Pernille Ripp's Blog, page 76

We Are the Experts on Our Students

I don’t remember when I started speaking up as a teacher.  When my words no longer burned in my skull, my mouth tightly closed.  When I finally had the courage to raise my hand and give my opinion and then wait and see what would happen.  But I do remember how it felt; terrifying.  My cheeks flamed red, all eyes on me.  In my mind you could have heard a pin drop.  Time slowed until someone else jumped in.  Yet, in reality, it was probably not a big moment.  Not something etched into history, nor remembered by the masses.  So why is it we are so afraid to claim our expertise as teachers, ask questions, and speak up for the students we teach?

We seem to have no problem being told what to do as teachers.  Whether we are a product of the teaching conditions we endure, or we simply don’t think our opinions have value, we mostly keep silent when it comes to new programs, new initiatives, and new decisions.  We assume that everyone understands our students and thus the decisions being made will always benefit them.  But we all know that that is not always true.  And yet we wait for others to tell us what to do, so that we can follow their path.  Instead of carving out our own, instead of adding our voice.

The thing is, we are the experts on the kids we teach.  Not the amazing administrators we may work with.   Not the consultant brought in or the outside expert.  We are.  And we need to speak up when things are not going to be in the best interest of those children.  We need to at least offer our opinion, our advice, and then be allowed to adapt for the very students we teach.

If we know our facts.  If we know our craft.  If we know our research then we too are experts.  Then our voices matter as well.  But you have to allow yourself to have your voice heard.  You have to trust yourself in adapting programs to make them work for the kids you teach.  You have to allow yourself to ask questions, suggest modifications, create change so that the very students we are entrusted to teach will get the best learning experience.

Don’t wait for others to claim you are an expert, claim it yourself.  Give yourself the same value that you place on your students.  You know what is best for kids, so trust that. Stop creating more barriers than there needs to be because their future depends on you.

H/T to Jess Lifshitz and her early morning talks.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: Be the change, being a teacher, believe, choices, MIEExpert15, teachers

How to Break the Rules Gently – Creating Experiences that Protect the Love of Learning

In true EdCamp Style, Nerdcamp yesterday was all about the collaborative sessions.  I, alongside Donalyn Miller (!) ended up facilitating one of my all-time favorite sessions ever  “How to Break the Rules Gently –  Creating Experiences that Protect the Love of Reading.”  I tried to tweet as much of the advice shared as I could but thought a follow up post would be in order as well.

Let’s face it, we have all worked within systems that went against our beliefs in some way.  Whether we were told to follow curriculum we didn’t believe in, follow rules that broke our hearts, or even just compromise in a way we never thought were would.  Being an educator often means we are wondering how to protect the love of reading in our classroom, the love of school.  And not because people intentionally set out to destroy either of these things but sometimes decisions are made that have unintended consequences.  So do you work within  a system that has rules or curriculum that you want to change or break?  How do you create change when it’s just you fighting?

You know your research.  One of the quickest ways to keep a teacher quiet is to say something is research-based.  So you have to know your own research says Donalyn Miller.  You have to be willing to ask to see the research, and then counter with your own.  Stay current, stay knowledgable and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Donalyn recommends the book Creating Lifelong Readers Through Independent Reading by Barbara Moss & Terrell Young as a great place to start.  I ordered it yesterday.  You also don’t say that you are “just” a teacher said Leah Whitford.  You are a teacher, you have power.

You inform parents.  Most parents think that what we choose to do in school is always in the best interest of the child, but this is not necessarily true.  So have a classroom website where you describe what you are doing in class, what students have do, and also the requirements you are faced with.  this is not to complain but rather to inform, because parents cannot speak up if they don’t know what is going on.

You speak kindly.  I used to think change would happen with a sledgehammer approach but ow know that just stops people from listening to you.  It is not that you should be quiet, or not be passionate, but you will get much further with a kind approach where you validate others in the process in furthering real change.

