I know a lot of school have creative ways to celebrate the positive behaviors they want students showing on a daily basis. This school year, our student council and their sponsor, Ms. Franklin, launched plans to award a Class Cup to the grade of students who show the most participation in good deeds and school […]
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Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Apple Cinnamon Granola
Apple Cinnamon Granola is brimming with the delicious flavors of fall. Serve it up parfait-style with yogurt and fresh apples, or munch on it by the handful.
Elle is just starting to get into breakfast these days and I’m super excited about it. She typically gravitates towards a fruit and grain pouch and half a banana, but lately she’s stepping outside her breakfast box and asking for things like mini pancakes, egg in a hole, and even toast with honey – just like Peppa Pig.
One day she’ll be in love with those mini pancakes and the next she’ll proclaim, “Blech, I don’t like these, Mommy!” If you have a toddler, ya feel me, right?
The post Apple Cinnamon Granola appeared first on My Baking Addiction.
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Would you read what your students write if you weren’t paid to do so?
Lots of questions in this post…and this is definitely a post that I am writing to understand my learning, not necessarily share it. I would love to know what you think.
Teacher-extraordinaire, Kelli Holden, shared this video of her former student Maddisyn reading to Kelli’s current class. Maddisyn was sharing about an experience she had four years ago where she blogged on PSD70’s 184 Days of Learning Project, and the author of the book that she wrote on, Peter Reynolds, actually commented to her. It was a big moment for her at the time, and she wanted to share her experience with Kelli’s current class.
As I watched her video, two things really stuck out to me. The first was that the students she was talking to were almost nonchalant about the opportunity to speak to authors of books, since this is something that is becoming more of a norm than an exception (in some classrooms). The access is there but are we as educators willing to embrace it?
The other thing that stood out to me was when Maddisyn said the following:
“It was a really big deal for me…because most creative writing you do in grade 2 and grade 4ish, doesn’t really get out there, doesn’t really make a difference.”
This is a very powerful statement from Maddisyn (and you can see how much her time with Kelli still resonates with her) but I am going to rewind back to a conversation I had earlier in the week with an educator.
As I was working with high school teachers, I asked an english teacher the following question:
“Would you read what your students write if you weren’t paid to do so?”
She kind of laughed and nodded “no”, but is this not true in many situations? I have heard many teachers talk about their lack of excitement to read the essays of their students on the weekend, but I can’t think of one time that I have heard the opposite.
This is not saying that students are poor writers, but do we actually encourage them to write in a way that is compelling to read? When Maddisyn was sharing her experience, she understands her work is going out to the world, and even at the grade 4 level, she wants people to read it. Do we teach students to write in compelling ways that someone would actually want to read what they write, or do we teach them to write in a way that we can say we have simply taught to the curriculum?
An argument I have heard often is that we need to prepare students to write at the post-secondary level, but is this enough? The way that many people write at the post-secondary level is also unappealing to many, not because of the ability of the person writing, but because of the expectations of the system. If we are only prepare students to write at the post-secondary level, are we ignoring many of the opportunities that students have to be creators online, not simply consumers?
I love this quote attributed to Rushton Hurley:
Is “good enough” our standard or are we reaching for something much deeper and much more profound?
Yes…there are definitely structural elements to writing that are crucial to teach, but there is also an emotional appeal that is necessary for writing that resonates. Do we feel something when we read what has been written? Does the writing resonate after we are finished reading it?
I’ve had experience teaching english several years ago, and so much has changed since then. Is the type of writing that I am speaking of taught by many teachers, or is it the exception? How often does a student write something in school that catches momentum outside of education circles? Is this one of the goals of work in today’s education systems?
If it isn’t, should it be?
Would love to know your thoughts as I am still trying to work mine out.
Source: George Couros
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Would you read what your students write if you weren’t paid to do so?
Lots of questions in this post…and this is definitely a post that I am writing to understand my learning, not necessarily share it. I would love to know what you think.
Teacher-extraordinaire, Kelli Holden, shared this video of her former student Maddisyn reading to Kelli’s current class. Maddisyn was sharing about an experience she had four years ago where she blogged on PSD70’s 184 Days of Learning Project, and the author of the book that she wrote on, Peter Reynolds, actually commented to her. It was a big moment for her at the time, and she wanted to share her experience with Kelli’s current class.
As I watched her video, two things really stuck out to me. The first was that the students she was talking to were almost nonchalant about the opportunity to speak to authors of books, since this is something that is becoming more of a norm than an exception (in some classrooms). The access is there but are we as educators willing to embrace it?
The other thing that stood out to me was when Maddisyn said the following:
“It was a really big deal for me…because most creative writing you do in grade 2 and grade 4ish, doesn’t really get out there, doesn’t really make a difference.”
