So…I don’t know how to say this.
But I think I might be a thematic teacher.
Not completely, but there is a hint of theme.
I feel like you all just gasped.
I think I did as I typed this.
I just felt like I had to get that off my chest.
Now I can explain myself.
My first year of teaching, I had the most amazing mentor teacher. She had been teaching for over 25 years (still teaching) and was still the last person to leave the building. She let me come in and watch her and I would not be the teacher I am today if it wasn’t for her. Even though we aren’t at the same school anymore, I continue to learn from her. This teacher did not teach themes. We would all plan together and then she would kind of do her own thing. I latched on to everyone because let’s get real…you have no idea what you’re doing the first year of teaching.
It’s a blur.
She would say “Well, bats are not in the standards so I am not going to teach about bats.”
Ok.
I’m not going to teach about bats either.
That was my first year of teaching. You say and I do.
Now that I am on my fifth year of teaching and I have moved to another school, I have found my style of teaching evolving. I still study and follow the standard, but I do teach about bats (insert gasp) and pumpkins (no she di’int).
Yes, yes I do.
I was a h-e-double hockey sticks no to color days.
Well guess what…it’s a standard.
So, we had color days this year.
And it was way fun and the kids loved it. They can all spell the color words because they can sing all of the color word songs that I played on YouTube.
Was it fun?
Yep.
Was it meaningful?
Mmmhmm.
And it just so happened that it would fall under “thematic”
From my many years (that’s a joke) of teaching, this is the conclusion I have come to for myself.
I will not apologize for teaching meaningful reading strategies that happen to be about pumpkins, Fall, or insects.
I will teach about subjects that my kids love.
This year, my boys are obsessed with football. The label the football player that I did around Superbowl time last year came out last week. They actually cheered about writing. That’s a win in my book.
It is all about the content but it is also about the delivery. If you aren’t excited about it, then they won’t be either. If you just stand in front of them or sit (I can’t believe anyone would) then you’re ineffective.
Bottom line.
We are going to do a farm unit next week (and community helpers and five senses).
You heard me correctly.
We are going to be making rhyming flip books, matching up beginning sounds consonants, stretching words and visualizing stories.
I’m just accepting it.
That same teacher gave me this little piece of advice. I wrote it on a sticky note that is still taped to my printer so I can see it every day.
As long as you have reason for what you are teaching at that moment, then the activity or lesson is meaningful. If you just pull out a page because it has a pumpkin on it but looks like c-r-a-p, then maybe re-think it. There is some of that out there and you have to know your kids and what they need.
So go forth people.
Differentiate, themat-a-cize (made up word) and be purposeful.
Yes ma’am!! Absolutely—-my brain thinks “thematically”!!! It’s how I was taught but not only that–if I’m enjoying what I’m teaching—then more than likely so will the kids. It’s so much easier to integrate writing, reading, math, etc. into a “theme”. And why not?? Have fun I say! 🙂 Great post!!
Nicki
Mrs. Thigpen’s Kindergarten
Amen sister!
-Andrea
alwayskindergarten@gmail.com
This was a really great post and really resonated with me.
I love how my students adore thematic units. I love how their faces light up as they realize they’ve made a connection to the thematic lesson. Find a way to learn what you teach and they will love to learn it.
I love teaching thematically. I usually have a general idea of what I want to teach, but if the students are really interested in a certain aspect of that theme, then I go with that. I love seeing my little kinder babies so excited to learn about something. Best thing ever!
Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten