Day 80:
A professor I had while I was going through my credential program shared a story with the class once that demonstrated an ingenuity I hoped I could one day emulate.
I think that day is coming.
I'll share his story before I share mine...
[This quote may not be verbatim, but the words are as my mind recalls them]
There was this one kid one year, a real gang-banger type. I sensed he knew that there was more to life than the chosen route of his older male 'role models'; he was a bright kid too. And one day he came up to me and said, "Mr. Downing, I want to learn this stuff, but I can't. If the others find out I'm studying and stuff, then, well, they just can't know."
So I made an arrangement with him. Every couple of days I'd get visibly upset with him in class and issue him an afterschool detention. And every couple of days, when he came in to serve his detention, we'd spend the hour studying together."
I still remember how bad-ass a plan I thought that was when I first heard it - it still is.
I have a student this year that I think sort of fits that mold.
He's not only bright, but he does his work too. In fact, not too long ago he came up after class to let me know that I made a mistake. All huffy-like he tells me, "You gave me a zero on something I know I turned in." (turned out he hadn't put his name on it, but once he found it in the No Name Folder, it was 'all good'.)
Anyways, this kid is not a gang-banger. But I peg this kid like Dr. Downing's boy because everyday he misbehaves. It doesn't seem to matter where I put his seat either. I've tried in the front, in front of my desk, all alone without a table partner in the back, it doesn't matter, this kid finds and or makes trouble everywhere he sits. And I don't mean the kind of trouble where he occasionally talks out of turn, I mean he misbehaves so that other teachers send him outside for a timeout, or to the Dean's Office.
But today I think I figured him out.
I think that at some point early on in his schooling he established a reputation of being the tough-guy-slash-class-clown (and I don't recall having those types when I was in school - you were one or the other, but there was no such thing as both). And it doesn't matter that he is bright, or that he cares enough about his grades that he actually does his work; this guy sees himself as this persona and he's sticking to it.
So here's why I think my day of throwing down a bitchin plan is on the horizon.
I think that unlike Downing's student, my student doesn't see what he's doing to himself. I think that as bright as he is, my kid has no clue that his schtick is stickin it to him. Therefore, come Monday I'm gonna sit this kid down, for the seemingly umpteenth time, and lay it ALL out for him.
Which means one of two things will happen.
Either he'll listen, process, and adjust. Or he will no longer be in my class. Because frankly, his behavior decisions are dragging down his classmates, and I won't stand for it any more.
It's just not fair to them.
In my book, this kid has one more shot. And in all reality, whether he takes it or leaves it probably has a lot to do with how I'll present it.
Today I learned that I want to prove that when 'they' say there are some kids we just can't help, they're wrong.
Today I learned that people, even this kid, deserve one last chance.
Today I learned that I have a lot of planning to do over the weekend.
Today I learned that this planning had better generate a pretty bad-ass plan.
1.28.2010
Power or Profit?
Day 79
Tonight I watched an interesting video clip of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight via Hulu. The guest was an author of a book where he asserts that America's pharmaceutical companies are 'helping' its mother land to distribute a mindset that claims metnal illness is real, and it ought to be viewed and treated our way. Take a look...
Although I appreciate Stewart's quip about America needing to have something left to export, I'm saddend by the possible 'truthiness' found in this book.
Has America really turned down this road when it comes to cultural exchange? I thought we were the land of Rock n Roll, of Mickey Mouse, of McDonalds - and now we're hawking our perspective on pills in the name of global mental health? really?
When it comes to my sharing this, I'm not entirely sure what I've learned from it.
I will say that it makes me wonder if there's anything I do or stand for that makes others wonder, "Really? That's where your motivation comes from?"
Perahps I learned today that one's heart (or in this case a country's motives) need not necessarily be displayed on the sleeve, but instead it very well may be secretly tucked away in the pocket - next to the change purse.
Tonight I watched an interesting video clip of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight via Hulu. The guest was an author of a book where he asserts that America's pharmaceutical companies are 'helping' its mother land to distribute a mindset that claims metnal illness is real, and it ought to be viewed and treated our way. Take a look...
