If I Had Wings....

One memory from the classroom will be with me for a long time. It was probably ten years ago when this happened. I thought I would share it will all of you.

When I used to teach Kindergarten, we ended the good days with a song that lets the kids fly, swing, crawl, and hop around the room. On one particular day, a boy came up in the middle of the flying song and said, "if I really had wings, I would fly to heaven and see my grandpa."

This illustrates one thing very clearly....when a kid seems extra needy or clingy, maybe there are things going on that you don't know about.

How High Could We Fly?

If you have been reading lately, you know it has been a reflective time.... Today I was looking at this picture. I took it out the airplane window on the way to San Antonio for NECC. My favorite thing about flying is the view from the window when the plane is above the clouds.

My thoughts about the clouds turned in to the following thought, "what would it take for schools to fly high?" Rising above the turbulence and storms where life is easy going and all kids would be ready to learn and excited. I always say (with a disgusted tone) if everyone would just do their job, school life would be better. If the principal acted like a principal, the teachers taught, the students wanted to be students, and the parents acted like parents, life would be so easy.

Today I wonder just what it would be like in my utopian school? When I started thinking about it, I decided that some of the greatest moments in my career came in the discordant and crazy times. The strongest relationships I have had with kids resulted from the strong tough-love approach I have with them. Some of my best teaching moments came out of complete and absolute failure with the plan for the day. Sometimes I am proud of the job I do merely because I have overcome so much of what is around me.

For sure we could get a lot accomplished if everyone did their job as I have not so graciously asked. There would be clear flying and we could make meteoric strides toward the sky.

But, the human factor, with all its turbulent bumps, is what keeps it exciting. The storms are where we build our strong relationships---way more than the take offs and the landings. There is no final destination on the school trip...Just a layover until there is more learning. It is truly all about the journey.

We will do what we can to make our teaching better and our students more studious. We will get up every day and try all over again to get closer to our dream school. What a view!

Deep Thoughts at TJ On a Journey....

In the car today, I drove by an area that was devastated by tornado and flooding. Thankfully, there weren't any houses nearby this particular area, but it lead me to have some deep thoughts.

Water -- We all need it to survive. We thirst for it on hot days and we play in it. People like me could sit and watch water and dream. At the lake over the weekend, I spent a great many content minutes just staring into the water. My office is filled with sailboat pictures and water themed prints (and a few by Peter H. Reynolds!). Water is the same substance that caused devastating damage to my area just a few months ago. Water can be heaven or hell.

Wind -- I can say for certain that when we were in San Antonio and the temperatures were near 100, the wind felt like heaven. Yet it was wind, in the form of a tornado, that destroyed one third of a town not far from my house.

Kids -- Back when I used to duck into the teachers' "workroom," I was amazed by some of the students that would be discussed. Many times, I would ask if we were thinking of the same kids. Someone would be bashing a kid that had always been really decent to me and I would be amazed at how are views were different. I will be honest and say that I don't always have the best things to say either....and I have received the same incredulous look I have given. How can a kid be totally different for one teacher than for another?

I have a theory about the rain, the wind, and the kid. All of us have healing and restorative powers that sit right along side the destructive and pain-inducing powers. The powers we use are a result of the experiences we have had and the atmosphere we perceive. I remember getting along very well with a student that most teachers weren't successful with. Mostly I got along with her because I held her to very strict rules, but I never got angry. The kid had enough strikes against her, she really didn't need my wrath. If a kid were ever going to make me angry, she would have been the one. But it was important for me to hold her to the rules without overreacting. For me, she was the swift flowing stream that got very near the banks on many occasions. For others, she was like flooding..... 500 year flood. The difference? My attitude and behavior.

OK, before you start thinking I have a high opinion of myself (I would be thinking that if I were reading this).... I have failed many times with kids. I have lost my temper. I have yelled.... But I think I have also learned so much in the last twenty-two years of teaching (I know you are now thinking I am old). My friend Teresa always shares the quote, "What kind of person do I want to be?" I want to be the strong rule keeper who loves the kids and wants what is best for them. I want to bring out the best in kids....because I know there will be plenty of chances for them to show the worst.

How does the atmosphere in your room effect the weather of student behavior? What will you do to bring out the gentle streams and cool breezes?

Why Hate???

Have you ever noticed that many technologies and companies are polarizing? Tonight a former college student of mine was asking me a question because he was interested in purchasing a Mac. The teacher of the class before mine jumped into the conversation and gave us a list of all the things she hates in the world of technology (mostly Microsoft). It made me question where all the hate comes from? I see a lot of hate-type speak in Twitter and Plurk.....and a lot of negativity.

This paragraph shall be devoted to an overly simplistic demonstration.... When I was working at changing the pedals on my bicycle today, I had to change wrenches. The first wrench cut into my hand and I wanted to survive my manual labor with all of my blood intact. I did not get mad at the first tool or its manufacturer.... I didn't write blog articles or rude comments on blog articles about bike wrenches...I just switched to something that didn't hurt. Sure, that is a VERY simplistic comparison, but doesn't it illustrate the folly of the tech world? It's what you do with a tool that matters...Your preference for tools is personal.

There is a lot of Microsoft bashing in the Tech world.... Is it because it has become the standard in the workplace? I think most companies also have a Slingline stapler, I don't think that has made them evil. Maybe your school likes free software...fine with me. But why the hate?

