Adventures & Misadventures of Daily Living

Let's Blame the Schools

2012-02-07T20:16:00.001-07:00

I’ve heard things like this for years.

The students can’t read as well as they should: It’s the schools’ fault.

Our kids aren’t as proficient in mathematics as they should be: The teacher isn’t doing his job.

My child can’t write very well: It’s all because of Ms. So-and-So’s lack of teaching my child properly.

I’ve heard these types of things for years.

In fact, when No Child Left Behind was passed, I was in the infancy of my own teaching career. I do remember it being something that people were excited about—just like any other promise made by politicians. For example, when George Bush Sr. announced, “Read my lips, no new taxes,” the crowds went wild.

Could he make good on his promise?

I think we all know the answer to that.

Being an educator, I saw NCLB going into effect through different eyes than the cheering crowds at the pronouncement of George W. Bush that—in a nutshell—all American schoolchildren would be proficient in both reading and math by the year 2014.

Really?

The other day I saw an article to which I haven’t been able to relocate. In it the author asked a few questions such as: Do we expect police officers to end all crime by a certain date? For firefighters to stop all fires? For doctors to end all illnesses?

Let’s be realistic here…we don’t. However, we expect them to do their best and strive as they can to make this world a better place for us all.

Right?

While this editorial of sorts is not meant by any means to have the solution to the educational dilemma we face as a society, I do wish to address some basic concerns, as well as share some thoughts, that I’ve had for a long time.

First off, let’s get one thing straight…are there poor teachers in our schools? Of course there are. There are these proponents of apathy in every career field that we have available to us. These are they who clock in at the assigned time, and are gone the moment they are permitted to do so, putting in no extra effort other than the basics that are required—it’s the nature of the beast. Sadly, these types of teachers are those who cause all those in the field to be painted with the same negative stereotypical brush.

But you know what? I’ve worked in two different schools in my educational journey, and in these two schools I’ve seen very few of these types of teachers. Furthermore, these teachers do not ‘fly under the radar’ by any means. The other teachers know exactly whom they are, as does the administration (who often are trying to help them to do better), and many parents in the community usually know how to spot them. However, I’ve come to discover that these types of individuals are far and few in-between as a general rule. Sadly though, it is these types of teachers that tend to be remembered in our own varied backgrounds and experience. After all, we can all remember that awful teacher we had, and how much we hated that particular class or year in school.

Yet, in all honesty, most teachers that I know do their job, work hard, and often stay extra time at the school; frequently they will take work home because there simply isn’t enough time in the day to stay caught up. My first principal, Cindy Wright, once told me, “Teaching is one of those careers that will consume your entire life if you let it.” She then told me about finding balance and realizing that there is a time to go home and stop thinking about work. Even now - years later - I still find myself struggling to follow her advice…I worry about my students who are not achieving, I’m continually planning ways in which to better engage them, and putting in countless hours off the clock to make sure that this is happening.

Of course, not all teachers do this—but for the most part, I think a majority of them are doing the best the can, day in and day out. Most of them went into teaching because they wanted to make a difference; after all, one usually doesn’t go into education planning to get rich.

My own teaching career has been a rollercoaster of assessing, remediation, and more remediation. I’ve not known a year in teaching where I was not continually assessing students, and trying to think of ways to move them along further down the boulevard of knowledge.

It was a few years ago that I remember chatting with a kindergarten teacher. This teacher told me that in her class she had kids who came in knowing their first and last names (as well as how to spell them), all names of the basic colors and shapes, kids that could count to 10 or 50, and those that could even tell you all the letter names in the alphabet and basic sounds they made.

I was blown away…

She then went on to tell me about the kids who’d come in knowing hardly any of these things. When asked what their mom’s name was, they’d simply reply, “Mommy.”

Already—even in the first year of school—these two groups of students are clearly at an advantage and disadvantage in their education. In talking with a few parents about how their kids had learned these basic things, many of them gave responses like, “I have them watch PBS programs like Sesame Street,” “I read with them all the time and talk about the book,” and probably the most important of them all, “I spend time talking to them, explaining what all these things are.”

Even these, the simplest of things, can make a huge difference.

I remember talking to one parent (not in my school) in regards to this and her response was something to the effect of, “Teaching my kid? That’s not my job, they learn that stuff when they go to school.”

Already, this woman’s children are more at a clear disadvantage than many others.

I thought about Jimmer Fredette this morning. I thought of how skilled he is in basketball, too. To watch this guy on the court is like watching poetry in motion.

Now, whether or not you like Jimmer is totally irrelevant. The fact is he’s a better basketball player than I will ever be.

But why is this? Why aren’t I as good as Jimmer?