This is a very powerful statement from Maddisyn (and you can see how much her time with Kelli still resonates with her) but I am going to rewind back to a conversation I had earlier in the week with an educator.
As I was working with high school teachers, I asked an english teacher the following question:
“Would you read what your students write if you weren’t paid to do so?”
She kind of laughed and nodded “no”, but is this not true in many situations? I have heard many teachers talk about their lack of excitement to read the essays of their students on the weekend, but I can’t think of one time that I have heard the opposite.
This is not saying that students are poor writers, but do we actually encourage them to write in a way that is compelling to read? When Maddisyn was sharing her experience, she understands her work is going out to the world, and even at the grade 4 level, she wants people to read it. Do we teach students to write in compelling ways that someone would actually want to read what they write, or do we teach them to write in a way that we can say we have simply taught to the curriculum?
An argument I have heard often is that we need to prepare students to write at the post-secondary level, but is this enough? The way that many people write at the post-secondary level is also unappealing to many, not because of the ability of the person writing, but because of the expectations of the system. If we are only prepare students to write at the post-secondary level, are we ignoring many of the opportunities that students have to be creators online, not simply consumers?
I love this quote attributed to Rushton Hurley:
Is “good enough” our standard or are we reaching for something much deeper and much more profound?
Yes…there are definitely structural elements to writing that are crucial to teach, but there is also an emotional appeal that is necessary for writing that resonates. Do we feel something when we read what has been written? Does the writing resonate after we are finished reading it?
I’ve had experience teaching english several years ago, and so much has changed since then. Is the type of writing that I am speaking of taught by many teachers, or is it the exception? How often does a student write something in school that catches momentum outside of education circles? Is this one of the goals of work in today’s education systems?
If it isn’t, should it be?
Would love to know your thoughts as I am still trying to work mine out.
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Sunday, September 25, 2016
No Shortage of Road
I used to be a pretty good runner, in what seems like forever a go. I used to run marathons and would wake up every morning with my shorts and socks on (literally), so I could just brush my teeth, put on my shoes, and take off. I was good at it because I would run a lot. I would not just crave and look forward to the races, but I loved the training.
Not so much anymore.
I don’t love it. I am trying to, but I am out of shape and it is hard to love something you are not good at. Instead of having my shorts on and being ready to go, I avoid it in the morning as much as I can. I know it is going to be painful. That being said, I still run. I still go through the grind.
One of the hardest parts of running now is getting passed on a path. Over and over again. Every time someone passes me, it is kind of deflating.
Yet this morning when I was on a run, and one person after another passed me (I stopped counting at 40), I realized something. I only see the people who are faster than me. The people who are behind me, I won’t see (today). It is easy to focus on those who are ahead of you, but you tend to lose sight that you even being in the race, probably means you are still ahead of others. Even if you are in a race, and are in dead last place, remember this:
Having been a pretty good runner before, I know the work it takes for someone to be really good at running. When I used to run marathons and people would ask me, “How can you run a marathon?!?!? It seems so hard.” What I would always tell them is, “The marathon is easy…it’s the training is hard.”
What I loved about running before was the community…Although there were some who cared only about their running (which is fine because they may have a different purpose for why they do it), there were so many others who cared about one another. People would both push and support. The people ahead of you might drive and push you to get better, but the people still trying to get to where you are at, you would support. There is never a shortage of road.
Probably one of the reasons I still run, is that I know there is so much I learn from the process. I can continue to focus on those that are ahead of me and become deflated, or I can continue to work hard to be better at what I do.
As my friend Dwight Carter often says:
“Make it a great day…or not. The choice is yours. #BeGreat“
Every day I get up for a run, is a choice that I am making that is making an impact on not only today, but tomorrow and moving forward. Just something I wanted to remind myself.
Source: George Couros
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No Shortage of Road
I used to be a pretty good runner, in what seems like forever a go. I used to run marathons and would wake up every morning with my shorts and socks on (literally), so I could just brush my teeth, put on my shoes, and take off. I was good at it because I would run a lot. I would not just crave and look forward to the races, but I loved the training.
Not so much anymore.
I don’t love it. I am trying to, but I am out of shape and it is hard to love something you are not good at. Instead of having my shorts on and being ready to go, I avoid it in the morning as much as I can. I know it is going to be painful. That being said, I still run. I still go through the grind.
One of the hardest parts of running now is getting passed on a path. Over and over again. Every time someone passes me, it is kind of deflating.
