weak teachers, or the school's test scores are low, it is always easy to place the blame on the administration. The best way to help the situation0, however, is to ask yourself what you can do to make improvements and have a positive impact on the school. It might involve tutoring after school, sharing lesson plans with other teachers, or finding various ways to improve the school environment, but no matter what way teachers contribute, it's all about taking ownership for the condition of the school instead of placing the blame on others." (220)

I think that this chapter was very insightful and made me think about how to show appreciation to all the people who help us in our lives. A simple thanks or a card can really reinforce and positively lift up individuals for the hard work they do. I think that this chapter was another great look into the life skills that Clark strives to instill in his students.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 9 Common Sense

Chapter 9: Common Sense

In the opening of this chapter Clark writes, " What I found, however, is that when we are more specific with children and let them know exactly what we expect from them, they are far more willing to try to live up to those expectations." (181) It is easy as teachers to forget what it's like to be a child and things that may seem to be common sense to an adult are not even on the radar of a child. As teachers, we must be aware of how we speak to children and the types of words we use with them.

Children believe what they are told- self fulfilling prophesy, so as teachers, we must be aware of what we are saying and how that effects the students that we teach. Sometimes it's the job of the teacher to break down self fulfilling prophesy's that other teachers or parents have created. When a student hears "You are so disrespectful" or "You never do your homework" they start to believe it.

Clark talks in the next section about how often times teachers assume that organizational skills are common scene. However, often times students have never been taught how to be organized. As adults and teachers we can't assume that children have the tools to know how to be organized. We must help to shape and teach students and give them the tools they need to succeeded.

In the last section Clark talks about how common scene leads to better results. Clark talks about how he couldn't understand why his students were not doing well on test. He quickly realized that something he took as common scene - how to study- was something that his students didn't know how to do. Clark then made a book teaching and showing his kids how to study. The book contained the following things.

1. make flash cards
2. read summaries of each chapter
3. pay close attention to photographs, diagrams and captions
4. Take note of anything in bold
5. read over class notes
6. review all pop quizzes and chapter tests
7. make sure you have a morning review
8. get a good night rest
9. don't be afraid to ask for help

I think what I learned most from this chapter is that we have t remember what it's like to be a child. Things that may seem common knowledge to teachers may be foreign to a student. This chapter was all about giving the tools to help children succeed and not assuming something to be common knowledge.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 8 Humor

Chapter 8: Humor

In this chapter 8 Clark talks about the important element of Humor and the balance that in needed with it. He starts by talking about how laughter is a universal language and can serve as a connecting cord for students and their relationship with teachers. Clark discusses how as teachers we have to sometimes just laugh off and not to sweat the small stuff. Small little issues are going to come up when we are teaching and sometimes it's just easier to laugh it off.

Another area that Clark dabbles in is understanding the humor of children. Sometimes its hard to remember that children don't see and understand humor in the same way we do. As teachers we have to remember what it is like to be young and try to understand the humor that children see. Laughter can be a mask for not knowing what kind of emotion to display or being uncomfortable.

From reading this chapter I also was able to reflect on the boundaries of humor. As teachers you have to understand what are appropriate boundaries for humor. Humor can be a great way to connect with students, but it should never be at the expense of someone else. "Picking on" or "poking fun" on a student might seem like fun and games, but it can effect that student even if it seems not too. Clark talks about how students usually laugh this picking on off, but only because they don't know how to respond. By making sure humor isn't hurting or embarrassing anyone, you can rest assure that humor is only adding positively not negatively.

