January 2021

 Since my last entry, much has happened.  Nothing I type here should obscure the fact an additional 200,000 Americans have been killed by Covid-19. We could very well see over 400,000 dead by January 20.  Yesterday, 3,895 Americans died from the virus.

Speaking of yesterday, the political world around President Donald Trump came tumbling down.  January 6 is the day set by law for Congress to count the Electoral College results for the office of United States President.

First, President Trump attended a rally of his supporters in Washington, D.C. and spoke to them.  After encouraging them to fight against the results of the election, they did just that.  Thousands marched to Capitol Hill and illegally entered the building to vandalize it and terrorize the members of Congress assembled as required by law.

Watching this unfold on CSPAN was fascinating to watch.  Both chambers were in session to debate the validation of Arizona electors, then communication became muddled as the leaders of the debate had to recess and all members were told to retreat to safe areas.  For the next several hours, the President Trump supporters ransacked the building and offices.  Just after I got home, Congress reconvened and they worked until 2am to finish their work.

After winning the popular vote by over 7 million, Joe Biden was confirmed by the Electoral College with a 306 - 232 victory.

In just over a year, we have seen peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrations met with violent police responses, and yet these Trump supporters were able to forcefully enter the Capitol with little to no resistance.  As I write, Democrats are calling for the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment.  Members of the White House staff and even the cabinet are resigning.  With two weeks remaining in his presidency, this is a fitting end to Donald Trump's reign.

That was not what I thought I would be writing back in August.  And yet, I should have seen this coming.  With a President feeding his base multiple lies and baseless conspiracy theories, this was a predetermined outcome of sorts.  For a man on the precipice of greatness, President Trump was simply too lazy to embrace it.  He could have led an entire nation into defeating a virus, but instead chose to essentially ignore it.  It was somehow below him to inspire people of all walks to simply put on a mask and stop the spread.  Likewise, his supporters saw any attempt to take on this virus as an affront to their cherished freedoms.  

In the end, Trump will walk away like Nero playing his fiddle as Rome burned to the ground.  

As strong as our Republic is, we barely survived this test.  That one man would be given so much power and influence over a country is exactly what our Founding Fathers fought against.  They would have been horrified by the 12th Amendment which cemented the status of political parties.  They would have been likewise shocked by the behavior of our elected representatives.  From the President to Congress, this has been a year of complete failures on many levels.

As we stare down the possibility of 500,000 dead in one year from a virus, let us never forget the lessons of History.  Together, We The People will succeed. Divided, as the saying goes, we will fall.

Never Vote for Trump

Reasons that I'll never vote for Trump.

1.  My Grandmother, Mama Flo.  She came from Germany in the late 1800's.  Yes, born in 1887, she came to America, sailing by the Statue of Liberty which had been in place for barely a decade.  America was built upon the hard work of immigrants, and represented a promise made for all people.  They could come here to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.  We have laws concerning immigration, and rightfully so.  Put into place by Congress, President Trump has instead chosen to enforce those laws to intimidate and scare off that dream for so many. 

2.  My Grandfather, Curzon Taylor.  Giving up his job as an architect in New York wasn't even given second thought after Pearl Harbor was attacked.  He left his wife and 8 year old son at home, and served in the Army.  Due to his physical ability and education, he served on the team which provided information about the coastline of France.  Yes, he was a spy, and intelligence gathered by his team helped plan D-Day.

3.  Which brings me to my Dad, Colonel Cortlandt Mulcaster Taylor.  After graduating from Yale in 1955, he joined the newest United States military branch, the Air Force.  He worked on the NASA projects in Florida, but really found his love for being a navigator, and flew around the world.  In 1971, he was assigned to Saigon, Vietnam.  For a year, he suddenly found himself following in the footsteps of his father, and became an intelligence analyst.  Even as the fighting drew close to Saigon, he worked for a year, helping to identify the movement of the enemy.  Dad closed out his career as a Deputy Director for the DIA.  

Both of these men represent a love for country, and I hopefully carry some small part of how they felt about America.  Both also represent the hard work done by our intelligence community.  Dad gave me a tour of the Situation Room in the Pentagon.  America has learned to guard itself over the years, and the information gathered every minute of every day for our President is done so for a specific purpose.  