Yet this morning when I was on a run, and one person after another passed me (I stopped counting at 40), I realized something. I only see the people who are faster than me. The people who are behind me, I won’t see (today). It is easy to focus on those who are ahead of you, but you tend to lose sight that you even being in the race, probably means you are still ahead of others. Even if you are in a race, and are in dead last place, remember this:
Having been a pretty good runner before, I know the work it takes for someone to be really good at running. When I used to run marathons and people would ask me, “How can you run a marathon?!?!? It seems so hard.” What I would always tell them is, “The marathon is easy…it’s the training is hard.”
What I loved about running before was the community…Although there were some who cared only about their running (which is fine because they may have a different purpose for why they do it), there were so many others who cared about one another. People would both push and support. The people ahead of you might drive and push you to get better, but the people still trying to get to where you are at, you would support. There is never a shortage of road.
Probably one of the reasons I still run, is that I know there is so much I learn from the process. I can continue to focus on those that are ahead of me and become deflated, or I can continue to work hard to be better at what I do.
As my friend Dwight Carter often says:
“Make it a great day…or not. The choice is yours. #BeGreat“
Every day I get up for a run, is a choice that I am making that is making an impact on not only today, but tomorrow and moving forward. Just something I wanted to remind myself.
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Never Underestimate Your Influence
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Sometimes when I reflect back to my nine years teaching English and social studies, I feel a little sad for the experience I provided my students. The same goes for my coaching. I was named our high school's head basketball coach at 25-years-old, just two years out of college. When I think back now to some of the things I did, or didn't do, it makes me want to drop my head.
Even at the time, I often struggled with my confidence that I was doing a good job, especially in the first few years. I think I felt a little on edge nearly all the time. I was often stressed, but I really didn't talk much about it with anyone, not even with my wife, Lori. Sometime I even felt trapped. "Maybe I'm not cut out for this," I thought, but I didn't know what else I would do either.
Things really started to change for the better when I went back to get my Master's degree. I didn't really want to be a principal at that time. I figured you needed to have teaching figured out to do that. But I knew I needed to do something different. The graduate classes helped me see things from a different perspective, and the connections I made provided support for my growth.
Even though I improved during those teaching years, I sometimes wish I could start over and know what I know now. I would do so many things differently. My classroom would be a completely different place. My coaching would have a different focus. I think I would enjoy the journey a whole lot more.
In just the past couple of weeks, I've had different connections with several of my former students. We live about an hour away, so that doesn't normally happen too often.
A former player was visiting our church with her family. Her husband's family lives in Bolivar. It was great to see her just for a few minutes.
Then I saw a former student at a restaurant where he was working. He's a manager there. I honestly didn't remember him. But we chatted for a few minutes. He shared a little about his family and said he really enjoyed my class. That meant a lot.
Another former student is now an English teacher in the same school where I taught. She returned to her home school after graduating. She was extremely bright and conscientious. I'm sure she must be an outstanding teacher. She messaged me through Facebook, because she came across one of my quotes that Edutopia had posted. I was happy she reached out to me.
And then last night, one of my favorite former players, who is now the head football coach at Southwest Baptist University, here in Bolivar, led his team to a thrilling comeback win. The Bearcats are now 3-0. I can't even express how much I enjoy seeing him be successful. I messaged him to congratulate him. He still calls me coach when I see him, which is about the greatest thing ever.
SBU Football Takes Down Defending GLVC Champion Indianapolis 41-37 https://t.co/wa6WOw25tF— SBU Athletics (@sbubearcats) September 18, 2016
I have to remind myself that during those early years, just like now, I was doing the best I could with the information I had at the time. And when I see my former students doing well, it makes me feel very proud. And not because I was a huge influence in their lives. Like I said before, I think I would be so much more if I could do it again. But I still feel that connection. I'm proud of them and thankful that I had the privilege of working with each and every student.
Yesterday, we held our Bolivar HS Alumni Hall of Fame induction luncheon. There were three honorees this year. As they told their stories about their school years, it was obvious the gratitude they had for their school and the teachers who worked with them. These individuals are incredibly successful in their careers and very active in their communities.
As I listened, I got a little choked up myself. I thought of the impact that teachers have on the lives of kids and the influence my teachers had on me. It's the greatest profession in the world. I thought of how I wish every teacher could hear his words as he thanked his teachers with such sincerity. It was such a reminder about the value of relationships.
It was also a reminder of the incredible impact you have on the lives of your students. Even if you feel you don't measure up, or maybe this isn't for you, always remember your legacy is not about doing everything perfectly. It's not about having it all figured out. Just be the best version of you. Show up well each day and try your best. Keep growing and learning. Invest in the lives of your students. And never underestimate your influence.
Questions: How do you look back at your teaching legacy so far? Are you too hard on yourself? How can you do your best today to invest in students? Please leave a comment below or respond on Facebook or Twitter.
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