Hello, again. Sorry for the silence. In space, no one can hear you scream, and during the holidays, it was hard to sit down and write with all of the eating, drinking and making merry.
I realize that the restrictive nature of my blog may prevent me, at times, from being prolific, so I am just going to write what’s on my mind, with the shadow of my previous framework always lurking.
Today, just like many, I am still feeling the effects of the holidays, but am also inspired to begin the year anew.
2023 was not all bad, but I lost my dad, and my cousin, and I left my longtime teaching position and headed south. The second part is the part that was not all bad, but I am still trying to get traction in the low country and create some routine.
Before I say goodbye to last year and my previous format, I’d like to tap into it to discuss my resolutions and rants.
Monday Musings
What’s been on my mind lately is the paradox of water. I live with a perfect view of a bird sanctuary and a natural lake. This like has more vitality than any body of water I have ever encountered. It shimmers, trickles, ripples, swells, and even remains placid for hours.
Viewing this lake, and crossing no less than five rivers when I commute to work, has water on my brain. No, not on my knee like in the game Operation.
So, let’s muse on water.
Recipe for Ice – Before we moved down here, we had an ice maker. After we signed the lease, we were informed that the ice maker in our “rental” fridge did not work. In a sheer panic, we made the realty company purchase an ice maker, only to find out that the renters had left us 8-10 ice trays and running water. How many BC grads does it take to make ice?
Bottled Water– Why do people insist on buying bottled water? I have a Brita and the water distilled and cold is certainly better than the water straight from the tap, but I don’t understand the phenomenon of buying water. Evian is Naive backwards, and I am pretty confident that Fiji water does not come from Fiji.
Hazardous to Health – My last comment concerns my love of water. I will swim in the ocean, regardless of season. Heck, I will swim in Casco Bay in any season. There is a serenity and peace to being underwater, and I am convinced that we were once sea creatures.
The conundrum is that water is also unsettling. I do not like getting caught in a cold rain or having my socks soaking wet. I do not like cleaning up spills, and I have noticed a growing aversion to its taste.
It also is the source of almost every dangerous weather event, and creates ice (see above) that you can slip on, not for mixing drinks.
I would be remiss if I did not share this one anecdote about the dangers of water:
Not Waving But Drowning
We were swimming in the wave pool at the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, MA. Before its undulations, a speaker lets out a tremendous howl alerting the swimmers to prepare and possibly putting the teen lifeguards on notice.
The entrance to the pool is a tiled floor covered by no more than six inches of water. Well, I was witness to a woman who was standing on the tile beginning to enter when a wave made her lose her balance.
She tried to right herself, but the buffeting waves kept knocking her over. Comical at first, I then noticed the sheer panic in her face. Acting quickly, I and one of the teenagers in my party helped her to her feet and back to a lounge chair.
Yes, this woman could have drowned in less than six inches of water with hundreds of people around her. Water is our life’s blood, but respect it, always. I resolve to study it more, contemplate its power, and drink more of it…from the tap.
Teacher’s Lounge Tuesday
As it is Tuesday, I will also share some brief notions about education.
Rules for Substitutes
I have subbed in various schools for the last few months. I also subbed extensively before I obtained my first teaching gig. Here are five suggestions.
- Do not substitute in the younger grades the day after Halloween. Should be self-explanatory
- Do not use the term “substitute.” I use the term “teacher by proxy.” Once the kids call you a sub, it is like chum in a shark tank. Semantics do matter.
- Build rapport. If they respect you, or even like you a bit, they are less likely to cause problems or try to take advantage. I have done this by using trivia questions, completing the assignments with them, and having them offer suggestions on restaurants and attractions.
- Spend time putting names to faces. I am guilty of this as I go quickly through the roll, but teachers often ask for detailed notes with a Santa’s list (naughty and nice), and it is good to address students by name.
- Expect the unexpected. Arrive early and read through the teacher’s plans. I have had to deal with assembly schedules. unplanned fire drills, and even a two-hour power outage. Stay calm and ask other professionals questions.
Delusions and the Quest For Perfection
My other point has two main branches.
Henry Ford once said, “Success comes in many forms, but is always wearing overalls.” Students are under the delusion that they will achieve without putting in maximum effort. Many of the students I encounter are looking to get assignments, “completed” with as little engagement as possible.
To be fair, as a teacher by proxy, the assignments I am presenting are ones created in absentia, so they do not have the same grip; however, I have taught long enough to know that many teenagers feel something is owed to them. Here’s the hard truth; it is not.
Social media and cell phones have made “learning” more facile and acceptance and lauding more immediate. Therein lies the problem. Finding an answer is not education; learning to apply your knowledge is the key to achievement. My former boss once said, “It is not the what, it is the so what.”
I have used this myriad times. Unfortunately, when I ask the students to contemplate the “so what,” they answer, “I’ve completed my work.” My silent response, “so what?
Ironically, students are still stressed out about high achievement (i.e. grades) and not making mistakes. This futile pursuit of perfection, especially given the lack of commitment, engagement and passion, is unnerving.
Students need to learn in an environment that promotes creative, free thinking and making mistakes, loads of them. My final thought today is, “you either win or learn.” One of my resolutions as a “teacher by proxy” and “coach” is to instill curiosity without the fear of judgment.
Lose, be wrong, be happy.
Love and laughter,
P.