If you don't know where I'm going with that, let me be very clear.  President Trump has shown a public disdain for our intelligence community, even before entering office.  His clear lack of understanding of the hard work behind the information presented to him on a daily basis is a direct insult to my grandfather, my Dad, and all those in that community.  The facts around the coronavirus pandemic can appear muddled at times, but let there be no mistake.  It is muddled on purpose to hide this administrations complete disrespect for the information they were presented which would have given our country a leg up on this pandemic.  (Note:  death count at 150,000 and counting.)

4.  My wife, mother-in-law, daughter, and my Mom.  I have been surrounded by strong women all my life.  The last thing they probably need is for me to stand up for them.  But, I've had enough of the disrespect shown to all women by our President.  Beginning well before winning the highest office in the country, President Trump has shown absolutely no remorse for his behavior toward women.  He has publicly declared he knows how to take advantage of women, graphically so in some circumstances.  Now is the time for men to unabashedly support the efforts of women to make our country a better place.  Now is not the time to brag about grabbing women inappropriately, or to celebrate those under investigation for trafficking women.  Read about what authorities had to do to find Ghislaine Maxwell, and you'll probably wonder why President Trump 'wished her well'.

No, now is the time to celebrate the women of our country.  We The People will be much better when we fully embrace their leadership. 

5. Political parties.  I was recently accused of being a Democrat.  I proudly joined the Republican Party in Texas as soon as I moved here in 1982.  While voting primarily Republican in elections, I also vote across party lines.  As I have learned more and more about our history, voting blindly for candidates based solely upon party affiliation is a mistake many make.  And, that is exactly what the 2 party system wants.  Never before have the intentions of Democrats and Republicans been more clear.  They simply want power, and the only way to do that is to enforce their will upon the public in elections.  Both parties spend enormous sums of money, hundreds of dollars per vote in some places, and the Supreme Court has only ensured this will not stop anytime soon.

6.  Which leads me to the money.  I was also accused of not caring about my retirement savings if I vote against Trump.  If this election is solely about our money, and not about America, then we are surely lost.  The world looks to us for our leadership, exceptionalism, and democracy.  Submitting ourselves to greed will rob us all of that which we hold most dear.

If you've read this far, thank you.  You're probably guessing I am voting for Joe Biden this year.  As much as he represents the DC establishment, and all that's wrong with our enormous government, I'm afraid I must do so.  The amount of lies, exaggerations, sarcasm, unfounded allegations, incompetence, lack of temperament for the job, and basic decency represented by President Trump simply will not allow me to vote for him. 

I didn't vote for President in 2016; I left the choice  blank.

I will not make the same mistake again.

You are what you eat...

Disclaimer:  people's sexuality and personal political beliefs are none of my business.  What you do with your body, and how you involve yourself politically are not the point here.  I am trying to document this historic event.
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It's hard to believe this was happening just a few months ago:
https://www.today.com/popculture/ellen-degeneres-defends-sitting-next-george-w-bush-nfl-game-t164126


I was honestly surprised at the reaction to President Bush sharing time at a football game with Ellen DeGeneres.  Isn't this what the rich and famous do? 

The simple fact is exactly what Ellen said.  We have to interact with people, even those who don't share our same beliefs. 

Within the past week, our President has claimed total authority over the United States when it comes to re-opening the country.  Suddenly, we all became 10th Amendment experts.  President Trump took the 26 word Oath of Office, and he certainly cannot selectively uphold only parts of the Constitution pertinent to his beliefs.

I did not vote for President Obama.  I lost my doctor due to the Affordable Care Act, and that singlehandedly made him the bad guy.  On the other hand, millions of Americans suddenly had access to healthcare.  I eventually found a new doctor, and President Obama is one of our great leaders.

That said, I watched a lot of Fox News during his presidency.  I'm an NBC News guy, but I enjoyed the alternative views of FOX.  At the time.  Now, I can't stand FOX.  They consistently repeat President Trump, word for word, as absolute truth.

If we need to learn anything right now, it is the fact we should be watching the actions of our Congress.  As I type, they aren't even in session.  Most, if not all, aren't even in DC.  President Trump has threatened to adjourn Congress so he can make some recess appointments.   This should concern every citizen, even though Democratic leadership says they won't approve any type of recess.

I leave you today with some well-documented government responses to the Coronavirus.  Many don't pay attention to these reports simply because of the news agency.  Many deny the dangers of this virus, and they endanger all of us.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/opinion/trump-coronavirus.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-total-authority-boast-should-ve-enraged-republicans-instead-ncna1184806

No matter where you fall on this historic event, I hope your opinion is well-informed and sticks with the truth above all else.  We live in the greatest country in the history of our world. 

Together, we will keep it that way.

