So as I sat and read an earlier post I realized... man, why are all my blog postings so sappy. One friend of mine likened it to a Hallmark card. To know me is to know that this isn't necessarily how I am. I actually live in a world surrounded by comedy but somehow it's just not how I write. For instance: Behind me right now is a cat. Her name is Annie Oakley. She is, as I write this, switching between two activities. 1: Trying to lick the very center of her back where I devilishly placed her hairball cream earlier today. By now it isn't so much a cream, it's really more a booger in her hair but nevertheless, she is determined. 2: Taking a break from that she is spending time alternating between walking in and dipping her whole face in her water dish.... We're pretty sure there's something wrong with her.
Then earlier tonight, these too boys sitting in front of us at the football game were having a whole bucket of laughs. They started out by sleeping through the whole first half and then when they got up, the real fun began. These boys were brothers and probably about 5 and 7. At first they did simple things like spraying each other in the eyeball with a mister spray trying to see who could keep their eye open the longest. Soon after that the older one stepped back and punched the young one right across the mouth. The younger retaliated with a harder punch that caught his brother in the jaw. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, here were two little boys sitting with their dad at a football game minding their own business just, oh you know, punching each other in the face. After about 5 or 6 exchanges the dad finally turned around and laughingly asked, "What's goin on over here?" Man I hope my kid's a boy sometimes.
Anyway so I guess my point in all this is that sometimes it isn't always easy to make a point writing funny stuff. But maybe I don't need a point. After all, all this thing really is is a chance for me to sit down and talk about what's up with me. I really appreciate all those of you who have been reading my posts when I put new ones up. It means alot that you take time out of your busy hours of boredom at work, your late night hours when you can't figure out what to do but you don't want to go to bed, and your drunken hours where almost any link on facebook looks interesting. Seriously, thanks. I'll keep you in mind and try to be slightly more entertaining.
If you really want funny, comment below and let me know. I'll relay a story on here about a guy I knew in jhigh that was old enough to drive and used to hide in his car during football practice... in full pads. He was a role model to us all.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Size Matters...
So I've been lucky enough in the past few years to talk to Vince Young a couple of times. By talk to please realize that I mean listen to. I'm always pretty amazed by him and his back story. Growing up without a dad. Growing up with only women in the house. Growing up in a tough neighborhood where people were routinely shot and arrested.
But look at him now. Respectable, interesting, funny, a supreme athlete and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
As he posed for pictures with hands on my wife's pregnant belly the juxtaposition was pretty interesting. My baby is about long as your hand and weighs in at a little more than a large muffin. Vince on the other hand is like 6'5, 240 lbs. But I'll tell you this: In person, I stand at 6'4 215 and I feel small next to this guy. Regardless what his actual measurables are, the dude is big.
I couldn't help but think about how at one time THE Vince Young weighed just a little more than a large muffin. As Dr. Suess once said, 'Oh the places you'll go little muffin baby.' OK so it isn't a direct quote but whatever. The point is that when you were a kid and your parents told you, 'You can do anything if you just set your mind to it,' they weren't lying! Just look at Vince. Dude was in a bike wreck that sliced him open like William Wallace in the final scene of Braveheart and he still managed to become an incredible high school, college and NFL quarterback .
I intend on sharing this story with my kid when he finally makes his grand entrance into this world. And then I'll share it again when he actually understands what I'm saying. But I think the story goes beyond just a tiny fetus growing up to be the man who walked on water at the Rose Bowl. The story here is that no matter who you are and what you're doing, you can always keep doing great things until you're dead. Take a lesson from Vince who could have looked around and just given up when he was in elementary school. He could of listened to the naysayers when he started at UT who said he had no business behind center. He could have listened to them when they said his throwing sucked, he ran too much or that he just wasn't smart enough to grasp the NFL game. But he didn't... he kept going, making him self better while proving people wrong. He realized early on that no one kicks you unless you're in front of them and he just kept on running. And don't think for a second that after the Pro Bowl, the cover Madden 08 and the other accolades he's earned that he's anywhere near stopping. In fact, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that the Super Bowl and the Hall of Fame are set firmly in his sights. And good luck to him.
