Month: November 2021

Find Your Pace

This year more than ever seemed to be a good year to compartmentalize Thanksgiving break. There was cooking and cleaning and shopping and hosting, and oh yeah BTW football. Some of Sammy’s middle school hoops teammates and freshman football guys were playing for a state championship with a different school, so we made the drive down to provide support.

But no school stuff.

I did make some time to be able to reflect on the first three months of school. Long dog walks are awesome for that purpose. The week of remote and the week of hybrid back in September pushed us off schedule. I just feel like we are behind where we should be. The geometry team will be starting Unit 4 after break. One unit a month seems a little slow. Part of that is due to us acclimating ourselves to an A/B block schedule. We have basically 10 class meetings per month, and speaking for myself I still struggle to double-up on topics in an 80-minute class.

But maybe we are where we need to be. It’s pretty clear from working with my students that 18 months of pandemic school has taken its toll. Fortunately we have been building in support for algebra skills all along.

I’m reminded of a line delivered by a kid in the Intuitive (what they used to call “non-college-bound”) Geometry class back in my student teaching year. We used a lot of those worksheets where angles or segments are labeled with algebra expressions, and this guy says to me in class, “Mr. Dull why do you give algebra worksheets to kids you know can’t do algebra?” I didn’t get it then, but I get it now. It’s like a built-in spiral review daily, instead of trying to carve out time we don’t have for a stand-alone algebra review.

We’ve been building in time during class for quiz retakes as well. I’m sold on offering the retakes, just that so many of my students are not available after school to do so we had to make an in-class option. Again, not the way you’d draw it up on paper, but it’s what my students need from me and it’s what they are gonna get.

We are clearly not going to get all the way to the end of the course, but we’ve already trimmed the curriculum map down to power-standards, and at our last department meeting our chair gave us our marching orders on the must-haves and can-skips. If they don’t need it for Algebra II, we can set it aside. Triangle centers, transformations, and a couple of other things go away. So be it.

Parenthetically: Yeah, I get that transformations in geometry help students make more sense of inverse functions in Algebra II. Like everything else this year, none of it is perfect. And I’m teaching a bunch of Algebra II next year so at least I’ll know what their geometry teacher skipped over this year 😉

It’s not new to me. This has been my philosophy ever since I was experienced enough as a teacher to fit my pacing to my students’ needs, which happened shortly after I started teaching primarily repeat courses. I used to privately refer to my Algebra II class as “Algebra One-and-a-Half” because we just never seemed to get to the double-digit chapters. And the leadership in my building is on board as well, based on the guidance from our DC at the last math meeting. Do the best that we can, get as far as we can, make prudent judgments about what needs to be covered in the course, but as always keep our students’ needs in mind first.

Everything else comes after.

And that’s why you won’t hear me apologizing for leaving school at school this Thanksgiving.

Source

Family, Gathering

Between work, practice, and school, my youngest is often kind of a rumor around here. Free time is a rare commodity for him. But he was home after school yesterday and I convinced him to walk the dogs with me, and maybe talk a little bit, which, parents of teen boys, IYKYK. Major deal. I didn’t take it lightly. Halfway up the block we had to walk around a pair of SUVs parked in a driveway blocking the sidewalk. An older woman unloading one of the vehicles saw us and apologized profusely, asking if it was OK to park that way or should she park in the street. (so very midwest of her).

Quickly sizing up the situation I told her “Hey, it’s Thanksgiving week and this looks like family getting together to me. It’s all good”. (because I can midwest with the best of them).

I can never tell if it’s more challenging or actually easier to be thankful when everything around you feels like a disaster (Exhibit A: 2021-22 school year) and it doesn’t really seem like there’s much to be thankful for.

But I’m definitely working on it. I’m about ready to set an alarm in my phone or search for a thankfulness app. Helps if you surround yourself (or connect online) with folks who practice thankfulness. Random daily reminders are pretty damn awesome.

Added bonus any time you can be happy for someone else in their moment too. I’m out of the sportscasting biz for good, but I love seeing folks I’ve met get a chance to do cool things. Also: You should follow Boyd on Twitter, for the hoops coverage and for his takes on life in general.

