Your Last Letter

Next to the mural of Col. John Wheeler is a painting of the last letter that The Colonel wrote.  The date of the letter is July 2, 1863 and this letter, addressed to his wife and children, was written in a tent just outside of Gettysburgh at 4:00 a.m.  Take a moment to read this letter today.  It will move you.  If it does not, I suggest that you check your pulse.  The letter details how difficult the battle in Pennsylvania will be and the struggles that will occur based on early reconnisance. There are two lines that have been highlighted by the artist, Marion Kellum, that will tug at your heart strings.  The Colonel writes:  “It may be the last letter to you. If so, believe that my last prayer for you is that God may help you all.”  Col. John Wheeler, the namesake of our school, was killed that very day on the battlefield.  The uniform that he wore that day is displayed in our display case.  His words were prophetic. 

Here’s my question for you to ponder – if this was going to be your last day, would it change the way you did things or, for that matter, what you did?  I don’t mean your last day on earth.  I mean your last day of teaching.  Think about that.  What would your last day look like?  Over time, you hear people talk that on their last day, they will show up in flip flops and beach wear and tell their boss to plant one on their gluteus and then show them exactly where that is located.  If you have those thoughts, let me say no thanks.  But, as you look at those faces in your classroom, what would be your parting words?  Would you spend the day teaching the most essential things about your subject area?  Would you prioritize just what was most important?  Would you put together a plan that would have a lasting effect?  Would you bring your absolute A-Game?  Would you teach like your hair was on fire?  Would you firmly implant that student-teacher relationship?  Would you create a great memory for your students?  Those may be your thoughts on your “planned last day.”  Here’s the truth – largely, we don’t know when that day will be.  No of us are guaranteed the next five minutes.  I know this from a personal experience on September 8, 2009.  Here’s the deal – work hard each day to do all of the above in your classrooms.  Teach the essential understandings in your classroom. Prioritize what those are.  Use the data you receive to better inform your instruction and what needs to be adjusted.  Create memories each day for kids that have create both academic retention and transfer.  Teach your rear off.  Make the most of every opportunity because you never know when that opportunity is your last one. 

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The Browns play in “The Battle of Ohio” this weekend on the shores of Lake Erie against the Cincinnati Bengals.  Either way, a team with orange in their team colors is going to win…let that be the team up North!

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Tomorrow night, Mary and I are going to see Earth, Wind, and Fire at the Chicago Theater.  For you younger folks, this is not a date to observe planets, measure temperature variances in the atmosphere, or to learn about combustion.  Earth, Wind, and Fire, sometimes referred to as “The Mighty Elements” by some die-hard fans is a music group that began in 1969 with an interesting mix of pop, jazz, funk, disco, R & B, soul, and rock. They play a little something for everybody.  This is not going to be a dull show.  Their combination of music is a rarity and sure beats the lounge singer at the Holiday Inn. (For those of you not getting that reference, please refer to a character that Bill Murray played on Saturday Night Live)  Earth, Wind, and Fire have won six Grammy Awards with hits such as September, Shining Star (Mary’s favorite), Getaway, After the Love is Gone, and yes, Boogie Wonderland.  My beautiful Mrs. is a big fan of Earth, Wind, and Fire.  I am going because I am a big fan of her. This group plays so many different genres of music that everyone finds some relevance. Everyone’s musical needs are met.  Earth, Wind, and Fire is a group that truly differentiates their music.

How about you?  What do you do about differentiating instruction in your room to meet the needs of your students?  Do all of the kids find relevance in your lessons?  Find those high-yield strategies that you have been exposed to on Wednesday mornings. Stay away from strategies that do not provide a high yield.  Use methods that havehigh effect sizes.  Present several learning options. Match tasks with interests and learning preferences.  Get to know your kids.  Get to know your kids. Get to know your kids.  Make developing a rapport with your students a high priority.  Plan to make this happen.  Use a variety of assessment strategies.  Balance teacher-assigned and student-selected projects.  Remember that kids learn best when they make connections between the curriculum and their own interests and experiences. If there is no connection, that’s on us as educators. Be a teacher that differentiates their instruction. Have an interesting mix.  Be an “Earth, Wind, and Fire Teacher”.  Perhaps you will produce several shining stars.

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The Browns play the Minnesota Vikings up North this Sunday.  We’re 0-2, they were just beaten in the last 10 seconds by the Bears and are fired up, they are at home, Adrian Peterson is a beast…looks like the perfect storm…then, we trade perhaps our best player yesterday for future draft picks and decide to start our 3^rd strong quarterback – we are perhaps at the threshold of Hades… nonetheless, I will watch, hope, and do it again the next week.

