Trying something new this year with grammar. Calling it “Grammar Growth: An exposure and experience model to learning grammar.”

After Smiles and Frowns, it will be our daily five-minute exposure to and experience with grammar. The goal is not to make kids experts with grammar; no, the goal is to give them consistent experiences in the hopes that they grow some with the more conventional aspects of our content.

Here is what I will tell the kids as we begin today.

“Grammar Growth activities are for you to do and for us to discuss. You will not leave here experts, but you will leave here more experienced. You will grow with grammar this year.”

Here is the basic approach. My grade-level colleagues and I will use Google Slides to guide our work. Here is what we will use today.

From the daily exposure and experience, kids are really building a resource. To continue their experiences, we will give kids regular “learning checks” (assessments) for which they may use their resources, their notebooks. We will never grade or collect their notebooks. We don’t want to create a compliance situation; we want to create a context of commitment. Their resources will be as valuable as they make them. They may even add additional, outside-the-lesson notes to their resources–their resources.

Our “lessons” will never last longer than five minutes. We will set a timer and stick to it. Sometimes we may be done sooner. I anticipate today’s first lesson will be shorter.

The kids will do. We will discuss. And we will move on.

Grammar in isolation? Grammar at all? Yes. And Yes. In an ideal situation, I would probably offer ” no, and no,” but in this “real situation” where kids will still be called on to “achieve” in the context of grammar, we feel like we are obligated to support them. But we feel like that support might come best in the form of experience and exposure. No high stakes (kids can correct/retake Learning Checks a million times if they desire). No pretense (they will not leave here experts). Just intentional exposure and experience in the hopes that some things might make sense, in the hopes that some things might stick.

Perfect? Hardly. Better? I don’t know. But can’t know if I don’t try. So I’m trying to know. Trying. That’s all I can do.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…growing with grammar.

…considering theme and the human experience.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all. Hope you have a great start to your week.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

I have stood here before. I have considered here before. I have started here before.

And so, here it is I am again: standing, considering–and, yes–starting.

At the end of the past three years I have wondered if I had another one in me. Can I do Project 180 another full year? Can I commit again to another year of daily posts, sharing my journey from my classroom?

I can. I will.

And so here I am, sitting in the dark, staring at the screen, fumbling my fingers, considering the climb, starting year four of Project 180.

What’s New?

Learning Practices. As some know already from my “First Days” posts (http://www.letschangeeducation.com/learning-first-days/), I am poised to provide learning experiences this year that push grades further to the side and pull feedback closer to the center as the sole currency to be exchanged between my students and me. A long-time goal, the “feedback-only” classroom seems more possible than ever as I move forward with my “Learning Stories” idea. I am excited to to learn from and share about this part of my journey in the coming days and weeks.

Student Teacher. I will have a student teacher along with me as I set out this fall. My grade-level colleague Jenna Tamura and I will share our journeys with Ms. Sade Aribibola. She will be with Jenna in the mornings and with me in the afternoons. We are both excited to learn with and from her.

Son in Class. This is a new one for me. I will have my son in class this year. We are both excited by this opportunity to share our year, but we’re both a little uncertain going in, wondering what it will be like. My son’s biggest concern at the moment? My singing.

Construction. Well, not new I guess, but we are in phase two of our major remodel/construction, and it will affect us more this year than last. Biggest impact right now? No AC. Gonna be a hot fall.

What’s the Same?

A lot. Smiles and Frowns. My Room Messages. Sappy Sy Rhymes. And you. And this morning, especially you. I could not do this without you. Thank you for being here with me to share in my journey. Whether it’s real or imagined, my thinking that doing Project 180 matters to you played no small part in my decision to be here again. And so. Here I am. Again. Thank you.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…introducing ourselves with “First Five.”

…hearing my “Dear Learners” letter.

…creating connections with “Meet Me.”

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all. Looking forward to our year together.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

There’s a guy named Abe in a city named Adelaide in a country named Australia. Someday I am going to officially meet a guy named Abe in Adelaide, Australia. But for now, I have to settle for FaceTime.