You compromise.  We all think what we are doing is in the best interest of our students, so connect with others and share ideas.  Withhold judgment when you can, but always share what is happening in your room and offer resources.  Don’t claim for it to be the best, but simply share.  Be willing to use others’ ideas as well and compromise on your team.  That doesn’t mean you have given up your ideals, it means you are an adult working with other people.

You find your tribe.  If you cannot find someone in your school that shares your same ideas, look to other schools in  your district, look in your county, and obviously look online.  The Nerdy Book Club is a great place to start.  However, having local connections to keep you sane and invested is a must as well.  It is important that you know you are not alone in your corner of the world, but you have to search these people out.  They may be scared to speak up like you.

You work within the system.  When I was told I had to do reading logs, I had students do them right in class right after independent reading.  I was still doing what I was told but not sending them home.  So find ways to work within the rules that may be imposed on you if you cannot break them completely.

You find your core beliefs.  Figure out what your core beliefs are or values within the classroom, write them up, hang them up and then make every decision based on those.  I think the visual reminder of what you are fighting for will help you pick your battles as well as lead the way.

You are willing to let go.  Sometimes something we love does not fit the purpose anymore, so if you are asking others to change you have to be willing to change yourself.  Even if you spent money on it.  Because money doesn’t equal qulity or great ides or passionate students.

You find out the reason why.  Often when new things are imposed on us, such as leveling a library or doing a reading log, there is a bigger reason behind it.  Find out what that is so that you can try to find other ways to reach that same goal.  So for example if you are told to level your library, if it is for students to be able to self-select “just right” books then explore other ways to achieve that.  Present these ideas and be ready to discuss why these may be a better fit.  As Donalyn said, “Everything we do is a scaffold toward independence – that’s the end game.”

You stop assuming.  We are terribly good at assuming why rules are made or how administrators will react to us.  And yet, often our assumptions are wrong.  So have courageous conversations.  Ask gentle questions and try to broach the subject.  You may be surprised when you find an ally rather than an enemy.

You involve your students.  The biggest advocates for independent reading time in my 7th grade classroom are my student, hands down.  So offer them ways such as on blogs, vide, Twitter, newsletters or whatever else you can think of to spread the message about the things they love in your classroom.  If you want parents onboard, get their kid excited about school!

You work together.  Invite others in to see the classroom environment you have created.  Ask other teachers to come in and observe if they want, admin even though you don’t have, get the special ed teacher to be a part of the movement or any other special teacher you can.  Involve your librarian, they are a reading warrior if I ever met one.  Bring in parents, have family nights.  Find a way to spread the positive image of your class so that others will fight for it as well.

You stay persistent and passionate.  Don’t confuse passion with anger, although it is okay to get angry sometimes.  But stay passionate and persistent in your goal to protect students, stay on top of your reasons for doing things, stay up-to-date on research, and stay down to earth.  No one wants to listen to anyone who thinks they are better than others.  Don’t give up, real change can take a long time, but we must stay at it.  Even if it seems like you are totally alone and no one is listening.  As Jen Vincent said; “You never know what will come of a conversation you have.”

Filed under: advice, aha moment, Be the change, being a teacher, being me, learning, Reading, Student

Enough – My Nerdtalk for #NerdCampMi

Yesterday I had the incredible honor of declaring myself a reading warrior along with hundreds of other passionate nerdcampers.  Thanks to the awesome Erin Klein,this Ignite/Nerdtalk from Nerdcamp 2015 is below.    If you have never experienced Nerdcamp, you need to put a huge “X” in your calendar for next year.  It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by people who are as passionate about literacy as I am.  We will change literacy instruction if we band together!  Thank you to Colby, Alaina, Suzanne and all of the other incredible people that put this event together.

PS:  Due to the slides not working you will see me filling 3 minutes of awkward silence with my stand up routine – luckily I think I am better teacher than stand up.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: advice, aha moment, being a teacher, being me, Reading

The Things I Will Never Have To Do

Today, I read this post from a teacher that I admire so much; Jess Lifshitz.  And while my post is nowhere as eloquent as hers, I cannot help but echo her statement as I reflect upon my own privilege.

