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.

Meeting Every Need

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

~ Thomas Paine

The second tornado clean-up day was worthwhile and rewarding; but, somehow, there was not the gusto felt on the first. A little more time had passed, the weather was not as accommidating, fewer students were able to participate . . . there were many reasons.

Motivation can be a difficult current to sustain. The workout is less exciting as time goes on, the diet less motivating, the dress is no longer new. The publicity and the excitment passed, but the work remained.

School is an endless clean-up day for many students; six hours spent looking at an endless horizon. These children come to school and spend their day doing what is most difficult for them. They run into walls and stumble over barriers day after day without an end in sight. Assignments are much like the fields littered with debis, acres and acres of work.

Our community rallied around those impacted by the tornado. We helped, encouraged, and offered supports. Do we do this for our students? Do we provide bridges over barriers, yardsticks to measure progress, and the necessary tools for success?

My family’s farm was not in the path of the tornado. No one has arrived to clean our fields, and it would be ridiculous for me to expect anyone to do so; there is not a need. Why then, do we withhold needed assistance from students if we can’t provide identical assistance to every child? Is this not equally ridiculous?

The efforts of our community and schools after the recent disaster are uplifting. I was honored to witness and participate in these projects. Good thinkers are able to transfer skills to new situations. Let us take what we have learned in the fields and apply it in our schools.

They've Got My Back

I was knee-deep in morning panic, and my son loaded and started the car.

I had a brain scramble and did not make plans for a fieldtrip; and, my students rallied, co-workers bailed me out, and didn’t strangle me.

I was consumed with fixing my blunders, and Martha came in and went straight to work without being prompted.

I started to accuse a student of cheating until she quietly said, “look,” and showed me how she was tutoring and explaining.

It was the first afternoon of spring break, and Saidee cleaned the classroom, modified the smoothie sign-up sheet, and taught me to use iMovie.

My blunder led to an extra after-school study session for a student, but she accepted my consequence graciously.

I was feeling inadequate, and my students wrote a “love” note (encouragement) and placed it on my computer.

I was embarrassed, and a friend sent me a wonderful e-mail and came to see me.

Thank you for watching my back!

Do You See What Hi-C?

A day in a minivan, three teenagers, and an unreliable GPS. . .

Is this the teaser for a horror movie?

Things I would like to return to Walmart?

A Monty Python sketch?

No! These were the ingredients for one of the best days I have had as a teacher. Three of my students and I attended Students Taking Charge training (thanks to our amazing school nurse). I had to get up at 5:00 am (not easy for Mrs. W), find student homes (REALLY not easy for Mrs. W), and negotiate unfamiliar roads (darn near impossible for Mrs. W). I should have been exhausted. I should have been cranky. I should have been miserable. BUT, thanks to some amazing students, I laughed until I hurt, did the driver dance, and learned the following:

• We have a deep set love of our school and want to find ways to make it even more “ours.”
• Our musical tastes differ, but we loved to sing together with the radio.
• Open-mouthed young men with their faces pressed to the window of the vehicle attract attention.
• McDonald’s does not sell Fanta, Pepsi, or lemonade.
• McDonald’s staff is very tolerant.
• Not everyone shares my appreciation for yard nomes.
• Everyone does share my appreciation for bobble heads.
• Why we think some people lie.
• There are limits to my Bieber tolerance.
• Why it’s wrong to steal.
• Some girls are good at shooting clay pigeons.
• It’s hard to change our patterns of behavior.
• We would rather look tough than vulnerable.
• Students do notice the things adults do. Adults are appreciated.
• It’s hard to talk in front of a group of strangers, but it’s rewarding.
• Mr. North can turn nearly anything into a song.
• We have a unique voice and something to offer.
• I REALLY like kids.

If you are interested in doing community service with kids (with or without the minivan), check out these sites:

Action for Healthy Kids http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/

Students Taking Charge http://www.studentstakingcharge.org/

Achieving Great Things

Mustang Academy News

Published when Mrs. Witham gets around to it.

• Jasmine is attending a conference at NASA.
• Kylee will attend HOBY (the Hugh O’Brian Youth) conference.
• Keylin visited Children’s Hospital in Omaha to explore careers in the medical profession.
• Roberto tutors 1st grade students in math and reading.
• Jackson wrote an amazing essay.
• Keylin completed the Iowa Pathways survey.
• Tyler, Jarod, Kylee, and Kaylee cook and served tacos for Families Together.
• Eloy and Kylee will attend state speech this Saturday.
• Jackson, Roberto, and Kylee have completed their goals and will attend the Risky Business conference.
• Saidee helped Keylin finish her social studies project.
• Yerlin, Clarissa, Saidee, and Tyler agreed to form a team for the Students Taking Charge conference.
• Ashley and Sarah worked on Wednesday to make big gains in e2020.
• Shayla, Cody, Luis, Simon, Tyler, and Roberto recorded children’s books for younger students. Many of the books have received over 100 hits on YouTube!
• Saidee helped with the kindergarten lesson.
• Jarod makes popcorn for the middle school Reading Plus students each day.

My Tribe

I have a secret, a wonderful secret. I am able to see the remarkable where others cannot. Amazing kids are my business. The “custom jobs” belong to me. Those students who are too big for the boxes society wants to put them in.

