Hummmm

"To whom much is given, much is required." How many times have I heard those words and even uttered them. Tonight as I was driving home after dinner with my sons, I started thinking about that quote. As educators we are given multiple opportunities on a daily basis to prove the quote true. First, we have the opportunity to work with colleagues, students, and parents on a regular basis. Just think of the brain power that is in a school each and every day. No, not all teachers are on the same academic level and neither are students; however, learning from each other whether a new teacher or a veteran one, is just as important as students learning from their teachers and/or each other. We have to remember that students are always learning something either from the written curriculum or from the unwritten curriculum. Second we are given the privilege to offer students the vast knowledge that we have accumulated throughout the years. From high school diplomas to doctorates and every degree and certification in between, educators have a lot of knowledge to disperse and that knowledge will not help anyone if it is not shared. Finally, as educators, we can see that students are all just children, some in small bodies and others in older and bigger bodies. No matter what the age, they all are seeking something, whether it is knowledge, direction, structure, or just a social experience. What we do with the time we are assigned with students is important and shouldn't be taken lightly. Educators have been given much responsibility and most give all that is required and then 110% more. Many thanks to the teachers that have made a difference in my life.

Friends and Family

Well, I can truly say I am blessed beyond imagination. This week has brought special times with friends and family that demonstrate caring in a way that makes me feel special. From bonding time with my incredible oldest son, a study session on Wednesday evening with an amazing friend who is also working on his doctorate, dinner on Thursday night with a wonderful friend that grew up as I did in a rural area and understands my fascination with Honey Boo Boo, lunch on Friday with a teacher friend whom I have known for a very long time and means the world to me and cell phone calls to and from many others when I needed a pick me up. Having wonderful friends that talk to me when I am lonely, listen to me when I am upset and just sit with me when I need to have someone close by, makes my life so much better. Friends and family come in all shapes, sizes, color, religions, and orientations which helps me to understand different perspectives,ideas, and opinions. I count myself a very rich person because of all the treasures I have in those I call friends and family.

Why?

Currently I am reading Tony Danza's book, I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High which was recently published. In the book he chronicles the life of a first year teacher, himself, as he navigates the world of an urban high school. Even though the book is a memoir of his year, it contains several nuggets that educators and parents should take into account. The first one is that students are more engaged in their learning when the learning is participatory. He painstakingly writes about the classes when students were not participating and the trouble that tended to arise from lack of involvement. On the flip side, he gives an example of a lesson using a Scavenger Hunt to review for a test of the book, Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck and the engagement level of the students completing this exercise. Really, how much more are we, as adults, interested in something when we get to participate? Another nugget of wisdom he supplied was that we need to look deeper than surface level before we judge or label a student. He was surprised to see the problems that students were dealing with on a daily basis. Problems that ranged from not knowing which college to attend to being abused by a family member on a daily basis. Most of the time the students tried to hide their pain and go through the day without talking about their problems. How many days do we short change another person by judging them? I can honestly say, I have done it and I am ashamed of that. As I get older, I think wisdom is kicking in and I realize we all have faults and judging someone else only serves to try to make ourselves look better. As a parent, there are many times that I mistook my children's attitudes and choice of clothes as being disrespectful where in truth, they were dealing with issues that were much more difficult than I could have ever imagined. As a parent, I have become much more accepting and quiet instead of always trying to have the answer. If you get a chance, read the book. It validated a lot of my beliefs in teaching, parenting, and in students. Now finally, the Why? from the title. Why because we never know when something as simple as reading a book can make a difference in the way we look at those around us.

Caring

Recently I had the opportunity to observe a few classrooms in an urban school district. What I witnessed was the tremendous amount of care and concern each teacher exhibited for their students. I have always believed in the old adage, They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. I am not sure who to attribute this quote to, there are many that claim it, but I do know for sure, that I truly believe in the words. These teachers believed in their students and set high expectations for each one of them. My dad used to say that if someone picks at you, not bullying, then they care about you. A friend was picking at me about a situation recently and I didn't "pick up" on the picking part. Well, needless to say, my feelings were just a little hurt. All it took was for them to tell me they were just "messing" with me and a smile came right back. That experience started me thinking about how I react each day to those around me. Even as an adult, it is important that I let those around me know how much I care about them, whether it is the bag person at the local Kroger or the custodian cleaning the school. A smile doesn't cost a thing and it shows that you care enough to notice and to offer a small part of you to others.