American History Rocks

To say that the last two weeks have been a stressful time for those of us at West Middle would be a gross understatement!  Having been examined under a microsope while the entire world seemed to have been watching is an experience that I would not wish upon anyone! 

As with most events there are both positives and negatives.  While one would think that there could not possibly be anything good to come of this particular unfortunate event, I realized that there was indeed an opportunity for learning.  I must tell you that I have truly been blessed with the students who come into my classroom each and everyday.  I work with 116 of the most amazing 8th graders ever! 

The emotions of my students have run the from one end of the spectrum to the other.  First there was the initial shock (for all of us), then there were the questions (many, many of them), anger, compassion, concern, and understanding.  As we know, the St. Louis area is a very diverse area — something I know we all see in our classrooms each day.  While some of my students shared experiences they have had with what they described to us as prejudice, they all said that never have they felt as “scared” as they were now.  They searched the newspaper everyday looking for articles “about us”, as they began to refer to all of the stories.  Some of my students asked if I thought any teachers would lose their jobs over this, and wanted to know if I cold possibly be one of them.  I was RELIEVED to learn that they were NOT hoping that I was in that category.  The classes that did ask that particular questions even told me that they would picket the school until I could come back!  GOTTA LOVE ‘EM!  Some even asked if I was scared to come to school because someone might try to hurt me.  I assured them that I was not, but how very sad that they would ever have to ask something like that!

I am hopeful that the world has now found other stories to follow.  My students have learned so much from this and are the better for it.  One insightful student asked me on Thursday, “Do you think that people will ever learn to truly get along and accept each other?”  We can only hope.

After many unsuccessful attempts, I have FINALLY started work on my class web page!  I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating this journey has been for me — and I am sure for those attempting to help me throught the process.  I attended another of many sessions designed to set us on the “path to web mastery” last week and decided that this was going to be the time I would actually fight my way through it.  Picture it…Saturday and the entire house is mine…quiet and alone…time to devote my full attention to the task at hand.  I had a plan sketched out on paper…I knew what I wanted the page to look like.  Several attempts were made before I had a very basic albeit first page.  I will not tell you how long I worked on this page, just know that both breakfast and lunch came and went before I had the firsst design in place.  After a short break, I was back at the computer and before I knew it the second page was ready!  I now have two pages completed and am working on the third — all of which are still “inactive” and will remain that way for a a bit longer.  I did it — I am  blogging AND creating a classroom web page all in the same school year!!!!!!  AMAZING:-)

I spent  time during the last couple of weeks going through some old family photographs and other assorted “treasures”.  I have come to the conclusion that somewhere in the genetic make-up of both sides of my family there is a definite “teacher gene” that has survived through several generations.  My daughter and I represent the fifth and sixth generations in a long line of educators.  I have no doubt that the line goes back further than my great-great-grandfather but that is as far has the pictures took me on this trip.  Growing up I heard stories from my relatives about how they began their careers teaching in various one-room school houses scattered throughout the countryside of rural Iowa.  Undoubtedly the toughtest year of my elementary school education was the one in which my aunt was my teacher!

My daughter is a second year teacher at Hanna Woods and is totally in love with what she does on a daily basis.  To see our profession through the eyes of a new teacher is an experience that I think all classroom veterans should experience.  Thinking that there must be a way to solve all of the problems that we face in education and then coming to the realization that for many things there is no quick answer.  Sharing in the success of a lesson that went better than planned and listening when lesson don’t hit the mark.  Watching as a way is found to reach that special student who has somehow managed to “slip through the cracks” the previous couple of years and knowing that there will be others that will not allow the the connection to be made.  Evenings spent in deep discussions of new techniques and the debates of returning to the basics.

This is the world I see through the eyes of my daughter.  This is the future of education.

I have made it a goal for this year to have my classroom become more interactive.  While I made this decision to benefit my students, I find that I also am in need of an overhaul of sorts.  It is one thing to share my passion for American History by relaying my knowledge through discussions in my classroom, but I also know that students learn best by doing.  Sharing with students the stories of the expansion of our country is to me an amazing journey, but after the test  how much to they really remember!  So…how to go about teaching them about the Northwest Passage AND have them remember it months and years from now. 

