Turning a Room into a Learning Environment

After turning in my resignation, I immediately headed over to my school.  The first thing on my to do list was to figure out if the new bulletin boards were the same size as the ones I had become accustom to in my old building.  Lots of love and energy were poured into making my classroom decorations and I wasn't quite ready to change up our theme of chevron and owls, nor did we have much time until the first day of school....11 days to be exact!  

I was shown our new room.  Honestly all I remember is asking myself, what size are the bulletin boards?  (You know the first question any teacher thinks about when moving to a new school)  Relief settled in when I saw I had 2 boards, cabinets for storage and multiple windows...a commodity that I hadn't had the past 10 years!  

I must admit leaving a classroom, where the blue paint coordinated with the fabric perfectly was something I wasn't prepared for.  I wasn't prepared  for the fact that our new walls would have a set of huge red and black stripes around the room.  Despite being our school colors, all I could think of was my loyalty to TCU.  Every time I'd think of the stripes, I kept thinking of Texas Tech.  It was like a Big XII nightmare that I would face each and every day.  Thank goodness, I have a few TCU things hanging in our room!

Having spent the summer of 2013 watching my mother pour her heart and soul into creating fabric bulletin boards, complete with coordinating borders and pennants, I was determined to keep the same fabric.  After lots of brainstorming on what to do with THE stripes, a solution emerged.  We found coordinating polka dot fabric that would tie the red and black together with the turquoise and corral!

  

Nested Owls by Adornit

Now that fabric selections had been made and there would be no painting party to remove the stripes, I was ready to focus on how I would set up our classroom!  Most math teachers in our school have tables.  Much to everyone's surprise I was content with desks.  Desks allow for flexibility when it comes to grouping students for activities or assessments.  

Thanks to my awesome helpers, I was able to set up our classroom within a few hours on Friday!  

               

K adding polka dot fabric

Preparing our TI-84s

D assembling our new bookshelves

Love looking around our classroom, knowing how much time and energy was put into making our classroom ready for learning!

Grateful for the Colleagues Who Bring Me JOY!

Awkward.  Shy. Tentative.  Nervous.  Excited?

Walking into my new building was intimidating on that Thursday back in August.  However, the feeling of intimidation quickly subsided when I was greeted with smiles by our awesome administrative staff in the front office and then by my new department!  Everyone was able to put a face and name with "the new math teacher," as Mr. V introduced me.  I was no longer an enigma, but a member of the NRMS faculty!

Joining a new school community is not easy, no matter if it's your first day of teaching or the start of your 16th year.  I'm beyond grateful for my fellow teachers and coworkers who have taken the time to get to know me, both as an educator and as a person.

To Jaci, you welcomed me the minute I accepted the job.  From those first days where you stayed late to fill me in on all of the information I missed during professional learning to the crazy texts (and snaps) we send that just make me smile, you bring so much peace and joy to each day at NRMS.  Your desire to be a better leader both in your classroom and our building is contagious.  Everything we plan, (or I suggest) is together without complaint.  Each of us share ideas and we work off of what the other suggests; it's a true partnership and friendship!

To Sammi, who knew two years ago when we were participating in the TRC grant, offered through Region XI, that we would be across the hall from each other, collaborating daily on best practices for learning, as well as how to create balance between school and home!  You are never too busy to help anyone in our department and always follow up to make sure we are prepared for our day.  You are a welcomed smile as I start each day!

To Stephanie, who knew our BISD/GCISD paths would cross and form a friendship that encourages us to be better teachers, even if it means giving a 10, instead of a 0 :)  You bring joy to so many lives with your passion for innovative teaching and willingness to take risks, all for the success of your students!  When are we starting our book club?

To Olivia, the most amazing co-teacher we have been blessed to work with in room 27.  You go over and beyond with our ELL learners.  From early morning sessions to after school tutorials, I appreciate how you hold our Falcons accountable for their behavior & learning.  You have a heart of gold 💛

To Kathryn, who willing to listen and provide feedback.  I'm eager to hear what you think about topics and to hear about your experiences.  Because we share some fundamental life experiences, we connect on many levels and I respect what you do for our school community.  I'm looking forward to walking alongside you during our STEM journey!