Oh, I imagine that a lot of it is simply athletic ability and hand-eye coordination. This plays a big role. However, I think that there’s something else, too.

Practice.

I’ve played basketball before, and I’m not bad, but I’m not that great at it, either…mostly because I never practice. The reason I don’t practice is probably because it’s not important enough to me to invest the time to do so.

But what if I wanted to become better? What would I need to do?

Let’s say that I sign up for a basketball class with a coach, and he shows me different methods and skills I can use in my playing.

So, while I’m with him, I do what he says. “Now practice this at home.” He tells me.

I go home and sit on the couch. Since I know he’ll be checking in on me the next time I go to his class—and he’ll ask me if I’ve practiced—I head outside for five minutes, shoot a couple of times, dribble the ball with my heart half into it, and then stop because my favorite television show is slated to come on.

I drop the ball and count it as time served.

Now, compare that to someone else who goes to the same coach, and gets the same instruction that I did—we’ll call him Jimmer. Jimmer heads home and then spends an hour each day on the court, trying to master the skills he’s been taught. He keeps shooting until he can make the shot and practices dribbling with both hands.

We both return to the coach, and both report that we went out and practiced.

And really, we did; however, one of us was trying with all his heart and wanted to get better, while the other one of us was just serving time.

So, who is going to become the better basketball player?

Every year I have students in my class who do something quite similar to this. I have the student that is taught a skill, given an assignment, and then goes home—knowing that this is practice of what he’s already been taught. Often it either gets done halfheartedly (to get it over with), or he comes back the next day having not finished it at all, but armed with a barrage of excuses. Now compare this to the student who not only completes the assignment, but the one who tries their very best and goes above and beyond.

Who is going to become the better reader, writer, or mathematician?

Now, let’s change up the scenario just a little bit. Let’s pretend that after my basketball class I went home, and there I have a friend that’s better at basketball than I am who says, “Hey, how about if I watch you practice and give you some pointers? Maybe even practice with you for a while?” After all, it’s more often easier to do something when we have somebody at our disposal with a little more knowledge than we do.

Chances are, I’m going to get better at basketball because he’s going to see the errors I’m making, and he’ll point out the places I need to improve. In other words, he’s going to help me to hone my skills as a ballplayer.

Compare this to coming back home after practice, trying to remember what the coach said, and applying it. Whether this practice is with all my heart, halfhearted, or not at all, none of these will be nearly as powerful as having an expert there along with me, helping to guide me as I try to improve.

Now, if you put this in an educational context, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.

Can parents make a difference? Indeed they can.

In fact, I’ve noticed over the years that those students who generally excel in school, who are the higher readers, and those who comprehend math concepts are the students whose parents are involved.

Not always, but nearly always.

The students who are behind in assignments, are lower readers, and are poor academic achievers as well are usually—but not always—those with parents who are not involved.

Having a parent there with you can make all the difference, but it does take patience, effort, and most of all…time.

A past colleague of mine received a letter from a parent that informed her that she didn’t appreciate homework being sent home. She also went on to let the teacher know that it was the teacher’s job to educate her child. She said that when her child came home from school, that this was her time to spend with her daughter, and they couldn’t be bothered with things like schoolwork.

I thought that this was kind of funny…after all, when we go to a doctor we don’t fully expect that the doctor will be the one to heal us in a moment or two; however, we follow his directions when he lets us know the things that will make us better: we rest when he asks us, we take the medication he prescribes, and we make sure that we’re doing what he recommends because we want to get better.

Education is not something that happens only during the time school is in session, it happens in a thousand little moments all throughout life. It is a constant and consistent thing that should be nourished and helped along the way.

Also, education is a partnership.

The coach, the mentor, and the athlete are all working together for the betterment of the athlete, in much the same way that a teacher, parent, and student are working together for the education of the child.

It’s a win-win-win team when all are doing what they should.

Now, before I conclude, let me address one more little thing: The parent who works hard with their child and still sees little to no progress.

Well, back to Jimmer.

While Jimmer most likely has more athletic ‘talent’ than I do, I can still become a better basketball player than I currently am. We all have different areas in which we excel. A parent who has a struggling student—and all three parties are working hard to overcome it—shouldn’t be discouraged by this. After all, in comparing our own levels, we should well be aware that if we compare ourselves to how well we’ve done in the past, we are more likely to have an accurate marker of our achievement and progress. If I judge my progress based solely on Jimmer’s ability, and how close I am to matching up to him, I will always find myself lacking and become discouraged.