Take care of yourself.  And each other.

A Conundrum of blessings

Conundrum.  I feel like all of us have been living in a conundrum for the past 5 weeks.

Let's start back in March.  Specifically, let's start at Spring Break.  I had planned on staying home and doing all kinds of things in and around the house.  My wife had wedding planning to do up in Estes Park, so it was to be just me and our zoo.

I got home on Friday, and the plan was soon hatched for me to also go to Colorado.  Mind you, this required loading up a 100lb pig into a cage in our car, along with 3 dogs.  This plan was only complicated by the pig getting car sick around Eden, TX.  We got to Lubbock, dropped off the pig and a dog, and proceeded onto Denver with 2 dogs and a very pleasant smelling car.

Denver is an incredible city, located near the amazing Rocky Mountains.  We had enough time to check out our daughter's new apartment, enjoy a nice meal, then head over to Estes Park.  We arrived late on Sunday night.  Of course, the town was shut down at 11pm.

Little did we know, but many of the stores would not open while we were there.  With no skiing in Estes Park, many businesses close for the winter and open around mid-March.  Not this year.  This was the beginning of our living conundrum.

We stayed for a few days literally right on the edge of town.  We had several meetings planned with various vendors.  The weather was amazing; we even had several inches of snow and lots of elk came down from a nearby hill to graze.

While we certainly enjoyed the area, we also kept an eye on current events as they unfolded.  Little did we know.  We had planned to be back in San Antonio by Thursday night so we could enjoy the weekend.  Before we had arrived home, our break had been extended by a week.  By Sunday, we knew we wouldn't be back in the classroom until the end of March.  Within a few more days, all of April was turned into distance learning. 

There is no denying the overall beauty of Colorado.  I, however, am partial to our incredible state of Texas.  Travelling from the Great Plains, through the North Central Plains, and then here to the edge of the Hill Country on the Coastal Plains is always a very spiritual journey for me.  I have traveled these roads at all hours in all types of weather.  This trip was no different.  God's blessings are readily seen on the open roads of Texas.  For some reason, this trip was highlighted by a wonderful sunset and sunrise as we drove through the night.

A few hours later, we went to Sam's.  Within the beauty of Texas and all we had seen the previous few days was the most emotional outpouring of human panic and concern for an unknown enemy.  In spite of our blessings, I could see the absolute panic in the eyes of ordinary people.  The 30 foot high shelves in Sam's were quickly emptying. 

As I write and recall the last 5 weeks, I remind myself I have my health, a paycheck, and a house.

As I write, I worry about many of my students.  Many took part in distance learning as we started, but soon dropped off.  I am fortunate only about 10 of my students have never come into our Google Classrooms.  But, how are they doing?  I set up Zoom classrooms, but no one showed up after accepting my invites.

Therein lies my conundrum.  We have some interesting ways to connect to our students, but is History the class they really need right now.  I have purposefully made some easy lessons so all my students can respond successfully.  I send a video message every day.  I try to send a comic strip every day to bring humor to the proceedings.

As we prepare to return to campus in a few weeks, I anticipate what our students missed the most was our community, our teachers, their friends, and a constant predictable schedule.

Current events may have blinded our middle school students from their blessings, and with good reason.  Parents might be struggling with work, or a sick family member.  The list is endless. 

With all these things happening at once, I am just like my students.  I cannot wait to get back to campus.

The EndGame

As we approach the final 5 weeks of this school year, I am reminded of several items.

First, finish strong.  This is the time of year to try new and fresh ideas in your classroom.  This work is usually what the students will remember next year.  Once upon a time, we would spend 2 weeks allowing the students to create a business, and then actually open it.

Year after year, 8th graders would come tell me how much fun they had with the business project.  They never mention the Alamo, or the explorers, or oil, or the Great Depression.  As I write this, I am almost tempted to put together a plan for a business project.  I just haven't found the trust with this group to do so.

Which leads me to my next thought:  trust.  It has been in short supply with this group.  As an overall group, we recognized the issues with these students last year as 6th graders.  They had an inordinate number of fights, and quite frankly were impossible to corral.  Our fears have been mostly realized this year as other behaviors have shown us this group is very immature.  We just haven't seen the growth we have seen in previous groups.

Finally, I did learn I just cannot afford to be rude to my students.  Middle schoolers just cannot get out of their own way, so being rude seems like second nature to those of us at the receiving end, but it's just not in their nature.  We have to nurture politeness, sometimes very firmly (read:  sternly) but we can accomplish many lessons here.

