Teacherscribe's Teaching Thoughts
Week 17 - 2 and 3
Amen
Re-Framing Your Situation
Lean in to the dip
The World is a Fine Place and Worth Fighting For
This is how lives are changed.
Book review of the week - How to Win Friends and Influence People
Teaching Thoughts
Teaching Thought #73 - How students ‘pay’ us
One of my favorite writers and thinkers is Seth Godin. On an Entreleadership podcast several years ago Godin talked about the importance of having a business that delivers satisfaction. Since my business is teaching, I immediately began applying this to how I teach.
Godin explained that customers pay businesses in three ways: with money, trust, and referrals.
I connect that to teaching in that I’ve found students “pay” us in three ways: with time, trust, and referrals.
Here’s a deeper dive:
Time - Think of all the class time students spend with us. Think of the hours of homework. If you connect with them and cement a nurturing culture, this time is a given. If you don’t have a positive culture, the time is a prison sentence for students.
Here is one of my examples - In College Comp 2 I assign a 6-8 page paper . . . due on the FIRST day of class.
I have never had a late paper.
Why?
Because I have cemented culture from CC 1. Only those who really connect with me and are willing to put in the work, make it to CC 2. They are wiling to invest the time.
Trust - We must get students to trust us. Without trust, it’s going to be an uphill battle to connect and let our subjects sink in.
Get to know your kids and build trust. If they know you’ll work for them and take a chance for them, they’ll return the favor.
Referrals - I never considered the fact that students talk to their parents about the class and me until one day a parent said, “Oh, we talk quite a bit about your class.”
I was taken aback. What exactly did they say?
He chuckled and mentioned that the last conversation about my class was around the film Jaws and how much is daughter hated it. He, though, thankfully, loved the movie and we had a ten minute conversation about Quint!
Just last year on the final day of class, a father texted me and said that I had a disciple in his daughter because she often began her conversations at dinner with the phrase “Mr. Reynolds said . . .”
But what if I don’t have have great culture? What will they say then?
This goes beyond students though. What do parents say?
Here is another example from three years ago.
I got an email from a parent whose son and daughter took both College Comp 1 and 2 from me. She said that she was visiting with a co-worker whose son was taking summer school. The mother didn’t realize that I taught summer school. So after hearing this woman talk about how much her son enjoyed this crazy English teacher he had for Composition at the ALC, she asked the mother who it was.
She was shocked when she said my name.
So she emailed me to share the compliment with me and to share some other kind words about the impact I had on her son and daughter too.
This totally made my year, and school hadn’t even started yet! But the key thing that illustrates the importance of referrals is that she also blind cc’d that email to Mr. Zutz and Mrs. Larson, our former principal and superintendent, respectively.
I didn’t realize this until, on the first day of school, I walked into school and saw our superintendent walking towards me.
“I was looking for you,” Mrs. Larson said.
Great, not exactly what I want to hear on the first day of school! Ha ha.
“What an email that was . . .” she began.
Then it dawned on me that she had been included on it without me knowing.
Later when Mr. Zutz mentioned it too, I knew that he had been included as well.
And I had no idea!
So what else is being said about us and our classes that we don’t know?
Certainly it wall won’t be positive, but let’s try to make it as positive as possible by remembering the three ways students “pay” us.
Teaching Thought #74 - Average is for losers
That is a quote from one of my favorite thinkers, Seth Godin.
When you really reflect on it, when do we - as consumers at least - ever settle for average? If Kristie and I actually go out on our own without the kiddos, you can be sure we aren’t looking for an average place to eat and an average movie to watch. If you go to the dentist, do you really want an average dentist? If you’re prom dress shopping, do you really want an average salesperson helping out?
We all seek greatness. At least when it comes from our pocketbooks. But what about when it comes to our courses and classes?
Think about this for a second:
An average teacher teaches a subject. I think most of our textbooks and curriculum materials are designed for average teachers. They seem to say to us, Don’t think. Just do the guides and go through the motions, stick to the pacing guide, read the suggested notes and comments the teacher text has in the margins, and anyone can do this. It’s teacher proof.