Although I appreciate Stewart's quip about America needing to have something left to export, I'm saddend by the possible 'truthiness' found in this book.
Has America really turned down this road when it comes to cultural exchange? I thought we were the land of Rock n Roll, of Mickey Mouse, of McDonalds - and now we're hawking our perspective on pills in the name of global mental health? really?
When it comes to my sharing this, I'm not entirely sure what I've learned from it.
I will say that it makes me wonder if there's anything I do or stand for that makes others wonder, "Really? That's where your motivation comes from?"
Perahps I learned today that one's heart (or in this case a country's motives) need not necessarily be displayed on the sleeve, but instead it very well may be secretly tucked away in the pocket - next to the change purse.
1.27.2010
Daily Donor
For the past week or so the school I teach at has been running a couple of collection programs for various charities.
One is being run through the restaurant chain Olive Garden to help its effort in funding cancer research called Pennies and Pasta for Patients, or something like that. The other is our school's effort to raise money to aid the work of The Red Cross for Haiti.
The collections are being handled through homerooms.
Each day a student comes over the PA during morning announcements to remind us of these charity efforts.
And each day I am amazed by the dedication and thoughtfulness of one of my homeroom girls because before the tardy bell rings, before the announcements even begin, she is up at the front of the room making her daily deposit of coins and cash.
I do not know the amount she has contributed to either of these causes, I doubt that it's been very much, but either way I have become so impressed by her constant consideration.
To watch her during these 30 seconds each morning is to see thoughtfullness is its most pure form.
This student knows nothing of her benefactors; she will never see the power of her 'purchase'. And yet there she is, each morning, giving what could easily remain hers to someone else.
Today I learned what blind generosity looks like.
One is being run through the restaurant chain Olive Garden to help its effort in funding cancer research called Pennies and Pasta for Patients, or something like that. The other is our school's effort to raise money to aid the work of The Red Cross for Haiti.
The collections are being handled through homerooms.
Each day a student comes over the PA during morning announcements to remind us of these charity efforts.
And each day I am amazed by the dedication and thoughtfulness of one of my homeroom girls because before the tardy bell rings, before the announcements even begin, she is up at the front of the room making her daily deposit of coins and cash.
I do not know the amount she has contributed to either of these causes, I doubt that it's been very much, but either way I have become so impressed by her constant consideration.
To watch her during these 30 seconds each morning is to see thoughtfullness is its most pure form.
This student knows nothing of her benefactors; she will never see the power of her 'purchase'. And yet there she is, each morning, giving what could easily remain hers to someone else.
Today I learned what blind generosity looks like.
1.26.2010
Tearing down walls
Day 77
The Mrs. and I are refacing the fireplace in our living room. And when I tell people that we're doing it what I really mean is her dad, whose a professional at this stuff, is helping us because when it comes to my being handy at home improvement projects, well, let's just say the tool I use best is my ATM card (and if I may say so, I did a real good job at using that tool to place the order for the material we're using to replace the slate slabs).
But really, I am charged with removing the slate and repairing any drywall that had to be sacrificed, which is where today's lesson comes in.
The area of the wall needing to be repaired, and ultimately replaced, was originally nine inches wide and just under 53 inches long. But in order for the final product to be acceptable, to look clean and as though there were never a 'hole', I had to cut in to it and make the area 18 inches wide so that the added drywall could be fastened to a stud, to the support beam.
From nine to 18 - double.
While I was in the garage cutting the drywall that I would soon be hanging I got to thinking about how life sometimes requries the very demolition that I had just completed.
I have found that sometimes there are situations in life that cannot be repaired without some demolition first. That sometimes in order to make things new again we need to tear down and cut back, we need to find that foundational piece and rebuild.
In light of the funky start to my 2010, to my new year, I am beginning to suspect that over the past year or so I may have built some walls, metaphorically speaking, that might need to come down.
Today I learned that I probably need to poke some holes and take a peek.
Today I learned that if what I might see on the inside isn't as presentable as what's on the outside, then perhaps it's time to demo, and then do some rebuilding...