I was born a white child to an almost single mother.  We were not middle class but we were not poor either.  I never went hungry, nor did I have a tough childhood.  I never had to worry about where we would sleep or whether or not we would have heat.  The closest I come to having any type of experience where I was the different one was when I was taught English as a first grader in an inner city school in San Francisco.  And even those memories are fleeting.  I was a perfectly ordinary child with a proud mother that taught me to fight fiercely for what I believe in.

I moved to America when I was 18 not because we had to flee our country, or because we needed a new start, but because opportunity knocked and we took it.  I have lived a lucky life so far and I know it because there are so many things I have never had to do.

I have never had to teach my children about the prejudice they will face because of their skin color.

I have never had to tell my children to act less of what they are because others may judge them.

I have never had to wonder whether I am being judged for who I am or what I look like.  Now when it really counts.

I have hardly ever been in the minority.

I have never had to be afraid to hold the hand of my husband or worry how others may judge our love.

I have never had to worry about having a bad day because an entire subset of people may be judged on my actions.

I have never had to be afraid for how my students’ parents will react to me, my background, or my culture.

I have never had to be scared to lose my house, feed my children, or somehow lose the stability we call our life because we have resources available to us that I sometimes take for granted.

There are so many things I could list for what I have never had to do, that are a daily part of so many lives, but in all honesty, it is really messed up to have that much privilege and be unaware of it in our daily life.

And so I have learned to keep my mouth shut when others share about their experiences.  To not say that I understand when I don’t, to not pretend I know what it feels like to be poor, a different skin color, live a different life, or any of the things that I have never had to experience.  I don’t know and I will never know.  And I have to embrace that.  We all do.

But today I was reminded of what I can do, and that is to listen, to learn, to try to understand how I can make a difference even though I will never share those experiences.  To figure out where I fit into the problem and then fix my part as much as I can.  Sometimes we get caught up in the minutia of life that we forget to see the inherent privilege so many of us have.   Yet, that privilege is the very thing we should remember.  And then realize that we play a part in all of this even when we don’t see it.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: aha moment, being me

This Is For the Kids

This is for the kids who made me cry.  Who wore me out, who tore me down.  This is for the kids who wondered why.   Who dared to speak, who dared to question.  This is for the kids that didn’t give up, that saw something in me I would have never seen myself.  Who questioned persistently, who had the audacity to say they were bored.  And who never ever thought that school should be about the teachers and not about the kids.

Those kids that may be “hard” to teach.  Those kids that are definitely hard to reach.  Those kids with their chips, their baggage, their grudges.  Who couldn’t think that this was what school was meant to be, who didn’t believe that it couldn’t get better.  Who pushed me and pulled me, who got angry at times.  This is for you kids, and I hope you know who you are, because without your courage to speak up, I wouldn’t write.  I wouldn’t speak, and I wouldn’t be a better teacher.

So this is for the kids who dared to dream that being a student in our schools could be more than it was.  Who through their defiance shattered my illusion that I was a good teacher and drove me to become better.  This is for you, for all of you, who instead of giving up, got angry, who instead of fitting in, stuck out.  You gave me the reason to change.  Thank you for being those kids to me.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: aha moment, Be the change, being a teacher, being me, MIEExpert15, Passion, student voice

3 Education Books that Made Me Who I Am

Once in a while a book comes along that changes you to the very core.  Whether it is that it challenges you, gives you courage, or provides you solace, I am so thankful for these books and the way they changed me.

When I read The Homework Myth by Alfie Kohn, I was shocked.  Here, finally, was the research that I needed to find the courage to get rid of homework.  Proving that my crazy idea was not crazy but actually had validity.  If you have been questioning your homework practice at all, or wondering what to do as a parent, this is the book.  Or even if you believe very much in homework, read this book to see what new thoughts you may have.  I promise you it will be worth your time.

