Merry Christmas!!!

In the craziness that has become the Christmas season, sitting alone and quiet in bed at 12:45am on December 26th after football, dinner, and opening presents feels amazing. Yes, I love throwing down in my kitchen...

(check out the pistachio encrusted rack of lamb, smoky mac n cheese - with bacon, of course - and the disaster of potatoes that I made. 2 outta three isn't bad, right?)

but in the end, a whirlwind day gives way to silent night, and all is well with the world....

just like it was over 2000 years ago, when a whirlwind journey to Bethlehem gave way to silent night, and all became right for Mary, Joseph, and all of mankind. My fellow blogger at July Flame draws an interesting analogy - that Christmas is God's marriage proposal to us.

If you’re a girl, check out the link. If you’re a dude, read on because you’re reaction might be like this:

Dude: “Hold up. I’m a dude – I ain’t getting proposed to. Like, ever. I don’t understand this analogy.”

Putting it in terms that we dudes might understand, imagine that you find the woman that you love with your whole heart. In the chaos and commotion that surrounds you, a moment where time will eternally stand motionless arrives. You get down on one knee. If she says yes, all is right with the world. But, if she says no…?

At the end of this Christmas day, proclaim Merry Christmas to mean that God is with us, on one knee. Choose God, choose love, and all will be right in the world.

Merry Christmas!!!

P.S. - If you haven’t done so already (even if you’re a dude), be sure check out July Flame’s post on Christmas!

There is No Fun in School!!!

My students were hard at work on their daily grammar activity when a student walked into my room at the beginning of my language arts block.

“Mr. Lin, Ms. Bach* wanted me to give this to you. She said it was inappropriate.”

The student handed me a sealed envelope. On the envelope in a child’s handwriting, it said:

I wish I was in your class!!

Mrs. Bach

p.s your so much nicer than Mr. lin

By

******* *******

One of the things I take some measure of pride in is the relationship I have with my students. Although it is most important to me students that my students respect me, it is also a bonus if they like me and like being in my class also. However, it would be foolhardy of me to think that all my students are going to like me. This year, I’ve had a difficult time with Rosanna*, who has made it very clear to me and to other students that she doesn’t like me. Recently, she has taken a passive aggressive approach, and this letter to my science counterpart was just another example.

So… how should I handle this?

Mr. Lin: “Class, thank you for working so hard on your grammar. Before we review the sentences you are correcting, I want the class to see something that was given to me just now."

(As I take out the envelope and put it under the document camera so everyone can see it, I hear a few gasps from some of the students. Rosanna slinks into her chair ever-so-slightly)

Mr. Lin: I have a special treat for you! Rosanna has been so gracious as to provide us with some sentences that contain errors. Let’s fix the sentences she made for us!”

(The whole class cheers)

Student A: “I see the first mistake! The ‘i’ needs to be capitalized!”
Student B: “I think she used the wrong ‘your.’ It should be “you’re.”
Student C: “It should be Dr. Lin instead of Mr. Lin”
Student D: “Lin is a proper noun, so the ‘L needs to be capitalized!”
Student E: “There needs to be a period after the ‘s’ in ‘p.s.’”
Student F: “Ms. Bach isn’t married… yet. You can’t write Mrs.”
Rosanna: “She just got engaged! So she’s now a Mrs.”
Student F: “No, she only becomes a Mrs. after she gets married.”
Mr. Lin: “Great job class! Let’s give Rosanna a round of applause for providing us with some sentences so we can practice our grammar.”

(The students give Rosanna a hearty round of applause)

Student G (to Rosanna): “Mr. Lin is the nicest teacher ever!”
Mr. Lin (glares at Student G): “Save your made-up stories for when we write fiction.”

On the first day of school I tell my students that my job is to teach them, and getting them to like me isn’t in my job description. Along the way, my kids figure out that I’m also pretty fun teacher to have and begin to like me. MOST of them, at least!

To the ones that inevitably don't like being in my class, I hope they realize that the words I speak on the first day of school are words I stand by as a teacher.


*Names changed

p.s. – to my dear friend and mentor teacher Ms. Bach… congratulations on your engagement!!!

Compare and Contrast

My deepest apologies for being so long in between posts! I’ve been working on a special project, and hopefully I’ll be able to share it with you all soon. In the meantime, I’ll be back to my normal 1-2 posts per week. This week’s topic is...

Compare and Contrast

From the Virginia Standards of Learning for language arts:

“Students will identify compare-and-contrast relationships.”

Today we will compare Ndamukong Suh and Rosa.*

Ndamukong Suh is a 6’4”, 307 pound man. He plays defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions. This is his second year in the National Football League.

Rosa is about 4’8”, and she weighs less than 80 pounds. She’s 10, and the person she reminds me most of in the world is Ndamukong Suh.

