Break Even Teaching

News From My World-Special Updates!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 19:17:00 +0000

Hello all of my fellow BET’s! It has been quite a while since my last post, so I wanted to update you on some cool things happening in my world.

As most of you know, from a previous post, I was named the Middle School and High School Cross Country coach at the beginning of this school year. This was quite a challenge for me as I had never coached any sports, save a season of church youth basketball way back in the early eighties. I really enjoyed coaching these amazing kids. I also had an awesome assistant coach in Austin Conner, so I think the season was a huge success. Next year, I think we will have even more kids running and it looks like we may be able to field a team large enough to compete in team meets.

This Spring, we are staging the musical Guys and Dolls at Culver Community Middle School/High School! I am once again serving as assistant director to our amazing director Diane Derrow, who leads this wonderfully talented cast of kids! We are so excited to have several returning players from last year, and a truly promising group of middle school kids that look like they will carry the torch with swagger for many years to come. So be sure to save the first weekend in March to come see our production of Guys and Dolls! I will post times and dates later in February.

I have also been asked to coach the Boys Golf Team this coming season. It is still unofficial, since I need to be approved by the school board, but I feel fairly certain I will be given the green light. This is the position I have wanted since I began teaching but thought it was hopeless due to the fact that we already had a great golf coach in Kyle Elliott. The fact that he is younger than me also made me think it impossible in the foreseeable future. But alas, he has decided to lighten his load a bit, and I fortunately am in the right place at the right time. I just hope I can work as well with the kids and be as good a mentor as he has been for the past fourteen years. Thanks so much for allowing me this opportunity Coach Elliott!

So, that is what is happening in my world. Still really enjoying the kids and the awesome group of teachers and administrators I work with! See you next time!

Remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Networked Blogs, or Google Plus, or subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom of each post using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc. Thanks again for reading!

Balanced Calendar, Unbalanced Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 12:18:00 +0000

Greetings BET’s!

Well, we are about eight weeks into the semester and I am ready for a break. This “balanced” calendar thing really has me bamboozled. It is September 22, and we are eight weeks in! Are you kidding me????

Ahhhh! Making me lose my hair!

Oh well, at least we are not alone. Many of the schools in our area joined this effort to simplify schedules for various reasons. I’m sure it does simplify some things. One thing I am sure it does not, would be the lack of a summer respite. Many of you I’m sure are saying, “Eight weeks off isn’t enough?” Coming from the outside and now looking out from the inside, I understand your comment. For the world of people out there who are not in the teaching profession, let me break down my summer for you.

So, school ended on June 3^rd for us, but we had to make a day so we came back in the next Monday. Now, I get my grades in promptly, so I was pretty much done for the year at that point. I spent a day or two getting my room cleaned up and organized, and then I left for “summer” break. I spent a week or two enjoying my family and traveling a bit, not really anything too exciting.

Now before we left for break, I had new computers added to my classroom. I would be teaching the same software, but a newer version…five years newer, so there were some rather big changes. So, around June 29^th, I was back in the classroom, working up about thirty projects that my students complete during a semester. I have to create them using the new version of software, so I know that what I am asking of the students, can actually be done by the students.

I also picked up a new course that I would be teaching so I needed to get some ideas together for how that would look in the classroom. That didn’t go too well, as I am on my third different text, eight weeks in. But, nonetheless, I did spend the better part of two weeks of my summer break, creating new material and lessons.

I also am the leader of the Freshmen Orientation program that we have here, so I had been working on the scheduling of that for those first two weeks as well. We had our first training day for Mentors on the 13^th of July. After that, I was in and out of my classroom daily until August 1^st, when we started back.

Don’t get me wrong…I am not trying to be the patron saint of hard working teachers. I know we get the extra three day in the fall and the extra week of spring break. Frankly, I found one week of spring break a good enough time to recharge and I really can’t afford to vacation for two weeks anyway. I am just pointing out, that while this calendar may look balanced to some, I find it to be something that tends to make me lose my balance more often than not.

Conceptually, it may look good. But do we really need to keep the kids in the classroom from August 1^st to June 1^st? And who says this is where it ends. Soon we may find ourselves starting school in Mid-July and ending in mid-June. Twenty years ago, who thought we would be looking at the schedule we are today? Just my two cents.

Our New YouTube Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 17:01:00 +0000

Greetings to you all, my BETs!

Today is a special little post. I won't do this for every video we publish, but I thought I would do so today, to ask for your help in spreading the word.

My son and I decided to put together a Vlog on YouTube. We have been kicking this around for some time, but finally started putting it on video this summer. Now, at long last, we have published our first video. Please take a look and if you like what you see, share and subscribe and help us spread the word!

Thanks again for all of your support with this!

Don't Be A Dummy! June 1-7 National CPR/AED Awareness Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:52:00 +0000

Greeting to you all, my fellow BET’s!

Well, it’s that time of year again…or, at least it was back in June when I missed it. Time to raise awareness of and renew your CPR/AED certification! Funny how I don’t have this observance day memorized, yet I can tell you at the drop of a hat when National Pizza Day is…February 9^th, if you are wondering.

Now because I am an employee of a school system, I have to be certified by the American Red Cross in CPR/AED to continue my employment and to be licensed as an educator by the state. (Just renewed mine this month!) But even if you aren’t required to do so, it is a great idea. According to the American Red Cross, approximately 92,000 are saved by CPR each year! Why not be prepared if you are ever in a situation where you might be needed to perform this on a person in peril?

Training is offered by the American Red Cross and you can find classes in your area by visiting their website, http://www.redcross.org/. The training can cost anywhere from nothing to around a hundred dollars. Training is also offered by private individuals, so you might ask around the area where you live. You might find a group of people of like mind that are willing to set up a training just for your small group, which might be more cost effective.