The Mrs. and I are refacing the fireplace in our living room. And when I tell people that we're doing it what I really mean is her dad, whose a professional at this stuff, is helping us because when it comes to my being handy at home improvement projects, well, let's just say the tool I use best is my ATM card (and if I may say so, I did a real good job at using that tool to place the order for the material we're using to replace the slate slabs).
But really, I am charged with removing the slate and repairing any drywall that had to be sacrificed, which is where today's lesson comes in.
The area of the wall needing to be repaired, and ultimately replaced, was originally nine inches wide and just under 53 inches long. But in order for the final product to be acceptable, to look clean and as though there were never a 'hole', I had to cut in to it and make the area 18 inches wide so that the added drywall could be fastened to a stud, to the support beam.
From nine to 18 - double.
While I was in the garage cutting the drywall that I would soon be hanging I got to thinking about how life sometimes requries the very demolition that I had just completed.
I have found that sometimes there are situations in life that cannot be repaired without some demolition first. That sometimes in order to make things new again we need to tear down and cut back, we need to find that foundational piece and rebuild.
In light of the funky start to my 2010, to my new year, I am beginning to suspect that over the past year or so I may have built some walls, metaphorically speaking, that might need to come down.
Today I learned that I probably need to poke some holes and take a peek.
Today I learned that if what I might see on the inside isn't as presentable as what's on the outside, then perhaps it's time to demo, and then do some rebuilding...
1.25.2010
A kick in the behind
The Day known as 'Make-Up Work'
Have you ever felt like a morning didn't get off to the right start?
Yeah, me neither.
Seriously.
I don't think I view my days that way, but this I know for certain - 2010 has not begun as I hoped it would.
Do not misunderstand me; I have not had a bad beginning to this new year, it's just that I don't think I've started it yet.
Which is to say, I am way behind.
This sensation stems in large part from the reality that today should consist of an entry from day 76. Instead, it's technically only day 67 - how's that for numerical irony?!
During Winter Break the Mrs. asked if it felt weird to not be posting lessons learned. It did. And yet, for some reason, I had a difficult time getting back on track.
I originally told myself the excuse that our newly purchased computer was not yet outfitted with Microsoft Office - and how could I first write out my lessons on anything other than Word? But then we got Office (a program I've yet to install), so that excuse quickly became nullified. And then, well, I generated a number of excuses that truly lived up to their legacy of lame.
But I'm not just behind in posting the lessons.
I am seemingly behind in everything.
For example, over break I fell behind in grading some student projects. Presently I am what I consider to be significantly behind in updating my gradebook. I'm behind in rolling out a new classroom feature that I introduced called Standout Student. I'm also behind in home-related paperwork. I'm behind in some shows I regularly watch and am especially behind in a few blogs I follow. Furthermore, I'm further behind than I thought I'd get on a remodeling project (we're re-facing our fireplace, just an FYI - like you really wanted/needed to know that).
The point is, 2010 fooled me into thinking that from day one it would be a tremendous year. But in all reality, the only thing tremendous is how tremendously behind I've become.
Enough already - get to the point, get to the lessons.
During the last ten school days the lessons have been bountiful. I don't know if it makes sense to go back and share them, as much as it does to just move on from now.
But what of the 180 Days of learning?
Who knows, maybe I'll infuse them into the forthcoming posts....or maybe this project will run ten days into the summer.
Thankfully this decision need not be made now. For now, I will just share today's lesson.
This evening I went to a coffee shop down the street to grade some projects (different from the ones that buried me over the break - those were turned in before break and they're all done; these were only turned in last week. Why am I felling like I need to explain myself? It's like this falling behind thing has given me some sort of complex.). Most of the students put their names on the back of this one-page assignment, which I like because it allows me to evaluate the work without any influence from who the worker is.
But as I would turn the assignment over to write the grade I noticed that I was accurately predicting whose work it was - I could almost always tell that this assignment was completed by 'Samuel', that it was created by 'Samantha'.
Today I learned that when we produce work we leave behind a portion of ourselves.
Today I learned that who we are, at least in part, can be found in the work that we do.
I hope that the work I do speaks of kindness
I hope it speaks of compassion.
I hope it speaks of thoughtfullness - to the task and of others.
What is your work saying about you?