That has been my biggest regret over the past few years.  I had a vision for our school, but somehow it never gained a foothold.  I had some administrative support, but everything takes a backseat to academics in our setting.  I just regret we couldn't work in some life lessons for our students to consider life outside this setting.  Next year, we don't even have a shot at this non-curricular plan since our entire schedule is being turned upside down.

And, on we go, already planning for next August when our kids need us in the here and now.


Peace 

_____________

"No amount of money has ever bought a second of time."
-Avengers

Lessons with a student teacher

I have taken on the responsibility of working with a student teacher.  So far, so good.  Some caveats.

First, let go of your classes.  We become so attached to our students, even with all their quirks and annoyances, that we forget to share them.  We indeed own our students for a school year.  With a student teacher, I've had to let go of them.  In all honesty, I have been pleasantly surprised how our relationships have grown.  We all kinda own a stake in this new teacher, and it's been fun.

Second, step back and take inventory of your own effect in the classroom.  I have had time to realize I had so many dreams for my classes this year, and then the business of the year gets in the way.  Certainly, having one of my real life kids getting married only added to the madness.  But, we're through all that, and now I can remember some of the things I had planned for this year.  My students and this new teacher will surely benefit as we move forward.

Finally, I had my formal observation last week.  It went really well.  I was very pleased with what admin saw.  And as much as I hate hubris, I'm starting to become more and more confident in my methodology.  I'm not perfect, but I hope all new teachers realize how important their own confidence will serve them as they progress in this profession.

It's been a very trying year for so many of us.  But, I've never worked with a better overall group of teachers.  Our students are incredibly lucky to have these folks as their teachers.  I've even luckier to be working with them.

Peace

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"I'm surrounded by nothing but great people. I've been blessed with that, so really, I have no choice but to be an all-around good person."
-Tim Duncan

I sat in my classroom yesterday, listening as the students in the last class of the school year screamed lyrics in unison to their favorite songs.  It was an interesting moment to see what motivates 7th graders. 

I think the music was a definite motivational factor.  But, the singing and screaming was done by 4 girls who quite frankly just did not get along at the beginning of the year.  And yet, there they were, singing together at the top of their lungs for each song they chose from an endless playlist.

I'm sure I rolled my eyes a few times, but they laughed at me when I pretended to enjoy the beat.  Dancing is not my forte, but I enjoyed their good-natured ribbing when I caught myself jamming along.

Then, it occurred to me last night.  Our students get to see 8 different rock stars everyday during the school year.

Like in the picture above, our students might see U2 in their fully involved showmanship and technology.  Or, they might see Bob Seger simply sit up front and play his songs for himself and for us to enjoy.  They might see Huey Lewis on a hot sweaty night in Helotes.  They might see Chris Stapleton from the floor of the AT&T Center as he sings about life.

What all musical artists have in common is how they connect to their audiences.  And isn't that exactly what teachers have in common with each other?

The simple fact is this:  I work with some true rock stars.  5 years ago, I never thought I would be here writing about this particular middle school in this way.  We have some of the most challenging students and circumstances in our district.  The numbers simply do not lie.

And yet, from our administrators on down, we have embraced this population.  It's not for everyone.  We see lots of teacher turnover each year.  But, that's okay.  I know certain teachers are brought here for a reason, and they leave for others. 

I recognize this school and this year for what it was.  And, I will use it next year to again work at  being a rock star for my students and colleagues alike.

What an honor.  What a privilege.  What a blessing.

Peace

"The problems of today will soon be buried by the sand of time."
-Chinese Proverb

Enough is enough.

Granted, I pretty much let the above picture happen on purpose.  However, upon closer inspection, it is quite evident my students are losing the desire/ability to maintain their classroom notebooks.  As I think back over this school year, I am not surprised at all.

First, my students started off the year fairly well.  They maintained their class notebooks and I was happy the year was off to such a positive start.

Eventually, the wheels came off the binders.  Students moved classes, or somehow lost work.  Mostly, we all lost interest.  I'm just as guilty.  Blame me the most.  I didn't grade work and return it in a timely manner.  The work wasn't all that interesting.  There were no consequences for poorly maintained binders.  The list is lengthy. 

Most of all, maintaining a class binder just isn't a real-world life skill.  If I am trying to teach organization, then surely there are better ways to do so.

Recently, I came across an idea where each class will have one binder for their warmups, and then separate binders for the various units we are teaching.  Students will access those  binders when they need a handout, or notes, or other assigned work.  It sounds messy, but definitely might change the classroom management dynamic.

