Flashback to Fast Forward

It was a battle. The ball would swoosh through the net when the Chargers aimed at the net. Then, the other team would run the ball down the court making a successful layup. It’s what a game was supposed to be —one that cheers so loud for the home team. You hear the names of the players called out cheering them on, “GO DESTIN!”

That was my favorite player and of course his mom and dad’s as I sat next to them cheering his team on.

I was so impressed by his ability to communicate with his teammates and execute so many points that game. I was so proud as I always have been. It took me back to years ago when he was in fourth/fifth grade.

Then, I attended a 10 year old’s baseball games on the China Grove field.

When I walked on the court, I saw a young man.

I’m so proud of my students. I have told them for years, “I love coming to games, celebrations, and your events. It’s so cool to see how much they have grown after taking a walk down memory lane. That was an awesome year with his class. I’m so thankful to be called his teacher. It’s hard to believe this “kid” will be a senior next year. And, as every year is custom, my students know: “I better get an invite to your graduation.”

I can already sense the proud tears coming. To all the students of that year: You inspired me for my book, LIke A River, You Matter. You continue to inspire me. 143 always and you matter.

In case you were wondering, the Chargers WON!

2017

2024

Mitosis Ornaments

Mitosis Ornaments were a SUCCESS! Students made ornaments based off the stages of Mitosis. Mitosis is a process when our cells divide. If you ever had a tear on your skin, Mitosis jumps in! This helps us repair and grow! This idea launched with excitement since we could make ornaments for the holidays. It helped students understand the different stages of the acronym “P.M.A.T.” These stages are Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase. Excited for the next engagement activity!

Summer School

““I’m so glad I came to summer school, so I could have this experience!””

— summer school student

Summer School

First … let’s call the elephant in the room already with the two words above …

Not many people want to put “summer” and “school” together. 

At China Grove, some teachers and admin from CG and Corriher-Lipe came together and made magic happen! 

I went home feeling more alive and inspired each day!! 

It started with our team of teachers. 

We pulled together and collaborated some great lesson plans:

A derby stem project! The constraint was it had to be made out of PASTA! 

Our PBL involving a lot of movement with mean, median,mode and range! 

Our iReady math goals that the students set each day. And may I add—- they smashed some goals! 

Our hands on lessons with the kids…. Math coming alive. 

That’s just it. We all had an energy that came alive when we were together. 

We worked hard. 

We played hard. 

Today was so memorable. 

Some of us cried because it was over .. but all of us laughed and smiled. 

Today, a lot of us even danced!!! 

We celebrated each other for the end of summer school where everyone made growth.

EVERYONE!

Today and this experience will be etched in my heart. 

I saw kids really come out of their “shells” and even say, 

“I’m so glad I came to summer school, so I could have this experience!”

In one of our podcasts, several students made a powerful statement.

I asked them what would they bring into the school year that was part of summer school…

Their response, “the teachers and staff”

So to my teachers & difference makers:

YOU matter to these kids ! What you’re doing matters! Inspiring kids with “quotes of the week” incentives to keep going, showing them that you believe in them, encouraging them everyday! It matters. 

And to my kids - YOU matter to me! I had an unforgettable journey of summer school ! We smashed math goals. We celebrated like champions. 

And, we ended it feeling like we conquered it! 

We even felt sad that it was over! 

Thanks to the admin, staff, and our bus drivers!

Here are some pictures and videos.

Don’t miss watching our Mannequin Challenge! They were so still!

Observing A Coach

Teachers are encouraged to observe one another. We pick a time to go in a classroom and take notes of student engagement and the lesson. It gives us a chance to reach out beyond our own classroom walls. It gives us the opportunity to discover some tips, leave inspired, and ready to implement new ideas into our classrooms. Yesterday, I had the privilege to observe not only an amazing teacher but a great coach. In this setting, the athletes asked her to go outside for practice. With a yes, we headed out to the front yard.

Guys, I witnessed a coach who was in tune with her athletes. One cheerleader, who had an injury and missed some time to practice on her feet, felt some frustration. Coach Pate took a moment to pause and acknowledge her. She reassured it was ok and she was doing well considering the short amount of time learning the movements. Ms. Pate revealed another key aspect to coaching: on the spot feedback. As the girls were completing movements, she watched with a trained eye. When something was off, she simply took a time-out moment to model the movements. Then, the girls would practice. I liked watching how she went about it. You can tell she has created a culture where mess-ups will happen, and it’s ok. She repeats the right move/chant/placement and then they practice it again. Before you know it, you have a whole routine that leaves you pumped up and ready for a game!