From Your Pet's Perception

Both of our daughters have brought cats home to live with us without speaking to Dad first. Their theory is that it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission.  “BB” (named after BB King) was in our house a week before I even knew it; demonstrating my attention to detail in our home.  Uzi showed up as a team effort between Amanda andMary.  He is not named after a weapon, but rather a character from the Bible meaning a “strong and brave leader”.  Funny, he is neither strong, a leader, and is perhaps the biggest wuss I have ever seen.  Ellie made it up to Da Region from Terre Haute where Annie rescued her on a cold and rainy night at her apartment door.  All of my girls, including the one I married, are totally in love with their felines. I enjoy them as much as I do hair loss.   I am sure that from the perspective of the cats, that the girls walk on water and they love them unconditionally.  They do not feel the same about me…let’s just say that we tolerate each other…sort of.  Anyway, think about your own pet for a moment.  Does your pet greet you at the door when you get home with their tail wagging?  Do they love you unconditionally?  Do they slobber all over you?  Do they forgive you quickly after they have been disciplined for various transgressions in your home? That’s their perception… go deeper – are you the person your pet thinks you are? 

We can fool our pets.  We can’t fool our kids.  They have perceptions about all of us.  Some are way off, others are spot on. Think, for a moment, about the teachers you had when you were a student.  Did any of them fool you?  Were your perceptions about them right on the money?  A few weeks ago, we all had a chance to make a first impression on the kids in our classrooms.  How did that go for you?  Also, a few weeks back, we all had the chance to make a first impression on the parents of these same kids during our “Meet the Teachers Night”.  How did that go for you?  If both of these went well, I want to encourage you to continue to build that relationship.  Understand the interests and backgrounds of your students.  That will take an investment of time.  Exhibit behaviors that indicate your interest in the success of your students.  Stay in regular contact with parents.  Call them to praise their child.  Get them on your team.  If the first impression didn’t go well, do not lose hope. You can turn that around, BUT, it will take a sustained daily effort to change that perception.  Someone once said that perception is reality.  I’m not sure if I totally agree with that, but I do know that perceptions can be changed over time with our ACTIONS.  Words just won’t do it. 

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The Browns play on Sunday was the Baltimore Ratbirds…I mean Ravens.  As much love here as I have for the cats!

State Nicknames

Some state nicknames are interesting to say the least.  Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 lakes.”  Does that include large ponds?  New Hampshire is called “The Granite State”.  It may be changed to “The Countertop State” soon.  New Jersey is “The Garden State”.  Vegetable, flower, or octopus? (You will not get that unless you are a Beatles’ fan).  Arizona is often called the “Italy of America State” although it is not shaped like a boot.  Connecticut is “The Constitution State” even though the document was signed in Pennsylvania.  Hawaii is “The Aloha State” – just don’t know if that is a greeting or a farewell. Oklahoma is the “Sooner State”.  Apparently, the “Later” state is just west of it.  Utah is “The Beehive State”.  I am unclear if this refers to womens’ hairdos of the 60’s or honey-making insects. New York is “The Empire State” – didn’t know they sold carpet.   Arkansas is “The Natural State”….clothing optional?  Illinois is “The Prairie State”. I thought they may be “The State with the Most Incarcerated Governors State”. Florida is “The Sunshine State” – like they have a monopoly on this.  Missouri has arguably the best nickname – “The Show Me State” and that is what I want to work from in this message.

One of my Dad’s favorite words of wisdom to tell his four kids was, “Don’t tell me what you have done, SHOW me what you can do!” He never let any of us rest on ourlaurels; boasting was unacceptable and complacency was not allowed. My sister and two brothers have done some remarkable things in their lives, but you’ll never hear about it from their mouths.   In this time of increased accountability in education, the bottom line is results.  Our school has been named a Four Star School two out of the last three years.  That is great and needed to be celebrated, but it is time to move on.  We have to continually SHOW the results.  You have established the essential understands; those "Big Ideas" that you want your students to accomplish. Much like a finish line in a race, you can only do the measurement once they arrive. Sort of.  What you do leading up to this summative date really will determine the results. So, when you post your daily goals for your classes, make sure that you have a purpose for that goal. It should tie directly to the long-term goals. If not, then why would it be a goal along the way? Use the informal and formative data to plan your instruction. Will you have to make adjustments along the way?...yep! Good teaching requires that teachers use the formative data to "form" their instruction so that the kids are on the right path to achieving the long- term goals. If not, you are just shooting in the dark and any chance of desired achievement would be coincidental. Work smart so that when it comes time to show, there will not be any doubt that your teaching was pretty darn effective.  “Show Me” is not just a state nickname; it is the bottom line in what we do.  However, and this is a big however – not everything that is counted counts and not everything that counts is counted. While there are no bubbles, charts, or graphs for things like words of encouragement, pats on the back, positive comments, the giving of time and talents, and countless other acts of doing the right thing -  these things are major contributors to the bubbles, charts, and graphs.  Strive each day to make a difference as you SHOW others the way.

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The Browns play this Sunday on the shores of Lake Erie vs. the Miami Dolphins.   Could this be the year? I have been waiting for decades!