From Goodreads:

Death and taxes come later; what seems inevitable for children is the idea that, after spending the day at school, they must then complete more academic assignments at home. The predictable results: stress and conflict, frustration and exhaustion. Parents respond by reassuring themselves that at least the benefits outweigh the costs. But what if they don’t? In The Homework Myth, nationally known educator and parenting expert Alfie Kohn systematically examines the usual defenses of homework–that it promotes higher achievement, “reinforces” learning, and teaches study skills and responsibility. None of these assumptions, he shows, actually passes the test of research, logic, or experience. So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil–or even demand a larger dose? Kohn’s incisive analysis reveals how a mistrust of children, a set of misconceptions about learning, and a misguided focus on competitiveness have all left our kids with less free time and our families with more conflict. Pointing to parents who have fought back–and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework–Kohn shows how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children’s love of learning.

Sometimes you wonder if the universe is somehow intervening when serendipitous things occur.  When my job was getting hard to do due to bullying at work and being surrounded by a lot of negativity, Angela Watson, whose blog I followed, asked for guest reviewers for her new book at the time.  I signed up and crossed my fingers, thinking there was no way she would pick me because she had no idea who I was and my blog certainly did not have a large readership.  A few weeks later, Awakened – Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching arrived in the mail.  This book gave me concrete tools to deal with all of the negativity that was surrounding me, it allowed me to feel the way I felt, but at the same time also move away from that dark place.  This book changed my emotional toolbox of how to deal with life, particularly in the vulnerable;e state as a teacher.  Now, 4 years later, I still use the methods and tips that Angela Watson gave to me in this book.  I am telling you, it works, and it has saved me so many times when my day has been really tough.

From Goodreads:

Do the never-ending pressures of teaching drain you emotionally?

Is a lack of resources and support stealing your enthusiasm?

Are the small daily hassles adding up and overwhelming you?

Effective teaching requires serious mental fortitude. This book will empower you to develop the resilient, flexible, positive mindset you need to:

-Consciously challenge the negative thoughts that discourage you

-Raise your tolerance for frustration so you become less ‘disturbable’

-Live beyond your feelings to stay motivated when you don’t see results

-Change your perception of setbacks so they feel less stressful

-Let go of unrealistic expectations, standards, and comparisons

-Realize a sense of accomplishment in a job that’s truly never done

Awakened provides simple steps to help you feel peaceful and energized, no matter what’s happening around you. Drawing upon principles of stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy, spiritual truths, and personal experiences, Awakened helps you develop thought habits that produce an unshakeable sense of contentment, motivation, and purpose. Learn how to renew your mind and take a fresh approach to the challenges of teaching!

I wonder if Donalyn Miller has ever found out how many teachers her book The Book Whisperer – Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child has helped.  How many teachers have found the courage to finally create environments where students thrive as readers?  Where what we do as teachers helps our students rather than harms them.  I read this as a 4th grade teacher and yet now as a 7th the words of this book ring true even more.  Kids need room to read.  Kids need teachers that care/   Kid needs a chance to fall in love with reading and Donalyn Miller shows us how.  It changed the way I taught literacy and continues to influence me to this day.

From Goodreads:

Known for her popular blog, “The Book Whisperer,” Donalyn Miller is a dedicated teacher who says she has yet to meet a child she couldn’t turn into a reader. Her approach, however, is not conventional. Miller dispenses with the more traditional reading instruction of book reports and comprehension worksheets in favor of embracing students’ choices in books and independent reading. Her zeal for reading is infections and inspiring –and the results are remarkable. No matter how far behind Miller’s students may be when they enter her 6th grade classroom, her students read an average of 40 books a year, achieve high scores on standardized tests, and internalize a love for books and reading that lasts long after they’ve left her class. Travel alongside the author as she leads her students to discover the ample rewards of reading and literature. Her secrets include:

Affirming the reader in every student
Supporting students’ reading choices
Carving out extra reading time
Modeling authentic reading behaviors
Discarding time-worn reading assignments
Developing a classroom library with high-interest books

Rich with classroom examples and practical advice and stitched together with the thread of Miller’s passionate voice, this book will help teachers support students of all levels on their path to reading success and points a way out of the nation’s literacy crisis. The book also includes an invaluable list of books that students most enjoy reading.