Clark talks about how humor can relieve stress in a classroom and make it a more open and friendly environment. Clark talks about how we naturally want to be around people who are laughing and when you incorporate that into the classroom, it makes students want to be there. Laughter and Humor can take away blues and help students feel comfortable and welcomed in the school environment.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 7 Confidence

Chapter 7: Confidence

Chapter 7 opens with a great quote. Clark writes, "Half of the battle in raising kids is teaching them to be confident." (150) I really have been confident in my school abilities most of my life. As I was reading this chapter, I was wondering why that was. As I think about it, and reflect on my childhood, I realize that my confidence stems from my parents. They have always been my biggest cheerleaders .. with me every step of the way. In this chapter Clark talks about how not all students have such supportive and cheerful parents like mine. He talks in this chapter about finding potential for greatness in each child and tapping into it. Without the reinforcement, often times children don't believe in themselves and their abilities. Clark talks about how experience leads to confidence. He writes, "The more these kids experience, the more self-esteem they will have and the better they will feel about themselves. I don't want my students to be twenty two years old, go to a job interview, be qualified for the job, but not get the position because they don't know how to hold themselves in a certain way and present themselves in a manner that is professional." (152) After reading Clark's essential 55, I realized that many of Clark's rules were instilling life skills. Clark carries this out when talking about instilling values to help build confidence.

Clark continues on in this chapter by talking about how confidence comes with preparation. By preparing students with the tools they need for success, you are making them more confident in their own personal abilities. Preparation is the key to success. It is teachers job to prepare students for success and greatness. Clark writes, "as teachers and parents we have the freedom to lift up children and make them feel special. We can build confidence and self-esteem simply by taking the time to applaud good work and to show students how talented they are." (161) As teachers we have to tell students we are proud of them- because for some, it is the only person who is reinforcing them with positive praise. In the summer I teach swimming lessons and I am constantly praising small victories in my students. I am constantly telling them how proud I am of them. Learning to swim involves a lot of risks and overcoming of many fears and positive reinforcements are a must (without them you might not get the student coming back the next day!) I never realized how much the reinforcement really meant to the students until I met a little girl name Brooke. Brooke was so scared to learn to swim, but after 5 weeks of hard work she was swimming across the pool. Brooke would say things like "Brittany are you so proud of me?" and loved to hear my praise. She would smile and take in all the accolades. At the end of the 6 weeks of swimming lessons (Everyday too!! - that's a lot of swimming!!) Brooke told me "Brittany I'm so proud of you, because you made me learn to swim even though I was scared and didn't want to, and now I can swim and I'm proud of myself." Her sweet world melt my heart, but made me relize that the possitive reinforcement really helped her through a hard journey!

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 6 Compassion

Chapter 6: Compassion

In this section Clark opens by talking about how many children grow up with a lack of consideration for others. We hear so much about bulling in schools and how harmful it can be. Clark discusses how teachers need to teach compassion and lead by example in their classrooms. Often times, because children are not taught compassion, they have no role model for observing and learning how to treat others. Clark talks about putting yourself in someone else shoes. He writes, "As teachers we must be aware of the climate of our classroom and how the students are interacting with one another. We have to make sure that our students feel safe and comfortable and that they are able to focus on their education." (124) For so many children, home is not a safe place, so as teachers, we must ensure that school is. School should be a place where students can come worry free and learn. Clark talks about teaching compassion to his students through story telling. He said that every year he tells his students how he was bullied as a child and how that made him feel. Forming that connection and making students understand their actions can really help to make students realize the effects of their actions.

Clark discusses that often times problems in the classroom are not between student and teacher, but 2 students. It is important as a teacher to teach students problem solving skills and watch and guide them through the process. Clark outlines in this section his solution to 90% of class problems.

1. Find out the source of the problem (usually there are two main students, often former friends who are upset wit each other).

2. Get the two students to sit down and talk through the problem.

key questions:
- What did _______ do to upset you?
- What do you think happened?
- How did what happened make you feel?
- What could _______ do that would make you feel better?

Clark asks both sets of students these questions

3. Show the rest of the class that the two students have resolved their problem. If appropriate, I ask them to sit together at lunch of I put them on a project together. I try to show the rest of the class that all animosity is over so that they will jump off the bandwagon and thing can return to normal.

4. Tell the students that the issue will not be discussed again. If I hear any of the students bring up the matter, I tell them I will punish them in the same way as if they were at the center of the altercation.

5. Talk to the students about how the situation could have been resolved before it blew out of proportion. Whenever possible it is good to give the kids tools they can use themselves so that similar problems won't arise in the future.