Since I've arrived at my new job, everyone who calls this building home has embraced my presence, warmly receiving my ideas and help.  I have come to enjoy the lunch time conversations, the laughter and smiles during PLC and most of all how we can share our successes and challenges, as we all learn together.

Love the fun we have in the 20 Hallway!

I am so blessed to work with others who encourage me to be a better educator and person.  They are the many reasons my days are filled with JOY.

Who brings you JOY?

Looking Ahead to Tomorrow, Next Year and Our Future!

Starting my mornings off with your children, as well as ending my day, have been a huge reminder as to why I am a teacher!  Hearing their dreams and goals for our class, their high school goals and their longterm dreams are quite impressive.  The most amazing part is hearing and seeing their excitement as we talk about these goals!  

Crashing morning cafeteria when she said she may
want to be a teacher!

                                               

                                                      1st goal setting conference in the books...look out world, here they come!

Sam & Steven looking ahead to their future as morning talk show hosts!

When other teachers crash our goal setting conferences!  

All smiles when she saw her report card
"Goal Setting really pays off, Ms. Pauley!" 

Taking Goal Setting Digital!

How are you able to do goal setting, when you "only have 45 minutes" to teach?  Easy, you use the many awesome features of Google Classroom and Google Drive!  Yes there is some prep work you must do ahead of time, or behind the scenes, but in the long run, the investment is worth it, especially when you see how excited learners become about goal setting!  

Students were given the opportunity to sign up for a conference either before or after school, based on their schedule.  Many conferences had to be changed due to last minute change of meetings.  As I always tell our learners, it's all about flexibility and making the most of our time together!  

Students were given the assignment: Assessing for Learning in Google Classroom.  Posted on this assignment are the following files:

• 12 Week Conferences (Google doc used for conference sign up)
• Algebra TEKS Mastery Chart (Google Sheets)
• Assessing for Learning Goal Setting (Google Doc used for 12 week data points & goals for Algebra, other academic areas, behavior and Higher Education)
• 9 Week Assessing for Learning Reflection (Google Doc for Reflection)
• Assessing for Learning Rubric

Every learner has a copy of his/her 12 week data points.  These data points are from their 7th grade STAAR math test, BOY Screener, Unit 1 Assessment, Unit 2 Assessment, Unit 3A Quiz and Unit 3 Assessment.  They will need to analyze their Unit 3A quiz data, with the help of information on Google classroom.

In addition to completing the 12 week data points and goals on a Google doc, students will track their success on his/her Algebra TEKS mastery chart. Learners have already noticed that there are multiple learning opportunities that we will be charting throughout the year.  Yet another example of growth mindset and how important it is that we continuously review previously taught material!  

Because the digital aspect is new to our learning community, we spent 1 class period, learning about Google Drive and creating a shared folder.  I'm already looking forward to hearing and seeing what awesome goals our Falcons strive to meet!  

Stay tuned...

Continuous Improvement in Algebra

As part of BISD's district initiative of continuous improvement, as well as developing a growth mindset, both students and myself will began meeting at the beginning of November to discuss student goals for class, school, and life.  We are using data from 7th grade STAAR, our beginning of year math screener, as well as data from our unit assessments.  Based on these data points, together we will set achievable goals for our learning!  

Earlier in November, Rashel Larson, one of BISD's Secondary Digital Learning Specialist, worked with our Falcons, as we navigated our way through Google Drive.  We were even spotlighted on BISD's digital blog:  https://goo.gl/atT4CP

This past week, all learners in room 27 have successfully learned how to create a folder in Google Drive, which will be shared between each learner, parent and myself, as we all embark on digital goal setting!  Students will be completing many documents in this folder over the next couple of weeks, as well as throughout our time together, this school year. 

Defining Learning in Room 27

On my first official day at NRMS, I walked into our cafeteria, just in time to be a part of creating our department mission statement!

We were given three questions to answer

• Why are we here?
• What do we have to do together?
• How will we make it happen?  

Individually, we responded to the three questions and then shared within our department.  The discussion our department had was amazing!  I could sense the embarking of transition from a teacher-led classroom to a student-centered classroom within our department; a transition from a fixed mindset towards a growth mindset and most off all, a group of educators who want to create a more enriching learning environment for our students.  

