Challenge Failed

Before Christmas, one of my coworkers asked me to incorporate Botball Robotics into my Tech Club curriculum.  Since I had been tinkering with hour of code, I thought my Tech Club would enjoy this! BOY - was I in for a shock when I began to realize the type of coding I was going to be working with.  For you computer programmers, it is C programming using KISS software!  For those of you who know nothing about computer programming...welcome to my world!!

        

I spent quite a few hours trying to learn enough so I could teach it. After several hours going through online tutorials and PowerPoints, I wrote my first code.  I tried to compile the program, (transferring it from the computer to the robot) but was unsuccessful repeatedly!  WHAT was I doing wrong?!?! I worked with my coworker, my cousins, and anyone else who would attempt (even if they just looked to appease me) to help me figure out what was wrong, but couldn't get the robot to move!  As my momentum dwindled, the students' excitement and enthusiasm was ramping up with unplugged activities!  Angela and I sat down to troubleshoot once more. We found I had simply started in the wrong level of the program and with a quick switch, the new program made the robot move!   I cannot explain to you the sense of satisfaction I felt the day it worked!!!

If I got that excited about making the robot move, I knew the kids would be ecstatic when they did. Within 30 minutes of starting on the computer, some of my kids successfully made the robot move! (Of course they learn faster than we do!)

                                       

As the students progressed through the different challenges, I could tell who really was enthusiastic about coding.  We worked one day a week and the kids could roughly work out a challenge in about 45 minutes.  After a rough draft of numbers, the students then had to use math and figure precise changes to complete the challenges.  The precision of completing the tasks and the upper tasks became increasingly difficult for the students, but they kept working.  The perseverance among my students amazed me even when the challenges became difficult.  

One group of boys could not figure out the line/light censoring challenge.  Neither myself nor the other coach could help them.  After calling in the Botball expert, the students completed the task.  They were so eager to learn and try more.  Achievement after trials was turning out to be inspiring for both the students and myself!! 

The competition was set up for students to practice until they were ready to complete the challenge for a judge.  I took twelve kids, two teams, and two groups of 3 within each team, to compete.  Early Saturday morning we arrived in Norman and began a long day of just playing with the robot.  One of my teams completed two challenges first thing and spent the rest of the day trying to figure out the rest.  The other team struggled to get any one challenge precise enough to compete.  I could see the frustration and boredom in some of their eyes...we were failing and they were getting discouraged.  Some were even ready to quit.  After lunch, I brought the six girls (1 team, 2 groups) together and went to an open area where we could really focus.  With the support/encouragement of parents and Ms. Rudd, the girls successfully worked their way to complete Challenge 1, soon followed by challenge 2!  It was successful.  Accomplishing these two challenges were exhilarating and gave the girls a new energy!

This got me thinking.  As teachers, so many times we feel defeated or discouraged.  In fact, so many times I see, hear, and feel the feelings of failure among teachers.  These feelings come from having to call the office too many times, low test scores, getting frustrated when we should have kept our cool, being short with our students, students continually misbehaving and not following directions, missing paperwork deadlines, extra paperwork piling up, etc.  None of us like these feelings or want them, but they come anyway.  The awesome lesson I've learned through this, is that the moments of success will be even grander and worth celebrating because of the challenges we face.  Our job is full of challenges and roadblocks, but let's be like these kids and persevere.  If it calls for us to join together and work as a close team then work as a team, if it calls for us to encourage one another then encourage one another, if it calls for us to recruit help from parents then call on volunteers.  We can push forward and make it through the next few exhausting weeks!!!  

The Empty Pot

A dear friend of mine shared the Children’s book called The Empty Pot by Demi, and presented an illustration that is important for all teachers to hear.  As the story goes the little boy who loves to garden is given a seed to plant and grow just like all the other children in the kingdom.  Ping dedicated his life to making the seed grow and tenderly cared for it day after day without seeing any results.  At times and in the end, he was discouraged and disheartened.  He knew he was a good gardener but he could not get the plant to grow.  After a year of the plant still not growing, Ping began to question his gardening skills and himself.  Ping presents his empty pot to the Emperor only to be rewarded with being Emperor himself.