We rack up more than our share of detentions, visits to the nurse, referrals to the principal, incomplete assignments, and incident reports. In many ways, we are too much. My mission is to adjust the lens and to create a path that makes that “too much” into the incredible. Teaching is no longer enough, I want to lead a movement.

In his book Tribes, Seth Godin shares Senator Bill Bradley’s definition of a movement. A movement has a vision, a relationship between the leader and the members, and “something to do - the fewer limits, the better.” I have the vision, we have the connection; it is time to start building.

My tribe:

The Artist - bringing imagination to life with paper and clay

The Nurturer - building up everyone in her presence

The Spokesman - articulate and passionate

The Teacher - patiently leading another to understanding

The Sage - confident in her knowledge

The Rock - possesses amazing inner strength and endurance

The Dreamer - escape is only a daydream away

The Spark Plug - inspiring action

The Golden Retriever - her presence is accepting and comforting

The Firecracker - energy exudes from him

The Writer - can sculpt with words

The Professor - incredible memory and factual recall

The Parent - recognizes the physical and emotional needs of others

The Humorist - possesses a subtle, but powerful, wit

The list is endless, but I like making the list. I like my gift. I like to see, to lead. This is MY movement . . . this is MY tribe.

Compassion

My youngest daughter is clever, kind, loving, brave, creative, hilarious; and, she has heart disease. Right or wrong, I would love to remove this burden for her; but, that’s not our reality. The reality is that while this disease has created it’s share of pain, it has provided many, many wonderful experiences for us as well.

Her most recent procedure was earlier this month. It was minor (not open-heart), but it was the first she has had in over a year. My dolly had forgotten many of the discomforts of surgery, and she was not prepared. The insertion of the IV, waking up sore and confused, and spending a day without being able to sit up were unusual experiences for a little girl. This could be devastating. Thanks to a wonderful hospital with amazing staff and incredible volunteers; they were not. She received exceptional care. Nurses soothed and smiled. A volunteer visited with a therapy dog. Care partners brought movies and activities. The doctors were honestshemy girl talked on and on about the toy room, the chocolate ice cream she was served, and how she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. I am so grateful that she wants to emulate, not fear, doctors. How wonderful that she has fond memories of her hospital experience.

While the professionals cared for my girl, my parents took care of me. Multiple surgeries have been a part of our lives. Mom and dad have been present for every one. Because they are retired? Nope, both work full time. Because I asked them to? Not at all, I would not have burdened them. Because I am an only child? Hardly! There are seven of us. My parents make family THE priority. They are two of the least selfish people I have ever known. I am humbled by their selflessness.

There’s more. The calls and messages I received from family and friends are countless. Throughout our many hospital stays, we have been showered with love and support. Her friends have sent handmade artwork. My friends and students have called, prayed, messaged, sent gifts, mowed my lawn, cared for my children, completed my shopping, visited, donated, and loved us. We are never alone.

Pope John XXIII stated, “If God created shadows it was to better emphasize the light.” The light in my life outshines the shadows. I do not welcome life’s pain, but I embrace the love and support that comes as a result. I am overwhelmed with compassion and love . . . I am blessed.

Friends Who Make Us Better

Self-pity does not look good on me, but I indulge now and then. On one of these occasions, I called a friend to complain about my daughter’s cardiologist. I had found the doctor to be brash and condensing. I felt insulted; I had not received the appropriate respect. My friend could have indulged my weakness and joined in my chorus of ‘poor me;’ but, she cared about my daughter and I, and she decided to set me straight. In no uncertain terms, she explained that the cardiologist was there to care for my daughter. My sensibilities were not the priority. The objective was not to feed my ego; it was to make sure my daughter received the best care.

Like many antiseptics, her words stung when they hit my wounds; and, like antiseptic, it killed an infection. My friend had told me what I NEEDED to hear, rather than what I WANTED to hear. It was a lesson I needed to learn. This is what real friends do.

I have had the privilege of spending the last two school years with a remarkable young man. His talent and potential for leadership are infinite. He is kind, compassionate, and tough all at the same time. During our time together, I have witnessed a metamorphosis. This young man was lost and angry twelve months ago. He struggled with school, the law, and himself. He was in pain, and it pained me to watch him. Then, he did something courageous; he chose to change.

It has been said that it is hard to feel sorry for yourself if your focus is on serving others. This student embraced this philosophy. He has not only turned his attitude and school performance around; he has transformed others. His influence has led many of his friends to improve their school performance and reflect upon what they need to do to maximize learning. He challenges their ideas and helps them monitor their behavior. He is creating the school community he wants. He is the change. He IS a true friend.

The more time I spend in my ‘lab’ at school; the more I witness this. Students are taking the time and making the effort to push one another. They are using their strengths to help one another. They are making the effort to reach out. Out of their cliques, out of their comfort zones, out of their insecurities. The children I love are becoming the adults I hope for. I am honored to watch them grow.

My Hero Is Slow

I sat beside a survivor this morning. The waves came, “lazy . . . half-assed . . . unacceptable . . . disorganized . . . off-task . . . stop cracking your knuckles . . . start doing your homework . . . listen to the teacher . . . don’t listen to that video. . . stay away from him . . . pay attention to her . . . “ On and on, but he stood. He didn’t run, he didn’t fight; he was slow.

Slow to anger

Slow to defend

Slow with excuses

Slow to criticize

Slow to complain

He was slow.

Maybe, we should all be slow.