A good teacher teaches students how to learn. No textbook or curriculum can assist with this. This involves a teacher knowing their students individually. Even more importantly, this involves the teacher having time to allow the student to know themselves. That’s even more difficult. It’s difficult because that takes away time from what the average teacher does to teach a subject.
A great teacher teaches students to love learning. Again, no student gets out of bed and comes to class eager because of the textbook or the new fangled curriculum. They come - if you ask me - because of two things: the culture you create in your class and the environment that allows them to take risks, experiment, and learn and grow. The hard part about that is that stuff isn’t easily measurable by a cheap standardized test. But it can change a kid’s life.
Don’t settle for average.
Why I Teach
The payoff, of course, is that kids fall in love with reading all over again. One way I take advantage of the great work my fellow English teachers do is with my CC II Sticky-Note book reports (More on that project here). This year I did two of them.
For the first round, I have students list three topics that they are super interested in or passionate about. Then I have them list two topics that they absolutely don't want to read about. From their list, I choose several options for them (mostly from my classroom library but some come from our media center too). Then students annotate the books as they read with at least 50 Sticky-Notes. We end this with a 10 minute book talk from each student.
This year, I had time to fit in a second round. Only this time I didn't limit it to nonfiction. For this student above, I knew he had an interest in horror, namely vampires. So I recommended Richard Laymon's Stoker Award winning book, The Traveling Vampire Show. It is one of those handful of books that once I match it up with the right student, it's lights out.
I've had one student read the entire book in a single day. I've had others just fall into the book and devour it over the course of a week in class. And then I've had some who have had Sam's reaction.
I'm afraid the initial copy I loaned him was a bit beat up. In fact, the book was detached from the spine and pages were threatening to spill out.
The day before we left for Christmas break, Sam wrapped up a new copy of the book with this note inside.
As an English teacher, it just doesn't get any better than this.
Podcast of the week - The Art of Possibility
That is what is so amazing about learning and growing: you just never know when the next life changing experience is around the corner. I stumbled across this one simply by listening to a podcast while cleaning the house last week when I had to burn a sick day to stay home with Cash.
Give this a listen. You won't great it.
Video of the week -
Thoughts from Twitter
Tech tool of the Week -
The presenter had some very important information to deliver about autism, but he delivered it in the most unengaging way imaginable . . . boring slideshow and lecture.
I had a front row seat and looked around to see unengaged administrators and teachers everywhere. I even saw more than a few fighting off sleep!
This could have been avoided by a more engaging presentation other than a 'sit and get' Powerpoint presentation.
And that's where Prezi comes in.
The format of any Prezi slideshow is at least entertaining and visually appealing, which is far better than just flipping through slide after slide.
But the real key is not only using an engaging presentation format (Prezi is just one of many) bu to actually bring a bit of passion and art to your talk.
Where are they Now?
Isaac Skalsky and Ashley Skalsky (formerly Borchardt)
When did you graduate from LHS?
We both graduated Lincoln in 2013.
Where did you go to college and when did you graduate?
We both attended Minnesota State University Moorhead and graduated in 2018.
Where have you taught?
We both student taught at SHAPE just outside of Mons, Belgium. Ashley taught in Worthington, MN last year at Prairie Elementary in the ESL Program and she is teaching math this year at Hartley Melvin Sanborn Middle School in Sanborn IA.
I have spent both my first year and this year at Hartley Melvin Sanborn High School teaching science in Hartley, Iowa. I am advising a science club that has students competing in a variety of science competitions from science bowl to science fair. The students also do community events such as a Halloween science carnival.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The thing I love most about teaching is showing kids how much they are capable of. I originally wanted to be a teacher to share my love of science and to inspire future scientists.
What advice do you have for teachers?
My advice to other teachers at the beginning of their career is to remember to "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -Teddy Roosevelt.
