Spelling words

Monday is the day for new spelling words in my classroom. Yes, every single Monday, and oh boy is it a problem when we have a Monday off...we can't have spelling words on Tuesday, that's just wrong!

I have my students grouped by their ability when it comes to spelling and they get a list of 10 words to study that week. On Mondays I feel like my whole world revolves around spelling words. We play games with their words, draw pictures of their words, write stories about their words, try to have conversations containing their words (my personal favorite, so funny), and finally the kids write a sentence to go along with each word. Writing sentences is old school, I'm aware, but I've found that going back to that basic activity helps them not only learn to spell the word but actually learn what the word means.

And so, this past Monday was like any other. I sat with one group of students while they worked on their spelling sentences. A couple asked questions about the word, one asked if he could write about his favorite word "mustard" instead (no, but thanks for asking!), and the others worked quietly. 

All of a sudden one of my boys, I'll call him Fred, gasped. He slapped his hand on the table and started to laugh. "Oh Ms. Rajanen, you have GOT to read my sentence. I wrote it just to make you laugh!" 

"I just don't like it when people smell dirty every day  Like dude take a shower."

I had to include the picture because without it, it loses something. The spelling word, in case you were wondering, was "dirty" and yes, we have some work to do on sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation, but put that aside for a moment and enjoy it for what it is. In typical middle school boy fashion, he wrote about stinky people-- a very big deal in his world of adolescent boys in varying stages of the process of learning about hygiene. I died. I started laughing and he started laughing and I couldn't stop. Tears streamed down my face, because as I'm sure we all know from different moments in our lives, sometimes there is nothing to do but laugh until you cry.

I thought about my student Fred and his funny sentence that he wrote "just to make me laugh" when I saw this ted-talk that a friend posted earlier in the week. The speaker is incredible and the first time I watched it, I cried in my living room because it hit so close to home. I highly recommend you take a few minutes to watch it here:

http://www.upworthy.com/a-super-smart-teacher-makes-an-important-point-about-the-not-so-good-parts-of-his-students-lives?g=2&c=ufb1

I have this link bookmarked on my computer and I hope I remember his words often. "Instead of focusing on the quicksand, think of those who refuse to drown." My students are resilient, incredibly talented and hilarious. They make me a better person every day simply by allowing me to be their teacher. I have no doubt, they will do amazing things for this world some day. And in the mean time, they will keep cracking me up with their spelling words every Monday morning!

Race Report: Paleozoic Trail Race

I am a sucker for a new experience, and yesterday was definitely a race experience unlike any I've had before. It was my first trail race, The Paleozoic Trail Race, and it was simply awesome.

The morning started as most other mornings of a race for me, kind of a crazy mess. Waking up early, trying to drink just the right amount of coffee, eating oatmeal made in the exact right way, obsessing over what to wear, and packing an obscene amount of gear into my bag for "just in case." I promise I really am a fairly laid back person, but put me in a situation where I will be active for an extended period of time and I suddenly turn into someone with a slight case of obsessive tendencies. It's ok, it's very temporary.

My friend Tammy picked me up at 7:30, we made our way to find our other friend Janelle, and off we went into the unknown world of Palos Park where the race took place. I've lived in Chicago for about 6 years and while I know the city well, ask me to go anywhere outside the city other than my grandpa's house in Mt. Prospect, I probably have no idea where it is. Thank goodness for google maps and friends who knew where we were going!

We turned off of highway 55 onto a smaller highway, and then onto a smaller road and the car went silent. I don't know, but I'm pretty sure we were all thinking the same thing. Hills, trees, snow...we were not in Chicago anymore. We had been sent very informative emails from the race directors about needing yax trax and trail shoes, but I don't think any of us really believed it. Surely the course wouldn't be that bad, it was just a run on a trail. Ha...

We made it to the packet pick-up in about two minutes-- small races are the best. Got our race shirts that have dinosaurs on them (my students are going to love seeing it!) and race bibs and then had plenty of time to sit in the car and be nervous/excited. The beautiful thing about these two friends is that they're up for just about anything. I've told them before, but I'm pretty sure I'd follow them into a burning building because I think they're so bad ass. They were the perfect people to sit with while I wondered silently if this would be the best or worst decision I'd made in a while.

When it got close to 9:30, we followed the "crowd" of maybe 50 people over to the picnic shelter and the race director told us we'd get started in about 10 minutes. He got up on a picnic table and gave us a few announcements. I stood there smiling because he reminded me so much of my sweet dad. He told us to be careful out there, that safety and having fun should come first, that this might not be the day for a personal best, and to remember that the course was not ideal. He also was wearing just a fleece and jeans in pretty chilly weather and had a slight Minnesota accent (at least it sounded like it). It seriously could have been my dad, who is the perfect person to talk to before anything challenging. My nerves calmed down and I pretended we were in Minnesota. And then, just like that, we huddled up to the starting mat, the race director sounded a horn, and off we went.