Today Vince Young will have his jersey retired during the game against Florida Atlantic. My kid will be there, listening to the whole thing. Let's just hope he (OK... or she) draws some inspiration.
So because you're not only a great football player, but also someone who has inspired so many of us lesser humans...
Congratulations Vince, you deserve everything you get.
But look at him now. Respectable, interesting, funny, a supreme athlete and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
As he posed for pictures with hands on my wife's pregnant belly the juxtaposition was pretty interesting. My baby is about long as your hand and weighs in at a little more than a large muffin. Vince on the other hand is like 6'5, 240 lbs. But I'll tell you this: In person, I stand at 6'4 215 and I feel small next to this guy. Regardless what his actual measurables are, the dude is big.
I couldn't help but think about how at one time THE Vince Young weighed just a little more than a large muffin. As Dr. Suess once said, 'Oh the places you'll go little muffin baby.' OK so it isn't a direct quote but whatever. The point is that when you were a kid and your parents told you, 'You can do anything if you just set your mind to it,' they weren't lying! Just look at Vince. Dude was in a bike wreck that sliced him open like William Wallace in the final scene of Braveheart and he still managed to become an incredible high school, college and NFL quarterback .
I intend on sharing this story with my kid when he finally makes his grand entrance into this world. And then I'll share it again when he actually understands what I'm saying. But I think the story goes beyond just a tiny fetus growing up to be the man who walked on water at the Rose Bowl. The story here is that no matter who you are and what you're doing, you can always keep doing great things until you're dead. Take a lesson from Vince who could have looked around and just given up when he was in elementary school. He could of listened to the naysayers when he started at UT who said he had no business behind center. He could have listened to them when they said his throwing sucked, he ran too much or that he just wasn't smart enough to grasp the NFL game. But he didn't... he kept going, making him self better while proving people wrong. He realized early on that no one kicks you unless you're in front of them and he just kept on running. And don't think for a second that after the Pro Bowl, the cover Madden 08 and the other accolades he's earned that he's anywhere near stopping. In fact, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that the Super Bowl and the Hall of Fame are set firmly in his sights. And good luck to him.
Today Vince Young will have his jersey retired during the game against Florida Atlantic. My kid will be there, listening to the whole thing. Let's just hope he (OK... or she) draws some inspiration.
So because you're not only a great football player, but also someone who has inspired so many of us lesser humans...
Congratulations Vince, you deserve everything you get.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
To Whom it May Concern...
Dear Any Teacher Who Ever Had Me,
Boy I bet you're surprised to see me now. Married, a kid on the way, teaching middle schoolers and loving life. I bet you thought I'd probably never make much of myself after the way I acted in your class. I bet when I slammed paint balls inside your classroom set of books you wished I'd move to another town. I can only imagine that when I questioned the validity of your lessons that you wanted to throw me out the window. When I showed up to class with no shoes and a hat on you always heaved a sigh. When I peeled out and almost hit you in the parking lot you didn't know whether to scream in terror or anger. When I talked and talked... and talked some more regardless of what was happening in class I'm sure you were growing less and less fond of me, many of you even told me so. When I showed up late to class, when I did the wrong assignment and when I made funny cartoons about you, I know you got weary. When I sat in the back and talked on IM and you thought we were making fun of you, we were... everyday.... and you dealt with it. When I thought your class sucked and you overlooked it. When I came to you with a story about my family issues and you knew I was lying. When I said my printer was broke when it wasn't and my email was down and in reality I just forgot. When I looked you right in the eye and said, "No, I wasn't cheating", and you managed to forgive me, you dealt with it and went on. I know it made your job alot less fun. I made your job alot less fun. And for all these things you put up with... Thanks. You deserved more than what I was putting in and still you perservered and came to work everyday. Maybe you saw something that most people didn't. Maybe you saw that underneath it all I wasn't that bad of a kid. Maybe I almost made you quit and you just managed to stick it out until I was gone. Either way, when I come to class these days and one of my boys is sitting in the back of the class, talking, laughing it up, making it sound like he's ripping his papers up and chewing his pencils in half, I think of you. So thanks again, to all of you... for good or for bad, you are my inspiration.
