IRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jill D. Lewis-Spector, Professor Emeritus, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, New Jersey, President • Diane Barone, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, Vice President • Douglas Fisher, San Diego State University, San Diego, California • Rona F. Flippo, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts • Shelley Stagg Peterson, OISE/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Bernadette Dwyer, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland • Laurie A. Elish-Piper, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois • Julianne Scullen, Anoka-Hennepin School District, Andover, Minnesota • Donald Bear, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa • Julie Coiro, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island • Lori DiGisi, Framingham Public Schools, Framingham, Massachusetts • Marcie Craig Post, Executive Director
The International Reading Association attempts, through its publications, to provide a forum for a wide spectrum of opinions on reading. This policy permits divergent viewpoints without implying the endorsement of the Association.
Director of Educational Resources Shannon Fortner
Acquisitions and Development Manager Tori Mello Bachman Acquisitions Editor Becky Fetterolf
Managing Editors Christina M. Lambert and Susanne Viscarra Digital Project Manager Wes Ford
Editorial Associate Wendy Logan
Creative Services/Production Manager Anette Schuetz Design and Composition Associate Lisa Kochel
Cover Design, Beth C. Ford, Glib Communications and Design; art, © Shutterstock/Lorelyn
Medina, © Shutterstock/tachyglossus
Copyright 2014 by the International Reading Association, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.
The publisher would appreciate notification where errors occur so that they may be corrected in subsequent printings and/or editions.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Scoggin, Jennifer.
Be fabulous : the reading teacher’s guide to reclaiming your happiness in the classroom / Jennifer Scoggin.
pages cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-87207-367-8 (alk. paper)
1. Reading teachers—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Reading teachers—Attitudes. 3. Reading— Philosophy. 4. Teaching—Philosophy. 5. Literacy—Study and teaching. 6. Reading teachers— Professional relationships. 7. Teacher–student relationships. 8. Classroom environment. I. Title. LB2844.1.R4S36 2014
371.1—dc23
2014025444
Suggested APA Reference
Scoggin, J. (2014). Be fabulous: The reading teacher’s guide to reclaiming your happiness in the classroom. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Behind every fabulous woman is a fabulous man, right? This book is dedicated to the three most important men in my life: Without you and
your support, I wouldn’t be nearly this fabulous.
Mr. Granger, you invested so much in the potential of a little girl who loved to read.
Fred, you taught me about holding my own, the importance of a firm handshake, driving greasy side down, and being a woman who
contributes equally in any relationship.
Nathan, you make me a better friend, wife, mother, and teacher every day. Your unconditional love and support are fabulous.
CONTENT S
ABOU T T HE AU T HOR v iii
ACK NOWL EDGMEN T S i x
IN T RODUC T ION x i
Let’s Get Acquainted
Who Mrs. Mimi Is and Why You Need This Book
Who Is Mrs. Mimi, Anyway? xiv
How This Book Can Help You Reclaim Your Classroom Happiness xvi Organization of the Book xvii
CH AP T ER 1 1
Let’s Get Real
What Makes Teaching Difficult
It’s Time to Get Down and Dirty 3
The Times Are Changing: Let’s Change With Them! 8
CH AP T ER 2 10
Let’s Get Deep
Embrace Your Teaching Philosophy
My Philosophy: Classrooms Should Be Spaces Characterized by Caring Relationships 12
My Philosophy: Classrooms Should Be Places Where Anything Is Possible and Independent Choice Empowers 21
My Philosophy: Teachers Should Model and Embrace Critically Reflective Practices 24
My Philosophy: Emphasize the Joy of Reading and Learning 27 Letting Your Philosophy Be Your Guide 29
CH AP T ER 3 30
Let’s Get Physical
Creating Classroom Environments That Promote Reading,
Independence for Students, and Personal Zen for You
Organizing the Classroom Library 32Organizing the Rest: Creating a Classroom Space That Celebrates You and Your Students 41
Organizing the Instructional Time You Spend in Your Space 45
Putting It All Together: Establishing Clear Routines 50
Organization Is a Beautiful Thing 54
CH AP T ER 4 55
Let’s Get Analytical
How to Approach and Survive Reading Assessment
How I Reshaped My Own Approach to Assessments 58Focusing Your Energy on the Assessments That Do Help Shape Your Practice 60
Being Transparent With Students About Purpose: It’s All in the Delivery 61
Assessing Yourself to a Happier You: Using Meaningful Assessments to Feel Successful and Optimistic 63