There are those of us who simply struggle. However, having something like a learning disability gives us a challenge to work at and then finally overcome. Just be aware that the more we ‘dis’ our ability, and compare ourselves with those around us, the more discouraged we’ll become. We need to keep plugging away. We need to keep taking those shots from the 3-point line trying to make it. We should keep on dribbling that ball. After all, it’s through the consistent practice and work that we’ll find ourselves discovering that we have more ‘ability’ than we perhaps originally thought.

One more thing about Jimmer and then I’m through; it was something he said at a basketball camp to the hundred or more kids who attended. He challenged them to reach for their dreams:

“I set a goal…I went out and worked as hard as I possibly can every single day, I saw my dreams start to come true. Now, I’m from a small town, I’m probably from a smaller town than almost all of you guys that are in here…no one thought I could go up and play in the NBA, no one thought I could be a division one basketball player. No one thought I could be reaching these dreams that I’m reaching today. But I did! And the biggest thing is, it’s because I went out there and I worked as hard as I possibly could every single day…My challenge to YOU is to go out and do it. Go out and reach your dreams. Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be playing basketball…like I said, instruments, schoolwork, it doesn’t matter what it is, I challenge you guys to set a goal…that you want to reach later on in your life. Write it down, okay? Then post it up, right above your bed. So every single night, you’ll see it and you’ll be thinking about the goal that you want to accomplish. If you guys really put in the effort every single day, you guys can do it and I promise you that.”

—Jimmer Fredette

Police officers are not able to end all crime. It’s impossible for firefighters to stop all fires. It’s unrealistic to expect doctors to cure all illnesses. We shouldn’t expect everyone to be to the same standard by a certain time, either.

However, should we stop trying to do any of these things?

Absolutely not.

It was Dory from Finding Nemo who reminded us that we simply need to ‘keep on swimming’ in order to make progress to finally get to where we need to be.

...and that is exactly what I plan on doing.

Weekly Kodachrome - Heavenly Tides and Whitecaps

2012-02-05T19:58:00.001-07:00

The sun beat down from the heavens; the underside of the cotton-ball clouds were gray with shadow—mountainous peaks of condensation adrift in a cerulean ocean.

Finally, I pulled my car to the side of the road and paused to watch these silvery-white vessels traveling on their journey over the airy waves.

I took a picture, climbed back into my car, and continued on my own voyage.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

Remember, by adding your photo into the Weekly Kodachrome meme you are agreeing to do one of the following: display the linky or button to your post, or link back to this post so that everyone gets a little more exposure for the image they’ve uploaded. Those who don’t help to ’share the love’ will have their links removed. You can find the code for the linky here.

Moments with Joey - Locked Doors

2012-02-03T18:36:00.001-07:00

SCENE 1, INTERIOR. AFTERNOON. CLASSROOM. The teacher has released his students for the day; as he walks to the front of the room and starts to get ready for the next week, he notices fifth grade boy lingering behind in the classroom.

JOEY: Mr. Z, I’m sorry about talking so much in class today. I know why you sent me to Australia .

TEACHER: Well, you do know that I still like you, right?

JOEY: Yeah.

[Pause]

TEACHER: You know, deep in my heart I have a little room that has the name ‘Joey’ engraved on the door.

JOEY: Really?

TEACHER: Yep, I keep it locked.

[Pause]

JOEY: Yeah, you have to contain that ferocious and dangerous monster that’s in there, right?

TEACHER: Well, I have to keep myself safe somehow…

[Pause]

JOEY: You better add some extra locks.

[Fade to black]

Endings and Beginnings

2012-02-02T21:27:00.001-07:00

When I arrived home, the blinking orange light was a telltale sign that the end of an era had truly begun. This was only one indication that my good friends had moved; it was obvious from the cars no longer parked in their stalls, the darkened windows at their home, and now the absent name of the Wi-Fi connection we’d shared for the past four years.

We’d been neighbors and friends for five great years, through the thick and through the thins of life…the borrowing of eggs, invitations to run to the store on quick errands, planning and execution of block parties, phony messages from the future, cupcake adventures, target shooting, and everything else that came with ease which would now, finally, be over.

Marc and Jen had officially moved.

Gone are my neighbors from three doors down.

I thought of all this, and the days where visiting consisted only of walking the distance some would traverse to reach the mailbox the edge of their yard.

I watched the blinking orange light on the Apple wireless booster for a few seconds longer; then, I switched it off.

New days now lie ahead, and visits will require the use of vehicles and lengthier passages of time. In other words, it looks as though my own little world must get just a little bit bigger.

Media of the Week - If Only I Were a Jedi Ninja

2012-01-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

There are videos which inspire, and there are videos that are cool simply because they are awesome.

This particular video is awesome.

Weekly Kodachrome - Desert Evening

2012-01-29T21:54:00.001-07:00

The rich, orange light glinted off the sandstone cliffs, rising out of the desert landscape like mighty gods of stone.