While these books have already shaped me there are two more books that I would like to highlight here.

I had the chance to meet “The Weird Teacher” himself, Doug Robertson, this week and was so impressed by the care, the energy, and the passion that he brought to changing education that I went home and ordered his book.  I didn’t even ask my school to purchase it for me because I wanted to read it now.  So while I cannot talk about how it has changed me, I have a feeling after meeting Doug, that the book will change me.  So I will do a preemptive recommendation of He’s the Weird Teacher…And Other Things Students Whisper About Me by Doug Robertson.  I will let you know what it does for me.

From Goodreads:

Doug Robertson takes all the creative energy and zany antics he uses to inspire the students in his classroom and has channeled it into a fun to read, irreverent, but deeply meaningful guide to teaching.

And finally, I have to share the story of my own book that is coming out on September 22nd.  It is a practical guide on how to empower, innovate, and create classrooms that our students actually want to be a part of.  The 2nd edition of my book Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students is meant for any teachers looking to make a change.  It is meant for the teacher that sees that education can be done better, that we are losing students every day in our classroom and we have to do something about it before it is too late.  It is meant to inspire but even more importantly also to provide the “How”; how do we actually create passionate learners (and teachers!)?  I hope this book will help others as much as the previously mentioned books have helped me.

From Goodreads:

Would you want to be a student in your own classroom? In Passionate Learners: How to Engage and Empower Your Students, author Pernille Ripp challenges both novice and seasoned teachers to create a positive, interactive learning environment where students drive their own academic achievement. You’ll discover how to make fundamental changes to your classroom so learning becomes an exciting challenge rather than a frustrating ordeal. Based on the author’s personal experience of transforming her approach to teaching, this book outlines how to:

• Build a working relationship with your students based on mutual trust, respect, and appreciation.

• Be attentive to your students’ needs and share ownership of the classroom with them.

• Break out of the vicious cycle of punishment and reward to control student behaviour.

• Use innovative and creative lesson plans to get your students to become more engaged and intellectually-invested learners, while still meeting your state standards.

• Limit homework and traditional grading so that your students can make the most of their learning experiences without unnecessary stress.

New to the second edition, you’ll find practical tools, such as teacher and student reflection sheets, parent questionnaires, and parent conference tools–available in the book and as eResources on our website (http://www.routledge.com/9781138916920)―to help you build your own classroom of passionate learners.

So which books made you who you are?

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: aha moment, Be the change, being me, books

With the Tears Flowing

I am sitting in the Detroit airport crying.  Head turned toward the windows so the strangers passing by don’t see these crazy tears.  I am not sad, nor am I upset.  I am completely and totally overwhelmed by the love and kindness that has been shown to me through the last 5 days.  From perfect strangers becoming friends, to the stories people shared about how my blog has been their inspiration, how they too had been bullied, how they too had been afraid, how they have been so close to giving up but then something I shared helped them through.  There are no words.

And I feel like I tried to give everyone my attention.  To make sure that every single person that spoke to me knew that it meant something.  That my thanks were heartfelt.  That my humility was real.  Because never could I have dreamed that so many knew just who I was.

I do not write on here to be recognized.  I do not write on here to be known.  To sell books.  To speak.  Or to somehow think I am better than others.  I write on here so that I know I am not alone when the world seems pretty dark.  I write on here so that my students dreams have a chance of being heard.  I write on here because the future of my own 4 children depend on it.

So thank you for reading here.  For stopping me and sharing your stories.  For thinking that within this strange online community you have found a kindred spirit.  I am so honored.  I am so humbled.  I will carry your words with me for many years.