I think that Clark's outline of dealing with bulling or disagreements in the classroom is an excellent one. So often you hear teachers trying to stay out of disagreements between students .. "letting them solve their own problems" but the truth is, as a teacher, it is your job to teach and guide children to the right path. Bulling is something we hear more and more about now a days. We realize that this bulling can have effects that last much longer than Elementary or middle school.. it can effect a persons whole life. School shoots etc. have been linked to bulling in early years of a child's life. Clark talks about the importance of being aware of the bulling issues and not ignoring the sines. He talks about building up the confidence of the student being bullied, but not "punishing" the whole class for a bulling incident- this just makes the class mad at the student who is bullied.

In the last section on this chapter, Clark talks about not being afraid to show students compassion. There is nothing wrong with letting students see who you are as a person and things you are compassionate and passionate about. Students learn so much by example, and as teachers we can be great role models and icons for students to learn from.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 5 Balance

Chapter 5: Balance

Balance- such an important quality in a teacher. As teachers we are constantly balancing things.. weather it's time, lessons, family life, school responsibilities, etc teachers are constantly in a balancing act. Clark talks about balancing in terms of balancing instruction style. In the first section he talks about the importance of accommodating and incorporating different types of instruction to benefit all students. I think that their is a lot of information out there talking about different learning styles, but often times only one style of instruction is actually carried out. Clark talks about adapting lessons and balancing work to accommodate multiple different kinds of learners. Although it takes extra efforts on the part of the teacher, I think the results will yield such positive effects on the students that it will make the extra work worth while.

Another issue that Clark tackles in this section about finding the right balance with discipline and love. Clark talks about forming relationships with your students - understanding them on a personal level. He talks about the importance of letting your students know that you care about them and they are an important part of the classroom. Clark talks about the importance of following through and holding students responsible for their actions. He says that if you have built a relationship with your students they will respond to punishment. He talks about creating an environment where students respect adults. Clark talks about how this is something that must also be reinforced at home. I think that so often, new, young teachers want to be students best friends rather than authority figures. Clark address the idea of creating balance between friend and authority figure.

In the last section Clark discusses creating balance between life and teaching. It is so easy as a teacher- especially as a single teacher- to fully through everything you have into your work. Clark talks about spending way too much time and never "escaping" from work. It is important as a teacher to have hobbies, interests and activities outside of school. Clark writes, " In order to teach about live you have to have a life." You have to make times for yourself. This aspect of balance is something that teachers constantly have to keep in check. Teacher burn out rate is so high, and making sure that as a teacher you are being as balanced as possible will help to prevent this burn out.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 4 Reflection

Chapter 4: Reflection

In this chapter Clark discusses the importance of reflection and teaching. Not only is reflection important in student learning, but it is also an important tool for teachers. In the first section Clark discusses how he makes sure that their is student reflection on the year as a whole. He talks about doing assignments at the beginning of the year and comparing the same assignment at the end of the year. This type of exercise allows students to see and realize personal growth. Another idea of Clark's that I thought was really unique was his awards ceremony that he put on at the end of the year. Clark talks about how he raised money to have plaques engraved with each child's individual accomplishments on them. Then, Clark designated a night of celebration where friends, family and relatives were all invited to come and see the awards given out. One of the neatest parts of this was a story that Clark told about the impact that this award ceremony had on one father.

Clark writes " One man in Harlem cried so hard that I had to raise my voice to talk over him. He didn't speak English, and after the ceremony his daughter told me, "he is crying because when he moved our family to America, he did not know if his children would be successful in school. Today he has realized he made the right choice." (186)

I thought this was such a heartwarming story and it really made me realize what an impact the small things can have on people.

Clark also discusses in this section about reflecting as a teacher. In my artistic Dimension class last semester we talked a great deal about how teaching is a job where you are constantly improving and learning. Clark really speaks to this in his book when he talks about the importance of reflecting in teaching. He recommends video taping yourself teaching to find your flaws and ways that you can improve. I think so often as teachers, we don't notice the small things that we do out of habit that may affect our students and how they learn. It was good to see another "excellent" teacher admitting that he is always a work in progress and is constantly working to become a better teacher.

