Introducing the Daybook
Introducing the Daybook
I don't know where to even begin with this reflection. Before I had read the article, I was skeptical. I thought this might be one of those ideas that sounds great in theory but is impractical for the classroom. I remember while I was reading it, I began by thinking, "This is going to be a lot of work to keep up a daybook for this class." I finished the article with a pretty clear idea of what a daybook was supposed to be, and what I was supposed to do with it. I was actually pretty excited to see what possibilities it could provide. I was curious to see students using the daybook. I wondered if it was effective and how the students felt about it. I was able to see it used in my clinical experience and I am SO VERY excited to implement the daybook in my classroom.
My experience with the daybook has been a love/hate relationship, but not because I don't like the daybook. I find that my schedule to be so full between classes and my kids that I would want to write something creative and long but only be able to finish two or three lines at a time. Here's the great part, my two or three lines were always in the same place. I didn't have to shuffle through the papers on my desk. The lines were in the daybook, and I was able to get back to them and write a few more lines. Since I was the only one who was reading the daybook, I was able to be messy, and if I had a great idea for where something was headed, I could scribble a note and leave it until I came back.
Since the time when I first read about the daybook, I have discovered a lot of great ways to use it for different subjects. I can't wait to use this in my classroom...let the countdown begin.
I don't know where to even begin with this reflection. Before I had read the article, I was skeptical. I thought this might be one of those ideas that sounds great in theory but is impractical for the classroom. I remember while I was reading it, I began by thinking, "This is going to be a lot of work to keep up a daybook for this class." I finished the article with a pretty clear idea of what a daybook was supposed to be, and what I was supposed to do with it. I was actually pretty excited to see what possibilities it could provide. I was curious to see students using the daybook. I wondered if it was effective and how the students felt about it. I was able to see it used in my clinical experience and I am SO VERY excited to implement the daybook in my classroom.
My experience with the daybook has been a love/hate relationship, but not because I don't like the daybook. I find that my schedule to be so full between classes and my kids that I would want to write something creative and long but only be able to finish two or three lines at a time. Here's the great part, my two or three lines were always in the same place. I didn't have to shuffle through the papers on my desk. The lines were in the daybook, and I was able to get back to them and write a few more lines. Since I was the only one who was reading the daybook, I was able to be messy, and if I had a great idea for where something was headed, I could scribble a note and leave it until I came back.
Since the time when I first read about the daybook, I have discovered a lot of great ways to use it for different subjects. I can't wait to use this in my classroom...let the countdown begin.
Process over Product
Daybook Entry 9/4/12
Self Realization-
Most stress about completing a project comes from being told that the assignment is difficult or heavily weighted. When I do the assignment and it seems easy it worries me that I have missed something or done it wrong.
I wrote this as I was struggling through a mountain of assignments that didn't seem to have any clear direction. I learned that I was stressing about the importance of the assignment being done well instead of really focusing on doing the job well and learning the material. I think that it is important as a teacher to give clear directions to my students. If it is an assignment where they have the freedom to make choices and be creative then it is my responsibility to clearly convey that to them in the instructions. I see that I worry about the grade or the weight of the assignment and that makes me feel that the concept must be very difficult. When I feel that I clearly understand the concept, I want to make it more difficult than it is so it can match the hype that the assignment has received in the syllabus or amongst my classmates.
My reflection on this daybook entry makes me want to begin setting goals for how I want to be as a teacher. I don't want my students to worry so much about doing a good job presenting an idea that they don't get a clear grasp on the material. The process of learning is what is important.
Goal: I will give, to the best of my ability, clear directions for assignments. I will tell students what I expect from them and what variables (topic, style, materials, media) they are able to incorporate.
I will stress the process not the product.
Self Realization-
Most stress about completing a project comes from being told that the assignment is difficult or heavily weighted. When I do the assignment and it seems easy it worries me that I have missed something or done it wrong.
I wrote this as I was struggling through a mountain of assignments that didn't seem to have any clear direction. I learned that I was stressing about the importance of the assignment being done well instead of really focusing on doing the job well and learning the material. I think that it is important as a teacher to give clear directions to my students. If it is an assignment where they have the freedom to make choices and be creative then it is my responsibility to clearly convey that to them in the instructions. I see that I worry about the grade or the weight of the assignment and that makes me feel that the concept must be very difficult. When I feel that I clearly understand the concept, I want to make it more difficult than it is so it can match the hype that the assignment has received in the syllabus or amongst my classmates.