No, Rosa doesn’t play football. Actually, she hates football. She doesn’t like any sports, actually. So what does a 10 year old child have in common with a mountain of a man who is, by all accounts, one of the most gifted players in the National Football League?

A couple weeks ago in a game against the Green Bay Packers, Mr. Suh grabbed another player’s head and banged it repeatedly against the ground. Then, after getting up, he stomps on the other’s player’s arm. The video is here. This wasn’t Suh’s first violent incident. He has a reputation for being a dirty player.

Last week during silent reading time, Rosa hit another child with a book. The other child’s eye swelled up enough that I needed to send him to the nurse. This wasn’t her first violent incident. She has a reputation for being mean to others.

After the game, Suh denied any wrongdoing. In fact, he claimed the other player instigated things. He thinks this reputation for being a dirty player is undeserved. He thinks the league and media picks on him.

After the incident, Rosa denied any wrongdoing. She felt completely justified in hitting the other child. In fact, she claimed that the other child was at fault because “he was annoying her.” She thinks her reputation is undeserved. She has no idea why most other students don’t like being around her. She thinks teachers pick on her.

As a football person, I love Ndamukong Suh. He’s a freakish athlete. His best years could be ahead of him. He has immense potential.

As a kid person, I love Rosa. She’s adorable. Her best years should be ahead of her. She has immense potential.

As a human being, I’m appalled at Ndamukong Suh’s behavior. I’m even more disgusted by his lack of remorse and his shocking justification of his own actions. If his attitude doesn’t change, he will never come close to reaching his potential. This is unfortunate, because God has blessed him with unique physical gifts. This man was born to play football.

As a teacher, I’m worried about Rosa. I’m worried about her lack of remorse and her shocking justification of her own actions. If her attitude doesn’t change, she will never come close to reaching her potential. This is unfortunate, because God has blessed her with unique gifts. She was born to…

I hope that those of us that have been placed here to guide her can do so effectively with love, patience, and truth. I pray that her future has more contrasts with Ndamukong Suh than comparisons. This way, the world can find out what she was put on earth to do.


*Names are changed

Thankful for life...

Today for Social Studies, I had the students make Thanksgiving cards where they drew a picture of something they are thankful for. The typical answers came out – video games, gaming systems, sports, and family. Several students even wrote about their teacher.

Some were sweet:

(Picture of Mr. Lin with what looks to be a crown or a halo)

“I am very thankful for my teacher Mr. Lin. Mr. Lin thinks about his students and cares about them. Having Mr. Lin as a teacher is like a lifetime experience.”

Some were hilarious:

(picture of Mr. Lin wielding a stick)

“I’m thankful because Mr. Lin let me live. His favorite catch-phrase is “stop jibber-jabbering.”

In his work “The Prince,” Nicolo Machiavelli discussed the role of a leader and whether it is better for a leader to be loved, or better for a leader to be feared. In a scenario where a leader can only have one or the other, his conclusion is that it is better for the leader to be feared and respected than to be loved. However, it is best to be both loved and feared.

Teachers are the leaders of our classrooms. Hence, we NEED to be feared, but we want to be loved as well. From these Thanksgiving Day cards, it looks like I might be getting a healthy amount of both!

Holding onto The Rock

 

“I can fix most things, but I can’t fix a broken heart.”

 Those words are etched into my memory, written as the Facebook status of my close friend – an extraordinary carpenter and private contractor who is also the strongest, toughest, guy I know. His feats of super human strength are stuff of legend amongst our circle, including a time where he lifted a 650cc motorcycle into the back of his van with his bare hands, and another time where he snared (with one hand) a rope that was holding me an instant before I plummeted 400 feet towards the ground – close to 200 pounds of person + gear + momentum.


Unfortunately, the frailty of the human heart goes beyond physical strength and toughness. And, when those we are close to are hurting, we feel their pain as well. It’s interesting how, in all the years of human civilization, there has been a cure for many things. But the cure for a broken heart has been ever so elusive.

Some time ago, in one of my darkest hours, this same friend came to my house at midnight and dragged me out to the New River Gorge for some therapeutic rock climbing. This past weekend, it was climbing therapy part deux. The two of us, a third kindred spirit, and a fourth friend got in my 2000 Chevy Tahoe, and headed out to West Virginia. In our varying stages of brokeness, we listened to country music, ate Chick-Fil-A, told stories, and generally forgot about life as we took the 5+ hour ride to our prescribed rock. That is, until we saw some flashing lights behind us.

Ryan: "Shoot. Cop."
Me: "Maybe I can play the Veteran’s card. You know, since it's Veteran's Day and all."

(short wait as the police officer walks up)

Officer Un-American: "License and registration."
Me: "Any chance you can give me a break? I’m a Veteran…"
Officer Un-American: "Any chance you can not speed on my highway?"(spits tobacco)

I guess my shaggy hair precluded any notion that I could have possibly been a member of the armed forces.