We bought a new oven last weekend, replacing one that came with the house and has been out of commission for three years. (We grill a lot, obvi). Got delivered yesterday, just in time to host Thanksgiving. We’ve been hosting remotely (Warsaw Inn FTW) since 2018 but it will be good to have people in the house and around the table again. I’m already working up my schedule of food prep targeting a 2:00 service time. That and Bears vs. Lions and it’s gonna feel exactly like old-school Thanksgiving in this house.

“Freedom From Want“

My mother-in-law is staying with us for a while and was instrumental in making the oven purchase happen. One of the first things she did was make a Wal-mart run and pick up all the ingredients for like three different types of cookies. Got to put that new oven through its paces, right?

Plus that seems like an ideal Thanksgiving Weekend Family Activity. Music and a little wine and stories and all the happy smells and togetherness. Might even be able to recruit in my youngest. Gonna look like a layout in Midwest Living. Or Sunset, take your pick.

It’s probably because I’m an Old now, but moments of togetherness these days are literally priceless. Our baby is graduating high school in 2022, and it’s been a year of nostalgia in my brain, holding on tight to the “lasts” as they happen, and occasionally having long-ago memories triggered. Yeah, that was me getting all weepy in the toy aisle at Wal-mart one day not long ago.

So yeah, I’m thankful for having an oven that works. And for a bunch of other things. But those are still “things”. Like Dave Ramsey says, “It’s just ‘stuff’. You can always get you some more stuff”. I’m officially at that point in life where I am more thankful for the moments than the stuff. Thankful for the people. Make fun of Midwest Nice all you want. I’m thankful for good people who do good. In ways large and small.

Now time for turkey. Gather ’round the table.

It’s Thursday, right?

There was a whole meme floating around during The Shutdown about how we all just lost track of time. Like to the point where no one really even knew what day it was. Like teachers in summer, except scarier.

Source

For me, it’s kind of an ongoing issue. I’ve spent much of the last year laboring under the delusion it was a day later than it actually was. There’s probably something in the DSM-IV about it. Or maybe it’s just a charming middle-aged quirk. But it’s always kind of jarring to be doing Wednesday night stuff, whistling past the graveyard thinking tomorrow is Friday, and… nope. With routine returning a bit this school year that’s gone away somewhat. I feel a little more centered.

Until a day last week.

I have my theories though. I sold my prep this year to teach an extra class and shrink class sizes for everyone. Plus we are perpetually short of subs and we all end up covering each others’ classes daily. I think I went a month without a plan period. Literally everything that needs to get done, gets done on my own time. There’s only 30 hours in a day, right?

I was super-proud of myself this week for getting a pencil/paper review and a Desmos quiz all set up two whole days in advance. If I buckle down tomorrow, I might get the first block after Thanksgiving planned, printed, and published to Classroom.

I know. Crazy talk. A five day weekend with my school stuff done?

I’m not a special case – from what I’ve seen online there’s some really good teachers out there who are admitting to being literally a day ahead of their students. We’re all rats on a wheel. Spend every single day planning one day ahead, and well of course Thursday morning feels a little Friday-ish.

Not sure how to fix it. Might just be one of those situations you deal with for a year. Maybe next year will be better. I’ve always thought of myself as pretty skilled at prioritizing tasks. I excel at making checklists. Just gotta get done what needs done rightnow and keep the wolves off the doorstep one more day.

But this is definitely a year that I’m starting to worry about important things slipping through the cracks.

There are things that just take the time they take. No amount of hacks or shortcuts help. So we keep plugging away, trying to claw back an hour or so here and there, getting some grading or planning or emailing done on Saturday morning with coffee and tunes so that it doesn’t have to be done at 10:00 Sunday night with a glass of wine and existential dread.

Friday does get here eventually though.

And so does Monday.

Fridays are going to be different for the foreseeable future. My youngest played his last football game last weekend. Classic old-school Region football weather too.

Knew it was coming. Just hoped it wasn’t coming for a couple more weeks. I hear Indy is lovely this time of year.

He went out in a blaze of glory. Played his best football the last month. Got named Scout Team Player of the Week leading up to the regional game.

