Struggles & Successes (7 Lines/7 Days #106)

 #108Weeks

May 22-28, 2022

 

Cannot believe we are winding down.

My learners have given me some good directions to consider for next year.

I noticed that when my kids were struggling with an activity, they were sticking to it, not giving up. This is HUGE.

There was a lot of devastating news this week, both nationally and personally.

I am pulling together a ton of ideas I think can work next year.

The kids had a blast with the Annual Snowball Battle. 11th period dumped the bag of balls on me, kind of like Gatorade on the coach!

The last full week is complete. 3 more days with kids.

(Shared this video this week. At first it was like, "oh, this is old school." But then they hung on every word!)

 

63. Cool Observation

 #66Challenge

This year, I displayed this poster in my room, and had my learners do periodic check-ups on how they were doing in regard to the things that make a great student, even with no special talents.

At the beginning of the year, many of them felt they were doing things like being on time, showing kindness, having a positive attitude, and being prepared. Most reported believing in themselves and following instructions. (I had them rate themselves on a scale of 1-10.)

But the one thing that stood out on the first round was that most of them reported "Doing more than what's required" VERY low.  Mostly "1."  An occasional "3."  Maybe one at "5." It was so pervasive, I actually found it depressing. I had learners who could go through the basic motions, and even thought they had the right attitude for school, yet very few were the least bit motivated to go above and beyond the basics.

Fast forward to this past Monday, when I gave the reflection piece again. I was delighted and amazed that SO many of the students now rated themselves much higher on the "doing more than is required" statement. I had a lot in the 6-7 range, which purely delighted me after what I had seen earlier in the year.

I suppose I could go back and actually document this, student by student. But honestly, I KNOW that many of them have moved the scale on doing more than required. They have shown me they are taking pride in going the extra mile. Case in point: three of my ESOL students, all who started the year barely reading or speaking English, took on a crossword puzzle with words Shakespeare is credited with creating. Words like "rancorous" and "pedant."  AND they were being successful!!!

On the front board I have the words FOCUS * EFFORT * PERSEVERANCE. And those words describe my learners today. The ones that have come to know that "Each action is a vote for the person they want to be" as James Clear would say. 

This has led them to a worthwhile place:

Positive attitude. Risk taking. And feeling pride in a job well done.

62. Perfect Song

 #66Challenge

 

Today I found this line from Joy Harjo in her poetry collection Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings:

What kept me going was that perfect song I kept hearing, just beyond the field of perceptible sound.

 

I related so well, I immediately wrote this:

 

Coming down off the most difficult

and rewarding school year ever,

I read Joy's words and I know

that this is true for me -- that I

kept hearing a "perfect song" off

in the distance, and I knew it

was for me...I knew I would

eventually capture the lyrics enough

to make them come alive inside, 

then through joy and playfulness

and creativity and love, that song

would become a full reality on the 

outside and spur me on in ways I have 

attempted in the past, but never achieved.

 

And now I know the day has come.

And I am grateful for the struggle.

 

Like everything in life: grieve, release, begin anew. 

61. An Oldie But Goodie

 #66Challenge

This week I pulled out one of my favorite activities to do with young people. If it has a name, I don’t recall it. Furthermore, I don’t even know where I first learned of it. 

First, 4 students volunteer, and then they are asked to wait outside the door in the hallway. I ask the class who out of the four is the worst artist. They usually know! 

We call the “worst” artist in, and I show them this picture and tell the to draw it on the chart paper I have displayed. 

I took pictures of the results from my 11th period. 

Here is the first drawing. Not that bad! 

The next student has to draw theirs from the first student’s version. They never see the original.  Here is #2:

And it continues that way

#3 drawn from #2:

#4 from #3:

This one we called the “cat-rat.”

After everyone gets a good laugh, and the first person realizes in horror they were designated “worst artist,” we have a serious (but short) discussion on how this represents gossip and the spreading of rumors. 

The next thing that happens is the kids want to do it again, but I always resist. I remind them once they know the game, it isn’t going to work as well because the surprise is gone. 

Here is my 2nd period enjoying the process:

We had fun this week! 

60. The Post I Didn’t Want to Have to Do

 #66Challenge

This morning I cannot escape the feeling of devastation and sadness for my fellow educators in Texas.

The entire scenario is unimaginable.

Every day I ring the Tibetan bell I keep in my classroom as the way we center in as we begin class.

Since the Parkland shooting, I say this metta—always with the emphasis on safety and protection.

May we be happy and peaceful

May we be healthy and strong

May we be safe and protected

And may we live with ease

This is my daily prayer for us all, especially my precious learners.

Of course, I’m not under any illusion I can keep my young people safe against a legal assault weapon. 