So, don’t be a dummy! Get trained and spread the word. Someone’s life may depend on it!

Remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Google Plus, or subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc. Thanks again for reading!

Put Me In Coach...I'm Ready To Play!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 20:24:00 +0000

Greetings my fellow BET’s!

Let me start off by saying that, I am not a coach. Now technically, I am a coach, as I am coaching the middle and high school co-ed Cross Country teams here at Culver Community. Let me reiterate; I am not a coach.

To make things worse…I am not a runner. For those of you who know me, you know this to be true. If you have seen me in the last decade, you know that a man of my frame (read big and heavy), probably should not be tempting fate in this way. So, two strikes against me, right off the bat. (sports pun intended)

When I was in Junior High, I ran cross country as a seventh grader. I did this because the cross country coach was also the basketball coach. He told us that if we ran a season of cross country, we would automatically make the basketball team. Seeing as how I was really bad at basketball but I was a huge basketball fan, I decided to give it a go. To say I was successful at cross country wouldn’t be fair to the term success, or for that matter the words cross or country, in any order. But, I stuck it out, showed up for practice every day, ran all the meets, and embarrassed myself fully.

Success as an athlete, by no means. Success from the standpoint of achieving what I set out to do…ABSOLUTELY. And my coach was good on his word as well. I made the basketball team. I rode the bench for the entire season, seeing action in only three games, but I was on the team.

So, do I have what it takes to be a coach? I may not know strategy. I may not have a great game plan. What I do have though, is the experience in what it takes to be a good teammate and the determination to achieve what I set out to achieve. And I always have “Run Faster” in my little bag of tricks!

I am not a coach. But heck, I wasn’t a teacher three years ago, and look at me now!

Remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Networked Blogs, or Google Plus, or subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc. Thanks again for reading!

The Dog Days of Summer-Back to School!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Greetings to you, my fellow BETs!

Today is the last day of summer vacation for me. Every year, I struggle to understand the way the summer progresses. It goes fast and it goes slow. It seems like it will last forever, and then it is gone in the blink of an eye. As I reflect on these last eight weeks, I can’t help but consider a few very important thoughts. Like, where did my summer go?! And, why do we have to go back so early?!

Firstly, my summer went exactly where I thought it would go…away. During the first few weeks, it seems like the summer will last forever. In the midst of vacation and general loafing, I would stop in to the school, and haphazardly work on some things for the fall. Going into early July, my frequent visits to the school lessened, and my anticipation for the fall semester grew. I went in to school yesterday to do some fine tuning to my plans for the fall, and realized that I had made very few plans, and that I had spent most of my time during those visits cleaning and getting my room reorganized. It smells really nice!

Secondly, we have to return to school so early because…er…um…okay, I don’t know why we have to return to school so early! When I was growing up, the earliest I ever remember school starting was about August 23^rd or so. I even remember when we didn’t have to return until after Labor Day! That’s not the part that is so frustrating. The frustrating part for me is how we were able to start so late, and still not have to go to school into June. How does this make any sense? How does this disparity work out to better education for our kids? It must be the new math! I was never good at math.

So, I sit here in my recliner typing and watching golf, wondering where exactly my summer went. I really don’t think I will ever figure this out. What I do know, is that although I am wishing there were just a few more days left to not wake up to an alarm, I am equaling excited for what this new school year will bring. I have missed the kids this summer and I look forward to their stories of conquest and ease, and their general sense of awe in navigating a new stage of the teenage journey. Just to be a part of that is worth heading back to school in the midst of summer. And just think; Fall Break is a mere 79 days away!

Teacher Appreciation Week, As Holidays Go; One of the BIG Three!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:26:00 +0000

Greetings to you my fellow BETs!

Every year, we have a little thing called Teacher Appreciation Week. I honestly don’t remember when this is exactly, but I know it is near the end of the school year. At times, it feels like a made up holiday week to keep us going for the final push to get us to the end of school. Saying that out loud, it may very well be.

Teacher Appreciation Week Lunch-Day One

Regardless, the sentiment is appreciated by all teachers, of that, I am sure. The principals often have treats for us during the day and at least one lunch is provided during the week. These are nice extras, but totally unnecessary at my school, I believe. Let me share why I feel this way.

Our principal is an amazing man. He juggles the many facets of his job and is still able to keep everything running smoothly. In the midst of this, he is wonderful at letting his staff know that they are appreciated on a pretty consistent basis. He is truly a great manager, and this is high praise, as I have worked for some really great ones! (One of whom I referred to frequently as a prophet!)

My students are also amazing. They provide all the encouragement I need on a daily basis, just by being themselves. Yes, it is nice that they are asked to write us little notes during Teacher Appreciation Week. Yes, I like to read lines like, “I like Mr. Ringenberg because he is chill!”, or, “Thanks Mr. Ringenberg for being such an awesome teacher and letting us eat candy in your room.” Although those sentiments don’t necessarily translate to “Thanks Mr. Ringenberg for imparting your knowledge all up in this place!”, they do remind me that I am appreciated by my students, and what more could I ask?

My point is, that my students and principals don’t need to set aside a specific week to let me know I am appreciated. I know this by the 2 minute conversation I have with my boss that tells me he is aware of what I am trying to accomplish in my classroom, and he is there if I need his help. I know this when one of my students comes up and says “Are you okay?” and asks me what’s on my mind. I know this because, at my school, we are all in this together, and we have each others back…student, staff, and teacher.

So, in closing, thank you for the recognition, it is appreciated, but unnecessary. And, feel free to continue to provide lunch and treats for us! I will not be accused of looking any gift horses in the mouth!

Glazed and Infused Bakery-Alright, alright, alright!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 00:54:00 +0000

Greetings to you my fellow BETs!

