My Turn to Walk

It was one of those late-winter mornings in March 1975 when I made the decision to bail from school once and for all. My return to college failed to reignite the passion for teaching which I thought was inevitable, and if anything, I was at the bottom wrung in life. As I departed Madison traveling north on Hwy 51, I looked back in my rear view mirror to catch a glimpse of the silhouette of our state capitol, always a beautiful sight. I always held on to that image, much like the stain on my basement carpet reminds me of my Old English Sheepdog. In many ways it motivated me in later years, after I sought to pick up the pieces from college life in a time when I was neither ready nor focused on higher education.

After our son graduated from high school in May of 2001, my good friend Jeff suggested that I consider going back to school, even going so far as to say that I would make a good teacher. Little did I know how much his suggestive 'seed' would one day sprout and then grow into a vine strong with passion for the classroom. I learned a lesson from Jeff that will never be forgotten, and over the years I've returned the favor to others as well.

Tomorrow (Saturday, May 19, 2012) is the day I left behind in Madison 37 years ago, and it has special meaning in ways which no one will ever fully understand. It represents an accomplishment that few will appreciate in the magnitude that I do, an epiphany for which I respect the true power of positive encouragement. At 2 PM I'll be assailed by an emotion that has been felt only on our wedding day and the birth of Jacob. Having friends and family members on hand to witness this event is also very special, but I also acknowledge the spirit of Mom and Dad nudging me on in the background. My departure from Madison in 1975 always left them questioning what 'could have been', and over the years each reminded me that there was always time in my life to go back to college. Again, another one of those positive cues about hanging on to a dream.

Tomorrow I reach the mountain top I never thought I would see, but the journey is only just beginning. I will finally purge that ever-shrinking black and white image of our state capitol from my mind once and for all, replacing it with a colored illustration of pomp and circumstance. My ill-fated lesson from 37 years ago has finally been stacked in the completed pile, graded and commented on by the teacher I've long desired to be. Thank-you Jeff, for sharing that vision. And thank-you Mom and Dad, for always prodding me along.

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!!

The 'Ah-ha' Moment in Teaching

There are moments in one’s life when you get the infamous “ah-ha” moment, and as an educator it is all the more special an occurrence when it happens in the classroom. This past week I witnessed that moment with three ESL students during a first-hour class. We were working on an exercise that involved the use of adverbs which determine frequency (never, seldom, sometimes, usually, and always), and Diego knew the concept hands-down. I sensed that Cesar and Eduardo were struggling and needed some individual attention, but I wasn’t able to attend to both at the same time.

I turned to Diego and asked him to explain directions in detail to Cesar without giving him the answers, then I focused my attention on Eduardo to do the same. As I was working with Eduardo, I looked up and glanced at Diego to note his progress with Cesar. It was an incredible sight to see him in a teaching role, listening to him give careful instructions about the concept. HE GOT IT! Never before had I experienced such a feeling of satisfaction and gratification in teaching.

And better yet, later in the class I was faced with yet another situation, this one dealing with mealtime habits and writing questions about breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This time is was Cesar who understood, and the other two students who needed some attention. Just as I had done with Diego, I asked Cesar to work one-on-one with Eduardo so I could help Diego. Again, the student became teacher for five minutes and he did a great job explaining he exercise. When class ended I wanted to run outside and shout out something good for the rest of the world to hear, but time did not allow that to happen. It was THE “ah-ha” moment I was looking for in my Student Teaching, and one which I will never forget. Some student teachers hear about epochs such as these, but I actually was able to experience one first-hand.

Halfway Home

As this point I’ve now reached the midway point in my student teaching experience, and it has yet to shake my confidence in what I am doing and why I am doing it. There are days when I see students in total disarray with their lives, appearing to stare forward without any contemplation of people passing at their side. Then there are times when they seem to have eyes on all sides of their head, meeting and greeting everyone in sight. Whether their baggage begins or ends at home, I know there are other factors at work, be they positive or negative. Some of them have good support systems in place at home, and I’m willing to bet that their parents are nurturing individuals. Others live in a vacuum where personal energies are likely sucked by anyone and everyone living under the same roof. I want to pull them aside and assure them that somebody cares, but it’s better that I save this line for the classroom where they need it the most.

When the first school bell rings in the morning, students are more often concerned with the status of their social mobility than whether or not an assignment has yet to be completed. As much as things have changed for youth over the past forty years, they haven’t. Their priorities are not those of a responsible adult and in many ways I’m okay with this. They’re still learning how to cope with high school and the age of innocence, and as much as we think they need to be ingrained with every lesson plan, I know full well that it’s not going to happen. It’s not about me making excuses for their lifestyle, only recognizing it for what it is. Meanwhile I strive to lead by example in everything I do, knowing they are constantly evaluating their student teacher.

Recognizing One's Talent

I know these are challenging times for school officials, not just in the way of balancing budgets, complying with curriculum standards, discipline, special needs, and everything in between. As one generation of educators is being replaced by another, there is an ongoing need for Student Teachers to find public schools who will accept them into their system for eighteen weeks. Classrooms aren't what they were 5, 10 and 20 years ago and neither are the teachers and students. Times have changed...for the worse or for the better, and we have to accept it for what it is.
From my experience in sales and management, I quickly learned that when you had a need, you sought not only the skills, but a person's personal drive and desire to succeed. Whether or not you had an opening in your sales ranks, you scoured the sidelines for reserves and recruited first-class stars for your team. This required networking with other industries and a keen eye for talent. Then, when the opportunity presented itself, you made it known that you wanted that individual, whether they were an aspiring rookie or a proven veteran. Don't wait for them to come to you, but go to them and let them know they are wanted.