One of the ideas that Clark talks about in this section is journaling. Journaling provides teachers with a gateway inside the minds of their students. It allows them to better understand where their students are coming from and how their needs can be addressed better. I know that as a young student, most of my teachers had me journal, but when I got older, journaling got lossed in all the other work. I think that journaling is a simple thing that can be added to just about any subject area and can really help and inhance reflection.

One of the last ideas that Clark talks about in this sectin is having students write letter to the future class - ie future 6th graders etc. These letters are filled with what students should expect and what they will learn that year. I thought that this was a cute and creative idea to help close out a school year and open a new one. This is definitly an idea that I hope to take into my future classroom!!

My Creative Classroom

I created a 3D model of what my ideal classroom would look like. While creating it, I have kept in mind how it will adapt to creative teaching styles and activities. As you will notice there are no desks. In my ideal classroom there would be no desk. I would have students work in small clusters around tables (on wheels) that would be taken out when needed. I would use floor pillows, bean bags and chairs for students to sit on rather than spending the whole day in traditional style desks.


This is an overview of what my classroom would look like. It has a very open feel to it with plenty of open space to do activities. The classroom can easily be transformed and adapted to multiple different kinds of activities.

This is the arts and craft corner and computer station. This space would allow students to come and work on different activities and projects. In addition to the desktop computer, my classroom would also be equip with enough lap tops for everyone. This again would allow students to be very mobile.

This is the reading corner. The shelf would be filled with all different kinds of books for students to read and use for research.

This is a closer look at the craft and computer stations. Above the craft station is a place to hang students work. From reading Ron Clark's book, I really realized the importance of showing off and applauding student work. Above the computer is a world map, I want to make sure that in my classroom students are always thinking about a bigger world view!

This is the garden. It would be taken care of and maintained by the class. I think it's important to have hands on activities and lessons where students can learn by seeing something with their own eyes. On the wall you will See a Van Gogh painting, again I think it's important to give students things to look at and always equip your classroom with things that can spark "Teachable moments" as Clark discusses in his work.

My ideal classroom would also be equip with a full kitchen. So much can be learned from cooking. Weather it is measurement or following directions, this hands on activity is a great teaching tool. I think that so often we, as teachers, feel bound to textbook and lecture style teaching. When we break down those walls and start to discover artistic ways to teach, I think that it makes teaching and learning more enjoyable.

In this corner, we have paintings and artifacts from around the world. These again are to spark student interest and give them a greater world view.

In this corner we have a tv and couch. This is also another place where classroom activities could take place.

The stage is one of the most important elements of the classroom. It would be used for students to reenact and complete class projects.

This is another overview of the classroom. The rug on the floor would also be a meeting and gathering place for class lessons, reading and more!

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 3 Creativity

Chapter 3- Creativity

Chapter 3 was my favorite thus far. Creativity is something I consider to be one of my strengths and something I strive to one day take to my teaching. Clark talks in this chapter about how creativity can excite and inspire . He talks about how many kids lives today lack structure. We live in a world with more broken families then families that remain together. Clark talks about how some students pend more time on the streets then they do at home and how some homes are not safe and stable environments. As teachers, these will be obstacles that we must work through every day. In these children life's, parents support is minimal. This lack of parent support of school is something that teachers will have to constantly fight against. Clark talks about how a little creativity can help to work past these issues and show measurable results in students.

Clark discusses how by creating games and activities out of things like vocabulary and math can make all the difference. Even students who do not have parent support at home are more apt to practice something that they enjoy doing. Clark talks about how he even convinced the gym teacher to play games and do activities that reinforced things learned in class. As a teacher you must constantly be thinking outside the box and figure out how you can combine creativity and still fit in all the required material. Clark also talks about the importance of embracing teachable moments. As a teacher, sometimes you can't be afraid to steer off course and take advantage of teachable moments. "Don't be afraid to abandon a set plan or to scrap a lesson if an opportunity for learning presents itself that will be to the child's advantage." (66) If students are captivated and interested in something, go with it. With the state and national standards placed on education, often times teachers feel so locked to the lesson plan because of benchmarks they must meet. But Clark reminds us as teachers and future teachers, that we must embrace teachable moments when they come along. - What's better than students eager to learn?