Despite the short delay, the trip was a success. 2 solid days of clinging precariously onto small crimps and cracks in the wall was the respite we all were seeking. Although the troubles of the world still existed, the focus we had on climbing made everything else bearable. The rock we hung from and scaled was our salvation - it’s as if the analogy of a wise, ancient man was echoing in the still beauty of the wilderness that surrounded us. Later, as we made our way back to civilization, I knew that the relief that we felt was dissipating as we drifted further from the rock walls we were climbing.

In the frenzied pace of a busy job site, concerned clients, or a 5th grade classroom, it is hard to remember the peace that is delivered by the One that can fix anything, even a broken heart.

Many moons ago, when Ryan came by to convince me that a climbing trip was what my heart needed, the journey seemed incredibly long. However, it was only short drive away, made even shorter by the friends around me and the rock I would soon look up at. My healing would begin that day. I just had to choose to take that ride.

Naked at Work

I was naked at work on Tuesday.

That day, I ran out of the house without my clothes. Ever since man has succumbed to the overwhelming temptation of Apple, clothes have become an essential part of our lives. Aside from its most basic function, clothes also have many other useful applications. The right clothes even help us get places. Without my clothes, I was completely naked. Do you know how hard it is to get through a day without your clothes? Today at recess:

2nd Grade Teacher: “What time is it?”

Me: “I have no idea. I left my clothes at home.”

Wait, what? Now that you’re wondering if you’ll be seeing me on the news tonight for indecent exposure, go ahead and replace the word ‘clothes’ with the word ‘iPhone.’ I doubt I feel alone when I say I feel completely naked without my cell phone. And, like clothes, we often forget the importance and usefulness of a smart phone until we are without it.

This got me thinking. Often, when there is something wonderful introduced into my life, I often get accustomed to it and eventually begin to regard its presence as normal. If you’re anything like me, the day you got your iPhone (or Droid, or any other cool gadgety phone) was spent playing with the many functions and downloading cool apps. Then, after a few weeks of playing with my new toy, I got somewhat bored with it. Sure, I took it out when I needed it, but mostly I took for granted that I would never be bored at a stop light because of Angry Birds, I’d never be lost because of the built in GPS, and my fantasy football lineup would always be set on time because of my ESPN Fantasy Football App. Being without my phone for a day made me realize how much I depend on it.

Why is it that we often stop cherishing the things that we depend on the most?

In the corporate world, it’s often said that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. In the teaching world, 20% of the kids require 80% of the teacher’s attention. We make positive behavior charts that reward them for acting in the way that they’re supposed to be acting – the way that the rest of the class already knows how to act.

Because those 20% require so much attention, it’s easy to take for granted the kids that make my job easier. Those kids are my iPhones – in the beginning of the year I noticed how responsible they were so I began to rely on their help. They help me take attendance, sharpen pencils, change my daily calendar, and check to see if I have notes from parents. They listen attentively, work well in groups, and always have their homework and classwork complete. No behavior chart is required for them because they are already doing the things they are supposed to be doing. And, I’ve gotten so used to their help that most days I forget how much easier they make my life.

Today, as a reward for their hard work, I brought a few of my students out for pizza. We talked about soccer, football, books and authors they love, their families, and their homes. They talked about things in their everyday lives, some of which are almost unfathomable to those of us who have always had the basic needs of food, shelter, clothes, and love. These amazing students were so excited that they all wanted to be the last one dropped off afterwards. It was as if they – not me – were the ones that had something to be thankful for.

It’s easy to take my iPhone for granted. However, I know how much easier it makes my life. A couple hours of my time and an $18 pizza? That’s the best 1-year contract a guy can get for this convenience. I guess that’s what you would call a teacher discount!

Guest Post - Amidst a Sea of Costumes

Yesterday was Halloween and, unlike many teachers across America, I did not dress up. Not because I'm a Christian and think that it's wrong to celebrate , but because I'm too lazy and uncreative to do so. One conversation in my class from yesterday:

Student: "Mr. Lin, how come you didn't dress up for Halloween?"

Me: "I AM dressed up. I'm a mean teacher for Halloween. Here's your homework, get it done before you go trick-or-treating."

As such, I thought the best thing to do was have another teacher - one who is both kind AND creative - that DID dress up with her class for Halloween write a post for me. The following is a guest post by teacher extraordinaire Kate B. It's her first of (hopefully) many posts, and I for one am excited to hear the reflections and stories of another teacher. Without further ado...


Amidst a Sea of Costumes

If you asked a teacher the ease of effectively facilitating 25 children on a normal school day, you’d probably get a ranking in the “Manageable” range.

If you asked a teacher the same question but on Halloween… The score would vary from “Slightly effectively” to an off-the-charts score of “Woah!”

