Ella's Corner: I've Noticed...(by Michael)
Ella's Corner: I've Noticed...(by Michael): Two-and-a-half months ago Ella was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. So much has happened since that day. Lindsay and I...
Mama Bracelets: Setting the Goal...
Mama Bracelets: Setting the Goal...: We reached our $1000 donation goal through the sales of our exclusive "Cure SMA" bracelets by October 31, 2011 and we will raffle off a $30 ...
Consistency
The first six weeks of school are the most important in terms of forging a path that will lead us to the goals set forth...namely being successful in 4th grade. It’s in these critical six weeks that routines are established, personalities are expressed, opinions are formed, and learning styles are reflected. From there we begin to cement our days in the routines that we have established...yet the cement never really dries. We have to have some room to wiggle; to break free from the constancy of a routine. This brings spice to the life of a classroom.
Now that we have well passed the six-week mark and are looking to parent-teacher conferences, I must look back on what we, as a class, have agreed upon for ourselves and make an evaluation on how well each child has contributed to our goal thus far. It's a task that I enjoy. It allows me to see where we started, where we say we want to be, and where we stand right now. It allows me to think deeply about each student...their strengths and weaknesses, their goals and aspirations, their determination and their successes. It becomes an adventure that brings me closer to knowing my students as people first, student second.
The consistency that they have shown as a group in their day to day tasks, our routines, and our relationships has been nothing short of fantastic. A "well oiled machine" is what we are working on and to date, we have a pretty good start. There will be areas in which we need to continue to work on, area that the group and individuals need to pay closer attention to, areas where practice, encouragement, and dedication will be the tools employed.
I look forward to wrapping up the first trimester only because it means I get to witness further growth and success...I can only hope my students feel the same way.
Mr. Casten
Oct. 28, 2011
Ella's Corner: Happy Days (by Lindsay)
Ella's Corner: Happy Days (by Lindsay): Finally, I can write about some happy days that we've had... Lately, the downs have far outweighed the ups, so it's been hard to get away f...
Ella's Corner: Upsee-daisy...
Ella's Corner: Upsee-daisy...: Sometimes I wish I could stop time. I know there is going to be a moment when I realize that I can no longer pick up my Ella the way a ...
The Rules of Work...
This is one of the teaching philosophies I impart to my students. I have found over the years, however, that simply telling them this is not enough. In order for them to understand what I am trying to tell them they need to experience it for themselves...this falls into line with all learning~~experience is the best teacher.
Over the years I have developed a "plan of action". A way for experience to teach my students the "rules for work". It is delivered without emotion and usually with a slight smile...
The rules for work are quite simple in my classroom. They are quite logical as well; something that kids gravitate to in terms of "rules" and 'regulations".
When given an assignment to complete in school the following will always hold true.
- If you are working hard and making progress, you can always get more time to complete the assignment.
- If you are fooling around then my assumptions are as follows:
- You must be finished OR
- You have been allowed too much time to finish the assignment
- Either way--the assignment is due at the end of the "subject period" and will be graded as is.
My current group of students have a superior work ethic, especially for a roomful of 4th graders. The opportunity for distraction, fooling around, and getting off-task is always there yet they seem to have a focus about them that keeps them on track.
I have found they work well together, they respect each other, they know each other. I have found that they rely on each other and depend on one another. They have accomplished the many tasks that have been placed before them and accomplished them well. They learn easily and happily while they apply what they have learned.
Having a group of kids that demonstrate the aforementioned learning qualities allows for experience to be the greatest teacher...and aligns beautifully with the philosophy that I walked into the classroom with in 2001 and still hold fast to today:
I hear and I forget,
I see and I remember,
I do and I understand.
Mr. Casten
Oct. 21, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
Ella's Corner: A Mother's Love...
Ella's Corner: A Mother's Love...: Lindsay Ruth Casten~~ When Lindsay was pregnant with Ava we were quite naive about birthing a child. Our doctors feared that Ava would ...
Mama Bracelets: Setting the Goal...
Mama Bracelets: Setting the Goal...: Mama Bracelets has donated $683 in one month to FSMA (Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy)!! If we can reach $1000 donated through the sale...
Ella's Corner: Exhausted...
Ella's Corner: Exhausted...: She works hard. She gives it her all. She's quite the girl. We're tired. Sleep continues to elude us. We put our kids to be...
Discovery...
I would have to say that this was a week of discovery...for both the students and teacher. You see, learning is really a process of discovering. Many times it is about discovering something you never knew existed. Other times it's about discovering something that you were aware of but didn't know the "how" or "why" behind it. Sometimes the learning is about something you already knew existed but now you have seen it in action.