Each day we are given seeds that we are to plant, nurture, and watch grow.  The problem is they do not grow or grow enough to meet the standards that are evaluating us as teachers.  Teachers walk through the halls of schools feeling defeated and disheartened, lacking the esteem needed to persevere.  The power behind this story is that you may not see the benefits or the rewards immediately or at all.  Even a year may past, but in the end whether or not you see the benefits, a life was touched.  The beauty of a child’s story is that they are NOT a “baked seed” and have the potential to grow and flourish.  It is vital to the success of students and schools that teachers take time to love and nurture students.  Maybe they need to be “planted in a new pot” meaning they are moved to a new seat or a different small group.  Maybe it means they need to be “watered” a little bit more with love from teachers.  Just because you do not see the growth in two or ten children, does not make you a bad teacher in the same way Ping was not a bad gardener.  My message is a simple one: when you invest in nurturing each seed with the utmost care, whether you see it or not, you will make a difference and be reward.  Defeated teachers: you will be rewarded for your efforts of care and nurture!  You ARE making a difference!  You ARE doing a good job!  Be the gardener you love being and keep fighting for EVERY ONE of your students!  

Taken back in time...

Wednesday night my brother spoke on the story of Jonah, using his modern day story telling techniques.  Last night, I was talking to a friend about traveling overseas for an extended period of time.  Both of these things took me back in time 8 years ago when I made a very difficult decision to participate in Youth in Mission (YIM).  Not only was it the most difficult thing, it was also the best thing I ever did!!  Even though my trip was a long time ago, bare with me as a reminisce!

You see...I'm a tad bit of a homebody and someone who doesn't really like change, (probably the reason why I still live with my mom and dad!) but I really felt a calling to go on a mission trip.  It was October and I was sitting in chapel at SNU.  People were sharing stories about their YIM experiences when the stirring began and quickly grew.  I tried extremely hard to push it aside and ignore it.  Me? Never!  I can't be away from home that long!!  

Over the next several months, I spent many hours contemplating going, opening up the application, convincing myself it wasn't what God wanted, looking for signs, ignoring blatant signs I requested, talking myself into going, and finally letting the deadline pass! You read correctly, I ignored God's calling and desire to go because I couldn't stand the thought of being away from my family, or missing a dear friend's wedding! 

After missing the deadline and feeling sick about it, I happened to read the story of Jonah.  

Jonah is called to go to Nineveh but instead goes the other direction.  When he's on the boat, a storm comes along and the people on the boat end up throwing him overboard.  He is swallowed by a whale and after being spit on the beach, goes to Nineveh.  He's given a second chance to do what he was called to do originally.  

It was at that moment I knew I had to sign up.  God gave Jonah a second chance, maybe He would give me one.  I emailed YIM and told them the long drawn out version of being called but ignoring until I no longer could. Quickly they responded and told me to fill out the application.  The application was submitted and a placement letter was received in return.  Scotland here I come.  (Really...there I went)

Although the journey leading me to sign up is a good majority of the story, it is by no means the end! One small part of our trip was to plan and carry out a Vacation Bible School at the local church.  How exciting is that?  I wanted to be a teacher and loved organizing events.  It was going to be perfect!  To prepare for the Bible School, we canvased the Town Square and passed out flyers.  Talking to strangers is my mom's strength, not mine!  I definitely was out of my comfort zone as we unsuccessfully tried to convince people to come to VBS.  Crazy Americans with balloons and flyers do not attract masses of Scots!  Who knew we were planning an entire event for less than 15 kids.  Not my idea of a successful VBS.  After the first night, I wanted to be done.  It was rather disheartening to do all that work and have such a small turnout. 

