Mrs. Slaviero's Blog

 Spring seems to be here, and classroom routines are in place for the most part. I'm trying something new but also staying focused on emphasizing the ideas and concepts that I value in my classroom. Takeaways: Emphasize and reinforce what's important. For example, I often want my students to discuss our learning together. Whenever I see a student group want to default to working on a question independently I gently remind them that I learn from them everyday, and I've taught this subject for many years. I make it clear that if I can learn from them they can certainly learn from each other. I take the opportunity to reiterate the significance of academic discussions. I'm remembering to acknowledge student birthdays on or as close to the student's actual day as possible. Yes, it does take forethought and planning (I have 140 students) but it matters to me, and it seems to be appreciated by them. LEGACY . It's everything, especially in the spring as these 8th Grad...

Keeping virtual students connected is tougher than it seems. For a multitude of reasons it's an ongoing endeavor this year. While I will once again teach my LEGACY reflection this spring, my 8th Grade US colleague thought to connect LEGACY to George Washington's Farewell Address and, if today is any indication, it's now a powerful and authentic way to kick off this reflection. My students tend to communicate in breakout rooms better when we are in hybrid mode (when students are in class and some are virtual). I don't know why this is but it might have something to do with school feeling more "real" when some students are in school. Regardless, it's on me to encourage and motivate students to talk to one another in breakout rooms every time.  In a normal year communicating with peers in class happens fairly effortlessly, in breakout rooms it's so challenging. I continually move from breakout room to room, assigning leaders to introduce a topic (again, ...

Happy New Year! January has been full of meaningful opportunities for learning! Eighth Grade Student Historians presented their Breaking Barriers in History National History Day projects to their 6th and 7th Grade peers recently. A special thank you to Learning Village--Michigan History Day's fearless leader, Ms. Amy Bradfield, our Media Specialist, Mrs. Chatel, our 8th Grade Language Arts teachers, Mrs. Galbraith, Mrs. Pagnani, and Mrs. Wright, and our Special Education teachers Mrs. Ritter, and Ms. Bard, for all of your help in making this day possible! It is always exciting to share learning but this year's work is taking on a special purpose--7th Graders and Language Support-History students will, for the first time at our school, complete modified NHD projects themselves later this school year. The 8th Graders will serve as mentors during this process. I am very eager to work with my students in this leadership capacity! Eighth Graders are continuing the...

The last month of school is upon us. For 8th Grade teachers in a 6th-8th Grade Middle School this isn't just the end of the school year, it's the end of Middle School for our students.  This time of year always brings on a range of emotions for my students--they're happy, nervous, excited, unsure. Change, even good change, can be a challenge. Processing these feelings isn't easy but I hope the next few weeks will bring some help by asking my students to complete a LEGACY Reflection. This is the third year my students have written these reflections and the second year all 8th Graders in the building are completing them. I've enjoyed going into all of the classes to begin this project.  My hope is that I successfully plant the idea in our students that they are the ones that set the tone for their Middle School legacy. This can and should be empowering.   The first reflection centered around a definition of legacy and a focus on leadership. Stu...

Students completed their #MyBoulanLEGACY reflections today. The final letter of the LEGACY reflection was a tough one for me to create (Y is pretty limited!) but the topic I finally thought of is the perfect final reflection because it is positive, optimistic, and carries the students through until the final bell rings next Friday. The final reflection topic is related to the Power of YET . Each students' legacy isn't complete and won't be until the last day of school. I asked students to reflect on how they will carry through their LEGACY. It's a true reminder to stay strong, make good decisions, and keep focusing on being the same kid they were in September all the way through until the final moments of the school year. I hope the Power of YET guides each and every one of us next week and throughout our lives.

Students are continuing to think about their Middle School LEGACY by writing about Attitude and Challenges. Our attitudes impact how we are remembered by others. Do we stay positive or complain when the going gets tough? I am hopeful that this reflection helped all of us remember to pause and use patience when we speak or act, especially when we are tired at the end of the school year. How we act and react to others says a lot about our character, and our legacy. How we handle difficult situations says a lot about who we are. Students were asked to reflect this week about a time they overcame a challenge. It's been really nice to read their responses while I was stapling these to our bulletin board in the hallway outside of our classroom. (At the start of this project all students knew that their responses would be displayed and they could keep each of their reflections anonymous.) Students wrote about challenges with friendships, classes they've struggled with, and...

The LEGACY Reflections are progressing very well. Students have written about their EDUCATION during Middle School, especially 8th Grade. Each student was asked to reflect on their educational risks and how those risks translate into a facet of their legacy. Their answers were insightful and deep. Students also reflected on GRATITUDE, creating a list of people they were grateful at Boulan and elaborate on how this gratitude impacts how they will be remembered at Boulan. I feel this is a fitting "full circle" experience related to our Gratitude Journals created in November. This week's writing centers on attitude. 

I sense it with my students this time every year. A restlessness crops up in early spring and I've never felt I'd been able to adequately address it. It's what I think of as a "push/pull" mindset.  My 8th Graders are pushing away from Middle School and feeling the excitement and pull of their new lives next school year as High Schoolers. It's a drive for new experiences along with the sadness of leaving Middle School. This often manifests in an "indifferent" attitude conveyed outwardly but this indifference (usually) masks the trepidation they're feeling inside. I believe I may have found a way to help students work though these feelings. Last June the idea of a LEGACY project came to me in the middle of the night the week before school ended (the subconscious mind at work)! I quickly ran through the activity with my students. This year I'm able to take my time and have hopes for its success. Students began reflections yesterday....