And since much of today's reflection contained tales of time, here's a song that shares a story of something that is somewhat connected...particularly the part of me that chooses to make 3:55 and beyond my new now and to leave behind the recent past.
Have you ever felt like a morning didn't get off to the right start?
Yeah, me neither.
Seriously.
I don't think I view my days that way, but this I know for certain - 2010 has not begun as I hoped it would.
Do not misunderstand me; I have not had a bad beginning to this new year, it's just that I don't think I've started it yet.
Which is to say, I am way behind.
This sensation stems in large part from the reality that today should consist of an entry from day 76. Instead, it's technically only day 67 - how's that for numerical irony?!
During Winter Break the Mrs. asked if it felt weird to not be posting lessons learned. It did. And yet, for some reason, I had a difficult time getting back on track.
I originally told myself the excuse that our newly purchased computer was not yet outfitted with Microsoft Office - and how could I first write out my lessons on anything other than Word? But then we got Office (a program I've yet to install), so that excuse quickly became nullified. And then, well, I generated a number of excuses that truly lived up to their legacy of lame.
But I'm not just behind in posting the lessons.
I am seemingly behind in everything.
For example, over break I fell behind in grading some student projects. Presently I am what I consider to be significantly behind in updating my gradebook. I'm behind in rolling out a new classroom feature that I introduced called Standout Student. I'm also behind in home-related paperwork. I'm behind in some shows I regularly watch and am especially behind in a few blogs I follow. Furthermore, I'm further behind than I thought I'd get on a remodeling project (we're re-facing our fireplace, just an FYI - like you really wanted/needed to know that).
The point is, 2010 fooled me into thinking that from day one it would be a tremendous year. But in all reality, the only thing tremendous is how tremendously behind I've become.
Enough already - get to the point, get to the lessons.
During the last ten school days the lessons have been bountiful. I don't know if it makes sense to go back and share them, as much as it does to just move on from now.
But what of the 180 Days of learning?
Who knows, maybe I'll infuse them into the forthcoming posts....or maybe this project will run ten days into the summer.
Thankfully this decision need not be made now. For now, I will just share today's lesson.
This evening I went to a coffee shop down the street to grade some projects (different from the ones that buried me over the break - those were turned in before break and they're all done; these were only turned in last week. Why am I felling like I need to explain myself? It's like this falling behind thing has given me some sort of complex.). Most of the students put their names on the back of this one-page assignment, which I like because it allows me to evaluate the work without any influence from who the worker is.
But as I would turn the assignment over to write the grade I noticed that I was accurately predicting whose work it was - I could almost always tell that this assignment was completed by 'Samuel', that it was created by 'Samantha'.
Today I learned that when we produce work we leave behind a portion of ourselves.
Today I learned that who we are, at least in part, can be found in the work that we do.
I hope that the work I do speaks of kindness
I hope it speaks of compassion.
I hope it speaks of thoughtfullness - to the task and of others.
What is your work saying about you?
And since much of today's reflection contained tales of time, here's a song that shares a story of something that is somewhat connected...particularly the part of me that chooses to make 3:55 and beyond my new now and to leave behind the recent past.
1.20.2010
Somewhere between last year and tomorrow
This is not a normal post.
If it were unclear, in the event it were unnoticed, I have not submitted a normal post in some time.
This is not to say that I have not learned, simply that I have not posted.
Why?
A number a reasons, a number of lessons.
Beginning tomorrow I will resume the journey this lesson began, or perhaps it's more appropriately stated that I will once again join the lesson this journey began.
At the end of this road it may not read that I uploaded 180 posts, but this is certain, I will have shared 180 days worth of learning...
that you can count on.
When was the last time you counted your blessings?
Feliz Navidad mis amigos
If it were unclear, in the event it were unnoticed, I have not submitted a normal post in some time.
This is not to say that I have not learned, simply that I have not posted.
Why?
A number a reasons, a number of lessons.
Beginning tomorrow I will resume the journey this lesson began, or perhaps it's more appropriately stated that I will once again join the lesson this journey began.
At the end of this road it may not read that I uploaded 180 posts, but this is certain, I will have shared 180 days worth of learning...
that you can count on.
When was the last time you counted your blessings?
Feliz Navidad mis amigos
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