Nov. 20: What is one life lesson that you are thankful for having learned? Remember when Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…. until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”? That right there, that idea that everyone has a story, that is the life lesson I'm thankful to have learned. Sometimes the story is simple. Today in English 2 as we prepped for a Socratic Seminar on the universal themes found in Of Mice and Men, Austin had his head down and was refusing to look at me. Was he just being rude? Did he not complete the reading assignment? So I asked. I needed to climb into his skin before I jumped to conclusions. "Hey. Everything okay?" I asked. I learned that he had a terrible migraine and was waiting for meds to kick in. He stayed in class where we completed our class dialogue with the lights out for Austin, who ended up being one of the most thoughtful contributors to our discussion. All I had to do was ask. Sometimes the story is more complicated. During my early years of teaching I had a 10th grade student with a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas. She didn't engage in class, was often snippy, and seemed to shut herself off from others in our English 2 class. I didn't push, but I knew there was a story there. One day it was revealed in her journal writing when she shared that she had been raped by an older boy at a party. By putting on her skin, her attitude made perfect sense. Today I read this older article by Matt de la Pena about the "tough teens" that many of us encounter. How many Joshuas have we encountered in our careers, the kids who have a story to tell but no one to tell it to? I've been guilty (and will be again, I'm sure) of pigeon-holing a student, letting one interaction sour my entire relationship with him/her. But I try to be better, to continually relearn the lesson and be a better listener. Because everyone really does have a story.
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Nov. 19: Tell someone you know how grateful you are for the work they do. Share your story here.
I am grateful for those who speak the sweet honeycomb of words. My first teaching job was in my husband's hometown, Mount Vernon, Missouri. I was nervous to interact with these rural Missouri teens whose small-town ways seemed eerily similar and still so different from my Iowa farm girl roots. On top of that was the pressure that my new coworkers were my husband's former teachers, and, well, we'll just say he wasn't the strongest student. Like most first years, mine was laden with insecure interactions with students, awkward parent-teacher conferences, and lessons that looked much better on paper. My first principal observation included the sensual poetry debacle, too, but still I trudged forward. Mr. Russ Cruzan, a quiet leader, saw hope in me. Now it should come as no surprise that I am deeply impacted by words, both spoken and written. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Mr. Cruzan's words were a honeycomb to this hesitant, first-year teacher. In a conversation that I'm sure he has long since forgotten, he told me that I was one of the best first-year teachers he had encountered. Those words stuck, shining light into the dark corners of my classroom on the days when a violent 7th hour student threatened to burn my f&#%@ room down or when a timid 10th grader revealed in her journal that she had been raped. His words kept me going. Now years later, I am grateful for Mr. Cruzan. In a career dripping with dropouts and low retention rates, his encouragement soothed my soul. When the opportunity came to teach dual-credit writing classes, his go-ahead gave me the courage to start my masters program which lead me to the Ozarks Writing Project. Like a good teacher, he saw the potential in me and drew it out. Mr. Cruzan believed in me in spite of (or maybe because of) my first-year bumbles. Now a superintendent in the same district, I am sure that Mr. Cruzan still leads with a quiet and firm integrity. I remember that lesson well, the power of words, and try speak the same honeycomb truth for my students. Nov. 18: What do you appreciate about your colleagues? How do I love my coworkers? Let me count the ways. Treats: I love my coworkers because 9 days out of 10, we have treats. It might be homemade banana bread, a mini KitKat, or a Friday tailgate. Whatever caloric intake it might be, I never have to go hungry during my work day. We share recipes, too. Last week when I told some colleagues that I would be cooking my first-ever Thanksgiving turkey, two of them shared their favorite recipes and tips with me. (I'll report back on the results next week!) Therapy: This fall our family faced a pretty significant change, and my coworkers provided free therapy at the lunch table. They listened and responded accordingly, and still weeks later, several of them check in on the situation. Our lunchtime therapy wasn't a one-time event either. When I took a leave of absence two years ago because one of my own children was struggling, I felt loved and cared for by the men and women who teach next door. Working here feels like an extension of my family. Camaraderie: I'm lucky to say that I actually have fun with my colleagues. Whether it's randomly singing 90's songs in the hallway before class or participating in a Digital Media Production video or homecoming skit, I am grateful to work with people who know how to let loose and have a good time, even at the risk of our own embarrassment. (Watch the above video for the Spice Girls at 3:15 for evidence of my own embarrassment.) Pop Culture: Every Tuesday I rush to Donna's desk to discuss The Black List. When I start a new book that I can't put down, I can't wait to share the title with Becca. Who got sent home on The Voice or what did I think of the series finale of How I Met Your Mother? I'll discuss it with the crew at lunch. I appreciate having a superficial level to connect on as well. Professionalism: While we know how to have a good time and discuss frivolous matters, we also know when to get to work. I work with some of the best educators in the state. Today I had the pleasure of collecting Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) data for two periods which means I had the chance to observe my colleagues in their elements. In every classroom, with every subject matter, I saw engaged students because I have colleagues working hard to connect. From soil testing in Ag I to stop-motion videos