Also: Tempus fugit. For real.

That’s probably a piece of the puzzle too. Our clock has been set to football year-round for the last four years. To the point where I came home from work the other day and wondered what my son’s car was doing in the driveway. Until I went “oh yeah”. Felt that in the pit of my stomach. (The kids are handling The End much better than the parents, I think. They all made their “70 out” farewell IG posts, commented hearts and “love you bro” on each other’s stuff, and moved on to the next thing. Meanwhile the parents are here blubbering over tiny t-shirts. It’s me. I’m “parents”).

We were talking “time” with my geometry kids today. How September was the longest month in the history of timekeeping, then we blinked and it was Thanksgiving. Everybody wants “tomorrow” to get here. Except when we don’t.

We could probably all use a reset this weekend. And next week: a giant plate of food. Or two (don’t be bashful. Ask for seconds). And hours of football on TV. And a parade.

And maybe an Advent calendar so I know what day it is.

Because time flies.

This Is Not The Time

We had family conferences at my school this week. I gave my kids a quick rundown on what to expect. Biggest thing I wanted them to know was I was only gonna tell good stories on them. I’d answer whatever question their family members had, but this wasn’t the time for me to be airing my grievances. That’s a whole different conference.

I kept my word, and my students know that not because I said it, but because of what their parents said to them when they got home.

I walk my talk.

Session Three of IDOE’s Teacher Leader Bootcamp met tonight. The topic was trust.

There are 50 teachers across the state of Indiana in Cohort 3 of Teacher Leader Bootcamp, meeting throughout the school year with the goal of driving improvement in their schools, their districts, and their communities.

And they are wounded.

They are not my stories to tell, but when the floor was open for input the hurt was there for everyone to see.

I felt that.

In our breakout sessions with our group mentor (a TLB Cohort 2 member from a year ago), we walked right up to that line where we all wanted to unload. And our mentor acknowledged that, indicating that for all of us these stories hit home. Like, maybe a little too close to home.

Several members of the group related that they had had their principals leave the building this year. Sometimes for advancement, and sometimes to change careers. No one said it out loud but I got the sense some of my colleagues wish their principals would leave.

(And if you know me and you are trying to read between the lines, I dig my new principal and I miss my principal who left. It’s possible to do both at the same time, right?)

Thing is, most of us are balancing our need for trust with the adults in our building, with our efforts to build trust with our students.

In one breakout session I related how we consolidated schools in my district this year, and although I have plenty of my (mostly remote) students from last year who I have relationships with, the majority of my kids don’t know me. I have to build my credibility from them from Day One.

I think I’m doing that. It’s the only way any learning is going to happen in my class. And it’s not a one-day or one-week thing. It’s gonna take all year.

As everything good does.

A big part of it is listening. And then acting on what I hear. On the recommendation of one of my Twitter connects, I read Chris Emdin’s book Ratchetdemic last month. One of his chapters is entitled “Elevators, Haters, and Suckas”. His belief is that you have people around you who will lift you up.

Probably not in the way you think tho. Emdin’s theory is students are giving us feedback on our teaching literally daily. If we will listen.

And if we can pack our egos away long enough to hear what they are saying, we will see that they are giving us what we need to be better teachers. For them.

Or not, and then we get the classroom we deserve.

Because you don’t work hard for someone you don’t respect. You’ve seen the Rita Pierson TED Talk, right?

A big piece of Teacher Leader Bootcamp is performing action research. I’m focusing on my students’ response to the statement “Mr. Dull knows my strengths and weaknesses.”

I’m making some changes to my practice, showing them that I have heard their concerns and then acting on that. Early on the results are positive, both in what I observe in class and in what my students are reporting to me. It’s a good start.

Because if I want my students to improve their outcomes in my class, I need to do more than tell them. I need to show them.

TLB3 members had to fight through their own feelings tonight to find the place where they could be most effective for their students. It wasn’t comfortable. Not even a little bit. But growth never is.

TLB doesn’t meet again until January 2022. But in the meantime, I’ve got some students who need to do geometry together. Hopefully they’ll see that I see them. And hear them.