Ready to start the race!

The first few steps were the worst of the race in my mind. The director had told us that we'd get nice and muddy right from the beginning, and he was right. There was no option but to run right into the grassy, wet, mud and by the time we had run maybe 50 yards my feet were cold and wet. Sounds miserable, right? I have to say, no! I was smiling. I was already loving it.

We took a turn onto a gravel path, which quickly turned into a snowy/muddy/icy mix. We splashed through puddles and ran in kind of a line through the "nicest" part of the trail that had some matted down leaves over mud. It took maybe a mile or two for Tammy, Janelle and I to all find each other and be able to talk about what the heck was going on. We were all panting and working hard to adjust to this new style of running and I think Tammy said it best, it was both awful and awesome all at the same time. Janelle and I grunted our agreement and we kept going.

Within the first couple of miles, we went up a massive hill. We had seen this hill when hiding in the car before the start of the race, and had in fact watched some kids who could have been my students roll down the hill. We laughed at the time that hoped we weren't going up or down that during the race. Well, sure enough, we were going up! And, not only were we going up, we'd be coming down later as it was an out and back course. The massive hill was not just a hill, it was covered in ice. I would call our technique to get up it, the laughing side step. There was no running involved here, we were literally walking sideways up that hill. It was hilarious and I loved it.

The course continued on...snow and ice that had us walk-running with arms flailing, mud that would pull on our shoes and make us wonder if the shoe would stay in the mud, giant and I mean giant puddles that we had no choice to run through. I think my favorite was the puddles. As Janelle said, it felt kind of refreshing. I can't decided which I disliked more, the sticky mud or the ice. Probably the ice. Check out this picture Tammy took of the course:

By far the best part of the course was the half way point where there was literally a buffet of snacks and a lovely volunteer keeping it stocked. Unlike a road race where you throw water down your throat and keep running, during an ultra trail race, you come to a complete stop and enjoy yourself. I drank a cup of gatorade and water, ate a half a banana and stuffed jelly beans in my pockets. We also stretched, talked to the volunteer, and tightened our shoe laces.

Check out those snacks!

After we relaxed at the rest stop, it was time to head back. It was both easier and harder to make our way back to where we started. Easier because we recognized certain hills and parts of the course that reminded us we were getting closer. But more difficult because as we became more and more tired, it was more and more challenging to watch the footing. Luckily we all stayed safe and made it through just fine.

I crossed the finish line smiling. Like really, really smiling. It was such a challenge and my body aches today from really putting it through a tough course, but I also feel so refreshed and relaxed. There were no crowds, there was no pressure in terms of time, I didn't feel sick from pushing myself too hard, I just felt happy that I had spent the morning with great friends out in the wilderness enjoying life. I think this is the beginning of something great, I can feel it. I think the 50k is in my future... :)

Let It Go!

If you haven't seen the movie Frozen, you have GOT to go see it. I knew it was a movie I would love when I first saw the previews, but held back seeing as I'm a grown adult without any children to bring with me to a Disney movie in theaters. Enter my best friend and her husband visiting Chicago over their spring break and our collective idea to go see the movie in theaters. Best. Idea. Ever. The four of us laughed and danced (ok, I was doing most of the dancing) through the whole thing and I admit, I bought the sound track the second we got home.

One of the best songs in the movie is called "Let It Go." It's beautiful and sung by the amazingly talented Idina Menzel. I loved it the second I heard it and I quickly put it on my play list for my after school yoga group.

My little yoga group is full of 4th and 5th grade girls on Thursday afternoons. They are spunky, full of life, and absolutely pure joy every single time I see them. They're incredible.

What I didn't know was that putting the song "Let It Go" on my playlist would turn yoga class into a full on dance party. It really was like something out of a movie. The first line of the song played while we were in one of our warrior poses and one of the girls started tapping her foot. The other girls started to smile, and before I could even say a thing, it was a dance party. Yep, dancing around the classroom, singing at the top of our lungs, I'm guessing the other after school programs were wondering what happened to yoga.

It was perfect. Absolutely perfect, and I'm not sure the words to the song could have been more perfect. Those girls 'let it go'!

On the running end of things, I am also learning to let it go. Let go of being perfectly prepared for a race, that is.

A few months ago, a few friends and I decided to sign up for a 15 mile trail race. At the time, it was mid-January and signing up for something in late March seemed like a very safe bet in terms of weather. Well, not so much. We got an email on Sunday with pictures of the course and let's just say that it prompted me to buy yax trax and my friend to buy new trail running shoes so that we can survive the icy conditions. We are all crossing our fingers and toes for some warm weather tomorrow.