Matt
After yesterday's post I've decided I'm going to start posting Things Overheard at WoRMS...
Today's entry comes from none other than our LeBron loving teenager of yesterday:
After a discussion of cardinal (North, South East, West) and Intermediate (Northwest, Southeast etc.) directions she asks, "So is there like an Eastwest?" I'm telling you folks, she ain't dumb... really!
Boy I bet you're surprised to see me now. Married, a kid on the way, teaching middle schoolers and loving life. I bet you thought I'd probably never make much of myself after the way I acted in your class. I bet when I slammed paint balls inside your classroom set of books you wished I'd move to another town. I can only imagine that when I questioned the validity of your lessons that you wanted to throw me out the window. When I showed up to class with no shoes and a hat on you always heaved a sigh. When I peeled out and almost hit you in the parking lot you didn't know whether to scream in terror or anger. When I talked and talked... and talked some more regardless of what was happening in class I'm sure you were growing less and less fond of me, many of you even told me so. When I showed up late to class, when I did the wrong assignment and when I made funny cartoons about you, I know you got weary. When I sat in the back and talked on IM and you thought we were making fun of you, we were... everyday.... and you dealt with it. When I thought your class sucked and you overlooked it. When I came to you with a story about my family issues and you knew I was lying. When I said my printer was broke when it wasn't and my email was down and in reality I just forgot. When I looked you right in the eye and said, "No, I wasn't cheating", and you managed to forgive me, you dealt with it and went on. I know it made your job alot less fun. I made your job alot less fun. And for all these things you put up with... Thanks. You deserved more than what I was putting in and still you perservered and came to work everyday. Maybe you saw something that most people didn't. Maybe you saw that underneath it all I wasn't that bad of a kid. Maybe I almost made you quit and you just managed to stick it out until I was gone. Either way, when I come to class these days and one of my boys is sitting in the back of the class, talking, laughing it up, making it sound like he's ripping his papers up and chewing his pencils in half, I think of you. So thanks again, to all of you... for good or for bad, you are my inspiration.
Matt
After yesterday's post I've decided I'm going to start posting Things Overheard at WoRMS...
Today's entry comes from none other than our LeBron loving teenager of yesterday:
After a discussion of cardinal (North, South East, West) and Intermediate (Northwest, Southeast etc.) directions she asks, "So is there like an Eastwest?" I'm telling you folks, she ain't dumb... really!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Measure of Intelligence
So today I was taken aback by a question. It's only the third time in my short and illustrious career that one of my kids has said something that seemed so far out there that I literally didn't know what to say. I'd like to share these gems with you here:
The first happened around 3 years ago when I was just starting the UTeach program. They had us spending 10 hours in an elementary school classroom just getting our feet wet. One day I was teaching a small group of 2nd grade kiddos the prefixes re- and un-. We had gone over words like undo, redo, reload, unload, unzip, retie, untie... you get the picture. Anyway so at the end of the lesson I decided to 'check for understanding' by going around to each of the 5 boys and get them to name a word that begins with re- or un-. Simple right? Not so fast. Guys 1, 2 and 3 had no issue saying words that we had previously discussed. One even used a new word, reshelve! So at this point I'm feeling pretty good. The teacher observing me is smiling, the kids are answering well and we're all golden until guy 4 steps up to the plate. 'OK buddy, give me a word that starts with re- or un-', I said. Then he sat there, wheels spinning in his mind. All of a sudden a light bulb came on. He looked at me and said with the utmost certainty... "Bracelet!"
Hmmm...
The second came during the very next semester when I was spending 20 hours at the middle school level. I was actually teaching the same subject that I am now, Texas History. One day I was showing the class some info on plains Indians and telling them about the various uses for buffalo. I talked to them about the stomach being used for bowls and the hide for shelter etc. Somewhere toward the end of the conversation a girl sitting up by the overhead looked at me with a whole barrel full of sincerity and asked, "So is that where buffalo wings come from?" Assuming she was kidding as 7th graders are prone to do, I gave her a courtesy snicker. In the middle of my sneer I realized her expression had yet to change. Without a thought I vomited the words, "Wait are you serious?" ............Yep, she was. The kicker is that I have the whole thing on video and I was being evaluated that day. Woof....
