Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Freedom of Want

We’ve all seen the Norman Rockwell depiction of the iconic Thanksgiving table – Grandma putting the big bird on the table with Grandpa looking over her shoulder as others look at the table with anticipation of devouring the well-cooked fowl.  That painting was made in 1942 and published inThe Saturday Evening Post.  This painting is actually called Freedom from Want, and is part of a four-part series of paintings by Rockwell.  He was inspired by FDR’s State of the Union Address in 1941 that outlined his Four Freedoms (later to become The Atlantic Charter).  In Roosevelt’s speech to the nation he said, “The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants –everywhere in the world.”  Fast forward to 2014 – just not so. There is tremendous “Want” in the world.  A want of the basics – food, clothing, and shelter. A “Want” of heating and cooling, peace, fresh drinking water, love and too many others to list. 

How about those who come through our doors?  For the last week, we have distributed turkeys and bags of groceries to some of our school families because of “Want” (actually, “Need”).  This was possible because of generous donations of time, talents, and treasures of others.  Know that on a daily basis, we have a large number of kids who come to us in “Want”.  You may not know that by looking at them.  “Want” comes in many shapessizes and degrees.  It is more than just hunger, proper clothing, and adequate shelter. Maybe it’s the kids who just can’t seem to make friends; or don’t know how to. Maybe it’s the girl who just received her first pair of non-hand-me-down shoes and nobody noticed.  Maybe it’s the boy who didn’t get a “Good Morning” that day…or week…or month.  Maybe it’s the kid who is aching for someone…anyone…to tell them something positive.  In all of this, my point is to keep establishing positive relationships with your students.  That is paramount to success in teaching. Recognize your kids; in turn, they will recognize your recognition….because they “Want” it. We have a good thing going here. Let’s make our own “Rockwell” version of Freedom from Want.

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The Browns travel to Buffalo this weekend to face the Bills in a “must win” situation. Buffalo – the same city with 67” of snow during the week of November 17th…shovels packed.

Friday, November 21, 2014

GPS

When I was a kid…scratch that…when I was a teenager…nope…when I was a college student…delete…when I was a younger Dad of three and well into my teaching career, a map from the gas station was an important need.  Still have a few.  These maps provided insight and a guide to your destination.  Re-folding the map was another thing.  Those maps made you think through directions, convert scales to actual mileage, and identify which roads were interstates, state roads or “farm” roads.  These maps are all but a memory with the availability of GPS (Global Positioning System) not only in vehicles but also on your cell phone.  This came in handy last July when Mary and I set out to visit our oldest daughter, Amanda (Potter) in Leesburg, Virginia.  If you take the “southern route”, there is a stretch where you move from West Virginia to Pennsylvania back to West Virginia to Maryland to Virginia back to Maryland and then finally back to Virginia.  Thank God that Mary had her GPS equipped  iPhone to guide us.  It was as simple as entering our current location and destination.  From there, a recorded voice with much authority tells you which way to veer, which exit to take, and dang near parks your car for you.  Awesome.  Even better with the pretty girl next to me.

How’s that “GPS” looking in your classroom?  Throughout the year, there have been multiple assessments.  Many have been formative (hopefully) and some have been summative.  Others have been progress monitoring like Acuity and Star.  Here is my question – are you checking the GPS?  First and foremost, you should know the destination – these are the long-term goals. Punch that in first.  Now, work your way backward and set those key points in between.  Lastly, set your current location.  The key point here is that current location is the STUDENT’S current location, not yours. Look hard at the data.  Make that data informational. Use it to plan your instruction – that is the route to take to reach your destination.  Without using what you have, well, you just won’t get there.  As George Harrison sang, if you don’t know where you are going, then any road will get you there. George Harrison?  He was one of The Beatles.  Beatles?  Ask your parents.  In the meantime, continue to “recalculate” your route as necessary. That is what great teachers do.