All I can say is that I am glad the parents are the ones back in charge of the children after we send them home all sugared up post-Halloween bash. Decorating those cupcakes today was super cute and hilarious. However, I’d go to say that the most interesting may be how it affected them about 30 minutes later.

 Hey everyone, I’m Kate: Fellow teacher; lover of children; restored by sunshine, sports, quality conversation, hugs, sarcasm, and laughter; passionate about making a positive impact for the greater good of the upcoming generations, both as individuals and as a society.

And while nurturing the growth and development of children is one of my first loves, I have to admit I so easily get caught up in the details. Emails, grading, professional development, differentiation, new curriculum, meetings… it’s… a lot.

But yesterday, in the midst of the chaos of a Halloween party with tables of frosting, crayons, “Mystery Boxes”, sound effects, and more… there was a sweet utterance of beauty, innocence, and life.

It was incredibly refreshing to hear the playful banter. To see the colored frosting on the rims of their mouths as they laughed. To watch them romp around in costumes, exuding life and the purest of joy. To be part of the joking, the hugs, the encouragement.

Somehow, I found my focus in the most chaotic of school days…

My eyes reopened, my heart refreshed… kids, in all that they truly are, are why I teach.

The Incredible Hulk Reappears!!!

Lots of things have been ruining days for me recently. Not big, life altering things; just a lot of dumb little things:

1) I played in a 9 inning game on Sunday and only got one at-bat. One measly at bat. Grr…
2) My phone started randomly popping up a message that says, “This accessory is not optimized for this iPhone.” What accessory??
3) I’ve been forgetting my chapstick (well, actually Aquaphor) at home regularly. Don’t get me started on how important lip balm is in my life – and in other people’s lives too, apparently.
4) My house. Why does it always feel like I need to fix something up? And why does it always feel so dirty?
5) I lost my Incredible Hulk travel coffee mug. I guess I have to finally start acting like a grown up.


The last one on the list really got to me. After all, this year has been a very transitional year for me. Compare these two conversations from this year and last year:

(Last year)

Student: “Mr. Lin, who invented math?”

Mr. Lin: “Math has existed since the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth and Mr. Lin was a young boy.”

Student: “Mr. Lin, stop pretending like you’re old.”


(This year)

Student A: “Mr. Lin, how old are you?"

Mr. Lin: “Old. So old I had a pet dinosaur when I was a kid.”

Student B: “No he’s not! He’s 34.”

Student A: “Wow, you look young, but you’re really old!”

OUCH! Well, I guess I had to face reality at some point. In any case, to cheer myself up I decided today to take note of the little things that MAKE my day, instead of ruin my day.

1) Coffee from Starbucks yesterday. FREE. From a pretty girl. It doesn’t get much better than that!
2) A student laughed at my math message* on Monday and said, “I love this class!”
3) The Pittsburgh Steelers are my football team. It’s nice to cheer for a team that wins. (Sorry Skins fans!)
4) My new memory-foam mattress. So wonderful, it makes 6 hours of sleep feel like 8. Seriously.
5) My Incredible Hulk mug magically reappeared in the teacher’s lounge.


I love working with 10 year olds. They are so entertaining that I don’t even need TV. And, they give fantastic gifts at the end of the year – gift cards, drawings, new whacking sticks (yes, I really got one), and one ceramic mug complete with a spill-proof lid and featuring the image of a large, green Marvel superhero. It also came with the words, “I’ll never forget you, Mr. Lin.”

It’s amazing how the little things can make you feel so good. They can even make you feel like a kid again.

*A warm up activity to get students thinking about math. I think this one was, “Mr. Lin needs to buy new whacking sticks because he broke all of his old ones. Use the table in your handout to determine which store he should buy them at.”

Dr. Lin and the Case of the Mysteriously Disappearing Hiccups

Yesterday, a student came up to me with a major problem:

Student: "Dr. Lin, I have the hiccups. They won't go away."

Me: "Hmm. Come with me, I have something for you."

I have an unusual (but very effective) cure for hiccups. I took him to the teacher's lounge, filled up a cup of water, and instructed him to drink while I pulled on his earlobes. And... his hiccups disappeared.

Right now I'm sure you have a very confused look on your face. You might even be thinking,

"What on earth? That's absolutely ridiculous."

Believe me, I know exactly how you feel. 10 years ago, I had the following conversation with a friend:

Me: "I've got the hiccups. They won't go away."

Friend: "I'll help you out. Get some water. I'll pull on your ears while you drink. I promise, your hiccups will be gone instantly."

Me: "That's stupid. I'll keep holding my breath. I'm sure they'll go away.”

After several hours of reoccurring hiccups, I finally relented.

Me: "OK fine. I've tried everything else. Do your thing. I can't believe I'm trying this."