The chilled evening air of shadow numbed my fingers as I looked at these mighty sentinels, these oblique guardians of time.

I raised my camera, and as I did, they smiled.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

Weekly Kodachrome - Shoots & Shadows

2012-01-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

We drove down the deeply-rutted trail of a road until he saw the pipe - cast off like a garment previously worn - jutting out from the tall grass like the barrel of a cannon.

Venturing inside the sloping tunnel, and using the late-ened light as a backdrop, we shot.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

The Wall

2012-01-12T21:36:00.001-07:00

There are days I know I’ve given my all.

I arrive to work long before the sun comes up, and usually find myself leaving when it’s completed its journey down into the fiery blanket of the western skyline.

I thought about this tonight.

I thought about my life.

I thought about the people that you just can’t seem to please, no matter what…despite the hours you put in, heedless of the amazingness you try feed into the day, there are those who just don’t seem to feel that your efforts have merit; it seems that all they are capable of viewing is that which you didn’t do.

You know those people I’m talking about, don’t you?

Of course, my greatest archenemy is probably none other than I, the scrutinizer extraordinaire. No matter what we do, it never quite seems to be enough for us to feel good about who we are…there’s always one more thing we should have gotten accomplished before day’s end.

And so today, I hit the wall.

No, not literally, but figuratively.

It was akin to finding yourself standing in front of a brick roadblock that is far too high to climb, and too step to traverse. You sit before it, dejected, and know that you are beaten as the rain thunders down from a vortexual sky.

There’s no point in going any further; there is nothing you can do.

You feel your weakened resolve as it begins to crumble, and you succumb into apathy.

It’s then, in that quiet moment that you make the decision not to give up, you realize that it is the wall that will come down.

It must.

A brick is pushed loose and the entire peak comes crashing down in a heap of dusty rubble.

And when the dust clears, you stand, straighten your shoulders, and you keep on running.

Media of the Week - Walk off the Earth

2012-01-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

Every now and again you come across a song—or performers—who literally have you stop whatever it is you’re doing, and cause you to pause in your life. They make you smile, or sit in a state of complete awe.

That’s what Walk off the Earth did for me.

I smile and find myself completely blown away every time I watch it.

Weekly Kodachrome - The Staredown

2012-01-09T17:20:00.002-07:00

The wondrously sickening, and sweetened smell flooded the classroom at the commencement of the lesson. The kids stared at the pieces of bubblegum on their desks with a type of yearning and titanicular longing.

They had to wait two days before they were actually able to taste it…

Oh, how I love teaching.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

Just Like the Ending Scene of a Movie

2012-01-05T22:32:00.005-07:00

There are moments in life that - no matter what words we use - will never adequately convey the power of a moment.

This was one of those moments...

If I ever have a movie made about my life, I think that I want this to be the final scene.

The 911 Hair Dilemma

2012-01-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

I pulled myself from bed this morning and started my regular routine for a normal school day.

Yeah, you know the type of steps that I’m talking about to get oneself ready for a day of just about any type: showering, shaving, fixing your hair, dressing, eating breakfast, and finally brushing your teeth.

Now, maybe this isn’t your particular schedule, but I imagine that it’s something pretty close.

However, this morning I did the unthinkable…

I did one step out of order: I brushed my teeth after shaving.

Bad move.

I got dressed and—with not a lot of time for breakfast—I headed to school, deciding I’d wear the tie I got from ‘Joey’ for Christmas. After all, I’d left it at school after my last time of wearing it.

I arrived at work around 7:00 and took my stuff to the classroom. I grabbed my tie and headed to a mirror to put it on.

As I looked at my reflection staring back at me, I gasped.

I’d completely forgotten to do anything with my hair.

Whoa, just wait a minute here Teachinfourth, why is this even a concern? After all, doesn’t your hair always have a messy kind of look to it?

Yes, it does…but imagine hair with no gel in it whatsoever.

Needless to say, it wasn’t pretty. I looked like an overgrown Chia Pet. That, or a puffball.

Since I had students arriving in the next few minutes for before-school homework lab, I had no time to drive home and remedy the problem. So, I did what any other sane person would do in my situation.

I called up a friend.

I must admit that it’s a good friend who’d be willing to bring you hair gel at the early hours of the morning, and save you from a notoriously awful ‘bad hair day.’

Yes, that is a good friend, indeed.

Media of the Week – The Documentary

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

I know that I usually post links to music, humor, or something that brings a tear to your eye and a smile to your heart.

This week I’d like to do something just a little bit different than any of that, because a few years ago I created a documentary.