I “met” Abe two years ago via Twitter. He had stumbled across my blog and contacted me, and we have been connected ever since. Abe gets credit for that. He has been instrumental in inviting me into his world, his classroom. In his efforts to connect his kids with the outside world, he created a Flipgrid opportunity for his kids to chat with me about going gradeless. He and his kids called it, “Ask Me Anything with Monte Syrie.” Here are the links to our conversations. https://vimeo.com/224754445 https://vimeo.com/224754445

Two years later we are still connecting. Yesterday, I had the honor of joining Abe and his class via FaceTime. And we both had a surprise for each other. Knowing they wanted to talk to me about climbing trees, I decided to be in a tree when they called.

They, knowing my affinity for Smiles and Frowns, invited me for their daily go around. I got to do Smiles and Frowns in the top of a tree with a class on the other side of the globe! One of the coolest things I have ever done. Each kiddo introduced themselves and shared a Smile and/or Frown. Felt like I was right there with them.

Surprises behind us, we spent the next several minutes talking about a number of topics ranging from writing to broken bones to our shared love for the book Freak the Mighty. Apparently, I was pretty animated and loud because my wife, who was outside, could hear me talking all the way back to our home over a quarter a mile away. I guess maybe I thought since Abe and his class were so far away I had to talk really loudly. Sorry Abe and company if I was too loud. I was excited, dang it.

Today, this morning, I am no longer high up in a tree. But I am still flying high as I sit here at my usual morning spot, the kitchen counter, trying to capture a memory I will not soon forget. It was truly great.

And it’s all because of a guy called Abe in city called Adelaide in a country called Australia who goes above and beyond (sometimes all the way here to Washington State) to give his kids more. Someday, I am gonna meet that guy.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

At this point in the year–by design–our days are generally work days in room 206. The kids have a project to complete in May and present in June. This year is no different. The kids are working on their “This Is Me” pieces.

But also at this point in the year–by nature–motivation wanes, so we try to find ways to keep moving forward. Yesterday, I presented these simple work goals to the kids.

• Keep track of your time.
• Make progress.
• Take a risk with your writing.
• Be nice to someone.
• Ask Sy for help.

Nothing fancy. Just a simple bit of guidance for the kids as they make their ways to the end. I have found at this point in the year, trying to tighten the reins can be counterproductive. I believe I actually get more out of my kids by letting them have their heads a little. So I do.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…growing as writers.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Tuesday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

It was the most familiar of times. It was the least familiar of times…

Breaks are wonderful. Breaks are strange. Wonderful because I find myself, but strange because I lose myself.

An introvert to the core, I long for breaks because I finally get the quiet I need to restore, recharge, reflect, renew. And in those quiet moments, I rediscover my deeper self, a self not exactly at odds with my other, public self, but oddly different nonetheless, so much so, that I am struck by the contrast between my two halves.

Over this last break, I think I finally captured the words of this wonderfully strange experience in a Twitter thread.

Fortunately, a number of my tweeps on Twitter let me know that I am not alone, that I am not crazy. Well, maybe crazy, but not alone. Today, I will step back into my other self, a self, in truth, I love no less, but a self still strange after my quiet respite. Seems my halves are fed by quiet and kids. Had my quiet. Now I need my kids.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…reconnecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…self-analyzing body paragraphs for quote integration.

…responding to feedback on introductions.

…discussing Why with Sy.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all. Glad to be back.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

Morning, all. Bit under the weather and down this morning. Looks like it’s my turn to get sick. Son was sick last week. Nothing like a spring cold. But, heading to school anyway. Crazy busy week trying to wrap up a bunch of ends before we go on spring break next week. Don’t have time to miss school.

Thought I would share something I came across this weekend as I was going through student work. It, I believe, epitomizes the community that we have built in our room. I value my connections with my kids, but I also value the connections they build among each other. I am daily inspired by their compassion and care for each other. On days like today, they give me rise, the extra push I need to face the day. Kids. They give me so much hope. They lift me up. Every day.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…reconnecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…choosing a community champ.

