LIVING THE DREAM! #RONCLARKACADEMY

guys.  I quite literally lived my DREAM when I attended the National Educators’ Conference at Ron Clark Academy at the beginning of June.  yeah. RON CLARK ACADEMY!!  …I have spent every day since then trying to figure out exactly how to put into words how truly amazing this experience was.  I’m still not sure if I am going to be able to do it justice, but I am certainly going to try.

It all started last summer. …I mean, I have always been a Ron Clark fan.  The summer before I started college I remember reading his book, The Essential 55, and being completely inspired.  …but last summer, after I read Crash Course by Kim Bearden, the co-founder of RCA, I officially added visiting Ron Clark Academy to my bucket list. It is, hands down, the BEST professional development book I have ever read.  I laughed, I cried, and I learned so much from this book, yet not one sentence was written to tell me how to teach. It was honest, moving, inspiring, and motivating.  READ IT!! 

okay.  Visiting Ron Clark Academy was officially on my to do list, but I didn’t actually think it was going to happen any time soon. …then, we did it.  We leapt.  We decided we were going to make it happen.  period.  [Can I just tell you how truly blessed I am to be on staff with these ladies!?  Holly @ Mrs. Ehle’s Kindergarten Connections, Brittany, and Michelle are the most incredible support system.  I love them and all of the amazing plans we have for the future!  #positiveposse.]

…so on Thursday we started our road trip. Fort Wayne, Indiana to Atlanta, Georgia is a little much for one day, so we made a detour to Nashville where I splurged on my first Kendra Scott necklace and went on a self-guided tour of Opryland. 

[I know, Michelle is missing, but don’t worry, she catches up with us in Atlanta.]

This sounds ridiculous, but I had so many butterflies as we rode that shuttle from our hotel to RCA for the first time.  I had so many expectations, but at the same time I had no idea what to expect.  …well, let me tell you, it blew every single one of my non-expectations out of the water.  As we entered the library, and had our picture taken with THE Ron Clark, the music was blaring, everyone was dancing, and we were immediately greeted by the students of RCA. The rest of the evening is a bit of a blur; the students gave us tours of their AMAZING school, we were able to observe some of the BEST teachers in action, and we were sorted into houses. #reveurforlife.  oh, and there was one heck of a party in the gym.  …and by party I mean a full out concert. 

On Saturday we attended a variety of workshops, observed students and teachers in action, attended a special viewing of their spring musical, AND became SLIDE CERTIFIED!! …because why should we be taking the stairs when we can take risks and SLIDE!!?  …but honestly, by the end of the day, my brain was spinning.  I was in awe of RCA’s expectations of students and staff.  There was just so much to take in.

[yes, that is Hope King!!]

As if everything we had experienced so far wasn’t enough, TAcKy PRoM was Saturday night.  oh my goodness.  …I think this picture speaks for itself.


…it was our last morning in Atlanta that truly pulled everything together for me.  I had so many ideas swirling around in my brain. I just kept asking myself, how do I take this back to my school and make a difference? How do I create this excitement for learning?  How do I inspire my students to succeed; to take the SLIDE?  …it was like the RCA staff was reading my brain.  We spent the morning hearing from some of RCA’s exceptional educators.  Wade and Hope King talked about the changes they made at their school after they visited RCA for the first time.  Kim Bearden reminded us to seek SIGNIFICANCE not achievement.  Ron Clark talked about connecting with the students and making each learning experience an adventure.  #bestdayever.


okay.  …so, here are the things I am taking away from my trip to Ron Clark Academy.

1. Next year my room is going to be THE place to be.  I already kind of love my classroom, but I plan to add a few extra personal touches to take it to the next level.  “It isn’t fluff.  It is the first step to engagement.”
2. I WILL put in the extra time to transform my classroom for some of my favorite units.  …I’m not exactly sure how, but my classroom will look drastically different when my students show up on that first morning of my Picture Book Production unit.
3. I will be AWESOME!!  …let’s face it, teachers are entertainers.  If I want my students to buy into their education then I better be ALL in with them.  I will definitely be using some different “call and response” chants in my classroom next year and if I can get my short little legs up on our desks without breaking myself, that will happen too!!

okay.  #longestblogpostever.

