"I've Got the POWER!"

Who else remembers that early 90's hit? ( Was I the only one who belted it out to my Walkman?)  It seems fitting for our 4th Chapter of The Fundamental 5 text--especially thinking back to the lyrics that read "It's gettin', it's gettin', it's gettin' kinda hectic..." because let's face it our lives and classrooms reach a hectic status more often than we care to admit. So many bodies, so many objectives, so little time. But in a snap, we can calm things down considerably in our classrooms by working the POWER ZONE...(no, no, not the Power Strip, although make sure that IS working properly.)

It's all about proximity..location, location, location...This is a toughie, to leave one's desk...a  mini oasis in the daily chaos that surrounds us...thy chair and thy pc, they comfort me. But alas, we know the closer we are to any "action" there is in the class, the better we can control it, including, and most importantly instruction. The text offers suggestions of ways to work the power zone. ( See classroom diagrams.)  I know I'm often inclined to bring students to my desk to assess issues on assignments, to create an atmosphere of personal intervention, without drawing attention to a student's mistake, AND so I won't have my back to others in the room. Who's with me on this?  But it looks like I need to make a shift in my thinking. ( The decimal problem example.)

We are somewhat limited in the arrangement of our rooms. What options have you tried, will you try? For many of us it is difficult to tear ourselves from our desks, so how then, could you bring the power zone towards you?

Thoughts?

The Fundamental 5. Fabulous? Fiction, or Fluff?
A book study by the teachers at Edna Junior High.

Ah! The tables have turned and the teachers have been given homework! Our fearless Fleener, (aka building principal) in his quest to make us even more fundamentally fabulous than we presently are,  has given us assignment to read a book, yes a book,  albeit a thin volume, and process the information compiled by Sean Cain and Mike Laird. We are all giving it the 'ol college try...

Our first task was : Read Chapters 1 through 3, and be ready to expound on ways to "frame" lessons.
Please...Share your thoughts to any or all of the thought provokers below...or whatever else your professional burning desire prompts you to!

• As you delved into this text, share what your thoughts were before starting the book?
• What did you affirm or question in the introduction?
• As you perused the Overview, how could you see the 5 fundamentals working in our school?
• How has the lesson framing been going? Is it helpful to you, the teacher? Do you see it as a benefit to your students?

 Comment away!