No, I’m not a filmmaker…that’s one thing for sure; however, I wanted to give a crack at it. At the time we had this amazing after-school coordinator, Melanie Bliss (yes, my longtime friend and once-upon-a-time cowriter at Four Perspectives). You see Melanie had started up a program a few years back called “Stories on Stage.”

In a nutshell, it was dramatics programs like you’ve probably never seen before…loaded with awesome and just a smidge of ‘whoa.’

Yeah, I thought that it was simply amazing.

I could go on and on right now—telling you all about it—but then this sixteenish minute documentary I made would be rather pointless now, wouldn’t it?

Yeah, that’s just what I was thinking.

Weekly Kodachrome - The Sound of Christmas

2012-01-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

The festivities were in full commencement when I arrived—fashionably late—having spent a few hours at the school getting ready.

I didn’t plan on remaining for an extended period, just long enough to grab a bite to eat and then head out into the still-snowless evening, to enjoy the rest of my Christmas break.

The blast of warmth from the house was friendly against the chill lingering outside, and the lights of the tree near the center of the room lit up everything around it in a bravuran glow. It wasn’t long before I found myself lost amidst a dozen different conversations, while the smells of delicious foods wafted about the Christmassy air.

Some time later I found myself seated in the living room, looking at the tree and basking in the warmth of the moment.

The boy walked into the living room and sat in the rocking chair. Seeing the guitar lying next to the piano, he picked it up and asked if he could play me the piece that he’d performed for his recital recently.

As the strains of the Christmas music floated about the room it reminded me of a space in time almost two years ago, back when he’d taken his first guitar class from me in the after-school program.

I thought of how far he’d come since then.

The lights on the tree continued to twinkle. The aromas still permeated the sweet-smelling air. The sounds of Christmas still played on.

I smiled.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

Moments with Joey - Greatest Hits of 2011

2011-12-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

I went through my archives and found the top 12 Moments with Joey posts of the past year – based solely from the number of comments they’ve each received, emails I’ve gotten, and Facebook shares. All of these were combined together to finally decide on the top 12.

So, I’m curious, which one of these is YOUR favorite post? Feel free to use the poll below to let me know.

Looking forward to yet another exciting year with Joey.

(Each link will open in a new tab or window for your blogging convenience).

1. Eye Doctors and Tooth Fairies 7. Guys & Boys
2. Music Time on Friday 8. Camping Trips
3. March Wind and Silent Words 9. Diminishing Return
4. Resting Rooms 10. Zimmered
5. Tracking Hilarity 11. The Tongue Dilemma
6. Mistaken Identities 12. Life and Milk Cartons

Melancholy

2011-12-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

I’m a bit despondent tonight.

Melancholy thoughts drift about and weigh heavily on my mind; the tree—with it’s hundreds of glittering lights—does nothing to lighten my somber mood.

I went to lunch with a boy I used to mentor—now a young man. In the course of our conversation, he asked if I’d heard about one of his friends, an old student at my previous school—

I told him that I hadn’t.

The young man told me.

As the words left his mouth, my heart dropped out of my chest and I sat there in dumbfounded silence—the news washing over me in a tidal wave of despair.

This boy had been in my Math class. I’d joked with him in the halls and out at recess. I’d watched him in class working with his friends.

But now he’s gone.

It was yet another sordid reminder of how temporary and fragile this existence truly is.

It’s been on my mind all evening.

Why Didn't I Think of These?

2011-12-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

First off, I didn’t write this post. I got home last night and a friend of mine had forwarded me an email of simple things you can do to make your life just a bit easier.

I didn’t like all of the ideas though. Because of this, I chose not to show some of them simply because I thought they were lame, or didn’t apply so well…creative editing license. Yeah, it’s what I do.

I left in the links to the original webpages so you could head over to them should you wish to do so.

If not, I won’t be offended. These are simply ideas…and none of them are mine.

After all, I didn’t write this post.

Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com

Hulling strawberries using a straw.

Via: apartmenttherapy.com

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Via: unplggd.com

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).

Via: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Via: realsimple.com

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.

Via: savvyhousekeeping.com

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Via: familyfun.go.com

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

Via: unplggd.com

Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.

Via: kiboomu.com

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Via: squawkfox.com

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

Via: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com

Space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Via: wilton.com

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.

Via: realsimple.com

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

Weekly Kodachrome - חֲנֻכָּה

2011-12-26T22:07:00.002-07:00

I attended Hanukkah this past week. It was my second year of taking part in this Jewish holiday.

The Menorah was lit, we ate latkes and sufganiyot, we played dreidel, we read stories of this Jewish Festival of Lights, and we listened to music.

