Guilt, Fairness, & Girl Scout Cookies - Episode 17

        Today, we're gonna dive into a timely, controversial, and delicious topic: Guilt, Fairness, & Girl Scout Cookies. Watch the YouTube video here >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBr3cgZWSc4
        This past week, we�ve heard conversations on the Internet about the arrival of Girl Scout Cookies, and someone said they buy cookies from everyone who asks because they want to be fair. So today we want to talk about that guilt and the concept of fairness surrounding these sales and school fundraisers like this.
        Now, of course there isn�t anything wrong with Girl Scout Cookies. How could there be? I confess to having eaten a whole sleeve of Thin Mints on more than one occasion.
        The question is: �Is it fair to buy cookies from one student and not another student?�
        Let�s start with the meaning of fair. The thing this question assumes is that each kid needs to sell the same amount of cookies for things to be fair. This belief values same results. I think fairness is more like same opportunity. Did each kid have the same opportunity to sell me a box of cookies? Answer: Yes. So I can in good conscience only buy from the first student and feel perfectly fair about it.
        To the other cookie sellers, I might say something like, �I would have, but I just bought some. Better get to the other folks before someone else takes your sales!� See, that first cookie seller was faster � she was on it. Entrepreneurship and hard work wins the day. I want my students to learn that. In fact, I want my students to learn that not everyone gets the same thing because not everyone works as hard, smart, and relentless as you.
        This can start when kids are young too. In fact, it should. Instead of giving everyone a trophy, we can empower kids to know that the trophy goes to the persistent, the thoughtful, the gritty, the person who doesn�t give up, the early bird. They have to work hard!
         Conversation of the Day: What do you think about buying selling Girl Scout Cookies on campus and how can we teachers handle it in a way that is fair to them and us?
          Hop on over to watch the video and share your thoughts in the conversation.

24 Tips for New Teachers that Other Teachers Might Not Tell You

1. It is okay to plan assignments that you aren't going to grade.
2. Be nice to your custodians. They deal with enough crap already. And vomit.
3. Set firm boundaries between home life and work life, even if other teachers tell you it's impossible.
4. Use some of your sick days. Use them for rest. Use them to develop yourself. Use them to travel.
5. Fight the urge to gossip about students or teachers. It feeds negativity in your soul. It also lets teachers know that you're the kind of person who would gossip about them.
6. It is okay to give students full credit for trying so you don't have to grade every question right or wrong.
7. Keep a big hat in your classroom for field trips, supervision, & emergency drills.
8. Keep a beach chair in your room. Take it outside to eat lunch or grade papers. Just get yourself outside.
9. Trade your sit-down desk for a stand-up desk. You'll be way less likely to die of a heart attack, and after the first two weeks, you'll have more energy throughout the day.
10. Empower students to do classroom jobs.
11. Let students prove you wrong. Then admit you were wrong. You will earn their respect and get them paying attention because who doesn't like proving the teacher wrong?
12. Laugh. A lot.
13. Try try try to not take papers home. It's possible. I did it for 6 years. You can too. If you put your foot down and make some changes.
14. Call home when "bad kids" do well.
15. When you don't know an answer, admit it. Then empower your students to find the answer you don't know so they can teach you. Your students will grow to trust you when you say you DO know.
16. Leave your classroom once or twice before Thanksgiving to do something unexpected on campus so the kids will see. Go play with all of them at recess. Join the middle school basketball game. Set up a Thriller flash mob for Halloween. Something that you can do splendidly. You'd be surprised how this show of your realness and coolness will help classroom management.
17. Boys want respect. Girls want love. Give them the unconditional love or respect they need and your life gets way easier.
18. Male teachers: Defend all the girls from sexist or degrading comments, thoughts, or actions.
19. Female teachers: Defend all the boys from male-bashing comments, thoughts, or actions.
20. All teachers: Ban phrases used as insults like "you're so retarded" or "stop being so gay" or any other such language from your classroom that minimize a group of students.
21. Don't yell in anger. Ever.
22. Ask dumb questions. They aren't dumb.
23. Show lots of love for the office secretaries. Lots. Thank them. Lots. You'll be glad you do.
24. Next year, don't forget you were once a new teacher. Help the newbies.

NOTE: The Paper Airplane image in the header logo is used with permission by Paurian.

Nouns - My Student Grammar Ninjas

I threw the gauntlet down to my students to create Parts of Speech videos using one of Intelli-Tunes's songs by Ron Brown.

MY EDMODO ANNOUNCEMENT TO THEM:

PARTS OF SPEECH VIDEO CHALLENGE:

I double dog dare you all to make a music video using one of the parts of speech songs. No extra credit...just eternal fame and glory.

Then they simply blew me away! Check out this nouns music video!

Here's the YouTube link if you want to use it in your classroom. youtu.be/NaleIzSWN9U

Due Date Trickery: The Win Win Win of Independent Practice Homework

Today, I was reminded of a little trick I pull on my students. NOTE: The key to this trick is to not tell your students you're pulling it on them.

THE SITUATION: Today, I assigned some Grammar Ninja Parts of Speech independent practice classwork and homework. They had 20 minutes in class to work, so I assigned them 8 pages to do.

"If you do a page, every five minutes, you'll get four pages done in class today," I said.

Then they scurried off to work.

That's when I tricked them. They knew they had to work hard in class or they'd end up with a bunch of homework. But then with two minutes left, I got up and said, "All right, I looked at things one more time and let's do this. Turn to the last page and make a note that it is NOT due tomorrow. Then turn to the adverbs page and make the same note."

It's a win-win-win!

(1) They worked hard for 20 minutes.
(2) They are stoked to have less homework.
(3) They think I'm the king of the world.
(4) And they're none the wiser.

Unless they read this blog.

Hit us with your thoughts, additions, or suggestions.

Worldwide Teacher Poll: What kinds of signs are in your classroom?

Help us out here?

What kinds of signs or labels do you print out or buy and post around your room?

SAMPLE IDEAS:

• Class Periods - 1st, 2nd, 11th, 12th
• Class Labels - English, British Literature, American Literature, History, World History, Science, Physics, Creative Writing, etc.
• In-Class work
• Homework Due Dates
• Days of the week
• Recycling
• Late Homework
• Edmodo Code
• Scholastic Code
• Library Closed
• Permission to check out books

But we need an exhaustive list, so we can create one giant freebie for everybody?

So help us out, World? What signs do you have? OR what signs do you wish you had for your boards?