Normally, I don’t post things such as what you are about to see on my blog. I used to have an outlet for my cooking and restaurant fantasies, but alas, Examiner.com has taken down the “Open” sign and closed up shop. So, this may be my only way to get this important food information to my massive worldwide audience!

For those of you who have followed my food writing, you know that I love to cook and eat, and I love to find new places to eat with my family on our little non-nom-cations. (See what I did there?) Usually, you will find these places featured on the Food Network, which is how we select our destinations.

A couple weekends ago, Grant (my son) and I headed to Chicago to seek out a few of these hidden gems. I will eventually post about all of them, but today I want to share with you a special bakery. This special little corner of heaven is known as, Glazed and Infused. Obviously this is a nod to a film from 1993 called Dazed and Confused starring (alright, alright, alright…) Matthew McConaughey. Other than a bit of a hippie/stoner vibe from some of the employees, that is where the similarities end.

Yes. that is a whole piece of hickory smoked, thick cut, sugar cured bacon on top of the Long John!

My words can’t do the deliciousness of their offerings justice, so I hope you will enjoy the pictures I share. The flavors were amazing and the quality of the doughnut was just outstanding. Sometimes at places like this, they try to remake the classics somehow. They might make them bigger, they might use a different dough recipe, and usually these small tweaks are noticeable in a big and sometimes, harmful to the experience kind of way. That is the beauty of Glazed and Infused. They don’t try to change anything, necessarily; they just try to make it better. Which they have done gloriously!

The donuts here are a bit on the pricey side. Maybe not if you live in Chicago, but when you are used to paying a buck for a doughnut, three dollars may seem a bit excessive. Don’t be fooled though; you get at least three bucks worth of love and enjoyment with every mouthful.

So, next time you are in the Windy City, look up Glazed and Infused. It’s easy to find and worth every penny. But make sure to bring a big appetite and prepare to spend a little cash. You will probably want to bring some home to your friends. Best put them in the truck for the ride home so they will make it there intact.

The Essentials of Spooning

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 14:03:00 +0000

Greetings to you my fellow BETs!

This morning my wife greeted me with a very simple question. While handing me a large wooden spoon she said, “Do you want to open the window?” Now, to many people, that may seem like a strange bit of theater. To us, after thirty-one years of marriage, it makes all the sense in the world. We’ll get back to why in just a bit.

Many things about marriage are confusing for men at first. I remember being newly married and how jealous I would get if Brenda even talked to another man. I remember not understanding her desire to just be in the same room as me doing nothing. I also remember not understanding the protocol for towel folding vs. towel hanging in the bathroom. I must admit, that last one still has me a bit confused.

Love is an amazing thing. I think many of us have this romantic view of love early on in our relationships that looks more like a Disney or Pixar movie. The gentleman and the fair lady meeting after first seeing each other from afar. The expectation that the image in their minds would match the reality of who they would encounter as their hands first touched, eyes locked, and lips met. In the movies, this meeting usually goes exactly as planned; They fall in love and live happily ever after.

Don’t get me wrong, Brenda and I, I believe, are living our happily ever after. But it looks a little different than in the movies. It involves things like making Rice Crispy Treats together and working together to get all (Read some) of the dog hair out of the living room. Or maybe even the situation I referred to in my opening paragraph.

Our house has many windows that work seamlessly. They are the kind that when you open them, they stay at whatever level you opened them to. Except, for the one window that we have to open to get a breeze going in our little house. This one requires a large wooden spoon to be propped in the window well to hold it open for maximum breezification; Ahhhh! The wooden spoon!

Our life together has been a wonderful ride. There have been ups and downs, triumphs and disappointments, happiness and pain. Our love has carried us through it all. But not the romantic, kissy-kissy, always happy to look you in the eyes kind of love. It has been the kind of love that grows just by sharing space with a person. The love that understands that the question you may have just been asked, has come at the culmination of a conversation that your spouse has had solely in their own head. The love that comes only from years of taking that spoon and propping up the window…no questions asked…or needed.

The Impact of Being World Famous!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 16:27:00 +0000

Greetings to you my fellow BETs!

Last week, the world lost a great one. Bob Pickell, a music teacher here in Plymouth Indiana for 38 years, passed away unexpectedly, and to the great shock of his family and this community. Bob was my friend, and although we were not close, I truly respected his talents and his connectedness with this community. He, along with his great impact on lives, will be greatly missed…This cannot be stressed enough.

Some may question my opening statement of “the world” losing a great one. I challenge you to think it through for yourself. I have preached for about twelve years now that people should “act as if you are World Famous.” I’ve asked my students and several audiences over the years to imagine how they would act differently if they were indeed, World Famous.

The only caveat I add to this is that when I say world, I mean YOUR world. Where is it you have a sphere of influence? That is your world. Be World Famous! Bob was.

I had an awesome choir teacher in high school; Ed Eby. He was an older teacher when I came into his class, but he was dynamic. He made us work to become better singers, but also to make us better people. I bet over the years, I have shared a story about Mr. Eby to at least a hundred people. I bet you all have had a teacher like this as well. Someone who reached you in a way that you needed to tell the world.

So, let’s do Bob’s numbers:

38 years teaching X 500 Students per year(Probably low) 19000

Let’s say that half of those, 9500, talk about him at home at least once

add 3 people at home X 9500 28500

Let’s also say half go to college and tell just 25 friends about him, so

9500 X 25 237,500

And let’s say just 20% of those tell 10 more friends

47500 X 10 475,000

Total: 760,000

Remember, that’s just his school connections. What about all of the other organizations he was involved with? What about friendships and family connections? How many stories about crazy Uncle Bob have been shared? I would submit that the number above represents a small portion of his impact on the world; yes, the world!