…making arguments in writing.

…revising introductions from feedback.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all. Thank you for being here. Sorry for the lame post this morning.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

Winter hit us pretty hard this past weekend, so we have a snow day today. Will spending my day plowing and shoveling. Be warm and safe out there, everyone.

Back here tomorrow. Maybe.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

What do you do with the mad that you feel
When you feel so mad you could bite?
When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong…
And nothing you do seems very right?
What do you do? Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you go?

It’s great to be able to stop
When you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong,
And be able to do something else instead
And think this song:
I can stop when I want to
Can stop when I wish

I can stop, stop, stop any time.
And what a good feeling to feel like this
And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there’s something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.

What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel? (Song)
Written by Fred Rogers | © 1968 Fred M. Rogers

For a brief time in my very young years, I thought Mr. Rogers was my dad. And whether it was the resemblance he struck in my fading memory of what my father looked like, or the desperate need for a loving man in my life, I wanted him, needed him to be my dad. Desperately.

Of course, I later discovered that he wasn’t my dad–silly kid–he was just a man on TV. But even so, that “just a man on TV’s” kindness served, I now believe, as an important surrogate for instilling the importance of kindness and compassion during my most-impressionable years.

To this day, I’ve never been mad about my parents’ divorce–sad and confused, especially early on, but never mad. And I don’t know why. Maybe I should have been mad. Maybe I learned to “stop it.” Maybe I learned it from Mr. Rogers. In the 70’s there was not a lot to watch on television, so it is likely I heard Mr. Rogers sing the “What Do You Do?” song many times, and it helped the boy become this man.

This man. This forty-seven-year-old man who now finds himself more drawn to Mr. Rogers than the four-year-old boy who could not have needed him more. Of course, the boy then could not have known the impact, could not have guessed he would rediscover his unsung hero’s role in shaping “this man” forty-some years into his future.

In truth, I had not really thought about Fred Rogers in decades. As I got older, Mr. Rogers gave way to more “manly” models, Superman taking top bill, especially as this man entered his career as a teacher. See, he thought, he actually believed (still does, I guess) he had to be a super human, a super hero for his kids, and Superman’s “S” worked well with Syrie, so he found his model. (A look into my closet–nearly 20 Superman shirts, and a peak into my classroom–Superman stuff all over, confirms it). So for years, I donned my Super Syrie cape, adopting a persona for kids. But I have recently hung up my cape and turned my prized tees into yard-work shirts. I now a wear a sweater.

Mr. Rogers wore a sweater; that was his cape, and I remembered that as I rediscovered the marvel of the man on a flight home from Tennessee.

I watched–no, I absorbed, Won’t You Be My Neighbor on the seatback in front of me on a long flight home from my niece’s wedding back in October. And as I sat there with smiles–and tears I refused to hide–on the packed 757, I rediscovered my hero, and in doing so, I discovered myself, this man.

This man.

This man puts on a sweater every day as he sings a song to and with his sophomores every period.

This man then sits in a circle with them every period, every day for a brief period of time as they share their stories during Smiles and Frowns.

This man then shares a new Sappy Sy Rhyme as they leave him for the day, as he hopes against hope they feel connected, they feel their stories matter, they feel they matter.

For how they feel means everything. They are human. And there is nothing more human about us than our feelings. So, he considers, and honors their feelings. And in a time when we perhaps need human connection more than ever, he will always listen; he will always consider and honor their feelings so they may someday become men and women who are better connected to themselves and others. Humans need connection.

“And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there’s something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.”

This man knows he is not Fred Rogers. He knows he will never be Fred Rogers. But this now man, who was once the boy, knows he owes a deep debt to the man who showed him something deep inside that would someday help him become a man. This man. And this man has never felt more a man than when he is trying to be Mr. Rogers. Thank you Mr. Rogers. I am sorry that it took me so long to remember. And though you were just the guy on TV and not my dad, I’d like to think I might just make you proud when I sit down with my kids every day to help them when their…

“…whole wide world seems oh, so wrong…

And they just need someone to listen.

Someone to help them make it right.