Experiencing the Impossible

I can run, read, calculate, write, analyze, create, dig, cook, and run a blender. I can braid, hug, teach, clean, and blow bubbles. I cannot, however, dunk a basketball.

Standing at 5 foot nothing, dunking basketballs is not my thing. If you yell at me, I will not dunk a basketball. If you call me names, I will not dunk a basketball. You can offer to give me stickers and M & Ms . . . no dunking. Make me sit alone in a hallway, still no dunking. Have a meeting with my parents to discuss my refusal to dunk; probably won’t help. BUT . . . lead me to the gym, show me the basket, teach me to climb the ladder, hold the ladder while I climb, and I just might have the resources and confidence to climb that ladder and stuff the basketball in.

We ask some of our students to dunk basketballs everyday. We yell, belittle, bribe, punish, and discuss; but, still no basket. It isn’t until we take their hands in ours, lead the way, and MAKE them experience success that they will put the ball in. Can we do this for every skill in every subject? Of course not! Will we have to? Probably not. Most of us have hundreds of skills we are perfectly competent with, but there are some feats that seem insurmountable. This is when Vygotsky taught us to build a scaffold, lend a hand, and find a way to make it happen. It isn’t easy and sometimes it feels very unnatural, but that is what teachers DO. After it is demonstrated that a skill is possible, once they have tasted success, students can begin to build those scaffolds on their own. BUT . . . they must experience to believe.

I Get Where You're Coming From

I was a kindergarten teacher, and in kindergarten we had centers. Jason entered the classroom one morning and noticed a tray filled with purple tissue paper squares. With an alarmed expression, he exclaimed, “Teacher! Why you have rolling papers at school?!?” I calmly explained that there were many uses for tissue paper, and at school we used them to make flowers.

That night, I was on the phone with my mom. I shared the tissue paper story. Through giggles she said, “He thought you were going to give a PERM!” It took awhile for me to explain that Jason did NOT think we were going to give perms.

As professionals that build little brains, we seek to create connections. Linking concepts to prior knowledge requires a teacher to have an understanding of a child’s background and experiences. These experiences may not be ideal, but they belong to that child. We all want to be seen and heard. Acknowledging a child’s world is not only good teaching, it demonstrates caring and respect.

There's Nothing Like the Real Deal

There’s nothing like the real deal. My students have started a business. They are the Sultans of Smoothies (Smoothie Whisperers seemed like a ‘bit much’). Products include strawberry, banana, and yes, strawberry-banana smoothies. The team has passed out samples, perfected a recipe, created flyers, and developed a campaign to promote our product. They have a head of advertising, Blender Man, and a smoothie scrapbook committee. Students are budgeting, creating, adjusting, selling, working with the public, and cleaning up.

Must be worth a lot of points . . . nope . . . they aren’t earning a grade. Must be earning money . . . nope . . . all proceeds will go to buying more ingredients; if we make too much money, we will lower the price. Must need to complete community service . . . ah, good guess, but not this time. The work is being done because it’s authentic, it’s real, it matters, and it’s fun. There’s nothing like the real deal!

Things I Have Learned from Kids

• It feels good to vacuum your hair.
• Toilet paper never goes back on the roll as nicely as it comes off.
• A ping pong ball and cups provide endless hours of entertainment for boys of any age.
• If a toddler aims her bottom just right, she can spray water across the tub when passing gas.
• Be careful what you feed the dog.
• It is not safe to roller blade in your underwear, even if you are wearing a helmet.
• Knotting the family socks together will not create a hose through which water will travel to water a flower, but it will transport enough water to flood the kitchen and soak through to the basement.
• Marshmallows do cool things in the microwave, so does Ivory soap.
• Forgiveness
• Tiaras are suitable attire for any occasion.
• Although cats can not live in the frig forever, they can last long enough to make a big mess.
• Laughter heals. Bandaids help.
• Peeing in a can by your bed is NOT a substitute for having your own bathroom.
• Santa likes a little rum in his eggnog.
• You will always need your momma.
• Birthdays require cake.
• Head-first is NOT the best way to investigate a hole.
• Things often go IN a hole much easier than they come OUT of the hole.
• Baby breath in the morning is much nicer than adult breath in the morning.
• Wet gummy snacks will adhere to almost anything. So will boogers.
• I am happiest when I don’t focus on me.
• Blowing bubbles force you to control your breathing and relax.
• Not everything can be flushed.
• Play is good.
• “Magic” lotion heals minor wounds of the flesh and heart.
• In an emergency, you can do #1 in the shower, but NEVER #2.
• There is no substitute for love.

Keylin's Coffee House

Snooze. Snooze. Ugh . . . start the oatmeal, jump in the shower, wake up the kids. Floss, brush, start the crockpot, re-wake the kids. Hair fixed, make-up on, chase kids. Start the car, eat the oatmeal, dress Monster Queen. Load the bags (purse, laptop, phone!), brush little teeth, meds in little mouth, dress baby. Load car, strap in baby, re-dress Monster Queen, load Monster Queen. Drive to town, sing Wheels on the Bus, listen to the Cars, stop and unload at daycare. Drive to school, pray for parking spot, unload supplies, in the door, Hello Lori, get mail, Hello Jo, Hello Kari, Hello Rachel, Hello Kays . . . up the stairs AND into Keylin’s Coffee House.

Shoulders down, supplies released, breathing slows, “Good morning, Witham”; I am here, Keylin’s Coffee House. This is my place, our place, the home I have made. Finish homework, drink your coffee, serve yourself. Did you hear? Do you know? Can I have? It’s Keylin’s Coffee House. Sit around the circle, lie on the couch, work out the table. Talk, always talk. Smile, tease, laugh. Learn your way, find your place, you belong at Keylin’s coffee house.