So, 760,000 lives positively impacted. Not bad for a mild mannered choir teacher from a town of 10,000 located in the middle of a very large cornfield! I’d call that World Famous!

Well done, Bob.

A Very Special Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 01:00:00 +0000

Greetings to you my fellow BETS!

I decided to change my opening greeting because I never know exactly when I am going to post, or when you all will get around to reading it. So there we go.

Today is not my birthday, let's just get that out of the way. A week or so ago, I made the comment that I have hundreds of stories about my kids at school that I want to share. I believe I made the comment that they would be for “Another Day”. Well, welcome to “Another Day”. I won’t share all of them of course, just one for now.

Over the last two years, I have kind of kept myself at an arm’s length with my students as a whole. Some kids of course, you connect with quickly, but for the most part I have tried to shield them from seeing the real me. I’m not sure if this is for them, or if this is for me. Maybe a bit of both.

This year, I discovered that I have a few “Birthday Buddies” here at school. I’m not sure why, but this really got me excited. I love the fact that I share my birthday with some of the kids! So much fun to be had, now multiplied by the additional characters!

In learning this, I apparently made it clear as to when my birthday actually falls. Now this could have been when I mentioned I had birthday buddies. Or it may have been when a student asked me directly. Or possibly it was when I would announce every day, two weeks prior to the date, how many shopping days were left until said event. Anyway, it doesn’t really matter how they found out, but they did.

I was really touched when one of my students came to my room before her class with the bag of goodies you see in the picture. If you can’t see it well, there is a chocolate bar wrapped in a Dementos wrapper, some truffles with wings added to resemble Golden Snitches, a bag with a Gryffindor tie on it, an awesome Prefect Badge, and a wonderful birthday card with Ron, Harry and Hermione on it. Obviously she and I had shared our love for the Harry Potter series before this date.

What really got me though, was the time and thought that it took this student to put this together for me. This was one very special moment for me this year. A couple of other students also got me candy bars(my students know me), and I think I got a special Doughnut and Coffee in the morning as well. I also got many, “It’s your birthday today, Mr. Ringenberg? Happy Birthday!”, which of course was also cool. But the Harry Potter Gift bag. Did I ever do any of that for a teacher? No, of course not. Heck I probably never even acknowledged my teachers’ birthdays.

My takeaway from this was that I need to be that thoughtful in preparing for my kids in the morning. My lesson plans may not thrill them, and my homework won’t score points for me I am sure. But maybe, if I plan on being truly present with all of my interactions with each of them, I can convey a measure of thoughtfulness, as my students do to me. Let’s hope so, huh?

Remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Google Plus, subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom of each post using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc. Thanks again for reading!

Update-Garrett The Wandering Goose

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:14:00 +0000

Good Morning BET’s!

Today, I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on my status of “Unpublished Author”. No, the status hasn’t changed, so don’t get too excited. After two years of submitting my manuscript to scores of literary agents and publishers, I have come to the conclusion that Garrett, the Wandering Goose’s time, has not yet come.

I still believe this story has a lot to offer, but maybe it will be to a slightly different audience. I would like to see if any specific sub group will pick up on what I view as good humor with a message. To that end, I have decided to self-publish this through Amazon Kindle Publishing. I just want to get it out there and see what people think and maybe get some direction for my other efforts.

Right now, I am looking for an artist to come up with a look for Garrett, hopefully similar to how I envision him. To me, he is a Fonzie wanna be, in a flock that doesn’t understand retro comedy. I have a couple of students who I am going to approach to give it a shot, based on work they have shown to me at school. Anyone else interested, shoot me a message and let’s talk.

I did want to share a few stanzas from the text for your enjoyment(hopefully). Please let me know what you think, good or bad. Once again, looking for direction here. I hope you enjoy it.

Garrett The Wandering Goose

I am but a goose with a story to tell,

Just hoping you’ll listen, and you’ll listen well.

‘Bout a misguided creature so angry and vain,

Aggressive and sure, but hiding his pain.

His skin it is hidden behind certain shielding

That keeps him aloft and provides a warm feeling.

His feet are grotesque, pale, yellow and wide.

And he wears a down coat made of aged fowl hide.

His lips he has none, rarely needing to utter,

His life it is Spartan, no sign of a clutter.

His voice is unnerving, more bass than of treble.

Some call him a problem, still others a rebel.

His ways they are timeless a true epic struggle

He’s obviously needing a blanket to snuggle.

When his problem grabs you, there is no good end.

I’m speaking of course of not being a good friend.

To speak of him scares me I have to admit.

But his story must carry, this I submit.

So without further fanfare, without any ruse,

I present to you Garrett, the wondering goose.

And remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Google Plus, subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom of each post using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc. Thanks again for reading!

Experimental Education...ers! I Just Can't Help Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:40:00 +0000

Good Afternoon BET’s!

Okay, so today I am addressing my regular readers…all seven of you. If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you are familiar with what I am about to share.

This fall, I am going to be trying some new educational techniques with my students. These techniques are some that I have come across in my extensive research of leading education…ers…niner. Okay, this is something that I came up with and has no data to support its effect on learning. But, it is a cool idea, I think.

Here is the gist. I want students to incorporate music, poetry, writing, drawing, painting or any other ways of expressing themselves, into the computer curriculum that I have put together. I want them to feel empowered to express themselves in various ways, and allow that expression to be a part of the lessons that we will be working through daily.

To this end, I have asked my Facebook and Twitter followers for donations of any musical instruments (really, ANY) for use this fall in my classroom. So far, I have received a guitar a drum set, and possibly a banjo! So now I extend this invitation to my many readers!

(Most Important Paragraph)

I am also asking for your help with any ideas you all may have regarding how I might accomplish this. If any of you have any great ideas or experience in this area, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Although I have a general idea of how I want to proceed with this, I can use all the help I can get from your vast experiences. Please comment below and give me all you’ve got. There are no stupid suggestions! Please, comment away!