In the next section Clark talks about creative discipline. One of my favorite ideas of his was called the traveling trophy. Clark took a big trophy from the schools award case and ever so often when a group of students were doing a great job, he would place the trophy on their desk. For these students, this simple trophy was a great honor. The thing I really enjoy about this idea is that it's free.. doesn't cost a dime. So often, teachers reach into their own pockets to purchase rewards for good behavior etc. I thought that this idea was really creative and would probably be very effective in the classroom.

Creatively creating Unity is something that Clark also talks in depth about. He writes, "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. (70) He talked about activities like decorating the classroom door or a class fundraiser were all events that could create unity.

Another point that Clark brings forth is that creativity can help you reach students that seem "unreachable". One of Clark's creative strategies is create raps out of popular songs to help his students memorize important events or facts. As a teacher, Clark talks about the importance of laughing, singing and dancing while in the classroom. He urges teachers not to be afraid to make a fool of themselves, because often times this is the exact thing that sparks an interests or creates a connection with students. Clark writes, "Weather you are teaching your class, talking to your own kids, or giving a speech, it is crucial that you know the personality of the group you are speaking to and that you find a way to relate to them and get them to the point where they are willing to listen." (79) We know that all students don't understand and grasp things through traditional lecture and the creative methods that teachers use can help to reach a whole new group of students.

The last point that Clark speaks about is how creativity leads to respect. Clark discusses how students appreciate creative lesson plans. Weather teachers realize it or not, children understand and appreciate when teachers go out of their way to make a lesson more creative and fun.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 2 Adventure

Chapter 2- Adventure

In this chapter Clark Talks about how important a scene of adventure is in Education. He talks about the importance of teachers calling upon their youthful scene of adventure. Clark writes, "Life can be really difficult for teenagers, and they are often worried about what others will think that they won't let down their guard. As teachers and parents we need to make sure they are in an environment where they feel that they can be themselves, laugh and be free." (26) It is so important for the classroom to be a fun and comfortable environment for students. When teachers make a class more adventurous, it makes students more engaged and excited to involved in classroom activity.

"Sometimes as teacher we have to remember what if feels like, to be young and to re-create that scene of daring. We have to take a few risks and show our students that we still know how to laugh, have fun and to experience a little adventure in our lives." (28) The more years you have under your belt as a teacher, the more wisdom you can bring to your teaching, however, with that wisdom one must not "grow old". Teachers must be fresh and youthful in their teaching approach and not be afraid to look silly. I will never forget my seventh grade language arts teacher Mrs. Holzwarth. Although she had been teaching for over 20 years, her sense of adventure was strong as ever. Everyday was an adventure- weather it was dressing up, singing or silly songs, Mrs. Holzwarth kept her squirmy seventh graders interested and engaged.

Clark also talks in this section about finding and forming bonds with your students. Clark writes, "When adults and kids experience some type of adventure, it pulls them together and creates a bond like nothing else." (31) Clark goes on to talk about taking risks with your students- going outside your comfort zone.

Clark then talks about how adventure is taking a risk. Clark goes on to talk about how he as a teacher took his biggest risk as a young teacher. After seeing a TV special on the poor teaching conditions in Harlem New York, he got up and moved in hopes of making a difference. Sometimes as a teacher you have to follow your heart, go where the path does not lead and find the adventure inside yourself. This adventure will keep you young, keep you learning and keep you connected with your students.

The next section in this chapter talks about realistic adventure. Simple things like teaching a lessons outside or bringing in food from the country your teaching about. Clark talks about how adventure doesn't mean extravagant field trips, that bring adventure to the classroom can be as simple of dressing up. As a teacher you have to be smart with adventure and be prepared and organize. It's important that the adventure that you are bringing to the classroom has a purpose and benefits the students. The best thing about adventure based activities is that teachers and students alike learn things about themselves. Weather it's team building activities or a field trip to Washington DC, these adventurous activities form bonds and create memories that will last a life time.