You don't have a lot of control over the classroom and community resources you have, the personalities and lifestyles of your students, the attitudes and priorities of your administrators or coworkers, or the amount of time you have to prepare for each day. Your goal should be to give those kids the best education you can with the hand you have been dealt. It doesn't matter if you could make it 1000x better in another district, with another budget, and another culture. You have what you have. Make it work to the best of your ability and make no excuses. If you can do that you have no reason to feel bad about how you are doing. It will never be perfect. For all people who work in education (from the fantastic people that keep our classrooms clean to our government officials), my only advice is to do your best to be intentional. Ask yourself constantly, "Is this what is best for kids?" At the end of the day, we are here for them and every decision we make should be in their best interest.
Bonus content of the week -
Please! If you are responsible for delivering content to a captive audience - whether you're a teacher, public speaker, or professional development speaker, master this rule.
I'm not trying to be cruel here, but odds are that your presentations suck. Here are some signs that you might suck as a presenter -
1. Your audience tells you so (seriously, if you're a teacher, ask your students to anonymously give you feedback on your slideshows). If you're thinking, there is no way I'd ever do that . . . well, you have your answer to whether or not your slideshow stink.
2. Kids/audience members fight off sleep during it.
3. If you ever read an entire slide. This should be avoided at all costs!
4. If your images suck or a grainy.
5. If no one laughs or even breaks a smile.
6. If your slideshow fails to meet any of Kawasaki's 10-20-30 rule.
Chief Inspiration Officer of Room 205
I am married to the most amazing person in the world, Kristie. It was love at first sight. At least for me. And it still is.
We have four wonderful children, Casey, Koko, Kenzie, and Cash. I also happen to have the greatest job in the world: teaching English to high school students.
I am about to begin my 22nd year of teaching at Lincoln High School. I graduated from Lafayette High School in 1992. I decided to enter the field of education because of two amazing teachers, Mr. Mueller, my fourth and sixth grade elementary school teacher and assistant baseball coach, and Mrs. Christianson, my 9th grade English teacher.
I attended Northland Community College, and had my life changed by the amazing Dr. Diane Drake. Then I transferred to Bemidji State University in 1995. There I had amazing professors who further inspired me to teach English (Dr. Helen Bonner, Dr. Mark Christensen, Susan Hauser, and Gerry Schnabel). I graduated with my BS in English Education in 1997.
I student taught with the wonderful Lisa Semanko and then began teaching full-time at LHS in 1998.
I took a year's leave of absence in 2001-02 to return to BSU for my MA in English. There I had the privilege to teach and work closely with my greatest mentor, Dr. Mark Chirstensen. I earned my MA in English in 2006 and was honored with "Thesis of the Year" for my creative non-fiction, braided, multi-genre memoir, "Meeting Myrtle: A Biography."
In 2013, thanks to my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Jodi Holen, I was offered an adjunct teaching position fall semester at the University of North Dakota. Tuesday nights I teach Intro to Education: Teaching and Learning 250 from 5-8. Those three hours fly by in about ten minutes.
Then in 2016 I was blessed to win a WEM award (thanks to a nomination from a former student (and now an elementary school teacher), Ciera Mooney.
In 2017 I became part of the #pineconepd podcast club along with Brian Loe, Jeff Mumm, Kelsey Johnson, Kelly Weets, Josh Watne, Tevia Strand, Megan Vigen, Mariah Hruby, and Laura Brickson. This has been one of the best forms of PD I've ever been a part of. They make me a better teacher every time we meet. Please think about joining us in the summer at the Pine Cone Pub from 6:30 - until we've solved all the world's problems. For that evening anyway.
Thanks to the inspiration of Shane Zutz (our former principal) I devised this as a way to distribute my Teaching Thoughts and add more content to, hopefully, help out and inspire others.
Email: kurt.reynolds@myprowler.org
Website: http://teacherscribe.blogspot.com
Location: 101 South Knight Aver Thief River Falls MN 56701
Phone: 218-686-7395
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