Ron Clark Academy was AMAZING!! …really, AMAZING doesn’t even begin to describe it.  …and since I didn’t get a good picture with Kim Bearden, I fully intend to go again!!

go.  seriously.  Just make it happen.  It will be so incredibly worth it! 

THE PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME

okay. I am getting a little jealous of all these pictures everyone is taking with THE pirate himself, Dave Burgess. 

I didn't attend one of his seminars this summer, but I did just finish reading his book, [Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator] and I cannot wait to pirate it up this school year. 

"It doesn't matter how much material you teach, it only matters how much is received."

My copy is now littered with notes, highlighted text, and hook ideas that are applicable to what I teach. This book doesn't just tell you "what" other teachers do, it explains "how" you can make it work in your class, with your curriculum, all by asking the right questions. 

Read it, figure out exactly what PIRATE, stands for, and WANT to be GREAT. 

"To ascend to the level of greatness, you have to be on fire with passion and enthusiasm."

[no, I was not asked to write a review; these are just my fabulous opinions. You're welcome.]

IT’S CURRENTLY JULY!

July??!  Already!?!  How did this happen?

…at least I managed to remember to link up with Farley this month!



Although it is hard to believe it is already July, I am LOVING summer. I have been spending much of my time, reading, relaxing, enjoying friends and family. …and I have actually been pretty productive.

Tomorrow I am off to Wisconsin where I will meet up with one of my best friends before continuing on to Minnesota for another friend’s wedding.  I can’t wait!!  It is going to be one excellent college reunion.  AND, I will get to see my mentor teacher from my first teaching placement. #bestweekendever.

…then I will be directing 100% of my energy toward the Costa Rica Mission Trip I am planning for later in July.  Busy, busy, busy! 

If anyone wants to help with my To Do List, let me know!! : ]

STANDARDS STRESS RELIEF

okay. I am going to put it out there. STANDARDS STRESS ME OUT. ...maybe that isn't totally accurate. It isn't teaching the standards that stresses me out, it is the documenting that I always tend to ignore and then just skip. 

As an Indiana Teacher, we are ditching Common Core next year and using the Indiana College and Career Ready Academic Standards. (...that are really quite similar to Common Core, but okay.)  ...I will also be spending a lot of my time curriculum mapping during the upcoming school year...  

...so I am renewing my efforts to pay attention to the standards and document when I teach them. 

My Indiana Academic Standards Binder

I spent quite a bit of time last week organizing the standards into a table that will allow me to note when I teach each standard, when I assess each standard, and record any notes.  I am going to pair my checklists with the Common Core Pacing Guides since they are not yet available with Indiana's new standards.  ...fingers crossed. I am really hoping this is a step in the right direction. 

Indiana Teachers, I have made these fantastic checklists for all grade levels and you can find them [here]. They are even ON SALE through the holiday weekend. HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

How do YOU keep track of standards? Is there something my binder is missing? I would love your suggestions...

ANOTHER MONDAY MADE IT

I am so glad I discovered these "Monday Made It" link-ups with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics. I found myself actually looking forward to Monday! ...it was a strange feeling...


It was kind of a slow week.

...much like last week, I spent a lot of time "making" myself relax. I "made" my way through quite a few books on my summer reading list.  Looking for Alaska by John Green and Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walters were my favorites this week. go. read.


yummm. I kind of hate raw peppers and onion. UNLESS, they are in this delicious Black Bean and Corn Salsa. My bestest friend introduced me to this stuff last summer, and I am slightly addicted. (I really have no idea where she came up with the recipe, but you can find it [here] if you want to pin it.)