So, I thank you in advance for all of your ideas and donations. Remember, even a harmonica could have a great impact on the kids this fall. So, dust off those cellos, bassoons and drumsticks and let me know how I can get a hold of them. And yes, I would accept the chicken drumsticks as well…just not too spicy please.

Family Comes First

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 23:57:00 +0000

Good Evening/Morning Break Even Teachers!(depending on when you read it.)

Once again, I start with an apology for not writing more. Time seems to fill up with so many things I want to do these days. I guess once a year is not that bad. (He says, with a truly John Lennonesque tongue in cheek!)

Anyway, we are only into the summer a couple of weeks and it has already been a whirlwind. Just to keep you up to speed, I just finished my second year at Culver Community Schools as the Business and Computers teacher. When I started this journey two years ago, I really thought I would be back in Sales and Marketing field pretty quickly. At first, it just wasn’t clicking for me. So many nights of thinking, “What have I done? I can’t do this!” But this last year and a half or so has been truly amazing. There are so many stories I want to share with you. Maybe another day, hopefully not a year from now.

So, this summer, I was offered another teaching job in another school district. It was for more money. It was a bit closer, so the commute would be less. It would be teaching more Business and less Computers, which is what I had wanted originally. It seemed to be a perfect fit. But the more I thought about it, something just wasn’t right.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt as if I would be letting my family down. Not my wife and sons, but my other family…my Culver Community Schools family.

Now I’m not one to use that terminology loosely, either. When I first started here, the teachers in my wing talked that way. “You’ll love it here…it’s like a family.” they would say. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody says that about the place they work, right? After a few weeks with the kids, I felt like I wanted to be more of a foster family. I just didn’t seem to be connecting with them. Then, everything changed. All it took was one student, (who shall remain nameless), that stood up for me to her classmates. She jumped in there and had my back! I couldn’t believe it! It was great! From then on I started to treat the students differently, and they started to treat me differently, as if we had some kind of connection. This then, became a wonderful self-fulfilling prophecy, so to speak. There WAS a connection!

I have wondered for two years what I would do if I were put in the position to make a move. Now I have my answer. These students and teachers and administrators and parents have all become a part of me. I get excited when they get excited. I mourn when they mourn. I look at the kids every day and wonder how I can be of help to them today. They have become my family, and I couldn’t be happier.

A Year in the Life?

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Fri, 15 May 2015 14:17:00 +0000

Good Morning BET's!

Yes, it has been almost an entire year since my last post. For as much as I love writing, you would think this would be a bigger priority for me. Oh well. Today is a new day!

As many of you know, last June, I took my first teaching job at the high school level. I am teaching Business and Computers in the Culver Community School system, in Culver Indiana. As the year is coming to a close, I thought I could reflect on what I have found and what this journey has done for(to) me.

As we started the year, I was ecstatic about the opportunity to connect with kids and to teach them so much that I had stored up over the years. I was wide eyed with the possibilities and my imagination ran wild with thoughts of the intellectual exchanges I would be having with the students. This alone, made sleep almost impossible for the first few weeks. And then, reality set in.

The students weren't nearly as eager to engage me in intellectual tennis, as much as they were to just figure out why a 50 something would start his teaching career in this small rural Indiana town, and even why a 50 year old would change careers at this advanced age. So many questions. I was the new kid again. The students wanted to figure me out.

As the year progressed, I found that what the students wanted from me more than anything, was the chance to be heard. The opportunity for them to speak to me as an equal, and not just as a kid in my charge. For those of you who teach at the high school level, you know what a balancing act this can be. But, oh, what a magical dance! I proceeded with two left feet, but have made strides throughout the year.

As November approached, my rallying cry was "Only ______ more days until Thanksgiving, and then just three more weeks!" Enough said.

As we entered the spring semester and the snow days piled up, I saw a side of the students I hadn't yet experienced. A realization in their minds that makeup days are worse than coming to school on scheduled days. While I appreciated the decisions made by the administration concerning our safety, snow days became more of a hassle, and no matter what anyone says, they never seemed like a day off.

As we moved into the last nine weeks, I realized that my complaints from first semester had turned from, "How many days until Thanksgiving?!", to "Why do I lose my students so much for testing?! I need more time with them!" The need to put more information in these kids brains seemed to be of more importance now than it had been in the past seven months.

And then it really became clear to me.

No matter how much wisdom or intellectual matter I throw their way, the most important part of what I am doing is the part that can't be measured on a standardized test. The most important part of what we do, is that we are here, every day for the kids. We are a great constant for them...possibly one of the few consistencies that they have in their day. I have come to this conclusion: I have much more to offer these kids, than I have to teach them.

So, year one, almost complete. The kids are starting to check out as the final three weeks wind down, and I am very very tired. It's a good kind of tired though. It's been a good kind of year.

Kinders Rock! That's What Makes Them Beautiful...

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sat, 31 May 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Good Morning BET's!

The end of another school year is upon us, and I am already feeling the tears welling up in my big melon. The summer is such a long time for me to not see these kids. The school year will begin anew in the late summer, and the little cuties will have grown. Some of them will not be little anymore, and will have moved on to the Intermediate school.

So, I have to remember when they were just brand new Kinders here at Jefferson. I have to search my memories to see the shy little kiddos that first stepped in that big metal door that they couldn't yet open, nearly six years prior. Thinking of how shy they were and how curious, and how they have become less shy and more curious, warms my heart. It also gives me joy in seeing the new group of kids that have come so far this past year. And many thanks to the greatest Kindergarten Teachers in the solar system, Mrs N and Mrs. G! You two are amazing and loved by so many who see you work and love these kids every day!

