A young lady in our Creative Writing class has started posting a blog, and since she wrote and posted one on Christmas Day, I thought it was a good time for me to follow suit and write a post myself.
First, let me say how proud I am of her for putting her writing out there for others to read. Here is a link to her blog; the password is magnolio. She shared it on Twitter to a wider audience. That takes courage. I have the pleasure and challenge of working with young people on a daily basis, and I get to see and read just how remarkable they are. I wish they would share more. Spoken word and written poetry, critical analysis, philosophical musings, short stories, musical compositions, and visual art pieces presenting depth of thoughts and heartfelt passion. I get to read, see, and hear from these creative souls often, and I am moved, inspired, shaken, and amazed. If you are not so fortunate, you really should feel a bit of jealousy toward me.
Now, since I am writing this during break, and the end of 2020 is drawing nigh (and perhaps because I just watched Rap Critic's "Top 10 Worst Lyrics of 2020" and "Top 10 Worst Hit Songs of 2020" from Todd in the Shadows), I am thinking a Top 10 List of 2020 might be fitting. But Top 10 what? Because Kansas decided to shoehorn a couple near-60 degree days into mid-December, I was able to get out and walk on Christmas Day. I did the same on Saturday. That gave me chance to think, something that solo exercise does for me. The thought hit me that the most appropriate list might be the best gifts of 2020. Yes, 2020 has been a bit of a dumpster fire, a poo emoji IRL even, but it has had some major positives too, and I have been blessed with some "gifts" that brighten my little world. Now, these could be actual physical items, sometimes wrapped in colorful paper, but more times than not, they don't come in a box. They are gifts nonetheless. I could go personal on this one, such as more time with my wife as we both worked from home in the spring, or my kids' both being in the house together for a few more months as my son and daughter finished their college spring semesters online and both remain home this fall. Those are truly gifts to treasure. And let's be honest here, as I compile my list of top gifts in my teacher 2020, they are also personal. Most of the teachers out there will agree that it is difficult to separate the two. So, I have settled on the list topic:
My Top Gifts of Teacher 2020
Messages from Kids. A handwritten note, a goodbye voiced prior to logging off Google Meet, a question sent through text, Twitter or Snapchat, a masked encounter in the self-checkout at Dillons. Whatever delivery method, it doesn't matter. A message from a kid, past or present, is a gift. Often they remind me why I am in the classroom in the first place, and they recenter my focus. Sometimes, they lift my spirits just when I need it. At times, they let me know that what we do in class does actually carry over long after kids walk out the door. Sometimes, they are asking for a nudge or a little help. Often, they remind me that there are amazing people around us, and that is a gift we too often ignore.
Conversations. This gift is related to the one above and the one to follow, but I still believe it deserves its own spot. It is that important. In my previous blog post, I talked about having conversations, about being able to talk with each other. Conversations are so vital. I have needed to be intentional and purposeful in making time for conversations. That means turning away from the computer screen when a student gets to class early and starts to talk about concerns about a friend or frustrations at work. It means letting the rabbit trail in class discussion meander at times, even if it may seem to lead away from "the content". And BTW, the rabbit trail usually isn't leading away from the content; it is leading to a different aspect of the content or seeing it in a different perspective, which is important too. ("The Content" is a whole other discussion for later.) Often, conversations give us a chance not only to think, but also to laugh, and that is so important. One day, after a class spent the last 10 minutes or so in conversation, I heard someone say, "Oh, I needed that." Yeah, we need that. Conversations also take place after school in our classrooms, in the hall between classes, as we walk to the parking lot or to another part of the building, and when we see each other out in the wild. They are stocking stuffers that come throughout the year.
Our Hall. I work with a group of people that in many ways is a family. Yes, we hear that often, but I truly mean it. I get to spend each day of school around people who lift me up and push me to be better. They notice when I am struggling. They laugh with me. They make me feel a sense of pride. We legitimately like being around each other. Seldom does a day go by that we don't "talk" through Voxer or text, even on days when we see each other in person. We Zoom sometimes just because we feel better after spending time together. We nerd out about books and movies, celebrate successes, and vent when the tensions get high. That doesn't even scratch the surface of the "professional" impact we have on one another. I am better because of these people in so many ways. I am slowly accepting the fact that I am one of the "old" people on our team (NOT the oldest), and I am blessed not only with the more seasoned among us but also with incredible younger people. I honestly believe that sometimes people are placed in our lives at particular time for particular reasons. The people in my teacher family are a gift, each in their own way.
Friday Nights and Tuesday Afternoons. I have one of the greatest jobs on the planet. Not only do I get to work with young people and amazing teachers throughout each day in my hallway, I get to move my classroom outside on fall afternoons and team-teach with another group of talented individuals who answer to "Coach". Not everyone gets to have two circles of people like I do, who make me better and are there for me when I need it. We spend a lot of time together. We laugh, we plan, we argue, we lean on one another, we lift each other up, and we teach. Those kids we coach show us their best and, sometimes, their worst. And we all grow through it. Every year, we see young men grow in ways that few people can really appreciate. There have been a long list of players I am immensely proud of through the years. They have overcome personal obstacles, pushed themselves, lifted up teammates, and found their own paths. This year, our kids faced different hurdles. Each week, we worked toward Friday night, always knowing that at any point during the week, that game could be cancelled. It happened early in the season when we received word shortly after noon on Friday that our game was cancelled due to a positive COVID test that morning on the opposing team. We were coming off a week one loss where we started 9 new players on defense, and we needed to get back on the field. Our kids handled it well. They came out and practiced on Friday afternoon. They got better, they laughed, and they spent time together. We ended up playing the rest of our schedule and made it to the final 8 in the playoffs. More importantly, we got to see kids grow up. In some cases, we saw walls come down. We saw kids show concern beyond themselves. We saw a young man face real personal loss with a positive attitude and a smile each day. Friday nights, everyone gets to see things happen (even if it is online); on Tuesdays (and every other day), we as coaches get to see much more. This is a gift that I get to enjoy as a coach.
Our Admin. I have seen so much on Twitter about teachers clashing with administration right now. Some have called for no evaluations of teachers being done by administrators this year. I get it. Things are tense, and sometimes the views are different. The old joke when a teacher goes into admin is that they are going "to the dark side." What I am going to say may sound really odd to some of you and some will probably even think I am full of hooey for saying this, but I think my administration is a gift right now. "Is it best for kids?" has been our driving question, not just in 2020 but for a long time. That has shifted more to "Is it best for kids and can we do it safely?" this year. Do I always agree fully with what the administration chooses to do? No. Do I feel my voice is at least heard? Honestly, yes. Do I think we are all headed in the same direction, sometimes with information that I don't have yet? Yep. I have seen Mr. Ellegood and Mr. Abbott, our principal and assistant principal, go beyond what is even close to implied in any job description to help our kids and our staff on a daily basis. I was evaluated last month. It was a positive experience. No dog and pony show, simply a class period like any other, if by any other you mean half the class in person, half on Google Meet, having a discussion. Mr. Ellegood sat among our socially distanced kids and even added to the discussion at one point. We talked about things, both good and in need of improvement, in a conversation afterward (post-evaluation conference sounds so unnecessarily ominous). I have had administrators not only from my building but from the district level, in my classroom often this semester. Like our principals, Mrs. Couchman and Mr. McClure are welcome in my room any time. That has been the case for quite a while, so it really shouldn't change now. I know many teachers feel the same way. Is every building across the country like this? No. Not even close. Maybe not everyone even in my building feels this way. But I do. That's a gift.
Sunrises. Last spring, sunrises took on a special meaning for me. When we received the news that our buildings were being closed and school would be remote, the world we as teachers knew crashed. For many of our kids, it imploded. After catching our collective breath and starting to figure things out, we got to work. I quickly realized that sitting in front of a computer all day was not going to be a pleasant. I moved around my classroom. Sitting on Zoom sucked. So, I started slipping out my door and up to the walking path each morning before the sun came up. I was usually the only one out, and I could get a little much-needed exercise before logging on to grade, plan, or return emails and messages prior to starting the day "with" kids. It became one of my favorite times of the day. I found that my schedule put me headed east as the sun came up most mornings. I started taking a picture of the sunrise. It became sometime I looked forward to and kind of forced me to recognize that the sun had in fact come up, and it was a new day. There is an added reason for seeing the sunrise as a gift. I have always gotten to school early, and I block my door open. Sometimes people pop in, maybe to ask a question or just to say "good morning!" I like that time. One student had made a habit the last couple of years of stopping in before school. Each visit would start with a response to my "What's up?" Sometimes we'd talk, sometimes homework was finished, and sometimes we were just both there. It became a comfort. When the physical classrooms closed, that comfort was taken away. So, I asked if I could still say "Good morning" on a regular basis, and we decided that was ok. Welcome even. So, I started sending the pictures I would take on my walks with a "Good morning!" We are back in physical school this fall, and I find myself still taking pictures of the sunrise as I drive to school. Often, I will still send those pics on and say "Good morning." In a time when uncertainty is the only certainty, knowing the sun has come seems important, and sharing that does too.
Ok, I realize I have gotten a little long in this post. A long gift list is not a bad thing though, right? I'm not even close to finished, but I will cut my rambling explanations short. So, here is the rest of my list, so far, without explanation:
Faces,
Music,
The Snack Drawer,
Coffee Mugs,
Laughter and Tears.
Maybe I will do a Part 2 later, to finish out the year. Who knows. As I sit and write today, more things keep coming to mind. I really am blessed, personally and professionally and the ways the overlap.
And for that, I say "Thank you."