Money is always a good motivator…and NO I did not pay them to learn this…at least not really.  As they entered the room one day I told them that there was a $20 bill hidden somewhere in the room.  I explained that it was not in the area of my desk or inside any of the cabinets in the room.  At a given signal they would have 3 minutes to locate the money, however there were also hidden messages throughout the room.  If they found a message they must read it, return it to the place they found it, and then follow the directions they had read.  Some of the messages read, “Sudden storm hits.  Return to your seat.”  or “Sickness sweeps through your ship.  Return to your seat.”  How I wish I had videotaped them as they literally searched every corner, book, and shelf in the room!  At the end of the allotted time they returned to their seats and I told them that I would tell them where the money was when they came to class the following day.

Never have I seen students so eager to get into their seats as all of my students were the following day.  In an attempt to prolong the suspense, I took an extra long time taking attendance and looking for things on my desk before making the announcement.  Several students wanted to know if anyone in the other classes had found the money and I assured them that it had NOT been found.  Before I would tell them about the mysterious money, I had them all raise their right hand and repeat after me, “I promise to never, never, never, never reveal to any student outside of this classroom the whereabouts of the $20 bill in Mrs. Wilson’s classroom.  If I break m promise, I know that I am subject extra ELO (evening learning opportunities) for the remainder of the school year!”  I liked to add that last line just for fun!  It was then that I told them that just as there was NO Northwest Passage, there was no $20 bill.  I was amazed that none of the students became upset or made any unnecessary comments — as 8th graders are so often prone to do.  The comments ran along the line of, “Well, this is sure something that I’ll never forget!”  My reaction:  Mission accomplished!!!!!

After a week of trying to access edublogs and sending a frantic e-mail off to DM for help, I have FINALLY gotten to this point…I am BLOGGING!!!!!  For those of you who are much younger than I am and are so knowledgble of the internet I am sure that this that is an everyday occurance.  Trust me when I tell you that for ”us babyboomers” this is a milestone — not a major one, but a milestone nontheless!

This was one of those week that the teachers at my school dread…standardized testing.  Trying to manage the schedule so that all five classes stay somewhat at the same point is always a challenge.  Somehow I managed to make it all work and we hit the floor running when things returned to normal once again. 

When I signed my first teaching contract in 1977 never in my wildest dreams imagine that 32 years later I would still be in the classroom.  I can honestly say that my passion for this profession is stronger now than when I stood before my first group of students.  So many faces, so much laughter, so many tears…both theirs and mine, and so many, many memories!  While I have taught just about every grade level second through eighth, I think that those mysterious and often challenging eighth graders are by favorite.  Talk about being at “that awkward age”, the students at this level could easily serve as national poster children.  Each day brings a new set of problems and acomplishments.  They are flexing their muscles and trying to show everyone just how independent they are, but at the same time secretly letting you know that they never want you to be too far away in the event that they may need you to give some assistance.  To see the change in them from August to May is truly something to see.  I know that teachers at every level feel the same way, but if you have never worked with eighth graders, just let me tell you that they are in a ”class by themselves!”  I feel that I learn as much from them as I hope they learn from me.  In speaking with collegues who question why I am still working I can honestly say, “When I feel that I have nothing more to learn and nothing more to offer to my students, then I will retire satisfied in knowing that I did everything I could to help them along the road to learning and life.” 

If you have a few minutes and are looking for validation for what we all do each day, click on this website: http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm.  In talking with some teachers in other schools I know that this video has been making the rounds, but I think it is one that deserves watching many times.  I took some time to talk to my students about believing in themselves and was shocked when so many of them told me that they did not feel that they could do whatever they wanted or become what they wanted.  I showed the clip to my five classes and together we shared the laughter and tears, but best of all were the “ah-ha moments” when they realized that with hard work on their part and the support of everyone around them just maybe truly they could achieve their dreams.

Happy blogging everyone!