I drank water as she stood behind me and pulled on my earlobes. Instantly, my hiccups disappeared.*

If only I was as open-minded as my 10 year old student, I wouldn’t have suffered through 4 hours of agony (yes, those hiccups were THAT bad!). There’s definitely something special (and rewarding!) about having faith like a child.


Author’s note: Years later, I found that there was a scientific reason for why this method works.

It's a Beautiful Day...

Unfortunately, it’s unseasonably warm for October.

Yes, you read that right. It’s 75 degrees outside and the abundant colors of an autumn afternoon are highlighted by a sun which shares the sky with mere wisps of white cotton. It's a gorgeous day, so why am I saying that this is unfortunate? The answer lies in a conversation held at least once per year at every elementary school across the United States - usually after 5th graders have P.E. or recess on a hot day.

5th Grade Teacher #1: “Whoa. Did you get a whiff of the 5th graders today?

5th Grade Teacher #2: “Yup. Looks like it’s time for the hygiene talk.”

Unseasonably warm in October means that the powers-that-be that control temperatures in our school didn't turn on the air conditioning. Can you guess what a classroom of kids that have been marinating in their own sweat for 6 hours at 2 PM is like?

In elementary school, we are to build a good foundation for a child’s future. We cover math, reading, science, social studies, physical education, music, art, and… the importance of deodorant.

Sometimes, it’s the not-so-obvious lessons that are life’s most valuable ones. I'd guess (hope?) that most of us learned this particular lesson before we went in for our first successful job interview.

Maybe even as early as the 5th grade.

Ridiculous Guy Fun

Confused? Let me explain a bit:

Best thing about working in a profession dominated by women:

I'm always surrounded by women.

Worst thing about working in a profession dominated by women:

I'm always surrounded by women.

When word leaked out among my guy friends 2 years ago that I was leaving corporate America to join the ranks of the underpaid and overworked, overwhelmingly their reaction was,

"Dude, that's awesome. Teachers are so hot, and you'll be the only guy! Genius move."

Well, not quite the reason I got into teaching, but I do like the people I work with. And, at the very least, they smell better the the neanderthals I normally surround myself with!

As much as I love the people I work with, I do miss my guy time. I miss doing stupid guy things. Therefore, I took this weekend to have some guy time and go up to Pennsylvania with my buddy Josh*, thinking we were just going to play some golf, eat junk food, and watch my beloved Steelers on their quest for ring number 7. Well, that was the idea until this late night conversation with Josh's dad which forever changed the awesomeness** of the weekend:

Mr. Burns*: I built a 13 foot slingshot the other day

Johnny and Josh: Excuse me?

Mr. Burns: Yeah, it's for a church event on Sunday. We're launching pumpkins into a baseball field. Want to help me test it out?

Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back? We were more than happy oblige. After all, we're guys. Add in running amok in an Amish pumpkin patch tossing each other reject pumpkins for ammo, and this would be the epitome of stupid guy fun. This video was taken so you can fully appreciate the velocity of the pumpkins were were launching:



Hope you all had a great Columbus Day weekend!

*Editor's Note: Names in story NOT changed in order to promote their awesomeness.
** yes, this is a real word. Just ask Barney Stinson.

The Doctor is In

Last week started as a normal week. Monday, as per my normal routine, I came in at 6:45, made copies of the homework and classwork for the day, wrote my word study lesson on my easel, and set up my morning message.

Normal doesn't last long in an elementary classroom.

As students were writing in their daily journals about what their weekend was like, one student raised his hand and asked,

“Dr. Lin, may I get a drink of water?”

“Sure,” I answered. The student got up and began to walk to the door.

“Wait… what did you call me?” I asked.

The child stopped, looked at me innocently, and replied,

“Dr. Lin.”

He then proceeded to walk out the door as if there was nothing peculiar about what he just said. Not a soul in the classroom made any indication that what he said was strange either. I chalked this up to one child’s imagination until halfway through math class, as I was explaining how recognizing number patterns help us decompose math problems, a different student raised his hand and asked,

“Dr. Lin, how did you get 5 groups of 10? I only see groups of 7 and groups of 3.”

Why the heck are my kids calling me “Dr. Lin”? I had (and still have) really no idea, but from what I have gathered it all started with a few kids talking during recess or lunch about how I look like a doctor (or, their perception of what a doctor looks like), and it snowballed from there.

Now, my father is an engineering Ph.D so I asked him to come in to visit. This way, I could introduce my kids to the REAL Dr. Lin. Today, much like when my now ex-girlfriend surprised me with a visit on my birthday last year, the kids were mesmerized by the presence of a visitor. His visit during math was a big hit among the kids. Among other things, they found out that I used to get into mischief, that my dad served in the Army, and that there are other types of doctors besides the medical kind. It also didn’t hurt that my dad is a really engaging person with a great smile.

