Today's ARFF

Today at lunch recess a student approached me and said,
"Mrs. Ahnert, what is your ARFF today?"

I've asked a lot of kids that question, but I don't remember being asked it.
I loved it. It gave me a minute to pause and think about the good things in my day.
So here's my answer:

Achievement: Typed up a field trip permission slip.

Respect: A friend surprised me by bringing me scones for my morning snack.

Fun: I spent first period with a sixth grade class talking about how to make our school the best ever.

Freedom: Taking time to blog at the end of the day.

So, what's yours?

Sunny Day ARFF

bullying stats

The 7th graders completed an anonymous survey today regarding their experience with bullying at this school going back as far as fall of 2010. Out of 44 surveys, 8 students reported being bullied, and most of the incidents took place last year. Most of those students reported it and it was taken care of. By the end of the year, I'd like the number of bullying incidents to be 0.

The last survey question asked what we can do to prevent bullying in our school. Here is a sampling of their responses.

Make sure no one is left out.
Give major consequences for bullying.
Ask if someone is okay if they look sad.
Be more aware of students in the hall.
Make a good effort not to be mean to people you don't like.
Class meetings.
Have a way to report it.
Try to keep tabs on people and not only help your friends, but anyone you see that is being bullied.

And my favorite (and my own life's work)...
Try to make it so that everyone sort of gets along!

more happiness

I love having time to visit with students before and after school and during their lunch. They're relaxed, hanging out with friends, and when I ask them questions, their responses are spontaneous and honest. I found a group of new students to visit with today and asked them how they like Bigfork Middle School. I heard similar responses to the ones I've gotten in the past.
In general they love their classes, their friends, and especially their teachers.

"The students are friendlier here."
"Bigfork has fewer cliques."
"The teachers are more helpful here. They don't get mad when we ask a question."
"I've got the best math teacher EVER!"

So kudos to all BMS staff!

Happy Profession

This is such an ARFF filled job.

Today I helped a student change their schedule and as they left my office, they said, "Thanks! You're the best teacher ever!"
All that for just doing my job!

At the end of the day, Jen showed me a sign made by one of the students she worked with today. It said, "Best Teacher Ever!"

What a great end to the first week of school!

Hey other bloggers out there. If you have a cute kudo from a kid, I would love for you to post it here.

This Year I Will...

I was asked to sub in an 8th grade class this week, so I asked Matt J. If there was anything in pariticular he wanted me to discuss with the students. He mentioned the potential power the 8th grade class has to set a positive tone for the entire middle school, so I based my lesson plan on this topic, and posed a challenge to the kids.

I began by having them reflect on 7th grade, and the specific things the 8th graders did that influenced their year. On the positive side, dances and lunch tournaments were mentioned. On the negative side, drugs and mean girls.

The discussion quickly moved on to this year. Only three days in. The students are still optimistic and came up with lots of ways to make this school year the best ever. Now comes the challenge.

I gave each student a piece of paper and asked them to write a personal statement beginning with, "This year I will..." Their assignment was to think about their own interests and strengths and what they would be willing to do to make Bigfork Middle School a place where students want to be.

I thought the kids might just blow it off since I'm not their regular teacher, and a number of them don't like to write. But I was pleasantly surprised. I received many thoughtful responses. One anonymous writer admitted to having "a dark past" but vowed to put that behind and make a fresh start. Many wrote that they are willing to put in their own time to plan activities that would include the youngerl students.

Lots of great ideas and positive energy. Now how do we as a staff support those ideas and create opportunities for them to clarify and carry out their goals?

I've given them a voice. Now we need to empower them!

First Day of School 2011

Best Day of the Whole Year! New outfits, happy, excited faces, eager to learn.

How do we keep it that way? By being very intentional in our classroom practices. Teacher behavior the first day/week sets the tone for a successful school year.

I love the reminders in the following list. It is adapted from Denis McLoughlin,'s "First Day of School Checklist."
These are good reminders for EVERY day of the school year.

1. Welcome students with a wonderful face, voice and words.
2. Memorize their names.
3. Teach and practice a class signal to get immediate attention.
4. Teach these Guidelines for Success: Be on Time, Come ready and Prepared to Learn, Ask For Support, Respect your rights and the Rights of Others to Learn, Work at Learning.
5. Share something about yourself.
6. Teach procedures: How to come into class, how to show respect, how to use the bathroom, etc.
7. Use CAN and May. (You CAN use quiet voices; You MAY take out your pencil for success).
8. Plan ARFF into every lesson. (Achievement, Respect, Fun, Freedom)
9. Dismiss students on a success.
10. Choose to like something about every student.

Happy New Year!