My reflection on this daybook entry makes me want to begin setting goals for how I want to be as a teacher. I don't want my students to worry so much about doing a good job presenting an idea that they don't get a clear grasp on the material. The process of learning is what is important.
Goal: I will give, to the best of my ability, clear directions for assignments. I will tell students what I expect from them and what variables (topic, style, materials, media) they are able to incorporate.
I will stress the process not the product.
Topics for Writing
I haven't had the regular problem of deciding on a topic for writing. If I seem stuck, I just start to write, and eventually the topic just becomes clear. I thought about how I would help my students to decide on a topic when they couldn't come up with one on their own. What skills would I teach them that would allow them to help themselves? The document by Dr. Kissel titled, "Generating Ideas for Writing" gives excellent methods to help my students during a writer's conference.
I particularly like the method of 3 Meaningful Objects. I think that giving students the opportunity to share something that is important to them is an excellent way to encourage a community environment. Most classes don't include a sharing time anymore, which I think is unfortunate because it lets students gain pride, practice speaking and listening skills, and when used as a prompt for writing can become a powerful tool. I think with very little guidance, this could become a useful practice in my second grade classroom next year.
I particularly like the method of 3 Meaningful Objects. I think that giving students the opportunity to share something that is important to them is an excellent way to encourage a community environment. Most classes don't include a sharing time anymore, which I think is unfortunate because it lets students gain pride, practice speaking and listening skills, and when used as a prompt for writing can become a powerful tool. I think with very little guidance, this could become a useful practice in my second grade classroom next year.
My Creative Soul
I chose to include one of my favorite poems by Frost. I included it in my daybook because it is one of the first poems that I learned by Frost and I think it is beautifully written. I love to read Frost's poetry and to try to imagine what things look like through the words he uses. My young boys also like to read his poetry. I know they don't always understand what it means, but they like the way the words flow and that is a good start.
What does this mean for me as a teacher? I want my classroom to be a place that inspires my students to read and write. Maybe that means that there is art and poetry on the walls. We will need color for sure. I think that the things that we hang up on the walls around us should be things that are meaningful. I don't want everything that we post to be purely academic. The world needs more art and more poetry to inspire deeper thinking.
What does this mean for me as a teacher? I want my classroom to be a place that inspires my students to read and write. Maybe that means that there is art and poetry on the walls. We will need color for sure. I think that the things that we hang up on the walls around us should be things that are meaningful. I don't want everything that we post to be purely academic. The world needs more art and more poetry to inspire deeper thinking.
Planning, Thinking, Creating
The multi-genre project came up several times in my daybook. Sometimes it was because I was thinking "out loud" about what I wanted to write, sometimes it was to plan for something I knew I wanted to write. In this entry, I was beginning to think of my audience and my purpose. I had thought that I might write something for my brother who lives across the country to try to encourage him to move to NC. I didn't end up choosing this topic, but I still might make something for him.
The multi-genre project was challenging, but I really enjoyed seeing the end project. I do plan to add to my project and keep it alive for my children. I really think that they will enjoy reading it and reliving moments that they don't remember. It also gives me a purpose for continuing to write.
I think that students would really enjoy making a multi genre project and it would be a great way for them to honor a parent or loved one for a holiday instead of the more traditional craft creations. I think that students would have a great deal of pride in creating a project like this for whomever they chose as their audience. Seeing their work in a published form, and seeing how hours of hard work come together, is a great motivator for future writing.
The multi-genre project was challenging, but I really enjoyed seeing the end project. I do plan to add to my project and keep it alive for my children. I really think that they will enjoy reading it and reliving moments that they don't remember. It also gives me a purpose for continuing to write.
I think that students would really enjoy making a multi genre project and it would be a great way for them to honor a parent or loved one for a holiday instead of the more traditional craft creations. I think that students would have a great deal of pride in creating a project like this for whomever they chose as their audience. Seeing their work in a published form, and seeing how hours of hard work come together, is a great motivator for future writing.