So, as I wipe a tear from my eye, I want to share with you a short video that Mrs. N captured yesterday at the annual talent show. There were many precious moments, but this one is extra special to me. It will be a time capsule of these wonderful little souls, and a way for them to see the wonder in their own eyes, and the freedom they had in expression at this age, for a lifetime. I had to rig this, so just humor me and follow the link to the video.

Amazing, am I right?! So, when the world gets on your last nerve this summer, and you need a lift, just remember this video of these wonderful kids! They don't know they're beautiful...you know the rest.

Memorial Day and PTSD: Honoring All

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Thu, 22 May 2014 13:38:00 +0000

Good morning BET's! Today I will stray a bit from my usual topics, which I do frequently, to honor our heroes for the Memorial Day weekend.

PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is rapidly becoming an epidemic in our culture. Although we have known about it for years, it has come to the forefront as do so many other disorders we don't fully understand, with the increased military presence all over the world.

According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD is defined as, "...a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event."

With the advent of recognition for this disorder affecting more current service people, many veterans from as far back as the Vietnam conflict, the Korean war, and even World War II have come forward with their struggles due to events they experienced while serving our country. As with so many of these disorders, for years people just assumed that this was just the reality of fighting in a war. It was an expected outcome from this pressure cooker of a life in the service. Many people, including health professionals treated it as something for which the person just needed to "get over", or "move on". But with so many recent veterans coming forward there has been an increased awareness of the disorder, and an increased desire to find appropriate treatments to better fight this debilitating disease that affects over 5 million people annually.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this affliction also affects non military personnel as well. Many people who have struggled through the loss of a loved one, or any traumatic event deal with this disorder on a daily basis as well.

While there are many treatments currently offered to address this horribly painful condition, there has not been a clear medical breakthrough that distinguishes itself from the other forms of treatment. Many people just trudge through life fighting this painful battle alone.

If you know of someone, a loved one, a friend, that suffers with this condition, I urge you to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. There are many resources out there that can help you get the ball rolling. Just search the internet and you will find copious amounts of information regarding the diagnosis and treatment options for this disorder. I have include a few links below to get you started.

In closing, I want to just say thanks to all of the veterans who have served, and died so bravely for the freedoms we enjoy today. And let's not forget the soldiers who may not have lost their lives on the battlefield, but may be at a heightened risk because of PTSD. I salute you all, and pray for you to be able to get the help you need, and know that the people of this country have your back this time.

This is the National Center for PTSD:
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/

This is the Mayo Clinic site:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/basics/definition/con-20022540

A Day Late and A Mother Short

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Mon, 12 May 2014 13:06:00 +0000

Happy day after Mother's Day BET's!

I tried to write this yesterday, but was thwarted by a longing for my Mom. This may sound silly to some, but let me explain.

We lost mom in 2011 at 82 years old, sort of out of the blue. She was living on her own and thriving, but just sort of slipped away from us in a hurry. My dad had passed the year before, and I truly believe, that after 63 years of marriage to the guy, she just longed for his company again and let herself go to him.

Now, about my amazing mom. Mom had an unusual gift in parenting her children. She was able to see past the surface, and look inside each child and find that one spot. That one spot that meant everything to us. For example, when I was looking at colleges and my future, she caught me off guard with a comment one day in the kitchen. I was walking the path of just going to college to get a degree, with no direction at all. As I was cooking some chili from scratch, she looked at me and said, "have you ever thought about culinary school? You love to eat, why not do something you really enjoy?"

I know some of you look at that statement and are saying, "Umm, I think she was making a larger statement here." At first, that's what I kind of thought, too. But as we talked, I could see that she was sincere in her query, and that she had noticed something about me that I hadn't. I not only loved to eat, but I enjoyed the creativity involved in building something from a bunch of smaller pieces. Eventually, I would buy a restaurant and let that love release to the people I served everyday. While that didn't pan out as intended, (pun intended), to this day I love to cook a variety of dishes. Some of my recent creations include, venison heart, cow stomach and a beautiful beef liver! Not all in the same setting, praise the Lord.

While I didn't heed her advice about culinary school, the conversation gave me a perspective on life that I relish today(pun also intended). This perspective that drives us, what really makes us love life, may not be something we see for ourselves. We have to allow others to notice and bring it out in us. In a million years, I never thought I would enjoy working with elementary students. But a friend of mine gave me that perspective recently with a comment she made. She said, "You have a great ability to 'be present' for kids. You make them feel that they are the only thing that you are about in the time you share with them." Thanks Genie!

So, while my mom really lived this and modeled this for her kids, I think we all have these ideas about people we are close to everyday. Don't let this information sit in the back of your head any longer. When you see a gift in someone, share it with them! Let them know that they are blessed with something that others may not see, and that they should 'let it out'.

I would be terribly remiss if I didn't mention my wife in this post as well. She had a very special relationship with my folks. My mom was a mentor to Bren over the span of our relationship, and Bren loved the fact that she was important to her. I still joke that I think my parents actually liked her more than me. Brenda has been an incredible mom to our boys, and to countless children that she has touched as well.

So today, look deep into your relationship with your mom, and remember the one thing that she did that made you feel like the only one in the universe. Then go be that example to someone who you believe in. That's what mom would do.

Pay It Forward Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Fri, 09 May 2014 13:40:00 +0000

Good Morning BET's!

When I think of Paying It Forward, I think of doing good deeds for someone in need, and the resulting "Butterfly" effect that this may have on society. I know, I watch too many movies, but I do believe these actions can have an enormously positive effect on the lives of those around us. Today we will look at Paying it Forward from the perspective of elementary aged kids.