The third, like I said before, happened today. So we're talking about the significance of Nov. 22 1963 on Texas history. To those of you who have trouble remembering dates, this is the day JFK was shot in Dallas which in affect made Texan Lyndon B. Johnson the president. So I explain to the students that it's Johnson's popularity in Central Texas that has led to so many things in the area being named after him. Lake LBJ, the LBJ library, LBJ high school... the list goes on and on. The kids got into it and started naming LBJ things they knew. Some even asked about Lady Bird and we all sort of got into this really cool conversation about old Lyndon's impact on their lives today. Somewhere in the middle of this, a hand goes up in the back. I acknowledge her and step toward her as the class had, at that point, gotten a little noisy... and thank God it had. When I was just a couple feet away she got this really quizzical look and said, "I thought LBJ stood for LeBron James." ............................................................"no", I said quietly.
These situations bring up feelings that make me feel like I might be turning into a grandparent rather than a parent. I just want to scream, "What's the matter with kids these days?!" But then I'm reminded of something an AP instructor told me this summer:
He, one of the most intelligent men I've met in quite a while, told me this story about how he never understood the why the Civil War was called the Civil War. This is probably because he wasn't hearing, thinking or saying Civil. Instead he was hearing, thinking and saying Silver War. No wonder he was confused.
All of this makes me think about how we measure intelligence in our society. Here in Texas we have this little gem called the TAKS test. That's Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for those not in the know. Anyway so it's basically this mulitple choice test that determines the fate of the kid's educational future, the federal funding of the school, the jobs of teachers and administrators, the rating of the school and the district and probably the fate of the world as we know it too. But why? Just because a kid can't tell me LBJ means Lyndon Baines Johnson doesn't mean they're stupid, it just means they're disinterested. For example: Driving a car is extremely complex. Between the operation of the vehicle itself and the traffic laws and negotiating the roads with other drivers... it can be pretty intense. And yet how many more kids want to drive and know they'll succeed at driving than those who want to do and know they'll succeed at algebra. Algebra really isn't more complex, it just isn't as fun. The same girl that asked about LeBron's lake and library monicker can tell me anything I'd ever want to know about the Jonas Bros.... and then some.
So from now on I pledge (scout's honor) to withhold judgement. Just because someone doesn't know what you think is basic knowledge, doesn't mean they're dumb. They're just.... for lack of a better word... Bracelet?
The first happened around 3 years ago when I was just starting the UTeach program. They had us spending 10 hours in an elementary school classroom just getting our feet wet. One day I was teaching a small group of 2nd grade kiddos the prefixes re- and un-. We had gone over words like undo, redo, reload, unload, unzip, retie, untie... you get the picture. Anyway so at the end of the lesson I decided to 'check for understanding' by going around to each of the 5 boys and get them to name a word that begins with re- or un-. Simple right? Not so fast. Guys 1, 2 and 3 had no issue saying words that we had previously discussed. One even used a new word, reshelve! So at this point I'm feeling pretty good. The teacher observing me is smiling, the kids are answering well and we're all golden until guy 4 steps up to the plate. 'OK buddy, give me a word that starts with re- or un-', I said. Then he sat there, wheels spinning in his mind. All of a sudden a light bulb came on. He looked at me and said with the utmost certainty... "Bracelet!"
Hmmm...
The second came during the very next semester when I was spending 20 hours at the middle school level. I was actually teaching the same subject that I am now, Texas History. One day I was showing the class some info on plains Indians and telling them about the various uses for buffalo. I talked to them about the stomach being used for bowls and the hide for shelter etc. Somewhere toward the end of the conversation a girl sitting up by the overhead looked at me with a whole barrel full of sincerity and asked, "So is that where buffalo wings come from?" Assuming she was kidding as 7th graders are prone to do, I gave her a courtesy snicker. In the middle of my sneer I realized her expression had yet to change. Without a thought I vomited the words, "Wait are you serious?" ............Yep, she was. The kicker is that I have the whole thing on video and I was being evaluated that day. Woof....