Avoiding the Shame Spiral That Is Incessant Test Prep 64
Integrating Useful Formal Reading Assessments 67
Combining Formal Assessments With Informal Data 69
Taking the Temperature of the Room 71
If You’re Assessing and You Know It, Clap Your Hands! 72
CH AP T ER 5 73
Let’s Get Together
How to Collaborate With Colleagues
Recognizing Super and Not-So-Super Colleagues 74How to Stay Fabulous When Working With the Good, the Bad, and the Rest 75
CH AP T ER 6 86
Let’s Get in the Zone
Improving Your Teacher Stamina During the Literacy
Block Marathon
Let Them Read! Hang on to Your Core Beliefs About Best Practices 88 The Moving Parts: What Exactly Are We Trying to Accomplish? 90 It’s All About Balance 106
CH AP T ER 7 109
Let’s Get Fabulous
Why We Need to Take Back Control Over Our Teaching
Let Your Reading Life Be Your Guide 110 It Is Time to Be Fabulous 113
R EFER ENCE S 118
Children’s Literature Cited 121 Suggested Readings 121
viii
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Scoggin, creator of the character Mrs. Mimi,
began blogging about her experiences in the classroom in 2007. Select essays from her blog, It’s Not All Flowers and Sausages (itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com), were turned into a book of essays called It’s Not All Flowers and Sausages: My Adventures in Second Grade (Kaplan, 2009). Jennifer also writes for the International Reading Association’s Reading Today Online blog (www.reading.org/reading-today/classroom/mrs-mimi#.U6niFPldVQF). Writing as Mrs. Mimi and connecting to teachers from around the world in such a unique manner has been one of the most unexpected joys of Jennifer’s career as an educator.
Jennifer is currently a literacy consultant for LitLife as well as the director of the Connecticut branch of the company. Prior to working for LitLife, she taught both first and second grades in Harlem. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Jennifer lives with her husband and two fabulous children in
Connecticut. When she’s not reading or thinking about reading, Jennifer enjoys even more reading!
ix
ACKNOWLEDGMENT S
F
irst and foremost, I want to thank every teacher out there. Yes, that’s right, all of you. I know that it doesn’t always feel as if people understand just how hard you work and just how much you care; please know that I do. I know how fabulous you are, and I can see the fabulous you that you are on your way to becoming.I also need to thank each and every super colleague in my life. Virtual hugs! My nearest and dearest super colleagues are not only some of my favorite people in the world but also some of the most hardworking, inspiring, and, well, fabulous teachers you will ever see in action. Children are lucky to encounter these men and women during their educational careers.
Of course, I send a special shout-out to the teachers who have read and supported Mrs. Mimi all of these years. Thank you for sticking with me through two children (and my subsequent blog absence) and all the ups and downs that come along with teaching. Writing as Mrs. Mimi has been one of the most surprising and wonderful parts of my life, and that is because of you. I can’t thank you enough for allowing her to grow into a huge part of who I am.
To all of my colleagues at LitLife, I never imagined that I would be lucky enough to work with such a talented, dedicated, and supportive group of people. I wish we were all in one room more often! Thank you for helping me find a path to being the educator I need and want to be at this point in my life.
And I can’t forget my peeps at the International Reading Association! Lara Zeises Deloza, our deeply nerdy and wonderful virtual friendship has been such a lovely bonus in the midst of this collaboration. Thank you so much for supporting Mrs. Mimi and believing in what she has to say. I am still blown away when I think of the opportunities that you have thrown my way. Tori Bachman, Christina Lambert, Stacey Reid, Shannon Fortner, and Susanne Viscarra, thank you so much for your dedication, support, and input on this project. This work is definitely more fabulous because of you, your time, and your fabulous brains.
Last but not least, I need to send some special love to a few very important people. Mr. Granger, I wish you were here to see this. Thank
x
you for giving me the opportunity to have this lovely life. Mom and Fred, thank you for supporting me in everything I do, even when it’s too much for one person to handle. I feel so lucky that you are my parents. Nathan (the infamous Mr. Mimi), what can I say? Thank you for letting me be who I am as well as supporting who I am not yet, even when I cry about never having enough time. I love you. Lily and Charlie, my little loves, you are the joys of my life. I love you and love you and know that you are both going to be the most fabulous people. You already are to me.