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 2 Adventure

Ron Clark- The Excellent 11 - Chapter 1 Enthusiasm

Chapter 1- Enthusiasm

In this chapter Clark talks about the importance of enthusiasm and how it can totally transform teachers, students and schools. He starts off by telling his first story about the school he worked at in North Carolina. For the first time the school had received "excellent" level scores on state wide tests. The teachers were so excited and began to brainstorm how they could reward the students. Every idea they came up with involved money and a budget they did not have. Clark then came up with the idea of surprising the students by having a teacher talent show. At first there were a small group of teachers that got really excited about the idea and quickly jumped on board. However, there were a group of teachers that were very pessimistic about the whole even and were quick to point out obstacles. They felt that the students would loose respect for them as teachers and that they would look foolish. Other teachers complained that it would be too much work, that they didn't have costumes and that there would be no one to watch the students during this event.

So without the support of the whole staff, the teachers began to plan this special event. As this small cluster of teachers began to get excited about the event, more and more teachers joined in and decided to participate. By the day of the performance all teachers agreed to take part and were excited to show off their hard work to the students. The students were so excited and gave a standing ovation to the teachers as they performed. Clark writes, " Teachers who never seemed to show enthusiasm or spark were standing before the students, dressed to the nines dancing and singing away." (pg 5) The enthusiasm that one teacher had transferred to a small cluster, to all teachers and then onto the students. Having enthusiasm can make school a better place for everyone. Clark writes about the effect that the day had upon the students, "Something was different about our school after that day. We were all a little closer, everyone seemed much happier. Our discipline problems went down drastically. Some said that the students wouldn't respect them if they sang and danced like that, but on the contrary, they seemed to respect and appreciate us a lot more." (5-6)

Clark goes on to talk about how it's important to focus your enthusiasm as a teacher and make sure it serves a purpose. Clark writes, "I have to remind myself constantly, however, that I must focus on the educational purpose behind my antics, and I have to make sure that everything I do is not only motivating my students but also meeting their challenges and helping them learn the concepts I am trying to teach." (7) With this he also talks about setting the bar high for your students. This is something I also strongly believe in. It's important to have high expectations of students and help them to reach those expectations. Showing students that they can attain goals is something that they will be able to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

"I believe that as teachers we must set the bar as high as possible. I am a firm believer that we can get out of our student what we expect, and if we aren't setting our expectations extremely high, students aren't going to perform extremely high." (9) Clark talks in this section about how he told his students that they were going to have to memorize all the presidents and the historical things they did. He was having them do this so to give them a historical background for learning American history. Clark came up with a president rap (see below) and involved other elective teachers in the learning. He said that their would be two grades for the assignment. 100 and 0- students must get every president otherwise they would get a 0. Clark set the bar height- and the students all met the expectation. When giving students a high expectation and giving them the tools to reach the expectation, the direct result is built confidence in the student.



In the next sub-section Clark talks about how enthusiasm is fueled by our surroundings. He talks about the importance of making the classroom a place where students are excited and enthusiastic about. Clark talks about how by simply painting his Harlem classroom and desks sparked the interest and excitement of his students. With small classroom budgets, often times teachers don't feel they have the funds to spice up their classrooms. I think it's important for teachers to work with what they have and each year try to add to their classroom to make it a more inviting and comfortable environment.

In this chapter Clark also address placing enthusiasm in the hearts of unmotivated children. He talks about how simple words of encouragement "I know you are going to do really well at this""You are really smart so I know that you will do great at this assignment" etc can go a really long way. Clark also asks the very thought provoking question of how much time to spend on unmotivated and struggling students. Clark writes, " I found that sometimes I spend so much time trying to reach those few that the rest of the class was suffer. At what point do you abandon the efforts to reach the stubborn few in order to meet the needs of the rest of the class?" (15) I think that this question is a great one.. with no right direct answer. As a teacher you want to see all your student succeed, but sometimes that effort holds back the back the rest of the class. I think that this is probably one of the most difficult things for teachers and requires a balancing act.