The letter below was written by a third grader at an elementary school after certain, unsavory behavior caused their class to lose some privileges. Even though it was written directly after these unfortunate events, I think the wisdom in its simplicity speaks volumes and can be applied to all of our lives. Take a look.

So, let's take a look at a few in particular that maybe we can all use on a daily basis.

#1 Plant flowers. Always a good idea and a way to brighten up the landscape and be green. Two birds!

#4 Bring food-Not Home Made. Food is always a good go to. I love the fact that the stipulation is for non home made food. Not sure about the message being sent to the parents of this child though. If you are the parents, you might need to mix it up a bit.

#18 Don't say people stink. Common sense to most of us and just good policy...even if they DO stink.

#27 Don't wear shorts or dresses in winter. Pragmatic to the core, this student is really going deep on the paying it forward plan. There are a variety of reasons this is a good idea, but somehow by abiding to this one, someone else is benefiting. For instance, you don't want to see me in shorts or a dress in summer, let alone winter! Point made?

So, as you go about your day today, think of ways to pay it forward. Focus on making a difference in the lives of those you meet. Incidentally, feel free to use any of the above. You're welcome!

New Phobia: Mass Retailers. I Am Wal-Mart!

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Wed, 07 May 2014 14:52:00 +0000

Good Morning BET's!

I was at Wal-Mart the other day. I go there frequently to shop for one item that I should have put on a list so that I could combine trips, but I must admit, I enjoy walking the aisles and browsing. Invariably, I will be approached by a fellow shopper and asked, "Sir, where do you keep your (fill in the blank)." And this is not solely a Wal-Mart phenomenon for me. This also happens at Target and Meijer.

Endless Aisles of Deals

My question becomes, why does this happen to me so frequently? Does this happen to other people as well? At first, I thought it might be because of the clothes I am wearing. Maybe I'm wearing a shirt that looks like a blue vest with buttons and a name tag. I actually checked one time just to make sure. Nope. Maybe it's because I have a vacant stare while I am perusing the awesome deals. Maybe I just look like I am in no hurry to leave, so I must be an employee. No, that is actually counter-intuitive now that I think about it. So what is it that makes people think I work at these establishments?

Looking at the evidence, I do notice a trend. When I am at our public library, a venue in which I spend inordinate amounts of time, this never happens. I have never been sitting in my lawyer's office and been asked to take a look over someones will. I also have never been asked for a diagnosis while waiting in the doctor's office. Why only in mass merchant retailers?

Don't get me wrong. I started my career in retail at a large discount drug store. I LOVE retail! But why, thirty some years later do I carry myself in such a way as to elicit questions about merchandising and store layout? I think the answer is clear. I have spent so much time roaming the aisles at these massive stores that a part of my DNA has been altered to reflect this fact. Wal-Mart, Target and Meijer have actually assimilated me into the fold. I am Wal-Mart!

Frighteningly, I have noticed other behaviors in myself that lend credence to this theory. When I take a walk in the woods for instance, I look at the trees and admire their majesty. But then I catch myself looking at individual branches, trying to find the best leaf, or maybe a better price on one that may be a bit damaged or off center. When I mow my yard, I find myself mowing first in the places where the customer may not go, to get them to go there first, making them follow an evil maze of turf before they find what they came in here for in the first place. AHHHhhhhhh!

So, today's life lesson: Try not to over think things, and shop at Macy's once in a while. (This has never happened to me at Macy's.)

Elementary School Volunteering

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Fri, 02 May 2014 19:46:00 +0000

Good afternoon BET's!

I love working at schools! The day in day out, kids saying the most amazing things and doing things that boggle the mind.(Both good and bad.) But is it the paycheck at the end of the week that we do it for. I submit to you a resounding and pleasant, NO.

Flat Stanley at a generic Elementary School

I had the pleasure of working in a an elementary school that welcomes me back any time I can make it in. I come in unannounced and they find something for me to do. I open car doors in the morning. I referee recess all throughout the day. Sometimes they even trust me to help out at my old job in the library. I just love coming in and being welcomed to volunteer in whatever capacity they find for me that particular day.

I can tell you one thing for sure. I have never been turned down to volunteer at this school. I would venture to say that if you do the same in your local school system, you will receive a similar response. I don't think it is my amazing skill set that makes this a reality for me. The truth is, these schools are short staffed frequently and can always use an extra pair of loving hands. More importantly, the kids need that extra attention as well.

Your presence can free up a teacher that is spread too thin, and might allow them time to focus more on what they need to be working on with the kids. I have also found that the students they may have me working with, just needed a little extra attention that day, and may make the rest of their day a much more effective use of their time.

Sure, volunteering doesn't pay much monetarily. Actually, by definition, it pays nothing monetarily. But, not to be too cliche, it pays huge dividends to my heart, and hopefully the hearts of the kids I get to work with.

Today I was paid in my favorite currency; Hugs and Smiles. So, don't be shy. Get in there and let them benefit from your time and heart, and the rewards will be yours to keep.

My First BET-What my Dad Taught Me

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 15:31:00 +0000

Good Morning BET's!

So, obviously there are many many lessons my dad taught me. His legacy for me though, can be summed up in a few short examples. He was not your traditional teacher in the sense that he didn't necessarily exhibit a true teaching technique. He struggled with his patience with lessons like many of us do, especially with younger people. But his true gift was the example he shared, just by the way he lived his life.

I think my favorite memory of my upbringing concerns an area which all teenagers covet, yet many parents fear, and struggle with greatly. The drivers license and first car. While my father was a very successful dentist and had the means to buy his kids a new car when they turned 16, he refrained from this. Having seven kids, I think this was just good policy.

What was great though, was that while he didn't buy us a new car, he provided a "stable", if you will, of used cars for us to drive. Being the youngest, when my closest brother left for college, I had my pick of the litter. Here is that litter:

1. 1978 Chevy Citation
2. 1977 Datsun Pickup
3. 1971 Ford F150
4. Tractor
5. Horse

Of these, I chose the 1977 Datsun Pickup. Many of my friends from high school will remember me driving this Canary Yellow, yes, Canary Yellow, pickup for my entire high school career. It also got great gas mileage and after touting this to a friend too many times as a rationalization for driving it, he said, "Wow! This car MAKES gas!", which I still find funny today. What was great about this vehicle was that when it started rusting, dad decided to have it painted. I was very excited at the prospect. I thought a candy apple red would be nice, or a British racing green. So one chilly fall Saturday in 1981, my dad and I headed of to start the process. I assumed we were taking the truck to a body shop to have this done. Instead, we went to Target, bought a Wagner spray painter and a couple gallons of canary yellow house paint. The fear in me began to grow.

We headed back to the farm and my dad proceeded to tape off the truck so we would have a clean application. I questioned this fiercely, or as fiercely as I questioned my dad ever.(read: never out loud). Three hours later, the truck was finished. A brighter yellow finish than the original, with the texture of semi-course sandpaper. I didn't complain and actually congratulated my dad on what a great job he did.

I drove that truck for another three or so years until I left home for good. I wasn't proud to be driving it, but I was grateful to have a car to drive at all. The lesson here was that, at sixteen, a car is all about utility. Getting from A to B. This vehicle was reliable and it served me well. Would I have preferred a Corvette or a Mustang...sure. Would I be alive today had I gotten that wish...maybe not.

My dad provided me with exactly what I needed, not necessarily what I wanted. So when my son Garrison got his license, while the temptation to buy him his own car was there, I looked back on that lesson and made the right choice. He drove a 1995 Honda Odyssey minivan. Funny thing though, Garrison actually thought it was okay. He actually appreciated having something to drive at all.

So the lesson I learned was transferred to my son. Be grateful for what you have and contentment will will be compulsory. Thanks dad!

Break Even Teacher's Come In All Shapes and Sizes

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 21:34:00 +0000

Hi again BET's. This has been on my mind for some time and I wanted to share it with you. When I say someone is a BET, I don't necessarily mean in strictly a classroom sense. You may be an engineer or a crossing guard. You may be traffic cop or an avid bowler. A BET to me is anyone with a passion for their subject that takes the time to be there for a student of the same.

To illustrate I offer the video below. This is Tommy Emmanuel. He is one of my favorite artists and a world class guitarist. He is a multimillionaire and doesn't need to sell more records. At almost all of his concerts, he takes the time while he is in town to greet his many fans. He not only greets them, more often than not, he takes the time to encourage them and listen to them. Watch the video below, but don't focus on the guitar playing. Watch closely what he makes important to him in this exchange. "What are you working on?" "Can I take a closer look?" His stance is not so much what he can show them, but more about what he can do to show them how special they are. I hope you enjoy this. He is a true inspiration to me.

What's wrong with America

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 19:47:00 +0000

Happy Easter BET's!

You will notice that my title doesn't have a question mark at the end of the sentence. That is because I am not asking the question as much as I am stating one of the myriad of possible answers. Granted, there are many things that are right about America. We are blessed in so many ways. We have many comforts that we take for granted that much of the rest of the world does without...but that doesn't mean we are better or on the right track for any long term success as a country.

One of the areas in which I believe we need work is in our view of what is important and what is not. My "for instance" today will concern the world of fast food workers.

Over the years, our "better than you" or "I am too good for this" attitude has created a huge problem in my eyes. As a society, we have created an environment in which we see the work of fast food employees as less than important or essential. We complain about how the service is lacking or how the quality is low. My belief is that we have created this attitude over the years by devaluing the role of the minimum wage employee.

If I went to work everyday to a job in which society has led me to believe is below other professions, I don't know if I would have a great fervor for the quality of my output either. Thirty years ago, people worked in these jobs as a profession. There was no shame in it. You went to work and did the best you could because you believed you were providing something of value. Today, we look at these positions as only a means to an end, or a job anyone can do. This is not necessarily the case...at least not in my mind.

I hope that somehow, we, as a country, can value these positions again and bring pride back into the mix. I hope that we can look at these jobs as an opportunity to provide great service and value, and to make this industry blossom again.

I know a lot of you are probably saying, "But wait. Would you give it your all for minimum wage?" I get that. But maybe if we start by looking at the positions as more important and vital to our economy, we will instill some more pride in the people who thanklessly fill these slots. They are of vital importance to us economically. If we can do this, maybe we can take that success and take the next step by paying these workers a more livable wage. I would love to see us become a country again that thrives on quality and rewards those that make that happen.

If this strikes a chord with you, please share this post. I would love to get a productive dialog going. But alas, I must head to McDonalds for my $1 Coke Zero.

Grief Has No Country

noreply@blogger.com (Breakeventeaching) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:53:00 +0000

Good morning BET's! Today I just briefly want to reach out to you concerning the South Korean ferry disaster. Wow, the magnitude of this is something we don't usually see here in the states. After nearly two days, there are still almost 200 people still missing and death toll has reached 28.

What really prompted me to post this is some news coverage I watched of the survivors and some of the parents. For those of you that don't know, we lost our oldest boy, Garrison, over five years ago. He was 19. The grief and utter despair that we went through was so evident on the faces of the parents who were literally wailing over their children. I saw their faces and I knew that pain. There was no language or cultural gap to navigate, I just wanted to be with those people and hug them tight.

So if you have a minute today, say a prayer for those families and just keep them in your thoughts. We all need each other today. I am going to Jefferson Elementary again today for "Jogging with Jefferson", and I can tell you now, those kids are in for some serious hugs. And I may just click my heals...if I can get off the ground. Have a great day everyone!