As I spent tonight thinking about my trip to Scotland and my teaching today, I realized that much of my teaching is like this VBS experience.  I pour my heart and soul into what I'm doing only to be let down because only a few students respond, or the scores on the test still suck!  Failure begins to creep in and haunt me (other teachers too.)  In fact, I believe the feeling of failure in teachers is one of the biggest problems education faces.  The let down and lack of payoff quickly cause teachers to lose enthusiasm and spunk.  

We could just stop there...VBS only had a few kids, we were disappointed, so quit!  We tried something new in our class and the scores don't look much better, so we stop trying new things!

BUT - if we gave up there, we would have missed out on ministering to 10 kids.  If we continue to dwell in the lack of improvement, we miss out on celebrating the small successes and joys a few students may see.  Christ sees us everyday, and everyday he is let down by the traps of sin we fall prey to.  The people who miss out on opportunities to reach a lost soul disappoint him.  Talk about feeling defeat and failure...I know I alone fail him daily.  Each day, He gives us another chance, He tries a new approach.  He died for us even if just one accepts.  If He stopped there, we would have no eternal hope!  The wonderful thing is, He doesn't!  No matter how small the turnout is or how many times He teaches us the same thing only to have us fail again, He never becomes too disheartened.  He continues just as much as always!  We are called to be Christ-like, which means, we are called to persevere even when only one child responds to the lesson or the class still isn't getting it! We are called to come to school and begin a new day with a smile even when yesterday was awful! 

 It wasn't about having the biggest and best VBS.  It isn't about seeing growth and change right now all the time with all the students...it's about being Christ-like and continuing the fight even without results!  Sometimes, we don't get the results we want or get to see the results.  

We finished the VBS strong with no more than 15 kids each night!  Throughout the week we connected with a family and ignited an interest in church.  We had success and made a difference!  

YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!! - Don't be defeated - just keep fighting! You ARE making a difference!  You ARE saving lives! Keep fighting for your students.

"I hate coming to computer lab!"

Slap in the face...okay, maybe not a real one, but definitely one that you feel as a teacher.  Let's be honest, MOST of us want our kids to enjoy coming to our class and want the kids to like us in some way or another.  This past week, a teacher brought her class to the computer lab and shared that her class was not excited to be there.  They said they hated coming.  Ouch!  As soon as she said it, I knew why.  The second graders did not enjoy learning to type.  Although we practiced typing for a few weeks, then did something different, the weeks of typing were becoming dull.  I could tell the kids were getting antsy and even the good students were complaining.  It was time for a change.  

The wheels began turning as I processed a lot of different things.  Are 2nd graders developmentally ready to type?  It is a district expectations that they spend 20 minutes a week typing.  How could that look differently?  How could I benefit the classroom teachers even more?  Could we quit typing? How will that change my whole K-5 progression?  Could I split the class time and do two different things?  

I can do things differently, we can split the class time, it will change the whole K-5 progression but this is a learning process!  

Since those were the answers to my questions, here is the new plan...(I started the next day with day one of my rotation)

The kids come into my classroom, clean their hands, and immediately get on the computer.  They begin typing and type until 10:00.  (This gives them 15-20 minutes of typing) We use Dance Mat Typing. 

At 10:00 we will work on STEM activities that tie to their second grade science report cards.  

We are starting with a study of how earth can change instantly-earthquakes, volcanoes-and how earth can change slowly-weathering, erosion.  We used an online thesaurus to look up synonyms for quickly and slowly because those were terms in the standard.  Then, we began talking about earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion.  Next week, when they come in, we are going to use the search engine to look up structures that survive earthquakes.  The final portion of the earthquake study will include building earthquake structures and testing them on gelatin earths/fault lines.  Pictures to come!  To study erosion, we are going to look at cookie rocks and spray them with water before we do another search engine search.

If your kids don't like what you are doing, or are not enjoying the class, evaluate and ask yourself questions.  Don't be afraid to listen to your kids and change things up.  Don't wait until you are slapped in the face and the kids vocalize they "hate coming to your class."  See the signs in their eyes and actions!   Be willing to CHANGE things up! 

Beautiful Things...

This was my view driving to work the other day...

Beautiful isn't it? 

Then, when I was driving home, this was the view...

As I drove home, I started thinking (me thinking...crazy I know) how my day both started and ended with something so beautiful and unique. You see, the middle was not beautiful at all. It was filled with  irritation, heartbreak, pain, and frustration.  Being a specials teacher allows me to see many kids and hear many sad stories.  My thinking went to a variety of places but stuck on a song, Beautiful Things.  

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You see, God does make beautiful things.  REALLY beautiful things - just like the sunrise and sunset everyday.  The world is filled with pain, frustrations, imperfect people and everything else ugly!  Yet, God makes beautiful things out of dust or clouds and a massive ball of fire.  He also makes beautiful things out of us.  Think about all of our kids and all the baggage they bring to school with them.  Some of their lives are pretty disturbing and ugly.

What can we do as educators to help the students with ugly painful life experiences create beautiful master pieces out of their life?  This is a part of our calling as teachers and probably one of the most difficult tasks.  So many of the students (and people) that pass through our life struggle with the ugliness from their past or present experiences.  Because of their ugliness, we often catch the unbecoming attitudes and actions.  As we catch these attitudes and actions we find ourselves irritated or frustrated with those individuals. It becomes so difficult to love these individuals sometimes but these individuals need love just as much or more.  So let's help these friends make beautiful things! Let's love them! Let's inspire them! Let's encourage them! Let's listen to them! Let's make BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT OF THE DUST!  - Click the link listen to the song.

All around

Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Because of God, we have hope.  Because of loving teachers, students have hope.  Because of schools, there is hope for the future!  

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. - Guest words of wisdom from the best little brother!

Digital Citizens!

Good thing I don't believe in making New Year's Resolutions.  I might have made one to blog more... and I'd be epically failing!!! I KNOW all 50 (I mean 40, since at least 10 of those views were probably me!) of my readers have been anxiously waiting for a computer lab update! 

Picture this:

You are at the mall in the food court. Someone stands up with a poster size picture of the pizza they are about to eat and yell: "Best pizza ever!" #mallfood #greasy #lunchdate #shopping

You are in the audience at a school assembly; a girl is introduced and brought to the stage. She begins her speech by identifying the grungy girl sitting next to you. For the next 3 minutes she talks about how nasty, stupid, poor, dirty, and friendless the girl is! Everyone hears it. Everyone sees it. No one stops it! 

Both of the above scenarios seem a little extreme and a little silly. But in reality, both things happen daily on social media! Let's be honest, at some point, you have posted a picture of food you've eaten! I know I have.  As a society we crave "likes", "favorites", etc.  We crave the high we get from comments or responses (both negative and positive).  Social media such as Kik, Vine, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, and Snapchat consume our society.  

With the mass influx of social media, one might think our students should "know how to use it." The problem is, students know "how" to use it but they don't know etiquette for using it.  Due to the social media craze, I feel it is important to include digital citizenship into my curriculum! Our school counselor is required and finds it important to include digital citizenship  as well.  We decided to join together and co-teach digital citizenship. It has been a blast and we have done something a little different with each grade level. 

5th grade Digital citizenship lesson plans:

     OBJECTIVE:  When using social media, I can use online etiquette all the time.  I can define and recognize cyberbullying.

Students were questioned about the social media they use daily and engaged through a discussion all the different ones they use.  (I learned a few new ones)

We moved from the discussion into three different videos.  The first video is a rap song about ten online rules.  (Commonsense media.org is a great website for digital citizenship curriculum.  If you haven't checked it out, you need to do so!!) - Over sharing rap

After they listened to the a funny video about how to behave online, we moved into a video that defined cyberbullying.  It was very informative and told the kids how to respond to cyberbullying.  

The final video we showed...well you just need to watch it: Talent Show - Lesson on cyberbullying.  Between each video we had a discussion about the video and answered any questions the students might have.  