One of our tasks, during the first week of school, was to create class mission statements with each of our classes.  To say I was excited about this, was a complete understatement!  

Having gone through the process of creating our department mission statement allowed me to create a similar experience within the four walls of room 27.  (A huge thank you to admin for modeling effective instructional practices!)

Creating our class mission statements goes hand in hand with building and creating culture in our classroom!  Because of being the "new" teacher, students did not know who I was but more importantly, I had no idea who they were, what their story was.  On our first day together, students were split into various groups and given 4 sticky notes.  The questions they had to answer:

• What will Ms. Pauley need to do to help you this year?
• Our classroom should be _____________ everyday.
• My goal for math this year is ________________.  
• Math is important because _______________.  

Of course, some responses were straight out of a textbook:  to get an A this year, you need math to get a job, our class should be fun.  Though I was a bit disappointed in some of their responses, such as don't yell at me or get mad if I ask a question or to pass STAAR, I was reminded once again why I was standing in room 27, reading their responses at 4:30 on a Tuesday afternoon.  

Amazed by the words on their sticky notes, I knew Wednesday we would be talking about how learning is a journey; it's not a one-way road.  A journey where we work together as we overcome obstacles, celebrate our successes and most of embrace each other for our diversity in thinking!  

Students again came together in groups of 4 and answered the same questions that we as a department reflected on during our first week together!  Watching the barriers of textbook learning slowly crumble and excitement prevail, we began to write our class mission statements.  I shared my learning journey with my students, but was more excited as they shared what makes them excited about learning!  

Our week culminated with students signing our class mission statements, which are posted in our classroom!  I often find myself rereading these when a planned activity goes not quite as planned or when we're at school early or late helping a chid get extra help.  Seeing students look up at our mission statements serves as a reminder of why WE are here TOGETHER! 

1st & 2nd Period Mission Statement

6th & 7th Period Mission Statement

3rd & 4th Period Mission Statement

The Next Chapter in My Journey

After the unexpected departure of a phenomenal instructional leader in June, I continued to pursue other opportunities.  The hardest part of this journey was listening to what God was telling me as doors continued to open and close, each and every day.  My prayer quickly shifted from my need to His need.  A prayer of escape to a prayer of need.  My morning quiet time that day focused on listening when God says no.  I had a new found peace of where I was to be during the 2016-2017 school year.  I was to be an interventionist/8^th grade math teacher, with the same students and coworkers. 

So after a morning of working back to school registration, I began the great reorganization of what would soon become a part of my story, in just a matter of a few hours.  Supplies were organized and manipulatives were put away.  Desks were moved into collaborative groups and fabric was hung.  Despite the unknown, a sense of a new beginning was starting to take hold in A11, as I would begin a new role as RtI interventionist.  Again, a new found peace!

3:37 PM, on Tuesday, August 9^th, the day and time that one chapter in my learning journey and a new one would begin.   The moment I would look down at my phone, recognizing the number but unsure of who it was. The cloud of uncertainty lifted as I listened to the voicemail left by a recognizable voice; a familiar voice, with whom I had interviewed with in May.  A voice that offered opportunity for personal growth and reflection.  A voice that offered an opportunity to join the staff of North Richland Middle School in Birdville ISD, as an 8^th grade math teacher. 

Upon hanging up the phone and verbally accepting the offer, the ball began rolling…sometimes fast and sometimes slow!  I would officially be released from my contract pending the hiring of my replacement.  Crazy thing is my position was posted before I even officially resigned!  I gave my official written notice at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 10^th.  The next few days were a whirlwind of new hire professional learning, teacher prep day and closure.  

Due to the hiring process, I began our first week of professional learning as a GCISD employee.  When a suitable candidate was found and my position was offered, I was officially released from my contract on Wednesday morning, just 5 days before students would arrive on campuses across the DFW Metroplex! 

Remember the huge sense of accomplishment I felt as I set up my classroom?  I’m grateful it lingered and provided the much needed motivation to pack up my belongings and move across town in a matter of a few hours that Wednesday evening.  

Thursday, August 18^th at 10:00 AM, I walked into the cafeteria at NRMS as the newest member of the Falcon Family! 

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