Those shelves up there could be gone forever if I figure out how to pull this off.

But, wait, that's not all  you get.

I also will have a cell phone hotel near my door so students can check in their devices when entering class.  The most common complaint we have heard this year is the overwhelming distraction created by our 7th graders phones.  I know other schools have plans in place, and I understand our school will also act in unison in helping our students focus on our tasks and not their devices.

I think I have found a novel way to elicit student responses about their learning.  I have found some hold manual typewriters.  Where once my computers sat will be a spot with these old typewriters.  I'll assign a student daily to type out what the class has learned, or to respond to a prompt.

I can't wait for next year.

Peace

"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice."
-T.S. Eliot

Now, about my title

After our Spring Break, we hit a very challenging time of the year.  

We have the dreaded STAAR tests, along with EOC testing for our brightest students.  As I write this, we are in between rounds of testing.  We now have 6 weeks of school remaining, and this is where we find it best to schedule our most engaging activities.

So, here is why you shouldn't dislike Texas History.

Cotton, Cattle, and Conflict.

Post Civil War Texas provided yet another era of opportunity for those brave enough to take on the challenges.  Land was plentiful and cheap,  Native Texas attacks were also plentiful, and very costly. The open range was filled with longhorn cattle, practically free for the taking.  So, claim your land, hire some ornery cowboys, and start finding cattle to take to market.  Selling cattle at market is like tapping into America's demand for beef.  

And then, there's cotton.  Dry land farming provides yet more opportunity to make a living tapping into America's new found love for cotton clothing.  Just survive the various cycles in the weather and don't produce too much or the price goes down when supply outstrips demand.  Basic economics 101.

Galveston 1900

The deadliest natural disaster in American history wiped out the Wall Street of the West.  Galveston was the up and coming financial capital on the new frontier.  Problem was they placed it on a low-lying barrier island with only limited access to the mainland.  Combine that with the emerging science now known as Meteorology, and it all spells disaster.  6,000 people killed as the entire island was completely inundated by a Category 5 hurricane.  This was an entirely preventable loss of life for many reasons.  Try not to be affected by the destruction of the island orphanage.

The new fangled contraption called the movie camera brings a whole new angle to History.  Just as people saw war in new ways thanks to Matthew Brady, so will they experience the Galveston Hurricane thanks to one Thomas Edison.

Wings

Did you know the first film to win the Best Picture Oscar was filmed right here in San Antonio?  It is a fascinating movie about the first battles fought in the sky.  Fair warning:  this film actually has some risque moments.

The Grapes of Wrath

Combine bad luck with even more bad luck, and probably throw in some bad luck for good measure and what do you get?  The hardest of hard times.  It was a perfect storm for Texans on the High Plains:  drought and over farming; a stock market collapse amid post war trauma.  Surely, the great American Dream was alive and well.  You just had to survive the Dust Bowl.  What we have here is a bit of science coupled with sheer bad luck and economic turmoil.  It was not the best time to be alive, but I have relatives who not only survived it, but simply wouldn't be the amazingly awesome aunts and uncles they are today.  They know they can survive anything.  And, by the way, don't ever let anyone from the Great Depression ever see you throw anything away.  

So, there you have it.  Time permitting, we have to teach about World War II and Civil Rights and Economics and Government.  

Choose wisely.

Peace

"The nation which destroys its soil, destroys itself"

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Civil War Menu

I had a lot of fun setting this up. I kept the art work to a minimum since we just finished a project about the causes of the Civil War.

I made a poster of this rubric, and then made small copies for my students to use as a cover page for their chosen projects.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Pick 3 in a row and complete.

Should Texas Secede?	Map of the Civil War	Create a timeline of Civil War battles and events.
It’s All Wrong	Newspaper article:  Texas Secedes!!! Or Civil War Battles handout This one is required.	Create a Civil War crossword puzzle or word search
Civil War calendar	Famous Last Words	Abolitionist Hall of Fame

How much are my students learning from a project?   

Well, let's find out.

I created a Civil War Tic-Tac-Toe menu.  Since we just got done with an art project about the causes of the war, I left major art work off this menu.  

Students had the choice of creating a map of the Civil War, a newspaper article about Secession, a medal to honor an Abolitionist, or a timeline of events.  They could also choose to proofread a statement about Missouri Statehood, or could consider what their last words would say about themselves.

I thought I created a bunch of fun activities with instructions to match.  Aside from the word search they could create, or the timeline, everything else was brand new.

