What teaching is all about!

As I sit here on this cold Veteran's Day, I am thinking about all the things and events that have occurred over my 20 years of teaching. I think of all of the events I have attended, all of the professional development and conferences that I have attended and all of the curriculums and new “ways” of teaching I have been taught and expected to use. But what I think of the most are the many students and families that I have been in contact with.

I love my job! I love everything about my job! I love the experiences both good and bad that I have had. I love all of the people I have come into contact with. But most of all I love my students. I love every single one that I have ever taught. When someone says to me what do you think teaching is all about, I say it is about relationships and it is about my students. I am not there for myself or to get a pat on the back. I am there to make sure my students learn how to be successful. I am there to make sure they all feel loved and worthy. That is what I feel teaching is all about.

The relationships I have formed with my students and their families are what make my career successful. The relationships I have made with my colleagues enrich my career. It it through these relationships that success and a love for learning grows.

Blogging creates many meaningful relationships. We are all fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to be teachers. We have keep in touch and through social media we have grown as educators. We have formed an everlasting relationship amongst the tribe of us that has enriched all of our careers. We have collaborated and provided each of us with tools and techniques to create a successful and enriched classroom. This is what teaching is all about!

So when I sit and think about what teaching is about, it is not about the awards or the recognitions I have received. It is not about me at all. Teaching is about relationships. Teaching is about my students. Teaching is about making others feel successful and worthy.

I love this video and feel that this is what sums up my post!

Have a great week!

Do you Dojo???

So, do you Dojo??? Do you use this amazing classroom management tool in your classroom? Raise your hand high if you do and if you don't run to your device and get started!!!!!! 

I love Class Dojo! This has made such a difference in my classroom! The kids love it and they work hard to get those dojo points!

Today, my focus for this post is the new feature that is being developed and will be available to all users soon! This is an unbelievable feature.  Are you ready? Wait for it........

hmmmmmmm.....

OK, Let's talk about....

How awesome is this!!!  To be able to reward whole groups for their collaboration and cooperation!!! I have so many ideas in my head on how I am going to use this awesome new feature! 

One way I am going to use this is by creating groups for our GoNoodle Dance Parties. Their class reward when they reach their Dojo goal as a class is a GoNoodle Dance Party. Well, the group with the most points gets to compete first. They love dancing against each other like Dancing with the Stars!!

I will set up small groups for both ELA and Math. I will also do table groups, RTI groups and project groups. These are just a few of the ideas I have. More and more keep popping up because the possibilities are endless. Be creative!!!!!

This is a great way to reward research groups, small groups, table groups, and so on. This will definitely increase collaboration and cooperation amongst the students. Students will not just learn from each other, they will push each other to become the best they can be. This is great to make sure everyone takes on a role. 

Another important feature of the groups is that you will be able to provide that group with feedback. I know right.. Amazing, helpful, needed, etc! Being able to provide the group with immediate and positive or constructive feedback will definitely increase their success in the classroom with both academics and behavior.

This feature is extremely beneficial to us since the are skills Dojo Groups are focusing on and implementing are the 21st century skills. These are the skills that we need to be teaching to our students as well as content. 

Collaboration, cooperation, brainstorming, immediate feedback, these are all 21st century skills and this feature includes them all!! 

And yes, parents can see these points as well so they can also discuss teamwork at home! 

So here is a review of Dojo Groups.........

and when is this available you ask?......

I can not even tell you how excited I am that they have created this feature for us to use! The possibilities are endless. 21st century skills, parent communication, ease, and helps us work smarter not harder are just a few of the features of Dojo Groups!

All I can say is...........

So check out this feature on the 21st and let me know what you think! 

Oh and there are other features coming out so be on the look out for more blog posts so you can get the inside scoop before they are out to the public!