The third, like I said before, happened today. So we're talking about the significance of Nov. 22 1963 on Texas history. To those of you who have trouble remembering dates, this is the day JFK was shot in Dallas which in affect made Texan Lyndon B. Johnson the president. So I explain to the students that it's Johnson's popularity in Central Texas that has led to so many things in the area being named after him. Lake LBJ, the LBJ library, LBJ high school... the list goes on and on. The kids got into it and started naming LBJ things they knew. Some even asked about Lady Bird and we all sort of got into this really cool conversation about old Lyndon's impact on their lives today. Somewhere in the middle of this, a hand goes up in the back. I acknowledge her and step toward her as the class had, at that point, gotten a little noisy... and thank God it had. When I was just a couple feet away she got this really quizzical look and said, "I thought LBJ stood for LeBron James." ............................................................"no", I said quietly.
These situations bring up feelings that make me feel like I might be turning into a grandparent rather than a parent. I just want to scream, "What's the matter with kids these days?!" But then I'm reminded of something an AP instructor told me this summer:
He, one of the most intelligent men I've met in quite a while, told me this story about how he never understood the why the Civil War was called the Civil War. This is probably because he wasn't hearing, thinking or saying Civil. Instead he was hearing, thinking and saying Silver War. No wonder he was confused.
All of this makes me think about how we measure intelligence in our society. Here in Texas we have this little gem called the TAKS test. That's Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for those not in the know. Anyway so it's basically this mulitple choice test that determines the fate of the kid's educational future, the federal funding of the school, the jobs of teachers and administrators, the rating of the school and the district and probably the fate of the world as we know it too. But why? Just because a kid can't tell me LBJ means Lyndon Baines Johnson doesn't mean they're stupid, it just means they're disinterested. For example: Driving a car is extremely complex. Between the operation of the vehicle itself and the traffic laws and negotiating the roads with other drivers... it can be pretty intense. And yet how many more kids want to drive and know they'll succeed at driving than those who want to do and know they'll succeed at algebra. Algebra really isn't more complex, it just isn't as fun. The same girl that asked about LeBron's lake and library monicker can tell me anything I'd ever want to know about the Jonas Bros.... and then some.
So from now on I pledge (scout's honor) to withhold judgement. Just because someone doesn't know what you think is basic knowledge, doesn't mean they're dumb. They're just.... for lack of a better word... Bracelet?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Do what you love and love what you do...
Tonight I want to talk to you about how I think you can live a happier life. It's probably simpler than you think...
This all kind of stemmed from my stint as a sounding board during multiple lunchtime tirades yesterday. Maybe I'm a little naive but shouldn't teachers really enjoy the life they lead? Shouldn't they, on some basic level, like their job? Perhaps I'm showing my youth. Perhaps a job as a teacher is the same doldrum that all jobs are. Joyless days on top of joyless days where your only method of survival is pissing and moaning during the day and getting drunk at the end of it. But why does that have to be the way it is? Not just for teachers but for everybody... I mean why can't you strike out and make a better life for yourself? So what if you've been doing the same thing forever or you went to college to do something that you now hate. That fact shouldn't be enough to tie you down for the next couple of decades while you wait for social security to kick.
But I guess this isn't really true for everyone. Alot of people, teachers in particular, have a tendency to make an about-face during their sophomore slump and never look back. I say more power to em. If you realize it's making your life unhappy, why keep it up?! If on day one you already feel like the world is caving in around you... what are you doing here?
Those of you who have taught are probably familiar with the idea that you can't smile until after Christmas. It shows vulnerability and the kids will eat you alive. What?! You guys that know me personally, please... if I am ever working and decide that not smiling is a good idea, let me know it's time to hang it up.
