Every day is not perfect. Every day isn’t a great day. The tweets I see and the tweets I post make it seem otherworldly. But it’s not. These tweets never tell the whole story.
I have a lot of great days. My weeks move quickly. But this is why it works for me….most days – I care about the success and happiness of the students who come into room 505.
What does this look like?
- It starts with me saying, “I don’t care about social studies. It’s secondary in here.”
- Starting most class periods by saying every students’ name and asking them how they are doing.
- Writing a new message on the board every day.
- Occasionally discussing these ideas: trust, respect, empathy, and finding better.
It seems a bit odd to say to students that I don’t care about social studies. But, I truly mean it. What are they going to remember 5 years from now? They certainly won’t remember the Whiskey Rebellion, the Era of Good Feelings, or the Oregon Trail. Rather, students will remember how they felt day after day, minute after minute in 505.
It’s no coincidence that Starbucks says your name out loud after they complete your drink. Hearing your name kind of perks you up a bit. I try to speak every student at least twice in a class period.
I was inspired by Monte Syrie’s room message tweets and started writing my own messages. Most days I arrive at school by 6:00 AM and the first thing I do is put a marker to the board and start writing. I don’t know where the marker, or my mind, will take me. I just start writing. At times I have wondered if students read them. They do. Reading my messages are an important part of their day.
My class is based around trust and respect. I trust students to do the right thing. I don’t treat students like little kids and they know that. They respect that. For me, this is why it works in 505. This is what’s missing from the tweets. This is what it’s all about.
– Moler
Moler's Musings 