It was truly amazing.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

Lost on the Way to Bethlehem

2011-12-24T23:59:00.007-07:00

I just wasn’t feeling it.

The magic seemed to be lacking.

I posted a link to A Charlie Brown Christmas on Facebook earlier today, mostly because I felt that it summed up my mood fairly well. I had no desire to be around anyone…I just wanted to spend Christmas alone this year.

Strange I should say this after making a decision early this morning, and then find myself packing in the space of about five minutes, and then heading out the door (sometime after 4 p.m.) and making a three–hour-plus drive to spend the holidays down south.

There should be snow, I thought. After all, this was Christmas; but unfortunately there was nothing to fulfill this yuletide wish. And as I drove through the windswept hills of southern Utah, the cloudless sky offered nothing in the hopes of a wintery wonderland arrayed in purest white.

I blew out an exasperated breath and gazed at the skyline. The angry sun was burning an evening fire, and the bloodshot cerise made an impressive backdrop to the silhouetted junipers and pinion pines atop the hills I flew by.

I needed this drive. I needed to clear my head and be somewhere ‘not home’ and yet ‘home’ at the same time.

I listened to Christmas music.

As I drove, I thought of those who’d passed on, and as the shadowy twilight shrouded the landscape, the sky above me darkened into an inky azure.

That’s about the time it happened; it was right before Fillmore I saw the snow…loads of it scattered about the landscape on both sides of the interstate…all the way to Paragonah—some 85 miles worth of it.

As a wonderfully familiar Christmas song came on, I saw a star blazing ahead of me on the horizon, though—admittedly—it was probably just the planet Mars. It brought to mind the three wise men that traveled over miles of desert, all in order to catch but a glimpse of the tiny, newborn babe…lying in a manger.

My thoughts were fragmented.

In the darkness about me, the lights of distant towns twinkled like lights on a Christmas tree…filling the space between us

It was as if I were gathering small pieces of Christmas along my journey…

I recalled a conversation I’d had with a student of mine earlier this week. He seemed to think that Christmas was all about the gifts we get. Yet, when I asked him if he’d rather have every gift on his list, yet spend the entire holiday alone, or not to get any of the presents, and have his loved ones and family with him, without hesitation he chose his family.

“I think you’re right, Mr. Z,” he’d said afterward. “I guess Christmas really is about the people and not the things.”

I thought of the Thought of the Month I’d written to my students.

I realized that before I’d been far too focused on what Christmas is not, instead of what it is. I recalled the events that spurred me into making the trek down here when I’d formerly decided not to.

It was a photograph…several, actually. It was of a Christmas—and other special times—from two years ago. In the photo I saw some of the people I truly cared about and—at that moment—decided that this is the place where I truly needed to be.

Five or so minutes later I was on the road and on my way.

Somewhere upon my arduous journey, I felt it. I remembered what Christmas was supposed to be.

It was wonderful.

And when I pulled up to the Monk’s house sometime after 7, the lights that garnished the house ignited within me a Spielbergian wonder. I turned off the ignition and slipped into the house—unseen—though the basement door. When I made my grand entrance to the living room upstairs, I was accosted by the Mancub—not yet too cool to show he’d missed me, even though he’s a middle schooler.

As I sat at the kitchen table with these people that I know and love, my mind careened again back to the conversation I’d had with my student. It was then that I realized that this is truly Christmas.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, Santa did honor Tanner’s request from two years ago for a smaller head…he’s grown into his quite nicely.

Not Your Mother's Christmas Music

2011-12-23T21:10:00.006-07:00

Breaking just a bit out of the regular mold of Christmas tunage tonight. From Teachinfourth and Adventures & Misadventures of Daily Living, may you have the happiest of holidays.

"Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."

~Eric Sevareid

Oh, and just so you know, some of these you might have to click on and watch directly from YouTube. Also, once you start "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear," "Sleigh Ride Remix," "I Want an Alien for Christmas," or "I Farted on Santa's Lap," a snowflake will appear at the bottom right-ish side next to the resolution settings...click on it, it's pretty cool.

...and there are a few I added in that Mom probably would like - you know, just to keep peace in the family.

I Want an Alien for Christmas

2011-12-22T23:05:00.000-07:00

It was a little over a week in the planning.

My team and I had to come up with something for our school Christmas sing-in, which we’d perform on the last day before the kids were to leave on break.

I’d jokingly thrown out, “I Farted on Santa’s Lap” as a possibility for the past three years in a row, but it’d never been considered with the least bit of enthusiasm or possibility of happening from my team…

…and this year was no exception.

However, I guess this was understandable coming an elementary school environment; you just know that you’d get a plethora of shocked intakes of breath from parents, copious giggles from children, and you’d hear the song caroled down the hallways and in the lunchroom for months to come.

