Based on the title of this post, my readers may think that I've gone off the deep end and started a fitness blog. That is far from the truth! Last week, a group of eighth grade students asked my teaching partner, Amber Yuen (@mrsyuen), and me to participate in a Workweek Hustle using our Fitbits. I am not a big step person and rarely pay much attention to how many steps I walk/run in a day. My favorite fitness activity is yoga, and even though I sweat, stretch and raise my heart rate, I don't ever accumulate many steps in a class.
Eight students and two teachers walked/ran/tumbled/marched over 800,000 steps in five days. I personally logged over 90,000 steps because I was insane and on the treadmill every night. I learned a few things during the week:
I'm always impressed with bloggers who make poignant analogies between real life and their classrooms. Unfortunately, it has taken me over a week to discover the comparison that works for the Workweek Hustle and my teaching life. As I walked two miles and ran 1.5 miles with my husband today (I survived the running), it hit me.
During the week of the challenge, I took every available opportunity to move my feet. This year, with our district's focus on deconstructing standards and knowing every day what the goal is for our students, I am taking every available opportunity to ask the question: What is the specific learning that I want my students to do each day with each mini-lesson or practice activity? I feel more connected to thinking about the daily learning goals than ever before. I am constantly thinking and talking about what my students should be learning and what the roadblocks are when there is confusion.
I so appreciate my students asking me to join the Workweek Hustle. I am proud of my step efforts, and I am proud of my thinking as a teacher this year.
I am currently in the middle of a Weekend Warrior challenge with my students; I won't win this one either. I do have 21,792 steps in two days, which is pretty good. It's hard competing with active, YOUNG eighth graders, so I can't complain about my fourth place finish. It's Super Bowl Sunday or else I would be on the treadmill trying to get up to 26,000 steps!
Eight students and two teachers walked/ran/tumbled/marched over 800,000 steps in five days. I personally logged over 90,000 steps because I was insane and on the treadmill every night. I learned a few things during the week:
- My fellow teacher, Amber, is an insane competitor, and she really likes a free lunch!
- The Martian is an excellent audible book to listen to.
- People look at you oddly as you power walk "shamrocks" around the school during your plan period.
I'm always impressed with bloggers who make poignant analogies between real life and their classrooms. Unfortunately, it has taken me over a week to discover the comparison that works for the Workweek Hustle and my teaching life. As I walked two miles and ran 1.5 miles with my husband today (I survived the running), it hit me.
During the week of the challenge, I took every available opportunity to move my feet. This year, with our district's focus on deconstructing standards and knowing every day what the goal is for our students, I am taking every available opportunity to ask the question: What is the specific learning that I want my students to do each day with each mini-lesson or practice activity? I feel more connected to thinking about the daily learning goals than ever before. I am constantly thinking and talking about what my students should be learning and what the roadblocks are when there is confusion.
I so appreciate my students asking me to join the Workweek Hustle. I am proud of my step efforts, and I am proud of my thinking as a teacher this year.
I am currently in the middle of a Weekend Warrior challenge with my students; I won't win this one either. I do have 21,792 steps in two days, which is pretty good. It's hard competing with active, YOUNG eighth graders, so I can't complain about my fourth place finish. It's Super Bowl Sunday or else I would be on the treadmill trying to get up to 26,000 steps!