During this time of observing Coach Pate, I saw her flexibility and willingness. The girls wanted to go outside. Ms. Pate’s allergies were acting up, but she pushed through like a champ. She spotlighted girls who were calling out with great projection and hitting the moves on point. She encouraged them to find their unique way of cheering on the crowd. She wasn’t in a rush. You could hear it in her voice. She allotted the time needed for the girls to learn and practice.

And, yes, for those who know…know I’m the assistant coach. I decided to take a different pair of eyes with me to practice yesterday. I wanted to observe an amazing coach.

I took away some parallels to teaching in the classroom:

Model the lesson. You may have to model it again. It’s ok. It gives them the chance to see it again and practice.

Create a culture in the classroom that feels safe for mistakes.

Have a “YES” moment. Who knows, maybe going outside may lift your own spirits.

Huddle up. Come up with some goals together.

Give constructive, on the spot, feedback.

Cheer each other on. Everyday.

Teachers, YOU are like a coach everyday.

We get the opportunity to cheer on our students and work with them everyday.

May I encourage you to observe a great coach soon?!

You’ll leave inspired.

We Get To

Students are coming in to class and getting settled. They check out the message on the screen after we greet one another. Before I can finish going over the objective for class, a student asks, “We get to work with you today, right?”

One of my math groups wanted to learn what the seventh graders were learning, so I spent some time with them. We would talk about the concept and they would practice the skill. During that time, we would also just talk. They were eager and wanted more small group time the next day!

Speaking of next day, an awesome co-teacher of mine came to work with me on a podcast together. In this episode, he said a phrase that stuck out to me, “Everyday, I look forward to coming to school.”

It left me inspired.

We GET TO be difference makers in the lives of our students….

EVERY day!

EVERY day, you are getting up and taking on the challenges, one at a time.

Keep taking each step.

To all students out there, thank YOU for your hard work that you put in… especially this year! We enjoy getting to work alongside of you and help you.

To all difference makers, thank YOU. You go above and beyond.

Remember, we GET TO partner with our students’ education and help them succeed. We GET TO cross the finish line together. We can do this. One quarter left, and we GET TO finish strong!

For now though, our school GETS TO have Spring Break.

Happy Spring Break. Rest up.

Rocket Launch!

“Am I about to build a rocket and launch it? How am I going to do that? I don’t know the first thing about it.”

I played these thoughts in my mind on a feedback loop, and I almost didn’t go!

“Just go to learn,” I reassured my anxious self.

‘And that’s how it started. I launched myself into learning. I asked questions. LOTS of questions. I took pictures and videos. I asked if they would repeat the directions. The amazing rocket experts, I’ll call them, were very willing and made themselves available to help me. They were patient with me and even laughed and joked around with me. Quickly, my nerves settled.

Until…

It was time for the launch. I pumped myself up by watching a couple launches before my turn. I saw launches that didn’t go as ‘planned’ but they were celebrated anyway. THEN, the igniter, was handed to ME. It was my turn. Here I was, standing in front of the “experts” nervous I was going to blow something up or do it all wrong.

The red light was on. The countdown began.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2…1…

BLAST OFF!

Too much excitement inside to hold it in. I screamed with enthusiasm. I heard the echoing screams around me from my fellow colleagues. It was official. I became a rocket launcher.

What a feeling.

PS. Guess what?

Horizons Unlimited is offering this awesome experience to students!

Here, I created a fun graphic/video using adobe spark post.

This day! I decided to build a rocket and launch it. It started with the mindset, "Today, I'm a learner." After the infamous countdown, my rocket launched! #...

A Restart

I cried yesterday in class. Not necessarily because it’s the end of the year... but my feelings were hurt. 

Teaching is my passion.

Teaching is when I come alive. 

Teaching is also tough. 

Yesterday, I had a tough moment. I asked myself: Do I just keep going and act like what I heard didn’t affect me? Or, do I share being hurt by what was said?

I chose the latter. 

I told my kids, “I’ve been holding back tears for fear of looking stupid, but I think it’s important for me to remind you that I’m human too. And, what was said hurt my feelings. I love you guys, and this is why I’m sharing my heart right now. “

After being honest, the room was silent. 

I took a moment to get tissue. 

I stepped out my door and just took a deep breath. 

I realized I needed to walk back in... but what would I say now? I just wanted a redo. I think they did too. 

It hit me. 

I peeked in with a cheesy smile and asked them, 

“Can we start over? “

The whole room looked relieved, smiled, and happily replied, “YES!”

And so we did. We continued. We laughed. 