Clark closes the chapter by talking about of enthusiasm is contagious and how it has a great effect of on others. He talks about how important it is as a teacher to show students how enthusiastic you are about teaching. This excitement and enthusiasm helps to engage students. Clark writes, "When we are active and truly enthusiastic about our lives and jobs, we are often much happier." (22)

Rules 51-55

Rule #50: "Be positive and enjoy life. Some things just aren't worth getting upset over. Keep everything in perspective and focus on the good in your life." (Pg 142)

- This another good rule to live by. So often we sweat the small stuff and don't look at the big pciture. I know that personally I have to remind myself what is important and what is really worth getting upset about.

Rule # 52: "Accept that you are going to make mistakes, Learn from them and move on." (Pg 146)

- I agree with Clark and think that this rule is really important. It's important to remind students that they can always start fresh, start over and overcome past mistakes. So often children are labled as "trouble makers" at a young age and it is something that they forever carry with them. By making this a rule and reminding his students of this rule, Clark is ofering his students the gift of starting over. We all do make mistakes and often times they are the best lessons.

Rule #54: "Carpe diem. You only live today once, so don't waste it. Life is made up of special moments, many of which happen when caution is thrown to the wind and people take action and seize the day. " (pg 156)

- I think that this quote is fitting for the end because Carpe Diem - Seize the day- is exactly what Clark does on a daily basis. He lives life to the fullest and seizes every opportunity every day for both him and his students. Clark has not waited for sucess to find him, he and gone and found sucess. I think that Clark provides inspiration and hope to teachers everywhere that when you seize the day & seize opportunities, great things CAN happen!

Rules 41-50

Rule #42: "When we return from a trip, you will shake my hand as well as the hands of every chaperone. You will thank us for taking the time to take you on the trip, and you will let us know that you appreciate having the opportunity to go. I am not concerned with being thanked; I am concerned with teaching you that it is appropriate to show appreciation when someone has gone out of his or her way to help you." (Pg 121)

- A simple thanks is sometimes hard to come by. Often times people think that the thanks is implied or simply forget to ofter the gesture. I will never forget, my senior year, my parents taking a friend of mine on a really nice spring break trip to Mexico. They paid for everything, our airfare, hotels, foot and entertainment. At the conclusion of the trip, my mom was hurt that my friend never thanked my parents for taking her. I come from a middle class family. I haven't done a ton of traveling, and family vacations happen ever once in a while, so for my family to take a friend of mine was a big deal. Looking back at it, my friend was not ungrateful, she just lacked the training in proper manners. I'm sure now, 4 years later, she would be mortified to think that she forgot to thank my parents- but it's in the past-. Clark instills important values into his students that will in turn make them better individuals. - Individuals who are more aware, more insightful and more informed.

Rule# 47: "Do not bring Doritos into the school building." (Pg 131)

- Now at this point you might be a little lost- Rule 47? What is it's importance and why is it important. Clark talks about how all teachers must adapt their own rule 47- something random that you can make a joke out of that students respond to.
Clark write, " This rule definitely causes some commotion and gets the students talking. There will always be students each year who resent not being able to bring Doritos for lunch, but I warn them repeatedly what will happen if they do so. Some will test me, and if I see them with the chips, I will walk over to them wearing a face of disgust, snatch the bag from the table, walk over to the trash can, and bust the bag, sending chips all over the place. Sometimes in class, I will notice a bag of Doritos sticking out of someone's backpack. I will walk to the board and continue to teach like normal. All of a sudden, I will turn quickly to face the class and say, "No one move!" I will then begin to sniff, gliding slowly to the right, slowly to the left. "Silence!" My nose will begin to lead me in the correct direction until eventually, "Aha!" I will "find" the Doritos, march over to the trash, and crush them, much to the delight of the students and, believe it or not, much to the enjoyment of even the student who has just lost his lunchtime snack." (pg 133)
Clark talks about how rule 47 is your opportunity to do something, make some funny rule that will allow students to have fun and joke with you as a teacher. I thought this was a really cute idea and would love to see how this would play out in the classroom.

Rule #49: "Stand up for what you believe in. You should not take no for an answer if your heart and mind are leading you in a direction that you feel strongly about." (pg 137)

- I just love this rule- it is one we should all live by, but I think it's important to remind students and each other of this often!