It would give ‘deck the halls’ an entirely new meaning. Yeah, in other words the entire staff’d hate me.

Still, it’s fun to throw out the idea for the song every year, just to watch it crash and burn in a fiery inferno.

Yet even with this particular song being off the table, the fifth grade team has always managed to dredge up something that totally rocks…after all, my team and I are all about awesome and substandard just won’t do. Yeah, being a perfectionist with narcissistic tendencies is always a huge asset in regards to this.

It was about two weeks ago that we sat in our weekly meeting and kicked around ideas for this year’s performance. After all, our debut of “The Santa Claus Rock” last year would be pretty hard to beat.

After a few minutes I said, “Hey guys, I’ve got the perfect song for this year.”

My team waited for the usual proposal. I made it, it was shot down, and then threw out my real idea.

They loved it; it was so astonishingly overwhelming that they just couldn’t say no.

I came home and scoured the information superhighway in search of a karaoke version of this particular little tune, only to learn that one didn’t exist.

Curses.

Being resourceful, I pulled out my guitar, I looked up the chords online, and three practices with the students later, we were standing in front of the rest of the school ready to blow them away with our high school musical-ish performance.

Granted, in retrospect I wish that the gym hadn’t been quite so big…the roof-shaking rocking we’d performed in the classroom just wasn’t quite as strong as it had been in that vast space.

But still we were awesome.

Without further ado, I present the fifth grade in their entire splendor and glory…yours truly on lead (and only) guitar.

But now I’ve already begun to think about possibilities for next year’s presentation, mostly because I realized somewhere along the way that we’ve again set the standard for coming up with something amazing, and besides, I have to beat out my first grade teacher friend, Abe Yospe, when it comes to performance awesomeness.

...and he can be a tough act to follow.

Sometimes, it's Not the Packaging...

2011-12-21T17:56:00.003-07:00

Sometimes greatest gifts come in the most unexpected of packaging…

I walked back to my desk on Monday of this week to pick something up, and that’s when I saw the note. It sat there, inconspicuously, like a secret message passed from a friend back from when I was still in school.

I glanced at it and saw the writing on the front, claiming that it was from my ‘silent student’. According to the message, it was to be read only during the Christmas break…not while we were still in school.

I slipped the note onto the shelf behind my desk and there it lay, catching my eye every now and again. However, it was more a mild curiosity than anything else.

It was later that afternoon that package arrived, it silently appeared on my desk as if placed there by Hogwart’s house elves. It lay, unassumingly, wrapped in a sheet of notebook paper. The handwriting—5th grade chicken scratch—was the exact same as on the note which had mysteriously appeared earlier during the day.

The message on this little package was clearly written: OPEN IT.

However, the bell had just rung, indicating that lunch recess had come to an end. So as my class filtered into the room, I set the package aside and began to teach.

The parcel lay on my desk throughout the day, not moving or drawing attention to itself in any way. Near the end of the afternoon, one of my students—I’ll call him Joey—approached me and asked if I’d opened any of my gifts yet. He glanced over to my desk where a few neatly wrapped boxes and bags lay.

I replied that I hadn’t.

He nodded, looked as if he were about to say something, then appeared to change his mind.

He walked away.

Throughout the rest of the day Joey stole glances to my desk, and the package that was wrapped so diametrically unlike than any of the others there.

When he left at the end of the day he wished me a good evening, glanced at the desk one final time, and then ushered himself from the room.

I began to correct assignments, enter scores, and clean up the messes left behind from 29 little people. As I passed my desk, the small haphazardly wrapped gift caught my eye.

Overcome with curiosity, I picked it up. It was light and flexible…whatever was inside wasn’t very heavy.

I carefully pulled away one side of the wrapping, that’s when I saw the tie.

It was ugly—probably something from this boy’s dad’s closet, or one he found at the local thrift store.

I cringed as I looked at the gaudy pattern that—in the gray parts—made it appear to be filthy. You see, I’m very particular of the ties I wear four of the five days of the week, and this one wouldn’t have made the list in a million years.

It was truly and awfully horrific. The pattern of it made me want to vomit…it was a tie throwback from yesteryear.

The tie remained on my desk as I packed up and went home.

That night, thoughts about that tie kept coming back to my mind…again and again I thought of it. I knew who’d given it to me…it was but obvious from his less-than-guarded inquiries throughout the day.

I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I should wear that tie the next day to school. I brushed this feeling aside, but it kept returning…like an unwelcomed visitor during the holidays.