Our country is failing its youth.

What else need to happen to turn the tide? I still believe all things work together for good.

It’s time.

59. Shakespeare & Hip Hop

 #66Challenge

Today I pulled out and oldie but goodie—lines from Shakespeare’s plays and lyrics from hip hop songs.  This is something from the Folger Shakespeare Library, and was squirreled away in a free kit I got from them many years ago. Our school is currently participating in One Book, One School, and the text this year is Shakespeare’s Secret, so it gives us opportunities to do some Shakespeare-related activities.

The process works like this: learners get a stack of strips with the lines. They randomly choose 10 to make a found poem. When done, they use the leftovers to form more purposeful poems. 

Here is a random:

(Take note: the bold lines are Shakespeare, the regular text strips are from hip hop songs.)

Here are a few more created “on purpose” today:

The kids were surprised at how these random lines could actually “make sense.”  Perhaps we took a short step to helping them not be afraid of the language of Shakespeare. Even if that did not happen, this tactile activity had them smiling! 

Poetry! Poetry! Poetry! (7 Lines/7 Days #105)

#108Weeks 

May 15-21, 2022

 

I finally saw 4 more Swallow-Tailed Kites.

Started reading The Grapes of Wrath, as one of my goals this year is to read six classic novels. This is #3.

Challenging week of poetry with my kids -- but no one is complaining!

The final day of testing was massively boring.

Starting to get feedback from the kids: most of the Global Perspective kids found the course boring and sometimes irrelevant to them. Many things need to improve for sure.

The intensive reading kids are doing a great job with the "Thing I Strongly Believe" poetry slideshow.

It's clear that the pandemic removed a lot of engaging strategies from my repertoire, and I'm dedicated to bringing them back next year.

 

58. Reflections on Our Reading Progress

 #66Challenge

I asked my intensive readers to reflect on their reading progress this year. Some were not sure if they progressed, and a few did not feel they did at all (I disagree with some of their opinions!)

But many had good words to say about their progress. Here is their answers to the questions:

Did you progress as a reader this year? How do you know? 

Yes, I'm doing better than last year because I know more words.

Yes, because I read every day.

I did. I know because I like to read more than I did before.

Yes, because the Read 180 app and lots of reading has helped me.

I think I definitely did because before I never liked reading.

Yes, because last year I couldn't read English and now I can.

Yes, I'm getting better and better.

Yes, because I read more books this year than previous years.

Yes, I read a lot faster.

Yes, because I'm beginning to enjoy reading, and I never did before.

I think I did progress because I know new vocabulary, and if I don't know a word I can sound it out and get it.

 

57. What We Found Interesting About Misty Copeland

 A found poem from my students responses to our short study of Misty Copeland.

I found it interesting that...

She started when she was 13 in her school gym

It took her only 3 months to get on her toes: it takes most ballerinas 3 years

The way they judged her for how she dressed and how her body looked

Her teacher knew the only thing that would get her out of the motel was dancing 

She used the motel railing where she lived as a ballet barre

She had two teachers that helped her

She wanted to seek independence from her mother so she could dance

She was able to dance again when doctors said she wouldn't

She is the first African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Company

She doubted herself but still made it to the top--that is inspiring.

Busy Week (7 Lines/7 Days #104)

#108Weeks

May 8-14, 2022

Trying to come up with a new way of motivating myself to exercise is not going well.

Monday was TOUGH--I did NOT plan correctly.

My lack of consistent meditating has caught up with me.

By Wednesday, things were better. I'm blessed with a good testing group.

I'm putting a lot of time into planning for next school year. It surprises me!

My patience was really stretched this week.

I was honored to be invited to the Lehigh Senior Class of 2012's 10th reunion brunch.

56. The Darkest Corner

 #66Challenge

Today I had the honor of attending a 10 year class reunion brunch for the class of 2012 at Lehigh Senior High, where I worked from 2007-2013. There wasn’t a huge turnout, but I did get to see a few students I taught back in the day, and we had some good conversation. One of these students was Ashley, a girl I taught for 3 years during my tenure there.

The principal (JC) was there, and took us on a tour of the school, which has changed dramatically since I worked there and the class of 2012 attended. Many of the attendees were former athletes, and hearing their reactions to the way school is done these provided some hilarity. I have been part of some of these changes at my current school, so to hear their comments made me realize how many things have changed in a short time.

When we got to what had been the library back in the day, JC explained before we even went in that students no longer check out textbooks or library books: everything is online. This puzzled one young man who couldn’t understand where all the AR books went. We walked into a stark white room with gray tables and suspended black chairs, and little else. JC had to keep emphasizing to the confused twentysomethings that books were no longer needed, that the students can read everything on their chrome books and personal devices. Ashley gave me a pained look, and I said, “Yeah, I don’t think this is entirely a good thing.” She responded, “I kind of like the Dewey Decimal System.”  A girl after my own heart! 