It happened one day last summer while working as a cashier at a well-known retailer. The individual came through my checkout line and inquired as to where I would be doing my assignment for Student Teaching. I still had six months to finalize my plans, so I replied that it had yet to be decided. "Great! I want you in my school" was his instant response. My casual comeback, "Let's see what happens" was met with "No, I WANT you IN my school!" It was not a simple statement, but bordered between a friendly demand and emphatic rage (in a good way). After he left I thought, here was someone who really wants me, so how can I say no?

It is almost nine months to that day of our conversation, and in my heart I know I've given every ounce of energy and personal creativity in my role as Student Teacher. It's been an absolute joy to be in this person's school at a time when teachers are challenged on so many fronts. I know I've made a difference in the classroom, not only for the students I interact with on a daily basis, but in the professional life of both my cooperating teacher and school principal. I've drawn from strengths to help those who aspire to learn more, and, in turn, they have placed me in a position to succeed as an educator.

This morning I paused for a moment to thank that individual for reaching out to me last June. From past interactions outside of the classroom many years ago, he recognized both my talents and desire to work with young people. He made the most out of an opportunity to add someone new to his school's team of professionals. He didn't wait for me to come to him, but came to me and let it be known that I was wanted. I am not a one-of-a-kind fluke. There are more like me out there waiting for someone to tap them on the shoulder, and then say "I want you on my team!" It takes guts and personal resolve to stand up for what you believe in, and in this case he got more than his money's worth. (And remember, I have to PAY the university to be Student Teacher for a semester)

This is a lesson worth noting, be it for sales managers or school principals. Always be on the lookout for the best. Don't wait for them to come to you, but scour the countryside for the absolute best qualified individual, letting them know that you want them on your team. They will raise the bar of talent for your school or business, and it makes a huge statement about the level of standards you keep as a professional. Yes, those lessons learned in a past career are proven once more.

Four Week Reflections

My first four weeks as "Student Teacher" have been a great experience, one which I will always looks back on with special reflection. Not only in getting to know a new school, students, faculty, staff, and procedures, but learning more about myself and why I enjoy the classroom experience. No day is ever the same, and I'm always on the lookout for those moments which define good learning (not just on the part of my students but for me as well).

As an ESL teacher I have a first-hour class with three Level 1 second language learners, and I am continuously amazed by their desire to acquire basic English in order to communicate with friends at school. I've watched them pass in the hallways while classmates offer greetings and smiles, but they want more than just "Hello" and "How's it going?" They seek opportunities to discuss culture, news and things that everyday American teenagers talk about...but a language barrier prevents that from being fully cultivated. My Friday Review Quiz indicates they are slowly making strides in common interactions like telling time, counting, and know what day of the week it is, but I'm sure they want to speed up the process in order to improve upon their fluency. It has to be frustrating knowing that you want to get somewhere quickly without understanding everything which has to take place in that journey.

After serving up my first test to the World Geography class, I set some time aside to analyze the various test scores...thinking about why this person did so well and why that person struggled with specific questions. Tests should do more than reveal who 'gets it' and who doesn't...and a good teacher will look into ways to adapt to the learning styles of their students. There are a handful of individuals who I want to double-back and instigate changes in the way I transmit information.
In closing, it is important to note that I find my best thinking taking place at the end of the day when I reflect back on events of the day and plan ahead for coming lesson plans. As it was in the business world, it's about thinking what I would do differently and making good notes. Some people punch out at the end of the school day, but those who truly desire to see themselves grow will keep their focus on the ultimate prize.

The Start to Another Chapter in My Book

Tomorrow marks another special occasion in my life, the first day as Student Teacher in a genuine high school classroom. While others may see this as a ho-hum event, it truly represents something unique in my life. I know I must keep my expectations in check in order to avoid any letdown, but I also see this as an opportunity to apply everything I've learned from not only UW-SP, but from the school of life (of which I've been an active member over the past 58 years). I will be able to pull from the many examples of many fantastic educators who influenced me in one way or another. Some of these lessons are simple and others complex, but they still hold special meaning for me as they occurred at a time when I didn't see relevance for anything that happened. I know this won't be easy and there is certain to be a few challenges along the way, but if I treat it as another opportunity to learn and to grow, it can impact all those I come in contact with in a positive manner.  Bring it on!

Moving just a little closer to the edge....

Today marks the end of my formalize classroom education at UW-Stevens Point, and within the next 30 days I'll be walking into a new setting as I begin my 5-1/2 month tenure as Student Teacher at Weyauwega High School. I leave behind a university that I've come to love, the interaction with young adults who often see me as a parent-figure, and a wealth of seasoned educators. Now I begin the process of transition from theory to practice and design to application. This is when I am able to tap into my real-world experiences and combine lesson outlines with new technology. I acknowledge that I've yet to meet any individual my age who is raring the charge for his first classroom with the liking of a 16-year old driving for the first time, but this is a special time in my life. It not only fulfills a dream, but unleashes a groundswell of hope and optimism for where all of this might take me. It's a time filled with opportunity, yet uncertainty. In moving just a little closer to the edge, there's a element of eager anticipation of what awaits me in the weeks to come.