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The Browns travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons.  After a loss last weekend, we better be hungry!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Ducks

I like ducks better than geese.  The reason being that ducks, in my experience, are much more docile.  Don’t believe me?  Try approaching a mother and father goose when they are herding their young goslings.  I made that mistake and ended up declaring the goose the winner in about three seconds. Ducks, on the other hand, are calm, cool, and collected.  There are a gazillion breeds of ducks including the Wild Mallard (the party duck), the Bourbon Duck (waddles a little too much), the Danish Duck (favors breakfast pastries), the Dutch Duck (wears wooden shoes), and the Havanna Duck (huge Castro supporter).  Behind our house is a pond where a Mallard liked to hang out this past summer.  I enjoyed watching him glide so effortlessly across the water. I mean he was as smooth as a baby’s butt. No visible strain. No worry lines. Not a care in the world.  However, underneath the water, his little webbed feet were pumping furiously to move him along.  You would never know this from the looks of him on the surface.  He never showed the strain or the effort. He was calm and cool above the surface.

How about you?    How do you look above the water line?  Are you calm, cool, and collected?  Are you consistent on a day to day basis in your approach?  Are you on an even keel and just appear to be gliding across the water?  If not, you are not alone!  Many people lose their “above the water” cool appearance every once in a while.  If it is more than once in a while, then perhaps it is time to choose another profession.  The important thing is to get back to providing the example that you wanted to set all along.  That doesn’t mean that you will not be paddling as hard as ever under the water. The furious paddling never stops….if you are doing it right.  You give an informal or formative assessment, analyze the data, and then paddle furiously to make the adjustments in lessons so that your students can reach their destination.  Some days are better than others.  Some downright stink.  My advice –keep paddling or get out of the water.

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The Browns play this Sunday against the Houston Texans on the shores of Lake Erie.  We need to win to stay in first place!  Yikes, I never wrote that before!

Thursday, November 6, 2014

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776.  Notably, this document was written AFTER the Revolutionary War began.  In fact, the Declaration was read by George Washington to his troops on July 9, 1776…long after the fireworks and elephant ears.  If you have never read this document, take the time to do so.  The second paragraph contains verbiage about our “Unalienable Rights” and “among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  Notice what this last line states as well as what it does not state. You have a right to life.  You have a right to liberty.  What you DO NOT have is a right to be happy. How’s that?  You do not have a right to be happy;  you only have the right to pursue happiness.  So what makes you happy? Pursue it, because no one else is going to pursue it for you.  Sure, other people can do things for you that make you happy, but ultimately, it comes down to your own pursuit of this state of mind.  Unalienable rights cannot be denied, transferred, nor taken away. Thus, your desired level of happiness is yours to pursue. 

The classroom is no different when it comes to happiness.  Happiness does not come with the job, it isn’t in the contract, nor do they teach it in “teacher school”.  While people can get in a great deal of trouble preventing anyone from having liberty and life, there is absolutely no penalty for someone who does not make us happy.  Happiness is an individual thing.  So, how do you find it in the classroom? You don’t find it – you create it. You make it happen.You pursue it. How – by making the environment a happy place. From Angela Maiers’s 12 Things Kids Want From Their Teachers, 12 things were identified that will make the kids happier.  If the kids are happier, the teacher is happier.  Here are the 12 things (I love affirmation of prior preaching) = Greet your students each day Smile at your studentsGive students your attentionHelp your students have a vision for the futureGive your students challenging workGet to know each student by asking them questions about themselvesLet your students have time to process and reflectHold your students accountable to higher standardsMake an effort to notice your students’ progressAllow your students to ask questionsEngage your students in each lesson, and finally, Trust your students and believe that they can do it!  Not rocket science folks…but it will take a pursuit.  


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The Browns play TONIGHT against the Cincinnati Bengals in round one of “The Battle of Ohio”.  Either way, a team with orange helmets will win…hoping that team is the one without a logo.