Filed under: being me

How Dare You Teach Our Students to Speak Up?!

I used to be afraid of what the next year’s teachers thought.  Of how I would be judged.  Of how they would roll their eyes when I spoke of the dreams I had for my students, of the voice I was trying to give them.  Of how they questioned everything I did.  I still remember the day I was told that I was not helping students, but hurting them instead, and how dared I tell students to question the every education we were providing.

And so I stopped.  For a few days any way as I licked my wounds and cried at home.  Because how I had become that teacher that instigated, disrupted, and told students that if their education was not working for them then they had to speak up.  How had I become a teacher who told students to question?

But my students didn’t.  They still questioned me, stopping me and asking what the purpose of something was, asking if they could do it in a different way, if they could change, break, create, or even skip.  And in their fight for a better education I realized that no matter what the next year’s teachers had thought, I had to support that fight.  That my students had the right to create a ruckus when the education being given to them was not working,

So instead of telling them to just speak up and question, I taught them to do it kindly but persistently.  That there were ways they could ask their questions without being seen as dissenters. at all times  That they had a right to ask and that they needed to involve themselves in the education that was happening to them.  They had a right to an education that would work for them.

And within the courage of my students, I found my own courage.  Reclaimed it and held my head up high again.  Because the question should not have been why I dared to have students question their own education, but instead how I dared being an educator that didn’t…  Where is your courage?

PS:  In my district now this does not happen, next year’s teachers are some of the biggest supporters of student voice that I have ever met.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: aha moment, Be the change, being a teacher, ideas, Passion, student voice

Passionate Learners – My ISTE 2015 Ignite

On Sunday, I had the incredible privilege to give an Ignite speech at ISTE 2015.  An Ignite is a 5 minute speech with 20 slides where they automatically advance every 20 seconds.  I have never been to ISTE and I have never given one of these before, so I took a chance and spoke about what it means to break the rules a little…

Thank you to Anibal Pacheco for not only filming this but also posting it to YouTube.

If you are wondering how you can break the rules to create a classroom full of passionate learners, the 2nd edition of my book Passionate Learners is being released on September 22nd!

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: being a teacher, being me

Before You Give Up On “Those” Teachers

We have all heard of them; those teachers.  Those teachers with their negativity.  Those teachers with their fixed mindset.  Those teachers that don’t like children, that don’t like change, that will always, always be the one who says no.  Those teachers are at every school, often with the strongest voices, often with the most power.  And we cannot wait for them to quit.

Yet, before we give up on those teachers, before we push them out, write them off, and definitely talk behind their back, stop for just a minute.  Because those teachers had a dream once.  Those teachers came into this profession wanting to inspire, to change, to create.  They didn’t come to be the naysayers or the ones that brought us down.  They came into this profession wanting to be the very best teachers they could be.  To reach every kid and truly make a difference.  To be the type of teacher that kids don’t forget, that leave their door open,and that try to and try and try.  And yet, along the way something happened.  And that something changed them at their very core.  Changed their dreams and their optimism.  Changed them to become something they never thought thy would be.

And here’s the thing.  We will never know what that something is for a person.  We will never know how many times they stood up and fought until to be broken down.  We will never know how many times they were told to find their place, stay quiet, and keep their dreams to themselves.  We will never know what path they walked to take them where they are now.

So before you give up on those teachers take a moment and ask; why did you become a teacher?  What was your dream?  What happened and what can I do?

Because those teachers are just like us, they just got a little lost.  They don’t need to be pushed out, they need to be re-found.  So do your share, don’t give up, because just like we continue to find new ways to reach all students, we need to find ways to reach all teachers.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA but originally from Denmark,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the  Global Read Aloud Project , Co-founder of  EdCamp MadWI , and believer in all children.  The second edition of my first book  “Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students” is available for pre-order now.    Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners”  is out now from Corwin Press.  Join our Passionate Learners community on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Filed under: being a teacher, Passion, teachers