I shared my gift with them as my end of school year goodbye! 

It’s not only about Math and Membean. Effective teaching is equipping and empowering our students through positive relationships. And sometimes, you just need to hit the reset button and “start over.”

They Believed

My fear is getting embarrassed (among others but I wont get into that).

Today, before the staff basketball game started, I started doubting myself. 

“What if I make an idiot of myself & cant dribble the ball?”

“What if I make a wrong move?” 

A big one was: “What if I disappoint my team?”

All the students were watching. I wanted to be somewhat cool. 😎 

With my doubts, I dressed anyway, put on my jersey, and even the red socks. 

Before the game started.... I’m talking ...just warming up... 

I managed to mess it up in the layups. I think the ball made contact with my teammate’s face. 

😲 

So yea... I felt stupid at that point. 

Until I heard the cheering. 

My name was being spelled and yelled. Loudly. 

WITH SIGNS!

I smile. It’s sweet right?!

Of course. 

But I’m thinking ... dang ... they believe in me more than I do in myself  right now. 

“I gotta play. I gotta do my best.”

First chance I get, I didnt even see the ball coming to me and out of bounds it goes. Then, I managed to race the ball and slap it back in bounds. I should have let it go since the other team touched it last. 

If there were points for messing up, I would have been MVP.

Did I make wrong moves? Yes. 

Do I have ball player skills? That’s a big no. 

But I witnessed today: 

I do have an amazing set of teachers who are passionate about their team and school. They are competitive, yes.

But they let a girl like me play today. 

One of my teammates passed the ball to me when he had all the chances to make it himself. #trueballplaya

The part that stands out the most — the students. 

They cheered proudly and loudly… to keep going!

Today’s game makes me reflect as a teacher. 

How do kids come in the class sometimes ? Do they enter with some stress wondering if they will mess up? Will they disappoint? Will they be embarrassed ? 

What do we get to do as teachers EVERYDAY? 

CHEER THEM ON!!!

 ESPECIALLY when they mess up. Have signs that tell them you’re proud of them for pushing beyond their comfort zones. 

You’re proud of their small, medium, and large accomplishments. Your belief may be the match that lights a belief in themselves.

It will stand out to them! 

#BEYourStudentsCheerleaders

#outofcomfortzone

#BelieveInThem

#youmatter 

MVP

It started with a small idea. I wanted to call parents of kids who were showing up to class with a good attitude, staying on task, and asking questions. Parents are appreciative when they get that positive phone call that their child was successful in class that day. It’s uplifting and makes for great parent /kid conversation whether in the car, at a game, or grabbing a bite to eat.

One day, as I was walking around tracking my kids’ understanding and application of the content, I noticed one of my students showing great progress. It was apparent this kid was stretching himself to really understand the math concept.

I shouted, “You are MVP for the day. You are asking thought-provoking questions that shows you’re putting forth effort. You really want to understand. High Five.”

The kid’s face lit up.

A simple, yet powerful acronym could be the start of something magical in your classroom. Now, imagine a kid hearing his/her name being called as MVP for the day by PEERS! That kid will go home with his/her head raised a little higher and a smile a little broader. You can create this culture in your class!

Set the stage where kids know that staying on task, asking good questions, and showing respect can be qualities to reach MVP status.

Yesterday, was a goosebump moment. Right at the end of class, I asked the kids in that period, “Who would you guys vote for for MVP?” No one said themselves. They all said one kid’s name. I couldn’t have been more proud. Even the peers noticed. They didn’t try to take credit. They gave credit where credit was due.

And, teachers, I’m talking to you now. It was one of those kids that we all have in class that you work a little harder by pushing them a little more each day.

Seeing this child accomplish MVP status made my day. I couldn’t wait to share with the parents.

What ideas do you have that you think are small but may have a powerful impact?

Edpuzzle

Teacher: “Ok, class! As a reminder for your choice board, you choose two of the four to complete.”

 Student: “Miss Ramey, I just did all of them.”

 Teacher: “You did?! What made you decide to complete all of them? You only had to complete two of them?

 Student: “I wanted to. They are fun.”

 Have you heard of the app, EdPuzzle? This is the app we were using in class. More students were completing all of the videos! This app allows you to create your own videos with question prompts. You can choose to use them as grades. You can get immediate feedback as a teacher. Also, you can use the videos that Edpuzzle already has in their library. 

 So much more to brag about with this app, but when students are bragging, that says quite a bit!

 Be sure to give a shout out to Edpuzzle on Twitter.

 You also have an option to get credit for taking their modules!