Relating math concepts to their everyday lives is an important element in getting children to understand math. After all, if math isn’t relevant to them, how can they be expected to understand it? As it turns out, my dad’s little visit presented an opportunity to relate real life mathematical scenarios to their lives when a student raised his hand to ask my dad a question.

“Dr. Lin, how old are you?” the student asked.

“That’s rude!” called out another.

“That’s OK,” said my dad. “I’ll let you figure it out. I was born in 1943. How old does that make me?

What a great response by Dr. Lin! Within seconds, my students were applying math to a real life situation, working hard trying to figure out my dad’s age. Did I mention my dad used to teach math (7th grade) prior to starting his Ph.D program? I guess some things just run in the family. As it turns out, this is not limited to the title that my students have given me.

I doubt I’ll ever go back to school and get my Ph.D, but who knows? I’ve said before that I’ll never be like my dad, and in my younger days I never wanted to either. As it turns out, I’m proud that I become more like him with each year that passes.

What I'm TRYING to say is...

Have you ever pored over an important email, needing to convey the right message without eliciting an angry response? Sure, there are times where you need to "tell it how it is", but there are times that call for a different approach. Writing report card comments is one of those times - a delicate balance between delivering the message gently yet effectively, or delivering the message so vaguely that the point is not made. See if you can select the best words from within the parentheses to use:

We welcome (insert student’s name) to the 5th grade! (Student’s name) is a (confident / arrogant / stubborn) student who (has potential when focused / needs to get their butt in gear / is a bully). We are working on (staying on task and keeping a positive attitude / not screwing around all the time / not being a mean person) this quarter and hope (he / she) continues to make progress so (he / she) can (build a strong foundation for their future / has a future that includes a job / has a future that includes friends).

I've never been a good communicator, but being a teacher has helped me work on that. If I dilute my words so much that my point is being missed, that isn't good for the child. If I'm so blunt that the people I'm corresponding with get defensive, that isn't helpful either. Because I want what's best for my students, I pore over my report card comments and carefully select the words I use. And no, I have never felt the urge to write any of the less-than-gentle words in my example above. Honestly!

If only I could always apply this to my personal life too, I'd be golden...

Love and the First Amendment

Last week, after picking up my students from lunch, one of students came to me with a very concerned look on his face.

“Mr. Lin, Alan* said he doesn’t believe in God. Actually, he said he hates God.”

I paused for a moment. As a Christian teaching in a public school, I am not ashamed of my faith, but I need to tread carefully about the things I say and do. This student knows my faith, so after careful consideration I softly said,

“The United States is founded on freedom. We are all free to believe what we want, so Alan is free to believe and think what he wants, even if you and I don’t agree with him. Is that OK with you?”

A thoughtful look came over the student’s face.

“That’s OK with me, Mr. Lin.

As we turned to walk back into the classroom, I said,

“You know, maybe one day Alan will change his mind about God. What do you think about that?”

The student smiled and said,

“I think that would be cool.”

Over the past week I have pondered this conversation in great length. For many of us Americans, the freedoms that are granted by the first amendment are thought of much like oxygen – we recognize the importance of them, but do we really cherish each breath of freedom that we take?

The freedom of religion is guaranteed by the first amendment, but as I thought deeper about this freedom, I realized that it has deeper roots than the Constitution. For those of us that are Christians, the freedom we have to choose to love God is one of the ways God shows shows His love for us – a freedom that is granted despite the knowledge that many will not embrace Him and the subsequent heartache it causes our Creator.

Some say “love just happens,” or “you can’t help who you love.” After all, it is a feeling, and many say that we don’t choose how we feel. So… do I believe in love? And, is it a feeling?

I definitely do, and it definitely is. However, it is a feeling that we have to choose. We choose each day to love our spouses, our parents, our students. We make this choice in good times or bad, and especially in the times they have disappointed us or made us angry. We have the right, the responsibility, and the freedom to choose who we love in every situation. In return, we have the honor to receive love that was not coerced, but chosen.

Love that is given freely is a better kind of love than obligatory love. Just the way God – and the First Amendment – intended.

*names in the story are changed

Too much of what?

A question from today's lesson:

You notice the following behaviors in a person:

- Lack of concentration
- The frequent need to urinate
- Flushed skin
- Blurred vision
- Nausea, and;
- Increased hunger.

WHAT ARE THE LIKELY CAUSES?

A) Happy hour turns into happy 3 hours
B) Bachelor party mayhem
C) Sunday afternoon at the Steelers bar
D) Hyperglycemia
E) All of the above

If you answered "E", you are correct! This person may have too much alcohol in his blood OR too much glucose.

