Category: Personal

He is more than a test score!

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire
IMG_2660
Griffin exploring Tiger’s dug-out during TigerFest16

One of the highlights of my days while I have been on medical leave is when my son, Griffin walks in the door from school. Normally I would be finishing my day at work. He comes in the house excited from his day. Typically he shares about learning in his classes and asks me questions for more information. Then we move to small talk about Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons before he settles in with a snack while doing homework. After that is done, he typically relaxes by watching “Chopped” on the cooking channel, since he has a passion for food. Tuesday was different, the door opened quietly something was different. Griffin had a scowl on his face, dropped his school bag on the kitchen table, ripped papers out to hand to me. Without words he marched over to hand me these papers from school, he almost had tears in his eyes. “HERE” he said, placing them upside down in my hand and rushed away. Was he in trouble? What could these papers say that made him so upset? As I turned the paper over, I realized he was upset with his NWEA MAP scores. Only one of the four test scores had shown growth. Should he be upset? Should I?

Griffin has loved school since he started, even with his struggles. Griffin has apraxia, he didn’t talk until 4 years old. He can’t sound out words. He has always been a struggling reader. Since kindergarten he has been marked below grade level as a reader. He has been tutored  and memorizes words so he can read. His memory is incredible. Since he could talk he could give directions to a house, park or store after only going their once. Griffin works incredibly hard to make up for his disability. He has a passion for science and geography. This year as a sixth grader he won the school geography bee beating out seventh and eight grades. He competed on the school’s science olympics team, winning medals at the county tournament each of the past 4 years. He is a Boy Scout. He plays baseball and basketball. I have coached him in basketball since 2nd grade. His first year he scored 2 points, this year he lead his team in scoring as they cruised to an undefeated season. This is a chid who has grown. He has grown physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially. He is more than a score!! Should he be upset about the scores?

I was concerned. Was Griffin doing enough? Would he be ready for a career when done with school? (and I am a teacher just wonder what non-teachers ask?)

Last night Griffin walked in with a smile again, handing me an envelope, his report card. All A’s with outstanding marks for citizenship. Totally different emotion than the MAP test. Grades actually reflect Griffin’s learning efforts based upon teaching. MAP tests are normalized, knowledge based questions that might never have been taught. Which is more valuable? Griffin’s class grades are based on a standardized grading system that he has to score an 85% to meet the standard (A) or he can reassess until he does meet the standard. Not meeting the standard leads to an F. This system has it flaws but stresses student learning. Griffin has worked hard, reassessed when he failed to meet the standard, receiving A’s all year. Does this mean more than the MAP score?

Autism

I hated seeing my son arrive home crying about school. Is MAP testing hurting him? Do students who perform well on this test go on to live better lives with better jobs? Is having a low score going to hurt Griffin? He has already been offered “help” classes to take the place of his electives. On the advice of teachers, we have declined, not wanting take way quality experiences for Griffin. He gets to enjoy Band, Tech Ed, Spanish, Health, and Gym instead. Should students miss opportunities to boost their test scores? Might that turn them off to learning even more?

Schools need to be careful how we use tests and scores. We need to look at the WHOLE child, not just this little knowledge snap shot.

Careers are more than scores, GRIFFIN and every child is more than a test score!!

IMG_2659
Me and My wonderful son, Griffin

 

#LoveTeaching

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

I love teaching.

I love seeing student come to the ah-ha moment after a long struggle showing learning has occurred.

I love the smiles in the morning as I say hello at the door.

I love the “We missed you” accolades when returning from a day off.

I love teaching.

I love it when my principal takes time for feedback.

I love it when I receive a positive note in my mailbox saying I liked your lesson.

I love it when the hard work is afforded a thank you.

I love teaching.

I love working with passionate co-workers.

I love planning as a team.

I love when we ALL can celebrate our successes.

I love teaching.

Take a moment and reflect.