Rules 31-40

Rule #33: " When we go on field trips, we will meet different people. When I introduce you to the people, make sure that you remember their names. Then, when we are leaving, make sure to shake their hands and thank them, mentioning their names as you do so." (pg 105)

- Rule number 33 really had an impact on me, because I wish I was told this when I was younger. Had someone told me the importance of remembering or addressing people by name, I would be much better off today. Often times I can't even remember someones name right after being introduced to them (I am so focused on what I'm going to say etc. that I am not even really listening during introductions). I would find it very impressive as a speaker to have a group of fifth graders remember my name at the end of a tour, presentation etc. Again, Clark is equipping his students with the life skill necessary to succeed in life.

Rule #39: "If we are on a field trip, it is a good idea to compliment something about the place where we are visiting. For example, if we visit someone's home, it would be a nice gesture to tell them that you think they have nice curtains. People are always self conscious when they have guest visit their home, so you want to make them feel at ease. Also, if we are visiting other places, such as a museum or theater, it would be nice to comment on how beautiful the architecture is or to tell the guide that you think the facility is very nice." (pg 116)

- Clark starts off this section talking about when he would go for home visits in his Harlem schools, he would often times visit homes that were in the slums of New York City, but he always made sure to complement something about the home that he liked. Clark is so right, people fuss and are nervous when guest come to visit. By giving a simple compliment, the host is put to ease and isn't quite so on guard. Clark talked about how when his students visited the white house, students from his class studied the artwork that would be in the white house so that they could compliment President Clinton and Hilary upon their visit. Clark talked about how impressed the Clinton's were by the manners his students displayed on their visit.

Rules 21-30

Rule #22: "You may bring a bottle of water and leave it on your desk. Do not ask me if you can get water while I am teaching a lesson. You can even have food at your desk as long as others don't see it and I don't hear you eat it."(Pg 77)

- In this rule, Clark's cometary consists of talking about how it's important to give students the tools to yield their personal best performance. He talked about how students often times learn better or perform better when they are not distracted by things like hunger and thrust. He talked about how with this rule, he then had to make rules about keeping the classroom clean, and how they could loose this privilege by making a mess. Often times schools create rules like this to prevent daily nightmares for custodial staff, but Clark talks about making student's responsible for their mess rather than restring to prevent.

Rule #23: "Quickly learn the names of other teachers in the school and greet them by saying things like "good morning, Mrs. Graham," or "good afternoon, Mrs. Ortiz. That is a very pretty dress." (Note: If you are in line with the rest of the class, you are not allowed to speak to the teachers at that time because the no talking rule is in effect. You should speak to other teachers if you are entering or leaving school, on recess, on an errand, or changing classes.) " (Pg 79)

- As I think back to Elementary, middle school, High school, I think about all the teachers name I knew, but did not ever introduce myself to. Again, Clark is teaching good life skills by encouraging his students to introduce and greet other students. I think by doing things like this at a young age, students are more apt to adapt this principal in life. We all know that life is about who you know, not necessarily what you know, so by teaching students to form connections and relations at a young age, they will greatly benefit from it in the long run.

Rule #25: "We will often have visitors to our school. If someone is coming to visit our class, I will send two students to the front door of the building. You will have a sign welcoming the person. When our visitor arrives, you will shake hands, tell him or her who you are, and welcome the person to our school. You will then take the visitor on a small tour of the building before bringing him or her to the classroom." (Pg 85)

-Again, I feel that Clark is really instilling life skills to his students at a young age. The students in his school quickly learned how you treat visitors. Clark talked in this section about how he modeled to his students how to give tours, how to introduce yourself and the appropriate dress for visitors. He talked about how when a visitor comes to his school, he wants to make sure that their is no confusion. Right as the visitor enters the building he or she knows exactly where to go, who to go with and a little bit about the class before entering. It really strikes me every time about the little things Clark instills in his students. Some may think that Clark may be tip-toeing into the roll of a parent, but I strongly disagree. I think it would be wonderful to see more educational systems adapt to include more life skills like Clark enforces.