Today, instead of teaching my rambunctious 5th graders, I became a rambunctious student myself. I took a seat inside a classroom and took a professional development class on diabetes and how to properly administer insulin and glucagon. The purpose? So that I can provide emergency medical services to students in the classroom, during recess, or on field trips. Who woulda thought how many hats teachers have to wear?

Each day, I learn a little more about how to be a good teacher. Today I learned that, if I have a student that has diabetes, I can identify that he has too much glucose in his blood if he looks like someone on gameday who has had one too many from the Tortoise and the Hare.

Speaking of which... HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

In the bushes

This morning, a student raised his hand before class.

Student: "Mr. Lin, I need to talk to you."

Me: "Sure. What do you need?"

Student: "I don't have my bookbag."

Me: "Where is it?"

Student: "I left it at the bus stop."

Me: (incredulous stare)

I proceeded to ask him if he was worried if someone would take it, to which he replied,

"Nope. I hid it in the bushes before I got on the bus."

I wonder if they can prescribe me something for insanity...

May I have a job?

In order to help children build a sense of responsibility, most teachers will assign classroom jobs. OK lets be real; because we want to do everything we can possibly do to lighten our loads, we assign children jobs in our classroom. These jobs range from messengers who deliver notes to the office and other teachers, materials managers who help pass out supplies, and in my classroom I even have a student who is responsible for filling up my water bottle and taking attendance in the morning. I wanted a coffee runner too, but that was quickly nixed by the administration - dang liability issues!

These jobs are coveted by many students, so I have my students write application letters if they want to have a job. Today, I got a letter that served also as a much needed source of encouragement.

Dear Mr. Lin

May I have a Job in the classroom. I want to have a job in the classroom because I want to be a teacher. When I grow up I want to be just like you.

Thank you,

love,

****

On Monday, I'll have another Materials Manager. That 10-year old kid sure knows how to write a stellar job application =)

Please read the destructions

Although at this point in my teaching career I have only been exposed to less than 200 different students, I can say that for the most part, the kids that do really well in school are set apart by something other than pure intelligence. Instead, it is the students that are the most careful and can follow oral and written directions that seem to excel.

Last year, I had an extremely bright student whose grades were far inferior to what she was capable of. In addition, she was one of the sweetest girls imaginable. Her issue was that she is unable to process directions properly. In her case, I kept saying to my colleagues,

"Just wait. One day, it will all just come together for her, and then she'll be heading to Harvard or Stanford."

In part because of her, this year I have done by best to both write directions on the tests that I give as well as verbally discussing them. Unfortunately, for the math test I gave today, this didn't seem to help. I specifically told my students,

"There is a section on FACTORS and a section on MULTIPLES. Be sure you pay attention to WHICH term I am asking for."

You can guess which questions were the most missed questions on the test - until I reminded them AGAIN that there was a section for each. *Sigh*...

As a teacher, it is frustrating when a child you know has the ability to excel doesn't perform well on tests. In part it speaks to how testing of any kind - especially standardized tests - can be a poor measure of a child's ability to succeed. It is also frustrating because we WANT these kids to live up to their potential NOW, not later. However, at this age I need to remind myself that for many of them, their brains haven't hit that stage of development yet where processing information - especially directions - is something they do with ease.

This gets me thinking... should I be giving myself a pat on the back for the kids who excel while in my classroom? Or is their success more due to the fact that they have matured to the point where their brains can process information quickly, but also slow down enough to pay proper attention to detail? Conversely, should I be kicking myself if a student like the one I had last year isn't able to show on testing data that she is one of the brightest students that I have been around?

Only time - and the admissions departments at Harvard and Stanford - will tell. I doubt that teachers are the only reason a child learns - or doesn't learn - how to succeed. God help all the kids in my classes if we are!

Baby Tomato and the Etymology of Nicknames

I would guess that most of us have had nicknames before, and even currently. Once, I had a friend that I knew as 'Dino' which I thought was his real name - until a full year after we were friends, when I found out his birth name was 'Steve.' Sometimes, like Steve, our nicknames have obscure origins that might stick with us for no other reason than that's what people begin to call us.

Yesterday, one of my students told me a joke that I heard in a movie years ago:

Momma Tomato, Papa Tomato, and Baby Tomato were walking down the street. Baby Tomato kept lagging behind and Papa Tomato was getting annoyed. Finally, he went up to Baby Tomato and smushed him, saying "Ketchup."

She followed this up with,

Scottie is Baby Tomato. I always need to remind him to get to work and catch up!

*Note: Names have been changed to protect the innocent

Now, all teachers have many kids that lag behind in classwork because they either can't stay focused, don't think the work they're doing is important, or a little of both. Nonetheless, the nickname stuck - mostly because it is a silly reminder for the student to get back on task, but also because the kid prefers it to being called out directly for losing concentration.

Will "Baby Tomato" be a nickname that will stick with this kid (who is already a head taller than the rest of his classmates) for years? Only time will tell...

