 Bonus Points! presents inspiring educators with a list of 10 questions on varying educational topics and lets them choose which they want to respond to. Through this process, we uncover and demystify some of the hidden realities that happen in all classrooms and gain some wisdom from some really amazing and inspiring educators. Amber Webb is a preschool teacher in Michigan who loves to inspire kindness and joy in everyone she works with and meets. She has a deep love for literacy and works hard to create a student-centered learning environment. Amber's students are young, but the powerful outcomes she strives for in her classroom are applicable for all classrooms and grade levels. You can follow Amber Webb and her journey as an educator on Twitter at @Teacher_AWebb.  What is a book that every teacher should have in their read aloud library? It is really important to me that every child feels like they have a place and that they belong when they walk into the room each morning. I want them to feel valued for who they are no matter who that is. I make sure that we read Happy Dreamer by Peter Reynolds every year near the beginning of school so that each child knows I understand them, wherever they may be. In a world where children are told to sit still, be quiet and follow all the rules, Happy Dreamer celebrates the moments when we get to feel most like ourselves. The kids love picking out what kind of dreamer they are and take time to tell me why. It invites conversation, laughter and understanding of individuality. I love it!  I also have a passion for reading middle grade novels (even though I’m a preschool teacher) and there have been some exceptional reads in the last year. Last summer I was fortunate enough to join a group called #bookexcursion with ten other educators who read and review books coming out in the near future. We have been blessed with hundreds of books to read and review and it really fills my reading life! But the one that really stands out to me is Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. Wishtree is the story on an old oak tree named Red. He is always watching. He might not be able to talk, but he can help solve neighborhood problems. The relationship between the community members, the children, the tree, the animals, it is all incredibly profound. This is a book that is simple enough to “just read” but important enough to have discussions around and really THINK about.
Bonus Points! presents inspiring educators with a list of 10 questions on varying educational topics and lets them choose which they want to respond to. Through this process, we uncover and demystify some of the hidden realities that happen in all classrooms and gain some wisdom from some really amazing and inspiring educators.
 What is something about your classroom that makes it a special space where you and your students want to spend time?
Students call my classroom library “The Garden. In the garden, we have a futon, a HUGE memory foam bean bag chair, this wacky egg chair, and a bunch of throw pillows. What I love most about this area of my room is that it has been created and molded each year by the families of my students. We have created this inviting and comforting space that makes my students feel so comfortable in my room that they beg to stay in (especially during recess). My students and I love this area. It feels like a hybrid between a treehouse and the inside of an incredible fort. Surrounding the garden is our classroom library books with our “Student Recommended Reads” bin and my personal favorite fourth grade books. As a class, we discuss how special a classroom library is because of all that we can learn from books and how there’s an adventure in every book. That’s why we call it “The Garden”, because it’s where great readers and leaders grow. This area is also where I do a lot of my instruction and we have some of our deepest and most vulnerable conversations and moments as a class there. My students associate this part of our room as a welcoming and comforting place where all are accepted to be who they are and everyone is invited to be vulnerable and to ask tough questions. Bonus Points! presents inspiring educators with a list of 10 questions on varying educational topics and lets them choose which they want to respond to. Through this process, we uncover and demystify some of the hidden realities that happen in all classrooms and gain some wisdom from some really amazing and inspiring educators.  Anelyse George is a fifth grade teacher in Danville, California. She has a human centered classroom - one where both kids and adults can thrive and produce amazing work. She believes that classroom community is more important than anything else. She is, in short, an amazing educator. You can follow Anelyse and her classroom adventures on Twitter at @AnelyseGeorge.  Where is your go-to place on the internet as an educator? Where do you go for inspiration or for resources or to gain perspective on your work?
Cultofpedagogy.com where, as they say, “Teacher nerds, unite!” This is by far my favorite place to glean inspiration, improve my practice, and learn about what’s going on in education. The blog post about finding your marigold is what got me hooked to this site and coming back for more. The article is aimed at new teachers, however, I find it to be a good read every school year. Jennifer Gonzalez advice new teachers to find their marigolds. Marigolds are planted near other plants because they help surrounding plants grow, they’re known as companion plants. This beautiful metaphor is a one that we can carry through any part of our life but is especially useful when you’re trying to keep the joy in your teaching practice. You need to find people, other teachers and colleagues, that make you grow, that are positive, that can be planted alongside you through this tough work and help you thrive. The teaching world is full of “walnut trees” notorious for inhibiting growth, or in our educator world, people who are just plain 'ole negative. Finding your marigolds will help you maintain your love for teaching, believe the work is worth it, and have the support that is so needed in this tough job. I read this article a few times a year and make sure I keep my connections with my marigolds at my own school site and the marigolds i’ve found throughout my school district. |