In science we are studying plant and animal adaptations. Students were given a cup of ice cold water and instructed to place their finger in it for no more than 3 minutes. They recorded their observations. Then we covered the finger (after it reached room temperature again) with lard (representing the blubber on some animals) and they dipped their "blubber finger" in the ice cold water. They recorded their findings. This is a good example of knowing about something (the blubber on animals acting as an insulator/adaptation) and finding out the "how" and "why" behind it. This discovery excited the kids and always makes for a great lesson.
The kids learned about the "fire triangle" today in their "Learn Not to Burn" class with the Elmhurst Fire Department. I'm sure most of them never heard of the fire triangle. They learned something new; something they didn't even know existed. It will serve them well in the next lessons and in life.
I spend a great deal of time with kids. Often, when people speak of children they talk about how kids are so forgiving, so open and honest, and show real compassion when they see something is not going well for someone. They talk about how kids practice unconditional love, look always to the bright side, and let their creativity off its leash more than adults do.
I can honestly say that I discovered many of these attributes found in children this week from many of my current and former students, and even some that I have not taught in the past or up to this point in time. Children who have shown me and my family compassion, creativity, and openness. It's something that I always knew existed in children and adults alike--yet this week I experienced much of it first-hand.
This week was definitely a week of learning...and with learning comes growth. I know my students grew in their knowledge of science, the scientific method, and in identifying the elements that contribute to fire...I grew in the knowledge of how change can produce opportunities.
Mr. Casten
Oct. 14, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
Ella's Corner: The MDA Clinic (at Shriner's Hospital for Children...
Ella's Corner: The MDA Clinic (at Shriner's Hospital for Children...: Ella watching herself in the mirror as we waited for the doctors at the MDA Clinic. Dr. Silver wanted to see Ella four months early based ...
Ella's Corner: A Much Bigger Reality...
Ella's Corner: A Much Bigger Reality...: A different level of reality hit me this week...more like, ran me over . Lindsay and I will be taking Ella to see Dr. Silver and his te...
Ella's Corner: Aqua Therapy
Ella's Corner: Aqua Therapy: Yesterday Ella started aqua therapy. She'll go to her PT's house once a week, where she has a warm water therapy pool (nice!). Ella reall...
Ella's Corner: Fun at the Playground
Ella's Corner: Fun at the Playground: Today we went to a playground. Usually when we go to the playground, there's not much for Ella to do. She can swing in the baby swing. And...
The Question...
Every day my students write in their journals. Once a week they write to me. The entry is called "Dear Mr. C". Here they can ask me questions, share their thoughts, or tell me anything...I read their entry and write back to them in their journal...I then return it to them.
This week one student wrote:
"Dear Mr. C,
If you could pick any job and you knew you would get a million dollars to do it, what job would you pick?"
Now when you look at that question it seems pretty straight-forward...it's asking me to put aside the idea that we get paid for jobs and to focus on what job I would like most...since I would get a million dollars, money should be no object in my response of which job I would love to have.
I get questions like this all the time. Kids inquire about how I would spend my time if I had an infinite amount of time on my hands. They ask me where I would like to go on vacation, what instrument I'd like to play, what sport I'd like to play, what would be my ideal dinner...the list of these types of questions goes on and on.
These questions give me an opportunity to think outside of myself, outside of reality. It affords my students the opportunity to tap into their teacher's mind to see what I think about. It calls the imagination to come to the forefront and enjoy the prospect of engaging in something one might not otherwise have an opportunity to do.
I have found, in my years of teaching children how to journal and in the many "Dear Mr C" entries I have responded to, that these types of questions elicit different responses as I grow personally and professionally. My ideas of the "perfect" dinner, the "perfect" vacation, the "perfect" sport or instrument have changed over the years.
I have found that despite these changes, one thing remains constant...
Whenever a student asks me what job I would love to have, what job I would pick above all, what job I would pick regardless of income...I always have answered with the same response...
Teaching.
Mr. Casten
Oct. 7, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
Ella's Corner: Excuses...(by Lindsay)
Ella's Corner: Excuses...(by Lindsay): Right now I'm angry. I'm finding that the first half of each week is becoming really hard. We used to be motivated by her therapies (on ...
Mama Bracelets: Mama Bracelets SMA Press Release (10.4.11)
Mama Bracelets: Mama Bracelets SMA Press Release (10.4.11): Mama Bracelets Making a Difference for Families of SMA Mama Bracelets has already raised over $500 through their exclusive “Cure SMA” Bra...
Ella's Corner: Your Loving Hands...(by Michael & Lindsay)
Ella's Corner: Your Loving Hands...(by Michael & Lindsay): There are times that we look around us and cannot fathom the reality that stares us in the face. We cling to one another, each bringing s...
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