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