Changing the Ending

If you are like most people, you have watched quite a few movies in your life time.  Which genre do you enjoy most? Action movies like Twister?  Adventure movies like Apollo 13?  Comedies like Animal House or Cleveland Browns highlight films? Horror movies like Nightmare on Elm Street or Cleveland Browns lowlight films?  Sci-Fi’s like Back to the Future?  Love stories like The Way We Were?  That last movie genre usually is accompanied by a box of tissues… or so I have heard since I enjoy this genre about as much as foot fungus. Some movies take an unexpected turn and we just don’t see it coming.  Others are about as predictable as my snoring through yet another viewing of Sleepless in Seattle. Ironically, watching this has never made me sleepless. Did you ever watch a movie, get totally engrossed in it, waited for the ending that was sure to happen and then…bang…the ending just stinks? You feel let down because you have invested two plus hours in this film, perhaps ordered popcorn and a soda (which you financed for 36 months) and you were hoping for something a little better than the ending that was shown.  It may have been so bad that you considered asking for a refund.   Those are the ones that if you were the director, well, it would have a better ending. However, since none of us were the directors of these films, simply complete this task: in your opinion, what movie had the worst ending ever?  

Our school year will have an ending.  Unlike watching a movie on the big screen or at home, you have total direction as to how it ends.  We have completed nearly three-quarters of the school year.  You know your kids. We recently completed the first round of the ISTEP.  Now we are preparing for the second round, a round in which ALL students will be assessed via the computer.  Did you ever pray for technology?  How do you want this movie called “The 12-13 School Year” to end?  It really is up to you.   You have the director’s chair. Your students will conclude our most high-stakes testing in late April and early May.  Our school will receive a letter grade based on student achievement and student growth.  Your will receive a rating that is “significantly informed” by the achievement and growth scores of the kids under your tutelage.  So, we can focus on that long-term goal and devise a bunch of daily goals to see the big one through…or we can just take it for chance that all is well and “it is what it is.”  I hate that phrase because it implies that outside forces cannot change what is “written in stone.” (do you know where that phrase comes from?)  We can direct the ending of this school year.  Stay true to the plan.  Believe that you can make a difference every single day.  Keep your foot on the pedal, but hit the brakes every once in a while.  Keep the kids focused toward their individual goals.  Do not let your guard down because that can change the desired ending.  Yes, you are the one and only director as to how this year ends for your students.  Rehearse the scenes and watch what happens.  You want to leave this year quite content with the ending.