Hooray For Monday

When we stop delivering information and start asking more questions, we begin putting children in charge of their own learning. That's vital to their success beyond our classroom, and it opens up space for our students to teach us. Full issue: Resources: The Surprising Power of Questions: https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-surprising-power-of-questions?mc_cid=aa27864b10&mc_eid=UNIQID Track the Questions You Ask: https://www.instigatorofthought.org/trackthequestionsyouask?mc_cid=aa27864b10&mc_eid=UNIQID Inspired Teaching October Institutes: Online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394040474667?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=aa27864b10&mc_eid=UNIQID In person: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394046723357?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=aa27864b10&mc_eid=UNIQID Making School Worth It Toolkit: https://inspiredteaching.org/resources-for-teachers/making-school-worth-it-22-23/?mc_cid=aa27864b10&mc_eid=UNIQID

If we commit to incorporating movement into the learning process – for our students and ourselves – we’ll be taking a great step forward in increasing learning and well-being. And we’ll make school a better place to be for all of us. Read the full issue here: Resources: 25 More Math Explorations: https://inspiredteaching.org/25-more-math-explorations/?mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID Hands and Feet Stories: https://inspiredteaching.org/hands-and-feet-stories/?mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID How Vigorous is My Heart: https://inspiredteaching.org/how-vigorous-is-my-heart/?mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID Walk the Walk: https://www.instigatorofthought.org/walkthewalk?mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID ONLINE October Inspired Teaching Institute: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394040474667?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID IN PERSON October Inspired Teaching Institute: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/394046723357?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID Speak Truth Fellowship application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5uY29bv1AgavE3gX62bnqvhs_YjC_4sMqkvwVJ7w4dPMJPA/viewform?usp=sf_link&mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID '22-23 Making School Worth It Toolkit: https://inspiredteaching.org/resources-for-teachers/making-school-worth-it-22-23/?mc_cid=08440fb1e8&mc_eid=UNIQID

We want our students to be right, do things the right way, and get the answer right. But can being right get in the way of learning? For the full text, read the issue here: https://inspiredteaching.org/making-good-mistakes/ Resources: "Where Am I?" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLqzYDZAqCI&mc_cid=aef1adfa25&mc_eid=UNIQID Building a Paper Tower: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_tower_ho.html?mc_cid=aef1adfa25&mc_eid=UNIQID Automatic Writing: https://inspiredteaching.org/automatic-writing/?mc_cid=aef1adfa25&mc_eid=UNIQID Finding Pi: https://inspiredteaching.org/finding-pi/?mc_cid=aef1adfa25&mc_eid=UNIQID

Investing in a school community is one of the best ways to let students know they matter, they are seen, and they are starting the school year in a place that wants them to thrive. Read the full issue here: https://inspiredteaching.org/we-learn-better-when-we-are-known/ Resources: Why Teacher-Student Relationships Matter: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-teacher-student-relationships-matter/2019/03?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID Teacher and Student Relationships: The Power of Trust Trauma: https://www.massadvocates.org/news/teacher-and-student-relationships-the-power-of-trust?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID Friendships in Middle School: Influences on Motivation and School Adjustment: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-95233-001?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID To What Extent Do Teacher-Student Interaction Quality and Student Gender Contribute to Fifth Graders' Engagement in Mathematics Learning? http://researchgate.net/publication/273482083_To_What_Extent_Do_Teacher-Student_Interaction_Quality_and_Student_Gender_Contribute_to_Fifth_Graders'_Engagement_in_Mathematics_Learning?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID The Importance of Friendships for Grade School Students: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/the-importance-of-friendships-for-grade-school-students?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID Professional Development: Sept. 7 ONLINE Inspired Teaching Institute: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/398681476027?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID Sept. 10 IN PERSON Inspired Teaching Institute: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/398685879197?mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID Speak Truth Fellowship; https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5uY29bv1AgavE3gX62bnqvhs_YjC_4sMqkvwVJ7w4dPMJPA/viewform?usp=sf_link&mc_cid=7d51fd2c5c&mc_eid=UNIQID

The pressure of making up for learning loss and covering much-needed academic content can push us into consumption mode, where we cram in as much “learning” as we can between Monday and Friday. But what might happen if we allow ourselves and our students to pause and really savor what makes them curious and captures their imagination? In our current educational context, being intentional about savoring might be considered an act of rebellion. Read the full blog post here: https://inspiredteaching.org/consuming-vs-savoring/

At Inspired Teaching, we believe a thoughtful teacher can use any activity to teach any skill. Your goal shapes the way you teach an activity, and it shapes the skills and content students learn. As you plan the what of community building this fall (and see below for some great activities to try), remember to focus on the how as well. And even if you use some activities you’ve done many times before, remember, this is the first time you are engaging in this activity with this particular group of students. So be present. Listen authentically. Engage your curiosity, and invite students to engage theirs. Resources: Getting to Know You activities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cvdHwHfIjRiS2IemC4xl5drRFTUm-cx-sKo2jyGQouY/edit?usp=sharing&mc_cid=3b6da67ab4&mc_eid=UNIQID&urp=gmail_link

The start of the school year offers an important moment to create expectations that will last the whole year. But how do you know if you are challenging your students…the right amount? Read the full issue here: https://inspiredteaching.org/the-power-of-might/ Resources: Finding the Zone of Proximal Development: https://inspiredteaching.org/finding-the-zone-of-proximal-development/ Making School Worth It toolkit: https://inspiredteaching.org/resources-for-teachers/making-school-worth-it-22-23/

When you reflect on your own “Why I became a teacher” story, where are the places you find your passion? Read the full issue here: https://inspiredteaching.org/what-inspired-you-to-teach/ Resources: One Word: https://oneword365.com/ Making School Worth It toolkit: https://inspiredteaching.org/resources-for-teachers/making-school-worth-it-22-23/

Just this past week, the January 6 hearings are wrapping up (or, at least, gearing up), Covid cases are back on the rise, and our country continues the painful struggle to come to some kind of agreement on how to protect ourselves from gun violence. What could be more important than teaching our young people how to engage in discourse – on issues large and small – with “grace,” “respect,” and “empathetic listening.” Read the full issue on our website: Speak Truth Guidebook: https://inspiredteaching.org/academy/speak-truth-guidebook-2/ Seeing with Different Eyes: https://inspiredteaching.org/seeing-with-different-eyes/ Listening with Someone Else's Ears: https://inspiredteaching.org/listening-with-someone-elses-ears/

This week’s Hooray For Monday – the 100th issue!! – explores the importance of wonder. What does a classroom look like when students are allowed to wonder without the obligation of mastery? What might the world look like? + four ways to have a wonder-full week and more information on upcoming professional development and youth program opportunities! Read the issue with full resources here: https://inspiredteaching.org/100-wonder-ful-weeks-hooray-for-monday/