Let them go...One of the hardest things to do as a Teacher

It has taken me 20+ years to learn a very valuable lesson regarding projects and students. I still catch myself giving students too much information regarding a project. Be as brief as you can with project instructions but make sure they understand the ending goal then step back and let the students do their magic and surprise you. The more instructions you give students the more creativity you take away from them. Let them solve the problem their way. We have to admit that as long as students are reaching the ending goal that there is no wrong process in getting there. We have to start giving students credit for being more intelligent than we were at their age. They are! Things have become so advanced not only on an academic level but also, on a much more obvious level, the technological level. Students pick up on pretty much everything at a much quicker pace. AS A EDUCATOR YOU HAVE TO LET THEM "PLAY" AND TAKE TIME TO MAKE MISTAKES AND THEN MAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS.

Most of my "growing" in this area as an educator has come in the last 2-3 years due to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classes and projects. When you run a project based class this lesson becomes very obvious. I would also like to thank a colleague for improving my "letting them go" philosophy. Mr. Brad Page was/is a very good educator in the "letting them go" philosophy. I had the privilege of teaching STEM with Mr. Page for two years. It was a great experience in which I would say I learned as much as the kids if not more.

I also believe that parents are where this philosophy really takes hold. Let your kids fail. Let your kids play. Let your kids "fix" something that didn't work for them. This is where real learning takes place!

Newton, Connecticut...Tragedy Again

As I sit here, as and educator and parent, thinking about the tragedy that struck Newton, Connecticut this morning, I can't help but go through in my mind what I would do in a similar situation. I am in the odd position of being both a parent and and educator at my current institution. Would I do what I know I would have done at Payson Seymour?...Which was to do anything to protect "my kids". Sure I would. The students in my classroom are "my kids". Families of students expect you to love and care for their kids as they would. That is the responsibility you take on when you become and educator.

Would I be in a totally different state of mind since I do have a child that goes to my current school? Probably. I know I would do my job in protecting the kids in my classroom and at the same time keep a cool head and try to find out about my daughter. Of course this is all theory and I hope this situation never develops but as an educator I feel you have to put yourself in these positions mentally to be able to deal with them if they ever do occur.

It is a sad state of affairs when you have to think about what you would do (even maybe giving your life) if something tragic would hit "your" school but it is a fact present day. I am willing to do this as an educator and feel that if you are not, and you are an educator, then maybe you better rethink your current occupation. Parents put their child's safety in your hands everyday. That doesn't always mean just fixing a "boo-boo".

I have to laugh at some faculty meetings concerning emergency situations. Some faculty and staff feel the need to bring up every possible situation they can think of. There is absolutely no way possible to be prepared for every catastrophe. You can't ask "What if a man comes in..." or "What if 3 people wearing clown outfits...". You must remember to keep calm, THINK, and above all, do what's best for the students. Yes, you should try to follow protocol but you might not be able to in all situations. I believe that the students have to see you as calm to make them feel as safe as possible in any situation.

Now I know what some of you are saying, "How does he know what he would do? He has never been in that kind of situation." You are right. I have not been in that kind of situation but I KNOW I would do what is best for the students. If you don't have that mentality then you are already aiding in making the catastrophe worse.

In the next few days when finding out all the details of the Newton tragedy, I know we will hear the names of heroes that went above an beyond. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Newton community.

Christmas Time at School

One of the first things I learned as an educator is that you have to adapt. Sometimes you have to adapt within the minute! During the holiday season it is especially true. There are many assemblies, Christmas concerts, parties, etc. As an educator you can either fight and complain about the interruptions or you can embrace them. There is no need to fight them because they are going to happen whether you complain or not. Go with the flow and enjoy the season. Remember, as an educator you can only do what you have time to do. Smile with the students and let them know that you care about them and the other things they do just as much as you do about them learning the material for the next quiz or test. Students will appreciate getting to know you as a "human being" and not just as a teacher.

Enjoy the holidays and may all of you have a great 2013! Be safe.

Substitutes

I have been pretty lucky regarding substitutes. My only complaint is that I am finding that substitutes, for the most part, are getting farther and farther from the technology grid. That is, they are not trained to handle the technology that is integrated in today's classroom which limits what the are able to do in your classroom.

I do understand that substitutes are becoming increasingly difficult to find. At my current school they are almost all retired teachers. They are good subs. Is it going to be mandated by the state at some point that all subs be trained in certain areas of technology? It sounds like something the state would do. Is that a bad thing? No, in my opinion, so that they can incorporate more of today's teaching strategies and they can fully involve themselves in what education is today. Yes, in my opinion, because if it is mandated, the amount of substitutes that will be available will be even less in my opinion. Very few retired teachers are going to pay the money or take the time to get trained in something that they are only going to use when they are subbing. I don't blame them! It is a difficult situation. What are your thoughts?

Transition

I am still transitioning from teaching at a small public junior high/high school to a small private elementary school. It has been quite a change. I definitely made the right choice moving on to a private school but I do dearly miss the students from the public school that I taught at for twenty years.

The public school system had become more and more frustrating to me for many reasons. I was in many leadership roles such as president of the union, member of a student assistant committee, etc. Each of these seemed to be less and less meaningful as the years progressed. Conforming to what the state required us, as teachers, to do was easily the most frustrating. There were more hoops to jump through, more paperwork, and more meetings but much less time for actual teaching. I did not become a teacher to make sure students could do a great job on standardized testing although it seemed that is all the state cared about. Yes, I did want the students to do as well as they could on these tests but there are many things that are not tested that need to be addressed by a school and especially a good teacher. Things like how to live the right way and how to treat people should be taught with a high degree of focus (the state should not have to mandate what they think is appropriate). Things that John Wooden instilled in his players/students are imperative for students to learn. None of these things are assessed by the state but are by the community and general public. In my opinion these things, like Wooden's "Two Sets of Threes" ,should be taught and massaged into every students head. I have been on my soap box long enough and this is entirely too negative. I do hope that public education is figured out. ALL kids deserve the best education they can receive!

On to private school! Many of the values that I have attached to being an excellent teacher are being taught on a daily basis at my current private school (and are not mandated by the state). I am not saying that I have not had some major adjustments to make but I feel I fit in at this school unlike any other. Mass twice a week and an elementary setting have been the two biggest adjustments for me. I am not saying they are bad adjustments, just adjustments from the public setting. Resources at the private school have been pretty much limitless. I recently told someone that if you can't teach to the best of your ability at this school then you should not be a teacher. I currently have a classroom set of iPads, a Smartboard, an air printer, an Elmo, and Apple TV to work with in my classroom. I feel comfortable saying that I have received, total dollars, more this year than in all of my years of teaching in the public school system combined.

Bottom line is that all kids are good and can be taught (find how out how they learn and do it) and being an educator is more rewarding than any other occupation I can imagine. Find what works with the kids and where you best fit, enjoy your job and smile, do your best everyday, and remember how lucky you are to be shaping lives!