These kids need love. They need compassion and they need to feel like we're on their team. Why the F would you decide not smiling at them is a good idea? So they'll be scared of you? So they'll know you don't mess around? I mean seriously, what's the upside? Think back to all the teachers you liked the best (or perhaps disliked the least), how many of them didn't smile? How many acted like they didn't want to be there? How many were too busy to be involved with student activities? I would guess the pickin's are slim to none there.
So teachers, love on your kids. You'll both be better off for it, even if it does make them more talkative. Non-teachers, love on your own kids. Show them with your face how happy you are to see them. Even if they don't act like it, it means alot to them. And for goodness sakes if you hate your job... go find another!
Love what you do, and do what you love... it may seem difficult to take a step in a different direction, but you have to ask yourself, 'Ten years from now, am I going to look back and be glad I didn't make a change?' If the answer is anything but yes, you might want to check out the Help Wanted section.
This all kind of stemmed from my stint as a sounding board during multiple lunchtime tirades yesterday. Maybe I'm a little naive but shouldn't teachers really enjoy the life they lead? Shouldn't they, on some basic level, like their job? Perhaps I'm showing my youth. Perhaps a job as a teacher is the same doldrum that all jobs are. Joyless days on top of joyless days where your only method of survival is pissing and moaning during the day and getting drunk at the end of it. But why does that have to be the way it is? Not just for teachers but for everybody... I mean why can't you strike out and make a better life for yourself? So what if you've been doing the same thing forever or you went to college to do something that you now hate. That fact shouldn't be enough to tie you down for the next couple of decades while you wait for social security to kick.
But I guess this isn't really true for everyone. Alot of people, teachers in particular, have a tendency to make an about-face during their sophomore slump and never look back. I say more power to em. If you realize it's making your life unhappy, why keep it up?! If on day one you already feel like the world is caving in around you... what are you doing here?
Those of you who have taught are probably familiar with the idea that you can't smile until after Christmas. It shows vulnerability and the kids will eat you alive. What?! You guys that know me personally, please... if I am ever working and decide that not smiling is a good idea, let me know it's time to hang it up.
These kids need love. They need compassion and they need to feel like we're on their team. Why the F would you decide not smiling at them is a good idea? So they'll be scared of you? So they'll know you don't mess around? I mean seriously, what's the upside? Think back to all the teachers you liked the best (or perhaps disliked the least), how many of them didn't smile? How many acted like they didn't want to be there? How many were too busy to be involved with student activities? I would guess the pickin's are slim to none there.
So teachers, love on your kids. You'll both be better off for it, even if it does make them more talkative. Non-teachers, love on your own kids. Show them with your face how happy you are to see them. Even if they don't act like it, it means alot to them. And for goodness sakes if you hate your job... go find another!
Love what you do, and do what you love... it may seem difficult to take a step in a different direction, but you have to ask yourself, 'Ten years from now, am I going to look back and be glad I didn't make a change?' If the answer is anything but yes, you might want to check out the Help Wanted section.
Monday, August 25, 2008
First Day Blow Away
Well so my first day just ended. It was all pretty surreal. After all the worry, the stress, the excitement and the anxiety... it was really just like slipping on an old shoe. I was so extremely comfortable that it was almost a little scary. I think that's probably a credit to the UTeach program up at Texas. By the time we hit the classroom for real, we've been there... alot. So maybe feeling unprepared was silly in the end. After all, we've been getting ready for today for the last 3 years. It's nice to see hard work pay off.
My kids are great. Which was the opposite of how other teachers said they would be. They would all say things about how rowdy they were going to be or how tough they'd be in the afternoon. Truthfully I didn't really notice it. I'm a firm believer in the 'perception is reality' mantra. If you think kids are crazy... then they are. If you think you're a bad teacher or that you can't do math or that you don't have a good memory then chances are those things are true about you.
All in all things went great. In the classes that I was able to get things done quickly for, we got to talk about a metaphor I came up with while watching a video on Youtube. In the 'Rabbit and Snake' metaphor I showed them a picture of a gross snake and a furry little rabbit. We talked about how if you put a rabbit in a cage with a big snake, the rabbit would surely meet his end. The students also talked about how even in the wild a rabbit's only true recourse is to simply run and hide.