When I awoke the next morning, I finally decided that I’d wear the tie; however, I didn’t do this willingly. I had to practically force myself to put on my white shirt and black slacks. I felt frustrated because I wanted to wear a pair of khakis and a button-up shirt…this would have been far more comfortable ensemble than wearing my ‘suit’ as my students called it. As I thought of wearing that monstrosity back in my classroom, I felt myself settling into a bad mood. It was an ‘old man’ tie and I hated it…in fact, I even decided to take along another tie ‘just in case’ I didn’t feel that I could stomach wearing that one the entire day.

When I finally arrived at school I put the tie on.

I loathed the thing.

When the bell rang nearly an hour later, my students came into the classroom—and as we went over the language lesson for the morning, Joey’s eyes were riveted to the tie I wore…through my peripheral vision, I could see him staring at the tie intensely. He did this all morning long. Every time I went to help him with something, he’d gaze for a few seconds at the tie with a mesmerized look in his eyes.

I was can’t express how glad I was that I’d decided to wear it.

Fast forward to today…the students left for their holiday break at 12:30. When everyone was gone, I began entering grades and organizing assignments for nearly an hour. As I set something on the shelf behind me, I saw the note from Monday morning.

I opened it.

For those of you who may have difficulty reading the scrawl it says:

Dear Mr. Z,

I’m your silent student ‘Joey,’ I wrote this Journal so you can cry tears of joy. I just wanted to say that you’re the best teacher I have ever had. I like It when you tell jokes. I know you don’t know me veary much but I like you because you make school fun. So that’s what I wrote this so Merry Christmas Mr. Z!!!!!!

On the back it read:

P.S. go on facebook on Christmas and find a video that has a Lego guy on That’s my video.

I sat gazing at this note for quite some time.

Words cannot adequately describe the feeling that washed over me. It was a feeling like watching the first snowfall of the year as the silvery flakes tumble from the heavens; it was the feeling you get when the music rises at the end of the movie, and you realize that everything is going to be okay and everyone is going to live happily ever after; it was the feeling you get when your niece or nephew gives you a hug and tells you that you mean the world to them.

It now rolls on to nearly 6:00 and I still sit in my classroom as the hours trudge onward and the skies outside became dark, I look at that tie again.

This tie is one of my favorites…it’s beautiful and I couldn’t have asked for anything better from my student at Christmastime. You know what? Sometimes the greatest of gifts come in the most unassuming of packaging…

Moments with Joey - The Greatest Gift

2011-12-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

SCENE 1, EXTERIOR. MORNING, 5th GRADE DOOR. The teacher is picking up his class from outside. As the students file past him and walk down the hallway, one fifth-grade boy pauses for a minute.

JOEY: Mr. Z, I was just wondering; what do you want for Christmas?

TEACHER: I don’t need anything, Joey, but thank you.

JOEY: No, I mean it; what do you really want?

TEACHER: I just want you to be the best you that you can be, Joey. That would be the greatest gift you could ever give me.

[Pause].

JOEY: But I want to buy you something Mr. Z.

TEACHER: Joey, really, I don’t need you to buy me anything.

[The boy gives a sly look and gives a knowing look].

JOEY: What if I told you I have eight dollars?

TEACHER: Then I’d tell you to save it.

[Pause].

JOEY: But what could I give you for Christmas then?

TEACHER: Like I already said…just do your best. That’s the best present you could ever give me.

[The boy pauses and thinks for a second. A moment later his face bursts into a smile].

JOEY: I think I’ll wear a bow on my head when I come to school tomorrow. I’m going to be the best present you’ve ever gotten.

[The boy grins as he continues to the classroom].

TEACHER: [Spoken quietly]. Don’t worry, Joey, you already are.

Fade to black.

Weekly Kodachrome - One on One

2011-12-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

I can’t tell you just how much I appreciate those people who come into my classroom to work with the students…it’s been this way in the past, and it’s this same way now. When a parent, educator, or someone else comes to work with a small group or a single child, it not only helps that youth become a better reader, writer, or helps them gain needed math skills, it helps me out more than I can say in my job.

To those who volunteer in a child’s classroom, in behalf of their teacher, I thank YOU.

Did you take a photo in the past seven days that made you smile? If so, feel free to include it in the linky below.

Remember, by adding your photo into the Weekly Kodachrome meme you are agreeing to do one of the following: display the linky or button to your post, or link back to this post so that everyone gets a little more exposure for the image they’ve uploaded. Those who don’t help to ’share the love’ will have their links removed. You can find the code for the linky here.

Merry Christmas - Calvin & Hobbes Style

2011-12-18T17:53:00.003-07:00

First off, Merry Christmas...

Now, if you think you might be offended, don't click the video below.

However, I think it's simply brilliant.

You should be able to find quite a few similarities amongst these: