Okay. I'm a little behind.
I had my first experience with fidget spinners.
I was mesmerized! The student was focused.  In fact none of the students were distracted.
But I was completely fascinated with the rapid spinning motion. Needless to say, I stopped talking and listening as I was drawn in the whirl.

So... that's a fidget spinner!? That's how they work. Now, I'm not so sheltered that I haven't seen pictures , but this was my first up-close-experience with one in action. It is as if I've had a fidget spinner magnet installed in me. I am now seeing them everywhere. Maybe I'm just more observant. Maybe I'm just paying more attention. And, did you know that there is more than one way to spin them? Amazing!

So this is the "evil" invention that is driving everyone crazy? This small piece of triangular plastic is single handedly destroying education? Oh, I can see how they could cause a classroom disruption. I mean look at how they "disrupted" me, but create chaos? I can see where a fidget spinner would be a detriment to the educational process, just like stress balls, wobbly seats, or phones. I can imagine how a classroom full of them could erupt into competition.

And... I'd be right in the center of it. Lesson totally forgotten. Precious instructional minutes lost.  But on the positive side ...  relationships could be built on a common interest and a new skill would be learned. Then we'd have to put them aside until our next fidget spinner break-out.  Yes, there will be those who will try to have them out all the time and to disrupt class.  Those students will always find a way and a means. But there won't always be fidget spinners.

I think I'll go buy a fidget spinner of my own!  :)


Grab your students attention with this resource full of Abraham Lincoln's funny tall tales!

The childhood of Abraham Lincoln

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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

When was the last time your principal gave you a package of gummies for coming to school on time? Did every teacher in your building win a teacher of the year award?

"That's silly," you say. "Why would I be rewarded for doing what is expected of me? Why would every teacher win? If we all won, the award wouldn't mean anything. Winning wouldn't matter."

Yet that is exactly what we do to students when we hand out trophies to all of the teams at the end of the season or give them a Friday treasure for "being good" all week.

Be a good sport. Remember that phrase? When did we stop teaching students how to graciously lose? Learning to share and play well with others is part of life. We learned this in kindergarten. In the real world we're expected to be flexible team members. To work well with others. To listen. To show respect, even when we don't agree.  Coming to work on time and prepared is also part of the expectation of a dependable employee. Can you imagine going to school late and unprepared? Me either. Yet we condition our students to expect rewards and praise for being .... students.

Do you know why baby boomers have an admired work ethic? Because they were taught responsibility and how to be a good sport. We didn't expect a reward for doing the right thing. We did the right thing because it was... the right thing to do.

Too much of a good thing is often bad. As with all things. Moderation. Going overboard simply creates an out-of-shape system.  Time to push away from the table if we see things getting out of hand.

Yes, I'm antiquated. I was educated with the dinosaurs and we all know what they are. Extinct. But there is something to be said for the education I received and for the work ethic that is instilled in me. I think we really need to take a step back and scrutinize our "everyone-wins-feel-good" programs and evaluate if they really are building the type of character that they claim to be building. Are they preparing our students to become leaders with integrity? Or are they installing entitlement practices in future adults ?

Abe Lincoln and the Civil War

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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Everyone likes to hear their name. Well... almost. I didn't like to hear it when mom used my first, middle, and last name with 'that tone' in her voice. I knew that I was in trouble.  Other than that, hearing my name gives me an identity and purpose. It lets me know that I am important to someone.  Kids like to hear their names too. It lets them know that you care enough about them to learn their name.   My back-to-school rule was to learn my student's names within the first 3 days. Not easy when you teach departmentalized middle school classes, but doable. Especially if you put forth the effort. Mondays were hard for a couple of weeks, and then things would fall into place. My students' names identified not only who they were, but also their special characteristics too.

Yes, names were used to identify the one who put a snake in someone's locker. Or the one who just couldn't stop talking. Or the one who liked being the center of attention.  But using their name was powerful. It let them know that I saw them. A person. An individual. Someone who mattered. Even if they had not made the best choice in the world.

On the flip side. I am not teacher. Or hey you. Or Ms.  A teacher is what I am. Not who I am.  I am Kim. Aunt Kim. Kimberly. Or Mrs. Frencken. It all depends on where I am and what I am doing.  If a student insists on calling me teacher, I call them kid.

"Hey, teacher", said the kid at the back desk.
"Yes, kid at the back desk. How can I help you?"
"My name isn't kid!"
"And, mine isn't teacher. "

You see, it is important to our students that we learn and use their names. They want to be seen.

Think of it like this. A child that has little interaction with adults outside of school craves for attention. A name gives them worth. Respond by learning their names and identifying them as a valuable person.  After all, you could be making all the difference in the world.


Show these February resources some love!!!

Daily Review Printables for 3rd

Daily Skill Review Printables for 2nd

   

Vocabulary Activities that aren't just for February!

The Story of Ruby Bridges

 

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Teachers are collectors, packrats, hoarders. Whatever you want to call it. We all have boxes of bulletin board supplies, sharpies, crayons, stickers, books cluttering up our closets. Pull open a drawer and about 20 different colors of highlighters will fall out.  File folders are full of fantastic lessons.  We even max out computer memories.

Sale! Did someone mention the word Sale? All anyone needs to do to make a quick buck is post the word Sale on a teacher site and they will come running. After all... I might need that for a lesson. Dollar stores are the best thing since sliced bread... to a teacher. We can browse for hours. Up and down the aisles. Dreaming up uses for all of those sentence strips, cute cut-outs, and colorful letters. As if our rooms are colorful enough!

And somehow all of this 'stuff' finds its way into our homes. This is when we stick the overflow, that we might need next year, onto shelves in the garage or attic. And there it sits, year after year, not doing anybody any good. But... we can't get rid of it. We might need it one day.

All of this is well and good. To a point. Then the day of reckoning comes. The stuff has to go. Time to find a new home or a dumpster. The agony is almost unbearable. Why do we find it so hard to let go of that favorite bulletin board design or set of books that our students really loved? I can't answer that. As I write this I have garage shelves full of items that have not seen the light of day since I retired from teaching full time.  I keep telling myself that these are still good teaching materials. They have merit. They might be useful to someone.

 I've gone through four garage sales and many of my items have found new life, but I have yet to find that 'someone' that I can entrust with my most treasured teaching resources.  Makes no sense. Time to clean it out. And, yet somehow I keep pushing that job to the end of my agenda.

All all teachers hoarders? Maybe not. Maybe its just me. Maybe this January would be a good time to do some 'spring cleaning'. And, then again, maybe not.

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

Read more »

Chocolate 4 Teachers