Those such as these...

I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as a 'bad' kid - just ones that need more guidance. If there are no bad kids though, why do some get into more trouble than others? Today, I had to discipline 3 students that - against their own better judgment - began throwing things at each other. They are all friends so I know they didn't mean any harm, but during school, this obviously isn't allowed. Speaking with all three individually, they all felt

a) I cared for them

b) I wanted what was best for them

c) the consequences were fair and;

d) giving them consequences was HOW I was showing them that I cared for them and wanted what was best for them.

On a more cosmic level, this seems to parallel the question "why do bad things happen to good people?" As adults, we are often blind to the wrongs that we do. We are also blind to the fact that tribulations - as difficult as they often are - serve to strengthen us and hone our character. Our lives aren't blissful - far from it at times. Speaking all to familiarly, it is easy to think 'why is God doing this to me?' instead of pushing forward and embracing our trials with the full knowledge that what we are going through will produce perseverance. That same perseverance in return will build character, and with character, our hope will be strengthened.

My students understood that discipline was a way for me to build their character, and for this I am happy. At some point though - if the reason for consequences aren't communicated effectively or if they are told enough times they are bad kids - they may start to believe that they are bad. Instead of an end result of hope being produced, despair is the outcome.

My desire? To lead students to choose the path that leads to hope. More importantly, to choose that same path each day.

Trivia night

There are 17 syllables in a haiku, written in a 5-7-5 pattern. How do I know that? I'm a teacher; poetry is inevitably one of the writing units we teach. On trivia night at my favorite sports bar a few weeks back, I scored a point for my team by answering that question correctly.

Pyrite

Broken soul halts sleep
Dawn comes bearing hopeful minds
Deep breath, actor, me

Today I needed a mental health day. Wistful thinking...

Hurricane Warning...

Stop the presses everyone - it looks like Armageddon has arrived!

As much as we can make light of the fact that we 'only' had a 5.9 earthquake and that Floridians have hurricanes all the time and survive, a 10-year old experiencing these things for the first time has every right to be frightened.

I was reading through their daily journals today and I came across several students who wrote about their fears. It is incredible how much kids have to say if only they had someone to listen and take them seriously! The depth of their thoughts is beyond anything I could have imagined, speaking with an earnestness that can only come from a mind still so uncorrupted.

If only a standardized test could show the value of child's thoughts, then perhaps we could truly have no child left behind.

The Replacements

Since we will be one short on our 5th grade team starting on Monday, we have been conducting interviews for her replacement for the past week or two. Inevitably, we always come to the conclusion that the person isn't the right fit for one reason or another and say,

"If only..."

(fill in the quality missing)

Our most recent candidate was someone that we liked a lot however. When I turned to my science counterpart, I said that she reminded me of the teacher that she would be replacing. To my surprise, my colleague's response was,

"Me too!!! I think that's one of the reasons we liked her so much."

Isn't it interesting that when we lose someone important to us, we often draw comparisons to others that we know - maybe even the person whose spot they are taking? I know that many children that suffer through parents getting divorced or being widowed often have trouble embracing a step-parent for this very reason. In reality, everyone has God-given strengths that we can embrace. On the flip side, we all have inherent flaws as well - ones that those around us love us enough to overlook.

Our team mom will always be our team mom, even after she officially starts her new position. I also know our new teammate won't be an exact replica of our old one. However, I hope I (and my team) can embrace her in the same way. Her qualities are sure to go far beyond her semblance to the person she's taking the place of.

Earthquake!!!

A slow, seemingly harmless rumble turned into a violent shaking a few seconds later. After running the possible scenarios through my head about what could be happening, disbelief became reality as I - and all the other teachers in the school - went into the hallway and began ordering children around.

"Get on your knees, face the wall and put your heads down! Put your hands behind your neck!"

There are days where even long-time teachers will experience things for the very first time. Today was one of them: here, far away from California or any other known earthquake mecca, we had an earthquake. Not a huge, destructive earthquake like the one in Japan last year, but still big enough to make fear a reality. Several children were crying near where I posted myself, and I looked at all the teachers. Although I knew we were all either a little worried or thought it was kinda fun, all of us kept a cool and serious demeanor as we evacuated the building.

In the safety of the adjoining softball field, one of my students came up to me and asked,

"Mr. Lin, were you scared?"

I paused for a moment before I answered him. Fear is not a bad thing; there is a reason why it is an instinctive reaction that helps define us as humans.

"Did I look scared?"

"No, but I was still wondering," he answered.

"Yes I was," I said calmly. "I was scared for the safety of my students."

Tomorrow, I will have the class write in their daily journals about how they felt during the earthquake. After that, maybe we can have a discussion that will (hopefully) dispel the notion that men should never be afraid. Boys should not grow up thinking that fear makes them less of a man.