in Digital Media Production to a ping pong tournament in Adventure P.E., I witnessed my colleagues creating valuable learning experiences that I wished I could be a part of. Sorry, folks, but I work with the best colleagues in the world. A friend once told me about my job, “It’s not rocket science.” (It was her well-intentioned way of telling me not to worry so much.) And she was, of course, right. I’m not an oncologist or a nuclear physicist or even the CFO of a major corporation. I’m “just” an English teacher; my work isn’t daily changing the world. Last year I really began to buy into that belief because it felt easy. So I was a bit more complacent, more lackadaisical. I didn’t engage as much with my students or my curriculum; risks became unnecessary because my job didn’t really matter that much. I became that which I abhor in my students: apathetic. In other words, a year ago I lost my mojo. Perhaps it was the eight-year itch. Maybe it was a crazy hormonal imbalance. Possibly I was still adjusting to life as a full-time working mom. For whatever reason, I wasn’t the teacher I wanted to be, the teacher I knew I could be. I certainly wasn’t living up to the title of this blog. It was more like Teach Boring. This year is different, though. I checked the complacency at the door when I returned this fall. After all, I needed to model drive and ambition for my students. This year I come to work most days with a fever to interact with my students. I am making a conscious effort to get students out of their seats at least once a day. New strategies, new research, new assessments. I can’t put my finger on the magic formula, but I’m back to being the Mrs. Witt I once remembered. I’m doing things here that I’ve never done before. Last Friday as an exit ticket in English 2, I had students write a fake Tweet from a character of Of Mice and Men. They are hanging on the front board now, a trophy for our hard reading effort. My College Comp students are participating in Write Whatcha Want Wednesday each week, and next week in Speech class we’ll be creating infomercials as part of our persuasive speech unit. In a nutshell, I’m back. The fire has been reignited. I’m teaching with passion once again. And if the purpose of this blog challenge is to focus on an attitude of gratitude, I am so very thankful for that. Nov. 16: What is the most powerful aspect of being a connected educator? What are you grateful for?
(Another short weekend post. I think I'm losing steam, but I must. keep. going.) I'm an introvert by nature. The idea of a big, noisy party makes me want to crawl under my comforter and pray for it to be over soon. Making small talk for any length of time exhausts me. That doesn't mean I don't love people, though. Being a connected educator is powerful because it forces me out of my introvert ways and pushes me to engage with like-minded teachers. It's like a big, noisy party without the post-party exhaustion. I'm grateful for being a connected educator because I've "met" some pretty amazing English teachers right here in my same state. I'm grateful for the ideas that I've gleaned from Twitter conversations and the improvements brought to my classroom. I'm grateful to feel a little less alone in this blustery, snowy corner of Northwest Iowa. Nov. 15: What tech tools are you most grateful for? Why? How have they changed what you do? Today's post will be short because it's the weekend, and I have officially taken off my teacher hat. Good friends are coming for dinner, the snow is falling, and months after moving in, we are finally finding time to decorate our new house. It's simple, but I am most grateful for Google Drive and Google Classroom. When I first started using Google Docs seven years ago when I still taught in Missouri, it revolutionized the way I responded to student writing. Since then it's improved and empowered peer feedback and classroom assignments. I use Google Forms on a weekly basis as a formative assessment, and all peer evaluation in speech class happens with Forms as well. In a nutshell, I cannot imagine teaching without Drive and Classroom. In terms of professional growth, I am thankful for Twitter. I have increased my PLN exponentially thanks to Twitter. Each week I'm challenged and taught through shared articles and the amazing things other educators are doing in their classrooms. I work in a three-person department, and while I appreciate my coworkers, I also benefit from "knowing" like-minded teachers around the world. Yay, technology! Nov. 14: 5 things you are grateful to have learned in your teaching career
5. Teaching automatically makes you a lifelong learner. It never stops. New strategies, new techniques, new technology. This year I'm learning about new student choice through #WWWW and adding fresh vocabulary strategies through my personalized professional development. I've written about it before, but I will always be changing and reviving things in my classroom. I am, after all, a teacher in perpetual motion. 4. Building relationships with students is a breath-taking and necessary risk. They will let you down and break your heart, but you will also get to watch them soar. I've lost students to drug use and car accidents, and I've cheered students on as they've pursued their dreams. I currently have former students climbing corporate ladders, advocating with nonprofits, pursuing degrees in creative writing, and dancing with Kevin Bacon. (You guessed it. I taught Nicholas everything he knows.) 3. Student writers are fragile and wondrous and strong. Sometimes I read something they created, and I pause in awe, my pen dangling over the paper, frozen with delight. They entrust me with their young souls on paper, and I am at equal parts empowered and afraid of the responsibility. Standing by as a witness as they discover their voices? It will always be my favorite. 