Then I explained to them that as students they are all rabbits. They are in a cage that they are legally bound to go to everyday and there is no escape. As if that weren't bad enough, they've got snakes in the cage. Teachers, classes, tests, projects, busy schedules, and relationships can all be snakes in their school 'cage'. Now they have two options. They can either let those snakes eat them alive or become fierce bunnies who aren't afraid of anything and will attack it until it isn't there to attack anymore.
Then we watched this video.
You'll notice that in the video the rabbit tries unsuccessfully a number of times to attack the snake head on. Sometimes the best approach is not always the first one you come up with. So eventually the rabbit figures out, I should bite the tail and the rest is history. Fight until the fight is done.
There's a whole bunch of lessons to be learned from that little bunny. I had fun teaching it. I had fun with the kids. It was so refreshing to finally be there in the classroom, just me and them. I have to admit though I had Baby Spur on my mind alot today. I'm really looking forward to that kid being born, but I'm also excited about it becoming a teenager. Contrary to popular belief... they really aren't that bad. I love em and I love being around them.
I suppose as a parting shot I'll leave you like I left the kids today. Be fierce rabbits... you never know when a snake's gonna get hungry.
My kids are great. Which was the opposite of how other teachers said they would be. They would all say things about how rowdy they were going to be or how tough they'd be in the afternoon. Truthfully I didn't really notice it. I'm a firm believer in the 'perception is reality' mantra. If you think kids are crazy... then they are. If you think you're a bad teacher or that you can't do math or that you don't have a good memory then chances are those things are true about you.
All in all things went great. In the classes that I was able to get things done quickly for, we got to talk about a metaphor I came up with while watching a video on Youtube. In the 'Rabbit and Snake' metaphor I showed them a picture of a gross snake and a furry little rabbit. We talked about how if you put a rabbit in a cage with a big snake, the rabbit would surely meet his end. The students also talked about how even in the wild a rabbit's only true recourse is to simply run and hide.
Then I explained to them that as students they are all rabbits. They are in a cage that they are legally bound to go to everyday and there is no escape. As if that weren't bad enough, they've got snakes in the cage. Teachers, classes, tests, projects, busy schedules, and relationships can all be snakes in their school 'cage'. Now they have two options. They can either let those snakes eat them alive or become fierce bunnies who aren't afraid of anything and will attack it until it isn't there to attack anymore.
Then we watched this video.
You'll notice that in the video the rabbit tries unsuccessfully a number of times to attack the snake head on. Sometimes the best approach is not always the first one you come up with. So eventually the rabbit figures out, I should bite the tail and the rest is history. Fight until the fight is done.
There's a whole bunch of lessons to be learned from that little bunny. I had fun teaching it. I had fun with the kids. It was so refreshing to finally be there in the classroom, just me and them. I have to admit though I had Baby Spur on my mind alot today. I'm really looking forward to that kid being born, but I'm also excited about it becoming a teenager. Contrary to popular belief... they really aren't that bad. I love em and I love being around them.
I suppose as a parting shot I'll leave you like I left the kids today. Be fierce rabbits... you never know when a snake's gonna get hungry.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
First Time for Everything
As I sit down to write this, it occurs to me that I always thought blogs were dumb. Why would someone just sit down and write about themselves for extended amounts of time? But perhaps it's something about the precipice I find myself sitting on that makes me think it might be kind of interesting. You see tomorrow I start my career. I am no longer the college student who went to 5 different schools over 8 years just to get an BA in History. I am no longer a bachelor as I have been married now for over 3 years. I am no longer without dependents as my wife will be giving birth to our first child in January. So as I get ready for bed tonight it comes with the realization of all these things and that I simply am no longer a child.
Some of you may wonder why it has taken me until I am 26 years old to figure out I'm not a kid anymore. Why didn't I figure it out when I got married or perhaps when I graduated in May? No telling. But the fact remains that for some odd reason I'm taking a look at life and becoming a little overwhelmed at where I am. So why not document it?
