Passion grows

I originally posted this on my tumblr site, but I’m putting it here since I’m moving back to WordPress.

I can’t summarize the past three and a half months in one blog posting. It’s not possible. I’ve learned so much. I’ve grown too much to put it all here.

Here’s a dash of it though…

None of this has been a bad thing. It’s all been amazing. My passion for teaching has grown by leaps and bounds. I can’t express what Jeanne has done for me as my mentor. Her honesty and passion is evident, and even though she won’t be a teacher after this year, I know my teaching will have benefitted from her. I will finish my education next year, and start my “real” teaching with an ounce of her classroom spirit (I hope).

My passion has grown not just from her, but from the students I’ve worked with, too. All seniors, these kids have been inspiring. I’ve seen some turn their lives around so they could graduate. I’ve seen others disappear because of bad mistakes of their personal choices. But more so, I’ve learned I’m not alone. There are kids who will learn if you open up and be the teacher they need you to be.

In the end, it’s not about the curriculum, the paycheck, the union, the school, me, or anything else. It’s about making a difference in some form for the kids.

I won’t forget spring 2011.

We penalize students for stupid reasons

I originally posted this on my tumblr site, but I’m putting it here since I’m moving back to WordPress.

Let me say that again. We penalize students for stupid reasons.

Let me explain. In one of my 400-level English classes this semester, our grading and coursework options were selected from a “menu.” In other words, we could pick exactly what we wanted to do, and from that point, we weighted our grades as we earned them.

But hidden at the bottom of the menu was this sneaky phrase: “Students who do not actively participate cannot receive an A for the course.”

Well, that’s where I disagree. As a teacher in training, I feel that doesn’t allow the student who truly did his or her best job to perform well in the class.

Just for a moment, let’s get in the head of a student who is quiet, calm, and has had quite a troubled past. This student could be afraid to speak out or just doesn’t learn well in discussion with others. This student is a really good independent thinker though. He turns his work in on time and he knows exactly what he has to do. He is prepared and works diligently and has his sights set on doing something for the greater good, to help others one day. So, should this student who gets As and Bs on the work he does, that averages out to an A in the end, not receive an A because he didn’t participate in a manner the teacher liked?

I think he should get the A. Not all students learn the same way. Not all students can speak out.

I’ll explain more on this some other time. Right now, I have a paper I need to be working on. But it just baffles me that some people are so narrow-minded to not look beyond themselves and look for learning in new ways.

I’m back

I thought I was done with this blog as I moved into a new web journal some time ago, but I’m back. I’ll explain more soon. But get ready, because I want to write. A lot.

Steven Curtis Chapman

I must say I have now attended the greatest concert of all time. It was a time of worship, fellowship, and love all strung together into one major, exciting, God-glorifying evening. What Steven Curtis Chapman and his family did on the stage at Murray State University’s Lovett Auditorium on Friday night made me wake up and reaffirm my trust in Jesus.

The night started out with a prayer by event staff and an intro to what would be happening, really getting everyone to sit down and listen up. Then who else but SCC would walk out on stage and well, change his entire plans. He said that since Murray is right next to his hometown of Paducah, he was calling this his hometown show (even though he resides in Nashville/Franklin now). Really cool stuff–he had a lot of his local family there in the front rows. He told us how he was breaking the rules of being a rockstar and interrupting the time that the opening act should have. The opening act is the band Caleb, fronted by his oldest son Caleb Chapman and the drummer is his younger son, Will Franklin Chapman. It was cool how he just came out and talked to get stuff started. I think we’re the only show he did that at, but if not, oh well, he’s just a cool guy and loving person, and reaffirmed that in the quick intro.

Then Caleb came out and played. I have to say that the music gene has definitely been passed down to this sons and their bandmates. They rocked. I have both of their CDs now, and they’ll soon be on my iPod to jam and worship to in the car.

In the last song, SCC came out and played with the band as they were moving toward SCC’s set. The night continued to rock as we then got to “Dive” right in. Awesome.

After a break, Mary Beth Chapman, one of the greatest speakers in the world as my Mom calls her, came out on stage and talked about their family and just the overall experience she outlines in the book. The concert/evening, “A Night with the Chapmans,” is truly only about because of the tragedy of the death of their daughter Maria Sue. Maria went to heaven in May, 2008 after a tragic accident when she ran out in front of son Will Franklin in the family’s driveway. Through it all, Mary Beth outlined their life, love, faith and trust in Jesus Christ that has pulled them through and given them the ability to really see.

Caleb Chapman said it best early in the night by explaining the mess that they had encountered to be as being too close to the large painting that is God’s work, that not until we go to be with Jesus someday will we get to see the eternal view – far enough away to see the whole picture that we cannot understand in this life. Deep, thoughtful, amazing, and so true.

I would love to meet and talk with the entire family more some day. Wow–I’ll never forget this evening.

Back and happy, but disconnected and lazy

I’m back. I guess I took a blogging sabbatical. I’m good at that, especially when I get sidetracked.

Anyway, that brings up another point: procrastination — or really, waste of time.

I’m unhappy to say that I waste a lot of time. I could be out building friendships, making a difference, and doing hard things, but instead I sit around and a lot of the time what I really want to accomplish is put off by laziness which in turn causes problems. What problems? Sin. Yeah, not a fan of it. Thank God for repentance and redemption though, I’m saved and on his side. When I slip, it’s good to know he’ll put me back where I need to be. I think something that’s actually helped keep me on track though, especially when times seem dark and that no one is in the same spot I am, I realize though I’m not alone, as much as I sometimes think I really am.

It’s been cool to find out that everyone sometimes faces the same problems. For example, Christian musician Jimmy Needham is so awesome for posting what’s really on his mind and from his heart on his Facebook page. Reading that and connecting with what he says–it encourages me, just like the Bible does.

What do I want right now? Community. Fellowship. Authentic bonding in the name of the Lord. That would be so cool, but things take time and I have to explore. I want to meet more people who call Jesus their best buddy, too, I guess that’ll take some time though. It seems like I know more, “connectable” people are around me, but it’s hard to “meet.”

What I’m trying to say isn’t very clear right now. I’ll try and explain myself more later on. Speaking from the heart can be really tough. I’m glad I can open up here, but I wish it was easier in real life.

Thankful and happy: surgery success

Just gotta throw out a statement of Praise to the Lord for my Mom’s successful double knee replacement earlier today.

I ended up waking up at 3:50 to get ready so we could make it to the hospital by 5:00. Now remember, it was dark when we arrived, she got prepared and went into surgery at 7:30. She was done by 10:15ish. They said she’d be in recovery for an hour and then we’d be with her up in her room. Not the case. The hospital was overbooked it seems. Or cleaning staff was slow. I’m going with the first option.

After 9 hours worth of Law & Order: SVU repeats in the waiting room, we made it upstairs. Then two hours later I think we finally made it in her room.

The grandparents and the dad were with me. It was exciting and interesting, but mainly boring. For my fellow teachers: it was the longest, most boring planning period of my life.

I got to miss school today — good or bad? Don’t know. Only three more days of this summer class session though. Then 5 weeks off!

Anyway, 16 hours at St. Mary’s Hospital. Whoa! Don’t wanna do that again anytime soon!

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