2. Summer vacation is still an indescribable gift. When the "Hallelujah Chorus" pumps out over the intercom dismissing us on the last day, I am consistently filled with the same tangible anticipation that I experienced as a student 20 years ago. I love my job, and I love that my job provides regular breaks as well. 1. Teenagers, as a species, are freaking awesome. Really. You never know what each day will bring when working with this wily, wacky bunch. Yesterday, for example, my 6th period English 2 class turned into a makeshift medical clinic as I consulted one boy about his lack of hearing in his left ear and gave another student advice about a very large blister. (Update: The blister popped all over the kitchen, and the ear has serious fluid build-up.) We laugh so much, every day, and I think the world underestimates these teenagers because they don't write and read cursive (gasp!) and use social media with a fervor. But these kids? World-changers. Just watch them. Nov. 13: What do you do to take time out for yourself? I've been dreading this prompt since I started the challenge. I want to write that in my spare time I run marathons and knit sweaters for charity and practice calligraphy, but I don't. I feel like those are the proper answers to a question like this. Something Big and Worthwhile. Nearly three years ago I became a working mom, and I've struggled since then to find a balance between my roles as wife, mother, teacher, and human. I'm afraid it's the last position that gets neglected the most. Time for myself might be a few minutes reading with my students or writing quietly at my desk with a cup of tea. It could be watching The Voice with my family. It might be a short walk around the neighborhood with my dog or a glass of wine and a Hitchcock movie with my husband after the boys are tucked into bed. The Working Mom Debate has raged on for decades, and I have nothing new to add to the discussion. I will say, however, that it is my personal belief that each day does not include enough hours to Do It All. So I excel where I can excel and prioritize what I think it most important and try to model balance to my children and my students. I've reached the conclusion that there will always be dishes on the counter and laundry to be folded and piles of paper in my classroom. I will go to bed most days thinking of the to-do list that is never fully completed. However, I often find myself singing the words of "As Is" by Ani DiFranco because they serve as a powerful reminder: "When I look around, I think this, this is good enough. And I try to laugh at whatever life brings. 'Cause when I look down, I just miss all the good stuff, and when I look up, I just trip over things." It isn't an anthem of depressing resignation for me, though; it's a melody of firm acceptance. Good enough. It can be an acceptance of dreams and looking forward along with contentment and appreciation, a presence in the now. I might forget again tomorrow as I look at the Facebook photos of half-marathons and photo-worthy desserts, as I hear of other moms doing yoga at 5 a.m. or baking cupcakes from scratch for the school bake sale. But I have this written now. Published. Tattooed. Today I am enough. Nov. 12: Share a photo - or photos - of things / people you are grateful for.
I'm thankful for (clockwise from top left): striking up small talk with a stranger at a concert 12 years ago, saying yes to adoption, being a mom, enjoying nature where we live, soaking in the view from my classroom, feeling love from my students, seeing the sights in Ethiopia, experiencing travel and adventures, learning from my students, drinking tea from a cup that represents friendship Today my English 2 students focused on gratitude for veterans in their journals. I wanted to share some highlights here. I think high school students get a bad reputation for being ungrateful and selfish. That reputation isn't reflected here. "Thank you for all that you have done for us, and what you are doing right now. I wish I could say something more, but I am speechless. Speechless of how you used to (and some of you still) wake up every morning wondering if this day will be your last. Wondering if you are going to be shot down. I could never have as much courage as you do." "My grandfather is a war vet and I am proud to say it and I can't thank him enough for all that he has sacrificed just so me and my family as well as every other family went without struggle. This is a great day and should be acknowledged as such because without the heart of those men and women I don't think we would have it as well as we do today." "My cousins means a lot to me and I couldn’t thank them enough for what they do for people's freedom. If it wasn’t without them and other people in the military we wouldn’t have the freedom like we do today and without that our world would be completely different, I believe that we shouldn’t just celebrate them for making our freedom today, we should celebrate it every day." "I think that Veterans day should not just be one day where people can thank them it should be everyday so people don’t just think oh one day thanks and thats it. Having to wait one year to thank a Veteran for what they did is not right." "I would just like to say a thank you. I want to say a thank you to those people who fought but didn’t get to come back to their family or kids. They didn’t get to say a goodbye to them, they are just gone and I don’t really know how to express my gratitude for those people." "I am very grateful for anyone who has served the country. I think that most people don't realize how much they have given up for our country. Even though I don't show it a lot I am very grateful for anyone who has served our country." "I would like to thank all the veterans who served our country. I would also like to thank my boss who served and fought for several years and still works everyday all day even though he has really bad knee problems from fighting in Vietnam. When I get older I hope to serve my country as those are now and those who served before us. Thank all the men and women for serving and fighting for our country and our freedom." "In honor of veterans day I would like to thank everyone who has served or is serving. But more specifically my friends and family that are serving. They make me so proud for sticking up for what they believe in and freeing our country." "I am very grateful for all the soldiers that have fought to make sure that we have all the things that we have today. I am so grateful that some of my family are veterans and they fought to keep us safe and well. I thank my grandpa Dennis and my grandpa Ron for what they did to keep our country safe." "I believe that what the service the men and women did were amazing. If it wasn’t for them, we most likely wouldn’t be living the way we are today. We most likely wouldn’t have our freedom or be able to go to school. We most likely wouldn’t have the jobs we want, or even go to college." |
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September 2020
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