Tomorrow I will start my career, as I said before. But this is not just any career. Tomorrow will be my first day as a teacher. I am teaching 7th grade Texas History here in Austin and couldn't be more thrilled with my job.
Remember your first day of school? Probably not. I know I don't. But I can imagine that I felt a little like I do now.
1) Excited: How could you not feel excited about all the newness. You are completely ignorant to what lies ahead and, as they say, what you don't know about tomorrow can't pee in your Wheaties today. Actually no one says that... but it applies.
2) Scared: The bottom line is that on your first day of school you probably didn't know anyone there. This one girl I went to kinder with used to chill with her mom all day from birth until that fateful Day 1 of school. Watching them try to push her into class without her mom was sort of like watching someone give a cat a bath. While I'm sure I'm not going to be forcefully shoved in front of my students tomorrow, I do feel a little like an ostrich in need of a sandbox.
3) Hopeful: While some people may lump hopeful with excited, I didn't think it was appropriate. Excitement for me is sometimes a little blind. Hope however has clear goals in mind. This year I plan to do more than simply make it. I plan to challenge my students and myself to think and grow as the year progresses. I plan to become involved and become a great teacher. I plan to learn from mistakes and never make the same one twice. I plan to make a difference in someone's life. I am, in a word, hopeful. Hopeful that these things will come true and I'll see my plans into fruition. Hopeful that students and parents will live happily ever after with me. Hopeful that I won't be late; that I'll remember to pack a lunch; that I won't fall down in front of the kids; that I won't fall down in front of the other teachers; that I won't fall down in front of parents; that I'll just generally stay on my feet; that I'll be a good husband; that I'll be a good teacher; that I'll be a good dad.... I'm hopeful that I, my students and my kid will be their best. And to all of you reading this chronicle of my life, be your best today and you'll have no regrets tomorrow. Cliche? Maybe, but it's good advice that you and I both should probably take to heart.
Some of you may wonder why it has taken me until I am 26 years old to figure out I'm not a kid anymore. Why didn't I figure it out when I got married or perhaps when I graduated in May? No telling. But the fact remains that for some odd reason I'm taking a look at life and becoming a little overwhelmed at where I am. So why not document it?
Tomorrow I will start my career, as I said before. But this is not just any career. Tomorrow will be my first day as a teacher. I am teaching 7th grade Texas History here in Austin and couldn't be more thrilled with my job.
Remember your first day of school? Probably not. I know I don't. But I can imagine that I felt a little like I do now.
1) Excited: How could you not feel excited about all the newness. You are completely ignorant to what lies ahead and, as they say, what you don't know about tomorrow can't pee in your Wheaties today. Actually no one says that... but it applies.
2) Scared: The bottom line is that on your first day of school you probably didn't know anyone there. This one girl I went to kinder with used to chill with her mom all day from birth until that fateful Day 1 of school. Watching them try to push her into class without her mom was sort of like watching someone give a cat a bath. While I'm sure I'm not going to be forcefully shoved in front of my students tomorrow, I do feel a little like an ostrich in need of a sandbox.
3) Hopeful: While some people may lump hopeful with excited, I didn't think it was appropriate. Excitement for me is sometimes a little blind. Hope however has clear goals in mind. This year I plan to do more than simply make it. I plan to challenge my students and myself to think and grow as the year progresses. I plan to become involved and become a great teacher. I plan to learn from mistakes and never make the same one twice. I plan to make a difference in someone's life. I am, in a word, hopeful. Hopeful that these things will come true and I'll see my plans into fruition. Hopeful that students and parents will live happily ever after with me. Hopeful that I won't be late; that I'll remember to pack a lunch; that I won't fall down in front of the kids; that I won't fall down in front of the other teachers; that I won't fall down in front of parents; that I'll just generally stay on my feet; that I'll be a good husband; that I'll be a good teacher; that I'll be a good dad.... I'm hopeful that I, my students and my kid will be their best. And to all of you reading this chronicle of my life, be your best today and you'll have no regrets tomorrow. Cliche? Maybe, but it's good advice that you and I both should probably take to heart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