Then, a TeachThought email appeared one day last week, and turned my thinking upside down.  What were they learning, I mean, actually learning?  And how do they demonstrate it?

For me, it was a simple fix.  Assign a mandatory, and short, essay.  In it, the student will describe what they learned from the projects they chose.  While many students will protest the writing element, I didn't place a minimum length on this.  Some wrote full page explanations, some wrote half a page.

The expectations were the same:

Paragraph 1 - tell me which projects you chose

Paragraphs 2-4 - describe each project

Paragraph 5 - Conclusion.

Keeping the essay as simple as possible is key here.  Some students naturally describe their work, while other struggle to explain what they learned.

No matter, I'll keep looking for ways for my students to explain their learning.

TEXT 383-387

True story.

My students are creating anchor charts about the Mexican-American War.  On their chart, they are listing the causes, events, and conditions for peace.  In chalk.  We are off to a good start, and my artistic students get to shine as they are required to put an illustration about Manifest Destiny on the poster.

For the chart itself, I have the students reference the textbook.  All the information they need is located on pages 383-387.

A student came to me and asked, "Do we have to use those numbers?"

"Well, yes" I said.  "Those are the pages in the book where you will find the information necessary to complete your chart."

"Oh."  She said. " We thought we were creating a text message to send to that number."

Hmmmm, I thought to myself, as she walked away.

And then, I walked up to my directions on the screen and made the necessary changes to ensure my students won't start sending text messages to part unknown.  I care not to ponder the possible ramifications.

Best wishes and,

Peace.

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons."  - Anonymous

Connecting using one of the major food groups

Today, I divided up dum-dums and let my students pick one.  Those students picking the 'mystery flavor' dum-dum were executed.  Oh, the horror on their faces was palpable when they realized the consequences.

While the dum-dum's were quite real, no one was executed.  We merely illustrated the results of the Mier Expedition into Mexico in 1842.  Texan soldiers captured after an attack on Mier were imprisoned, then marched in single file to choose a bean from a bag.  Those choosing black were executed.  1 in 10 met  their untimely demise at random, and by order of Santa Anna.  Survivors enjoyed a year in a Mexican jail, then were released in 1844.

I've been trying to find balance with my classes.  We scored rather low on our district benchmark, and we need to find the proper balance to improve our scores.  Candy isn't the answer, but excitement for our work can, and should be. 

Perhaps, I can tap into some of my students inner competitive spirit to achieve better.  I don't judge my students by their scores.  But, I can change for the better because I need to improve as well.

Peace

"Gone are the days when a quiet classroom was equated with a good one."
- Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey

How do you view your world?

I came upon an interesting question the other day.  Actually, it was more of an answer.

The question:  How do you view your world?

The answer I read is almost impossible to explain without plagiarizing.

Basically, the choices we make in viewing our world ultimately determines our history.  Moreover, we have become a society based upon what we see.  While that's fine, we often forget that those visuals are imperfect in that they only capture so much of the story.  So, we store those visuals in our memory, and then forget the history of it.  Worse yet, when we access those same visuals, the story changes.

Seriously, it took me almost a week to process this.  In a society of soundbites and visual overload, this presents a very strange dilemma for our future.

How will the next generations remember us?  Will they remember the actual story, or just some representation of us in a picture.  

Therefore, we must choose the lens through which we watch our world very carefully.  Conversely, we might consider that very same lens which points at us.  Does it capture your history?  What will people say, or think, when they see your history?  Will it be a mere social media timeline?  What do you want to say about yourself?

Peace

"Look and think before opening the shutter.  The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera."

-Yousuf Karsh

 

A Challenge

It's that time in the school year to challenge myself.  For my students, I need to do better.


Warning to parents:  this may not be what you expect to read from a teacher.


I have some students I just don't like.  And, that's not fair to them.  I must do better.


Steps I have to take:


1.  Meet them somewhere on their own terms in class.  I can adjust my routine to better meet the needs of these students.


2.  Find out what they are able to produce for my class.  Some students just don't want to read and write.  While I can't eliminate those altogether, I can modify assignments to make it less of a daunting task.


3.  Find out what they want to produce for my class.  Perhaps, they are happy making timelines of information.  Maybe they don't mind our academic vocabulary sheets but don't like the illustration part.  I can modify that.


4.  Talk to them everyday.  Don't use sarcasm or anger.  Keep calm and don't be afraid to come back the next day after cooling down overnight.


5.  Finally, keep in mind I wasn't the perfect student, especially in middle school.


I made some great friends in middle school, and I have really fond memories of Stephen Foster Intermediate in Alexandria, VA.  However, I wasn't the perfect student despite my parents best attempts to keep me on track.


I forgot assignments.  I disrespected my teachers, even Mr. Hoppe who taught the best History class I ever had.  I was not the star athlete.  I couldn't remember the football playbook to save my life.  I still can't shoot a basketball.  I took 12 years of tennis lessons, but couldn't make the high school team.  I loved to run cross country, but it took me 4 years to break a 5 minute mile.


In other words, I was constantly in my own way.  It is just what kids do.


I didn't always challenge myself to be the best 7th grader I could be.  However, I can certainly challenge myself to be the best teacher I can be.


And maybe, just maybe, I'll make my 7th graders even better for it.


Peace


"Don't underestimate the power of small steps to build a great future."
Jocelyn Soriano

And yet....nothing.

Here we are, 33 days, or in thinking about it in a different context, 3 massacres later.

If you thought we were over the Vegas shooting, then throw in a shooting at an airport, then an attack in New York City, and finally, another attack in a church.

And, not just any church.  A church attended by families from my former employer.  I spent 9 years there, some of the most incredible years of my life.  Certainly, I learned how to teach there.  But, it was more than that.  I learned to invest in community.  I learned where my passion in Texas History could take me and my students to some fantastical places.

That won't stop.

But, time stopped yesterday.  Again.

My teaching family has been touched by this devastating act.  Their families and students and co-workers and community have unimaginable grieving ahead.

Students in my daughters med school were called in with trauma teams to help.  When she is a second year student, will the same happen to her?  Medicine is her passion, but more importantly, so are people.

When will our society develop a passion for people?

That's just the tip of the emotional iceberg we are subjected to, seemingly every month.  I don't have the answers.  On one hand, some sort of changes in gun control might help.  But, yesterday, a person supposedly banned from owning guns got them anyway.  We can't legislate morality.  Banning certain types of guns will only certainly bring in criminals from other countries to make a buck off our love of guns.  Too many hide behind the 2nd Amendment, not caring to take part in civil discourse.  Too many bash said amendment with no care for it's origin or intent.  Our elected representatives have sold out to lobbyists and special interests, and completely ignore the voices of those who put them in position to serve and represent.

It's a vicious cycle, and if History tells us one thing, it's this:  unrest breeds revolution.  When our voices are ignored long enough, people rise up.  And, they rise up at any cost to effect change.

Martin Luther King said we are made by history.

I'm not sure we want to be made by the history we witnessed yesterday.

But, as a matter of faith, perhaps we can learn about, and learn from yesterday.  Perhaps, we can treat each other better.  Perhaps, we can project humility and patience and love and empathy and the leadership to which we have been called to provide to this world.

And yet, 33 days hasn't been enough time to learn.  And if it has, what lessons did we miss?

Peace

"By three methods we may learn wisdom:  first, by reflection, which is the noblest; second by imitation which is the easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."
-Confucius

Tic-Tac-Toe

Tomorrow, I am trying a form of Project Based Learning.  Let's call it PBL Lite.

I've created a Tic-Tac-Toe chart of activities for my students from which to choose.

We have already completed the center square, so I'm excited to see which activities they choose to complete Tic-Tac-Toe.
The best part is I got to hear feedback from some colleagues during our #FeedBack Friday.  They really liked the assortment of activities so students could choose not only a writing assignment, but also an art assignment.  I lucked out and got hold of our department Chromebook cart, thus my students were able to work independently on electronic versions.  Then, they could submit through  Google Classroom.
My students have one more day in class to complete their work.  Google Classroom allows them to work at home, as well.  Texas History teachers might spot a typo in the assignment.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Pick 3 in a row and complete.

Create a map of Colonial Texas	Write a short biography of Moses and Stephen F. Austin.	Create a timeline of events in Tejas y Coahuila from 1821 - 1835
Write a diary of a new colonist living in Tejas Y Coahuila	Write a letter to Stephen F. Austin This one is required.	Create a job posting for an Empresario.
Create a Venn Diagram of the Colonization Laws of 1823 and 1824	Create a Monument to honor the Old 300	Create a foldable explaining the roles of women in Tejas y Coahuila.

I put 2 anchor charts on the walls to explain each project.  I can't tell you how many students simply made a flag instead of a map.  The anchor charts provided clarity and textbook pages just in case.


I'm really happy with our work overall.  I had 100% participation, and some of my reluctant learners got to witness my passion for creating engaging lessons just for them.


I plan on doing this again in January when we are learning about the Republic of Texas.  Until then,


Peace
"Everybody is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a ladder, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid."
-Albert Einstein

ALL IN....

Time is short.  In Texas, we have a small amount of time to digest the workings of our biennial legislature.  Then, we turn around and hold our breath, and sometimes our noses, and hope they get things right THIS time.

If you are from out of state, then please realize, by law, we require a balanced state budget every 2 years.  At times, it appears miraculously right at the end of the 140 day legislative session.  No matter your thoughts on the limited government we have created for ourselves in this great state, our elected representatives accomplish a lot in that short time. They work hard for both us common folk, and for the many incredible parts of Texas.

But, here is where I must disagree with the work of these fine people.

For too long, the children of Texas have been held hostage, political pawns if you will.  Hard working parents have no time for this nonsense.  Most families have 2 working parents holding down full time jobs.  That is the reality of their situation.  And, they expect our Constitutionally mandated education system to be there for them.

Yet, session after session, the Texas Legislature comes up short when it comes to providing the funding necessary to effectively educate our children.  This is not just a problem for families with children.  This is a problem for EVERYONE.  Period.

The inequalities of the state funding mechanism for education need to be rectified.  These affect all families, no matter which district in which they reside.  So called 'rich' districts constantly have funds taken by the state to go to the 'poor' districts.  It is a sham of the highest order which unfortunately has been judged constitutional by our Texas Supreme Court.

Right now, our immediate concern should be to elect representatives with the best interests of our children at heart.  We can do better for our children, for all students, and for all families in order to keep Texas the best.

http://craigrothmeier.blogspot.com/2017/10/so-why-dont-we-engage-and-vote.html

Read the above article.  

It's about the vote.  Get out and vote.  That is your voice.  I teach this everyday in History classes.  We cannot go silent.  We must be heard every 2 years in the Capitol building.

I'll be making this blog public soon.  Expect to hear more about this.

Peace

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener."

-Robert Frost

#THUNDERDOME Part II

Or, Letting sport invade your classroom.

A certain radio personality invaded local sports talk 10 years ago.  Life has never been the same.  What started out as an afternoon gig, then moved into a remote show from Wisconsin and Victoria, is now an early morning staple for those seeking escape from the mundane.

Said radio guy introduced a certain lexicon onto the airwaves, and my classroom was transformed.

You see, the defenders of the Alamo weren't just murdered.  They got 'dead'.  I don't teach just Texas;  I teach 'any and all things Texas'.  And, it's not just the History of Texas;  it's the 'History of the Greatest State in the History of the Greatest Country in the History of the World'.

I don't know if this is the proper way to bring real world stuff into the classroom, but it definitely livens up the proceedings.

Peace

"The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on the fighting the old, but building the new."
-Socrates

#THUNDERDOME Part I

Or, The History of a sports fan.

Sports fanatics definitely earn that moniker each and every day.  I still remember my son's first football game.  He was in 4th grade and was playing up with 5th graders.  We were in Lockhart, TX, just a small town known for its BBQ.  Anyway, the parents at these games are allowed to pretty much roam the sidelines.  I was on the 20 yard line, taking pictures and video.  In comes my son for kickoff coverage.  The kick was decent. The player caught it at the 20, and ran to the 30.  There he was met by my son and a host of 4 foot nothing players in pads.

I'll never forget the sound his pads made as he hit the player.  It was that distinct 'crack', and it meant one thing:  my son had mad skills.  Darn straight.  His coach looked over at me and said:  That was (him).  I could feel my chest blow up bigger than a puffer fish.  Yeah!  We got us a player.

I looked up at my wife in the stands.  She waved me up. 

 "Sit down, and be quiet." she said.

On the way home, we agreed we won't be one of those parents.  We will celebrate the team, but this sport is not about our son.  What will come, will.

And it did.  Eleven years later, we just finished taking part in our last season as football parents, this time at the collegiate level.  What a ride.

I take great pride in encouraging my 7th grade students to take part in athletics.  Even if they don't like it, at least they tried.  Representing our school can be tough.  It's just the nature of the beast here on the West Side.  It's always good to see our students get out there and compete.  You can witness the nerves, even in the classroom during gamedays.  

I've witnessed the hard work it takes to take part and excel in sports.  And that is what makes me a fan.

Peace

"Start Unknown.  Finish Unforgettable."

-Nike