The activity that followed the videos was fantastic!  (Our counselor came up with it and made the cool items posted in the pictures below!)  Students were divided into groups of 2-3 and given a card with one of the ten rules for online behavior.  The kids had to come up with a skit explaining one of  the different rules.  Kids in the audience were required to identify which rule the skit represented.  The goal was to make sure eight of the ten were correctly guessed on the first time.  Not only did the kids have a good time, they practiced behaving properly online!  We wrapped up the lesson with summaries of what they learned.  

                  

4th grade lesson plans:

    OBJECTIVE:  When using social media, I can use online etiquette all the time.  I can define and recognize cyberbullying.

I'm sure you noticed the objective was the same for both fourth and fifth grade.  In fact, the beginning of the lesson looked exactly the same...okay fine, I never do any two lessons EXACTLY the same, but you get the gist!  We showed the same 3 videos and had the same general conversation.  

However, we did change the activity.  

The fourth graders were asked to use Kidpix to illustrate how to stay safe online.  The pictures turned out really good.  Here is my example for the class:

3rd grade lesson plans:

     OBJECTIVE:  When using social media, I can stay safe online and keep my computer protected from viruses.  I can define and recognize cyberbullying.

We decided our third graders needed something a little different.  Ginger found resources at Brainpopjr.  We used their free online Internet safety curriculum to guide our lesson.  Together we watched the online safety video.  Following the video, we had a discussion of the different things the kids could do to stay safe online.  As a class we took the quiz over the video.  The follow-up activity was letting students write about how they stayed safe online.  

At the end of class, the students watched the last video shown with the upper grades (Talent show: cyberbullying) and had a discussion comparing the video to cyberbullying.  Some of our third grade classes were really moved by the video and what they saw.

2nd grade lesson plans:

     OBJECTIVE:  When using social media, I can use online etiquette all the time. 

Really our 2nd grade lesson plans mocked the third grade lesson plans.  We used the Brainpopjr and watched the same video.  The activity at the end was also from the website but instead of writing, the students were asked to draw a safe website they like to visit.  

At this time, we are not exactly sure what we will do with first grade or kindergarten, but their digital citizenship lessons will be coming up soon.  

I've really enjoyed the digital citizenship units over the past month and have been left thinking about my online etiquette.  I challenge you; watch the rap again and really think about the information you post online.  Think about the next picture of someone else you post...did you get permission?  If it were you, would you want it up? Before you post every 30 minutes, stop and think about the reader.  Be wise when online and remember, you are an example for your students and kids.  Social media can be great, but it can also rob us of human interaction causing us to crave more and more "likes!"

Critical Condition

I find myself having deep conversations with some friends lately. A reoccurring theme seems to be one I've touched on before but a lesson I'm still learning. 

L-O-V-E vs. Criticism

Think about the love Christ calls us to have, an Agape love! A love for others that stirs a generosity in us and a servantlike heart! 

We are surrounded by people longing to be loved, and a people created for love.  

As one conversation with my friend progressed, I began to realize a simple but critical truth: we may want to be loved but we sure struggle to show others.  As humans we are extremely critical of others and their decisions because of our insecurities and inadequacies.  When we criticize, many times we find ourself saying something unkind to or about that person. Well, this poses a problem, a problem that bleeds into all areas of our lives. 

Through harsh criticism, we tear down a community, a community that needs each other for survival. Many days I have to stop and ask myself if I am accepting the strengths of others or looking for their faults.  In the same way I am not perfect, neither is anyone else.  BUT that is okay!  I must find their strengths and the beauty God sees in each of the challenging individuals.  God has called me to be accepting and loving, that is exactly what I am working on doing!  This critical condition is definitely a work in progress - two steps forward, 3 steps back!

I challenge you, when you find yourself being critical of others, stop and think, pray for them rather than criticize them.  When we are intentional about loving others and loving them, we do not have time to be so critical.  Along with loving our co-workers, we need to work to build one another up. Ask yourself: Have you passed along a positive note?  Have you encouraged someone?  Have you complimented something you've seen fellow teachers do?  Are you willing to carry the load for a fellow teacher instead of criticize their inadequacies?  We really need each other to make it through all the ups and downs of education!!