Then JC explained that in-school suspension is in the old TV production room—the only room with no windows, and the coldest room in the school. When we walked into the dark room the guys noticed that there was a shelf of old paperback books. One of them said sarcastically, “Oh, so you’re allowed to read in here.” That had the group howling with laughter.

All in all, was a fun visit. I will give credit where it is due—the school really is beautiful, and the changes are positive. Well…except that the only books in sight were shoved in the corner of the darkest room on campus!

Yes, I can’t get over the loss of the books that once graced that library. I know this has happened at many high schools, and it still feels like it’s wrong somehow. I’m grateful my middle school still has a regular library where kids can pick up a book, study the cover, hold it in their hands, and check it out. 

Some things just shouldn’t be discarded when it comes to education. 

55. Unexpected Moment

 #66Challenge

 

Ever since the pandemic hit in 2020, and my mother's social life came to a grinding halt, I have been hearing her decline over the phone, and saw it for myself last summer. In July 2021, she was officially diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's. Talking with her on the phone can often be difficult, as she stretches for words, repeats herself constantly, and because of her limited activity, has little of interest to say.

Over the weekend, we celebrated Mother's Day. I watched online as people celebrated their mother as their best friend, someone they cannot live without, sadness over lost mothers, all the usual Mother's Day fare.

The thing is, never in my life have I felt my mother was my best friend. To put it straight -- she was adamant while she raised us that we were to be independent beings. And it worked. All of us are independent beings. She is our mother, and she struggled through some difficult times. We were together through those things, and watched how she powered through (although that wasn't a saying at the time), leaning on faith and activity to keep her going. She's a survivor for sure.

When I called her on Mother's Day she already had a lot of activity, and was doing the usual repeating things a few times. Stretching for something to say, I began to tell her about my intensive reading students, some who are 8th graders reading at a 3rd grade level (she was horrified at that thought!), and how much they accomplished this year. We had done the final reading inventory and nearly all of them had improved. I explained how, even when I offered to help them, they took pride in doing things themselves, whether it was spelling words or working on comprehension activities. 

And that is when something strange happened. My mother got very lucid and clear, as she told me that the reason they succeeded is because I am their teacher. She said it was a testament to what a good teacher I am that they took pride in their success. She reminded me that I had good teacher and bad teachers, and the good teachers make all the difference. She said something to the effect, "You are that good teacher, and I'm proud of you."  

These words still bring tears to my eyes as I retrieve them as best as I can from my memory. The moment was so unexpected, I didn't even think to write down exactly what she said. First, I was shocked at how clearly she was speaking. Second, I was overwhelmed with the fact that she was even saying it. My mother is not one to tell us much about who we are or how she sees us. The moment was so unexpected, I still get tears in my eyes recalling it.

My mother may not be my best friend, but she taught me what was important: faith, activity, and finding ways to survive difficult times. She did her best, and she got the job done. The last two years of teaching has been a survival story for all teachers, and I am one of them. I applied all I know to help get me through this year, which was definitely my roughest ever.

I learned from the best, and I am grateful.

Thank you, mom.

What I Learned This Week (7 Lines/7 Days #103)

 #108Weeks

May 1-7, 2022

 

This week I learned...

...songs by the Go-Gos are harder to sing than it appears

...my students really do not know parts of speech

...I can pivot

....a hot button issue is finally on the forefront and I hope it will help make a course correction

...Gina Furtado's song "It Won't Be Me" is my new favorite

...my learners enjoy drawing

...I'm creatively weaving for the future 

 

54. Drawing Metaphors

 #66Challenge

The FSA Reading test was yesterday and today, which means burnt-out kids and messed up routines. 

Fortunately, I know a bit on how to handle these kinds of days. Keep it easy. Keep it light.

We love the spoken word poem “Seventeen” by Rudy Francisco, who is the king of metaphors. Yesterday, we watched his video and studied the words a bit as a way to enhance our study of similes and metaphors. 

 

Today we were interrupted by an unexpected fire drill because of a glitch in the system, and we all had to stand outside in the blazing heat while the fire department checked it out. By the time we got back in, everyone was extra spent.

So I was glad to have this fun “drawing metaphors” activity ready to go. The last hour of the day I sat soaking in my 9th period as they worked on their drawings and explanations of some of the metaphors in Rudy’s poem. 

Not many students finished, but I did enjoy some of their drawings and explanations. 

Not many days left. I'm going to keep having fun because I know what I am giving them now is worth gold...and some of it they may actually remember in years to come.