We are in for an adventure, that is for sure. I have let go of the fact that it was a rough winter and I know I'm not fully trained for a 15 mile race. My honest plan is to put the Frozen soundtrack on my ipod and listen to it on repeat...and maybe even bust out a few dance moves if necessary. How's that for letting go? My yogi girls would be proud.

I hope you are letting go too. It's almost spring. And if that doesn't make you smile, I hope this does:

whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17QQcK4l6Yw

We all do better when we all do better.

The late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone once said, "we all do better when we all do better." Growing up in a good liberal Minnesota family, Paul Wellstone was one of my heroes. Yes, quite nerdy, but I was reading his book, Conscious of a Liberal, and listening intently to the liberal chatter between my mom and grandpa with a great deal of interest from a very young age. Nothing wrong with that, right? 

I have found myself thinking about this favorite Paul Wellstone quote often recently, particularly on Tuesday night as my wonderful policy fellowship met for our monthly session. Per usual, many topics were covered and we heard from wonderful presenters on a variety of topics. My head spun again with ideas and concerns about education as we talked about teaching as a performance vs seniority driven profession, peer evaluation, and teacher preparation. As with every meeting, I love the perspective that my fellow teachers have on every topic. It is a group of passionate, intelligent individuals who believe change is possible. It's a beautiful thing. 

This month's session blends together in my mind with a very quick trip I took to Washington DC with the same policy fellowship this past Saturday. The trip was to attend a training through EQuIP (Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products) and learn about a qualitative rubric to evaluate common core materials. The training was thoughtful and well organized and I benefited greatly from being there.

Teach Plus flew about 15 other policy fellows from around the country to be a part of the training as well. It was both inspiring and humbling to sit in a room with a group of teachers who are truly fighting every day to close the achievement gap all over the country. I heard stories from a brilliant teacher from Los Angeles who told me 80% of her students are undocumented making basic safety a major factor in her classroom. Other stories from a teacher in Memphis who told me that the children in his school are in the bottom 2% of achievement in the country and how the impact that can have on moral among staff and students is beyond words, and the stories went on. I listened and shared and soaked up all of their hope. Because what was impactful was not the weight of their realities, we know similar challenges in CPS, but that all of these teachers are hopeful and are fighting every day to do better for themselves, their students and communities, and this country. 

Throughout my DC whirlwind adventure as well as on Tuesday night at the policy meeting here in Chicago, Paul Wellstone's words have continued to haunt me. We all do better when we all do better. The reality is that we all need to do better. All of us. We have an achievement gap that is devastatingly large and we are not doing a good job of keeping quality teachers in our neediest schools. It needs to change and it needs to change quickly. After all of my experiences in the past week, I have hope.

My other favorite memory of Senator Paul Wellstone is that he used to cheer every year at the Twin Cities Marathon. He would stand at the bottom of the hill leading into the state capitol and give enthusiastic high fives, telling runners, "only one mile to go!" While I never saw him in person and was not old enough to run marathons when he passed away, I think any runner would agree that an enthusiastic cheer squad can make all the difference in the world.

And so, as my students and I wave good-bye to ISAT testing this week, I will be cheering for them in the same way that Senator Wellstone did the marathon runners. If you are a teacher, I hope you are cheering for your students too. Because we all do better when we all do better.  

Running Happy!

This week children in the state of Illinois are taking the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT). If I am honest, it's a depressing couple weeks of the year and this year has been extra stressful because of the "opt-out" debate happening in CPS.

After a lot of thinking, I've decided not to share my thoughts on opting out of the ISAT on this blog. I have a lot of thoughts and would gladly have a private conversation over email or in person, but I'm just not ready to use this blog for that reason. Send me an email, we can talk.

In the mean time, look at a picture of my running buddy this week and tell me it doesn't make you smile!

Meet Chloe. Chloe belongs to my brother Adam and his girlfriend Michelle. Adam and Michelle were in Mexico drinking margaritas on the beach this week and asked at Christmas time if their new puppy Chloe could stay with us. I admit, I didn't even ask Scott and immediately said YES!

I could not have asked for a better pick-me-up during the week of ISAT testing. I admit, I have been happily rushing home after school to take Chloe on walks around our neighborhood every day this week.

Chloe and I went on "runs" three or four times each day. Chloe's version of running involves sprinting for about 3 blocks, then coming to a dead halt, sniffing around...and repeat. Nope, not the usual running style for me, but I loved every minute.

My favorite part of having Chloe stay was that she worked right into my plan of convincing Scott that we should have a dog of our own. While Chloe followed me around some, she followed Scott wherever he went and seemed to have an extra glimmer in her eye for him. Well done, Chloe. We convinced him and are planning to look for a pup of our own this spring!

So, it has been a long week of ISAT testing that drained me to the core, but it was also a week full of happiness and energy. Thank you, Miss Chloe, your timing couldn't have been better!