Teaching with Intention Chapter 3 Book Study

I am once again joining in on the book study, Teaching With Intentions put together by Kindergarten Smorgasboard.  You can find Chapter 1 here and Chapter 2 here if you missed them.  This week host's are Sassy, Savvy, Simple Teaching, Surfing Through Second, and The Learning Chambers.

This chapter talked about Classroom Environment.  One of the key points that Debbie Miller made was that classrooms can always be changed throughout the school year.  I am constantly changing up my classroom in little ways throughout the year.  I generally keep the set up the same as far as furniture from year to year.  This past year I did rearrange some shelfs to make more space for the blocks center and to provide a bigger shelf for students to store their materials on.  I also created signs for centers that hung on ribbon.  This helped me to organize materials more precisely and also helped students know where to go for specific centers.

I like her idea of "clearing the decks" and getting rid of things that we do not need.  I moved schools 3 years ago and still feel that I am throwing random stuff away each year that I discover the previous teacher left.  I am also going through my own teaching materials and getting rid of items that I have not used in a while.  This past year I shifted to using centers more than anything else.  I plan on creating a system to organize them all this summer.  My ideal organization system would have the centers categorized by standards so I can easily meet standards that are presented within our units.

I love the way Debbie Miller closes this chapter "Classroom environments are organic-they grow as we do.  The best of them reflect the hearts and souls of those who inhabit them.  They're never really finished.  They're never really "done".  How could they be, when every day students and teachers learn something new?"  I love this idea of having the environment grow throughout the year to accompany my own needs as well as the students needs.

Check out what other teacher's thought about this chapter by clicking here.  Have a great Wednesday!

Teaching With Intention Chapter 2 Book Study

I am once again linking up with other teachers in this book study put together by Greg, from Kindergarten Smorgasbord.  This week's chapters are hosted by The Primary Gal, Mrs. Dailey's Classroom and Flying into First.  Check out their blogs to link up and/or see posts that others have linked up.

This chapter made me seriously think about what my vision and beliefs on teaching truly are as well as how they look in the classroom.  The hosts have come up with some great questions that will help to further your thinking and reflection of this chapter.  

I feel that I have always had the same general vision for my classroom: that all children will feel they are in a safe nonjudgmental environment where they can learn at their own pace.  I love the idea of this vision and often reflect on how I can maintain this environment in my classroom on a daily basis.  During this past school year, I created new resources that I eventually began selling on TPT.  While creating these resources, I spent a lot of time gearing them towards where all my students were, which meant differentiation when possible.  My students really thrived this year due to the fact that lessons were truly differentiated for them and were often hands on and engaging.  While I still have ways to improve in this vision I feel like I am on the right track.  

I have to admit, I really struggled with this question. Even though my school year just ended last week, it is difficult for me to reflect what my ideal classroom beliefs would be.  I love how Debbie Miller stated "Whether you're a beginning teacher or a veteran teacher, the time is right to trust yourself and begin the process of defining your beliefs and aligning your practices." While I truly do have beliefs that are shown in my classroom, I need to refine their definition and guidelines.  I appreciate how she suggests collaborating with other teachers by trying new ideas as well as doing research when clearly defining your beliefs.  I hope to reflect on these more while reading other teachers posts about this chapter and to deepen my own beliefs and visions to reflect more personally in my classroom.  

I am looking forward to developing my own personal set of visions and beliefs in my classroom in the next school year.