The best part: It is incredibly simple to make. 

1 can of corn, drained
1 can of black beans, drained 
1 small white onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

That is it! Combine, stir, enjoy, become addicted. 

...I'll be back next week!

MONDAY MADE IT

After beginning summer vacation with a few weeks of school-free bliss, I am extremely excited to be linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It. 


Here we go…

Although I haven’t upcycled a filing cabinet yet this summer, many of my past summers have included filing cabinet makeovers.  It is cheap, easy, and looks b-e-a-utiful when finished.  I just recently posted instructions over my Spring Break.  …check them out [here]. 




I am pretty new to the whole TpT thing, and I recently discovered how to make a power point editable. (baby steps…)  As a result, I present to you, an [EDITABLE Massive ToDo List].  If you are going to have a list of things to do, and let’s face it, we always have a list of things to do, it might as well look exciting. 




…my final Monday Made It probably shouldn’t count, but I am “making” myself relax a bit this summer.  My favorite way to spend my days is soaking up the sun, at the lake, with a good book. 

Happy Summer!!

WELL SPOKEN

Watch out Summer Bucket List, here I come.

I have already finished reading my first of at least three professional development books this summer. Well Spoken: Teaching Speaking to All Students by Erik Palmer is a must-read. Seriously. 

I was hooked before I even finished the first chapter. "Now, let me make a radical statement: the mission of education should not be to make students better at school but rather to prepare them for life."  yes!! Mr. Palmer, I completely and whole-heartedly agree. 

If we are being honest, we spend a lot more of our time as adults communicating orally rather than through writing. ...so we should probably teach a few of those oral communication skills if we are going to prepare our students for life. 

Well Spoken breaks down teaching speaking into two realistic, easy-to-understand, and easy-to-implement parts: building a speech and performing a speech.  Oh, and PVLEGS is the perfect mnemonic for keeping track of those elements of performance and engaging students. "Check out her PVLEGS!!"

Buy it, read it, incorporate it into your classroom. Go to www.pvlegs.com and  learn more about Teaching Speaking to All Students. 

...my quarterly book report projects are going to look drastically different and I cannot wait. 

[no, I was not asked to write a review; these are just my fabulous opinions. You're welcome.] 

SUMMER BUCKET LIST

okay, I know.  Many of you have probably had your Summer Bucket List organized by priority and color-coded for weeks, but I am just now getting around to even thinking about all that I want to accomplish this summer.

1.  I love reading.  I kind of made this ridiculous goal back in January to read 52 books this year; an average of a book a week.  ...so far I have read twelve...  I've decided that at least three of the books I read this summer should be for professional development.  This one has been in my car since I received it at a conference last August.  It is slightly smudged, but I feel as though it is full of potential.

2.  I also want to create another novel unit for my fabulous sixth graders.  ...I just have to pick a book.  I am currently leaning toward Wonder by R.J. Palacio or possibly The Westing Game.  ...other suggestions are welcome. : ]

3.  I need a better system.  I am so horrible at documenting all of those little behavioral outbursts, keeping track of incomplete homework, paying attention to who has supplies and who doesn't...  Help!! If you have a system that works for you, I would love to hear all about it.   ...seriously, help me.

4.  In addition to teaching, I am also the Youth Director at my church and I have spent many hours planning a Summer Mission Trip to COSTA RICA!!  I am so excited, and so very blessed, to be taking a group of high school youth to Costa Rica where we will have the opportunity to share HIS LOVE  in word and action.  ...there is still lots to be done, and pulling off this trip is going to be one of my biggest priorities this summer.

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20.

5.  Relax, relax, relax.  I need me some me time!!  I can think of nothing better than endless hours at the lake, sleeping in my hammock, laying in the sun, and breathing the lake air.  ...and I am hoping this summer's Jimmy Buffett concert is even better than the last.

[with the best friend at Jimmy last summer]

Well, wish me luck.  I LOVE summer!!!