Then there is the Mac vs. PC...... Don't even get me started (though I love the commercials from Apple). I prefer Apple...it fits my style. However, I don't hate PC. I use a PC in my night class. Both have 'skills' that I wish the other had. No reason for hate.

I read with interest a discussion on interactive whiteboards (IWB) on other blogs (here and here). I want a board in the worst way. I have been thinking of selling a kidney or something to try to get one for my classroom. Would having a IWB change the way I teach? Yes..... for the better. I always say "I was constructivist before being constructivist was cool." Would the addition of the board have magical powers and demote me to being the 'sage on the stage?' Of course not. I have deep and rich plans for my imaginary whiteboard...None of them involve me lecturing. However, if one wouldn't work in your classroom, there is no judgment from me.

Now, where I want to see the feelings that rival hate..... I would love it if anger was directed toward the people who give good technology and teaching a bad name. For example, the teacher or principal who puts only page after page of bullets in PowerPoint... (Which I refer to as using a car as a planter....Still serves a purpose, but not exactly using it for the power it has.) Why are these people allowed to go through life without some anger or disrespect? Why does the technology get all that distaste and not the end user?

How about some passionate discourse with the people who don't get their projectors out of the box it came in for seven months -- or the people who purchased that equipment for blindly buying without a purpose? I imagine I could outfit my room with the latest and greatest in educational products if I had 5% of the money that is wasted buying things that don't get used. Or, as Karl Fisch discusses in the world famous blog post, how do people get to be proud they are technologically illiterate?

It seems to me we have a lot of hatred that is misplaced. In my classroom, I want kids to learn in a way that motivates them toward great end products. I want inspiring software that gets kids to think in a different way. I want a classroom that is ALIVE and thrilling. I want kids to be prepared for their future in the world of work and a creative and inspired world outside of work. Let's put the hate behind us and focus on what matters! The brand of the tool matters not - how KIDS use the tool is what matters.


Stop sign from http://www.toytheater.com/road-signs.php

How do you know you make a difference?

Most teachers, at least the good ones, got into teaching because they wanted to make a difference in the lives of children. Sure, we all joke about the motivation of those three months off (which by the way has NEVER been three months), but deep down it is the everyday miracles that keep us going. The moments I cherish happen often for me, I guess because I am truly lucky and have great students. But, how do I know that my reach will go beyond the walls of my room?

Well, you see, I am a very lucky man. Early in my career, I had an encounter that helped define my life as an educator. I can think back to one time that I knew my presence had made a difference in the world outside my room.

I was in my fifth year teaching when I had an unexpected knock on the door to my tiny apartment. At the door were two students who had graduated the previous year from the school that I had just left. I lived across the street from my new school and I had visitors fairly frequently, but none from the previous school. At the door were John and Luke (and like Jeff from the previous story, not real names). I asked them in and we had a nice time catching up.

Maybe an hour into the conversation, Luke said, “I tracked you down because I wanted to thank you for saving my life.” I had absolutely no idea what he was referring to. I hadn’t seen him in a year and the tone of seriousness from one of the funniest kids I had ever known really took me by surprise. He said, “One night, a few months ago, I had decided to kill myself. I had just broken up with a girl that I was very serious with and I just didn’t see a reason to live.” I was shocked. I said that it must have really been a bad break up, but I wasn’t sure how I was the one who saved his live, since we hadn’t talked. He said, “I had a gun. I was ready to pull the trigger.” I had some training in leading a peer helping group and I remember the warning signs for suicide. I remember that number one warning sign was if the student had a plan. I thought to myself, “he had a plan.” Then he said, “I thought to myself. Mr. Shay would say this is really stupid and that the problems I was having would pass. So, I put the gun down and I am SO glad that I did. You were right. Now that some time has passed, I know that it was something that did pass. I have a new girlfriend and we are really happy. So I came here to say thank you.”

What an amazing gift I was given. It is amazing to me that this kid would track me down and tell me this amazingly personal story. I didn’t live that close to where the kid was living and it was quite a trip. But the truly amazing thing was that it happened at all. You see, I don’t remember having that conversation. I lead a group of peer helpers and that was one of the topics, but I don’t remember being particularly moving. There was a student who committed suicide in my second year of teaching, which was a defining moment in my career. I knew I couldn’t have saved that kid, but I was going to do whatever I could to make sure that there wasn’t another one like him. I even carried his picture in my wallet for years to remind me to take extra time with kids. So, I guess maybe when we covered that part of the peer helping curriculum, I was extra motivated. Maybe Luke remembered the passionate way I talked about it. Either way, I am so blessed to know that I truly have had a lasting impact.

Please know that even if you haven't had the good fortune to have a student come back and share their profound thanks, you make a difference. Please remember this story as the year passes. On those busy days that seem to never end....when one MORE kid needs a few minutes of your time….Your time and words and passion could impact someone deeply…..maybe even saving a life.

The Lake: View from the deck

Here is the view of the lake from the deck. I am using my birthday present, a Flip Camera!

At the Lake!

My other best friend (my wife is my #1 friend) has graciously offered me the MOST beautiful condo on a lake for the weekend! I am there now. I am so lucky to have such a great friend!
Be back on Sunday.