Let all the negative be cast aside

ANY teacher will tell you

WE LOVE TEACHING

A reminder to myself when I am down and blue, I went into this profession due to love that is undying for learning and unwavered by paper work or policies that go against the true grain of the profession!

Reading Attitudes

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

 

The-Art-of-Reading

I have been lucky. My parents instilled positive reading positive reading attitudes in my life ever since I could pick up a picture book. My mother was a teacher before she had children. I was lucky that my father had enough money made enough money so my mother could stay home with us when we were little. She read to us every day. We constantly went to the local library to attend children’s readings and to pick out new books to read. Growing up I had little exposure to television. We did not get cable until I was away at high school. Our summers were spent at a  cottage in northern Michigan where a television was not even present. This lack of television  created a need for other forms of entertainment. My parents encouraged books as the means to fill free time or as an activity to fill a rainy day.

The most vivid memory of reading comes from when I was in first grade. We lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The local NBA basketball team sponsored a youth reading program. The students who read the most books would receive tickets to a game. I remember reading tow or three books a day hoping to win tickets. I believe the program was “Bucks Love Books!” I was competing against my older brother. We raced through each stack of books that we brought home from the library. We ended up in a tie, most likely orchestrated by mom. I know I read over one hundred books and received tickets to a game. We went to the basketball game together with a since of pride for earning the tickets.

My family has always encouraged reading. My grandmother, who was legally blind for the last 30 years of her life. Enjoyed reading and listening to books till her death last year. When ever we would talk, she would ask questions about what I was reading or had read lately. She used to give books as presents for birthdays and Christmas. My family has done a terrific job of modeling reading habits. Even after my  parents gave in to their children’s plea to purchase cable, they still set strict guidelines and hour limitations for its use. With these restrictions they forced reading upon me. I am forever thankful. Even though I did not enjoy being forced to read.

I plan on being a positive role model for my students and children. I will use references to literature in my lessons. By using these references my students might be encouraged to read for more understanding of the references. I realize most parents are not like mine. Many children come home today to a empty house. They have the freedom to turn on the television any time for entertainment. I hope to set up an after school reading program wherever I teach. This program will be for students as an alternative to going to a empty house.

Hopefully I can encourage students to gain a love for books. There are so many wonderful bools written each year that should be read by everyone. I feel that due to the increasing popularity of television, on-demand video and the internet reading books has declined. It would be a shame if the quality of books deteriorates. Students need to realize that all of the material on the web and television is also available at the corner bookstore.

*** Originally Written in 1998 for my Teaching Reading Class Eng 308 @GVSU for Professor Jill Warren. (with some updates)

Good to reflect on learning so many years later. Need to start up that reading program!

 

 

Sitting on a park bench …

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

Spring, has begun to show her face here in Michigan, after a prolonged visit from old man winter. The snow has melted off the ball fields and the park paths are finally drying out.  Today, I took my five year old twins to t-ball practice in a near by park. As I sat on the park bench watching my children learn and quickly forget the finer points of fielding and hitting. I noticed that I was sitting surrounded by garbage. As my eyes surveyed the area where the adults were seated. Waste lay all around where we were sitting.  It seemed that garbage was all over the park, especially along the paths.

20140413-202135.jpg

Since I was just sitting watching my children at practice, I figured, WHY not help clean up the park? I started picking up trash. Carrying handfuls to the can nearby. As I deposited my first load, I noticed that the density of deposited trash has higher the closer to the can. Must have been plenty of near misses. As I picked up the random pieces of trash. A few parents gave me odd looks. A guy on the basketball court near by thanked me for throwing away his empty water bottle he left beside the path. I was hoping to lead some of the sedentary parents into an impromptu cleaning crew. Similarly to how this guy becomes a dance leader:

No such luck. Just a few odd looks. I forced my older son to help out, but no second follower was to be found. It made me sad. Park users gave looks as if it wasn’t their job to keep it clean.

