This was me in 2017. The picture was taken by a student in my class. I don’t know why she took it, I don’t even remember it being taken. I just discovered it on the school iPad at the end of the day. It’s pretty accurate – both the seen and unseen.
At the time the picture was taken I posted a reflection to Facebook:
This is the CrAzy my students see every day….. I would not change a thing. I wore my slippers to work yesterday…because I knew the kids would love it.
I’m supposed to teach state standards and at some level, I suppose I do. It is more important to me that my students feel important and loved.
We have fun every day. I tell them EVERY DAY how much I love being with them, how much I love my work. I want them at some subliminal level to learn no matter what we are doing, just make it your best and everything else will follow.
Every class gets reminded that when they grow up and win an award or are “rich and famous” to remember in their speeches, they owe it all to their fourth-grade teacher.
What I really mean is, as they go through everyday ordinary life: think back and remember the fun, the love and laughter, from ALL your teachers.
They won’t use the state standards I may or may not be effectively teaching. I hope they will use the crazy everyday chaos I pawn off as a fourth-grade education.
Today I’m going to take my class to Mass, stay and pray the Rosary, and then we’ll come back to what they have affectionately named HEADQUARTERS…and have a dance party, with our 2 disco balls and limbo set… it’s not on the lesson plans… just written in between the lines…
This post, Why My Products Don’t Reference Standards, may contain affiliate links, which means Happy Hive Homeschooling may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.
Yes, we had disco balls and dance parties before it was a thing due to the 2020 pandemic. My class ate lunch under their desks in “forts” on rainy days and I used Iron Man cartoons to teach character traits – they just thought we were watching cartoons at the end of the day!
I had a lot of freedom in my position as 4th grade teacher and the administrator in charge of discipline for the TK – 8 school of 250 students. The standards *found* their way into my lessons – just as they *find* their way into my products.
I never used standards in my homeschool, we just learned what the kids were interested in. I have always been that kind of an educator.
You can see how I used STUDENT SELF ASSESSMENT and REASONS I LOVE ROUTINE AND SCHEDULES In these posts, but standards were never part of our plans.
I bring that philosophy to resource design. My products are created with CHILDREN in mind. I trust as parents and educators yourself you know how to best implement the necessary academics (read between the lines = FUN) in your homes and classrooms because relationships must come above everything else. EVERYTHING ELSE.
Holidays, and the fun they bring naturally, are the greatest tools for relationship building. I hope you agree!
It is my greatest pleasure to provide you with standard-less products you can use to truly get to the heart of education – your children.
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