This is similar to education. People see the needs of our students, but say, “Not my JOB!!” , or “IT is the schools’ and teachers’ job to education our students!” Educating the youth of the world is similar to taking care of the planet. THOSE that encounter opportunities to make a difference MUST tke action and make a difference. We can’t expect others to complete the job. They might not see the need. They might be too overwhelmed with other tasks to take care of the needs we see.

Similar attitudes exist all over society. I see it in my students when I ask them to help clean up. “I didn’t make the mess,” is quickly uttered out of their mouths. “I didn’t say you did, I just need your help cleaning,” is my reply. Society needs to work together and solve problems, not rely on someones title and job description to do so. When action is needed, Action MUST happen.

IF anything should be required curriculum in our schools, positive action of helping others has to top the list. So if you encounter me (or another) out doing good by clean up a park or helping others please be a second follower.

2014 Resolutions … or are they really goals?

Posted on by Sweat to Inspire

So it is a NEW year, 2014! As tradition most people make resolutions for the new year.

What is a resolution anyway? As defined by Websters: 

  1.  the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving something
  2.  an answer or solution to something
  3.  the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail

Usually our New Year’s resolutions don’t fit any one of these categories. Mine typically have been simple statements, based on perceived  areas of weakness to foster improvement. Examples of past resolutions have been: Exercise more, Loose weight, get organized etc.  Seems that too often these generic resolutions fail. Oliver Burkeman does a good job explaining in this Newsweek article. Resolutions in general seem like a good idea. We reflect on our weaknesses and resolve to fix them. The problem is that many resolutions are vague, give us no plan but to just change and don’t hold us accountable. Most people just give up on the forgotten resolutions by February moving on with life as they knew it. “Can’t teach and old dog new tricks!”

I resolve to give up resolutions! If we can’t keep them then why make them? Instead I am setting goals.

Defined as – something that you are trying to do or achieve.

Goals seem more focused and measurable. Instead of resolving to get in shape. A goal would be to work out 3 times per week. Goals are measurable and often don’t give individuals a sense of failure. Goals help us focus on the process of achievement not the end result. This year I am setting goals and seeing how I do. Not making resolutions that I can’t keep.

My 2014 goals:

1. Writing more meaningful blogs that reflect my teaching – Over the past year I doubled my blogs output. I noticed that many of my posts are reflective but I need to add more examples from my classroom. Sharing what is working for me and what is not. This will allow others to see what I am doing and allow me to reflect on my teaching later.

2. Collaborate with other teachers – I need to make connections for my students outside of our classroom. I plan to use technology tools to allow us to reach out and collaborate with other fantastic classes around the world. I hope next year to see blog entries about lessons that reach out into other classroom. Also stories about lesson that were shared between teachers.

3. Create more exploration lessons- Students learn my exploring ideas not by just being presented them. I need to do a better job of creating lessons that give student time to explore the standards. I have been lucky enough to see Gary Abud present on Modeling Science instruction. I hope to take the time and explore it more for my students benefit.

4. Eliminate the fear of failure in my classroom- Failure is where the growth occurs. Nobody learns by being successful. When you are successful you gain a feeling of: “I got it!, I don’t need to learn more!” I feel a vital part of this goal is a move to standards based grading. My 2015 I plan on using a system of grading that helps student focus on their failures to grow.

5. Take care of myself- I often forget about my health and well being. I need to make sure I am here for my 3 children as well as every student that walks into my classroom. I can’t give them my best if I am not healthy. Exercise is my weakness. I neglect myself often to help others. I need to dedicate time to take care of my body as well as mind. (This blog helps the mind too bad I can blog for my body as well.)     Been seeing the awesome #500in2014 challenge on Twitter and wish I could run, unfortunately my body can’t handle running, need to walk 500 miles in 2014.

Goals are written, Now I need to check back frequently, see if I measure up and adjust as needed.

Did you set 2014 resolutions/goals?

Hold yourself accountable by posting them and reflecting. Don’t be stuck in the rut of forgotten or blown resolutions by mid-year.

Here is to an awesome 2014!!