I have to do something today, something that I should have done weeks ago. But whether it was adhering to my principles around student ownership and responsibility or just simply negligence, at this point, it is what it is, and I have to do something about it.

At the end of second period on Friday, after watching him sit there and do nothing yet again, I held Jack (name changed) after class.

“Jack, you gotta help me, man. I gotta understand, so we can get better. I am going to write you a letter this weekend, and I would like you to respond. Okay?”

“Okay, Sy.”

“Have a good weekend, kiddo. See you Monday.”

Dear Jack,

I want to begin by saying that it has been a pleasure getting to know you this year. Every day I look forward to your wise and witty words during Smiles and Frowns. Your peers and I never exactly know what’s going to come out of your mouth, and that’s what makes you…well, Jack. You are truly a unique and valued member of our community. Thank you for brightening our days. And while all that is important and my sentiments are sincere, it is not why I am writing you this letter.

I am writing out of concern. I am writing out of a need to know. As we are both aware, the end of the semester is upon us, and as we are both aware, you are in danger of not earning credit for the course. And this troubles me. Greatly. I lose sleep over it. I want to understand. How is it that such a bright young man finds himself in this position? Is it me? Have I not pushed hard enough? Did I give you too much ownership? Is there something beyond school? Or is school the problem? I want to understand. And so, I would like to make you a deal.

I want you to write me back. I want you to help me better understand the Jack I don’t know. Help me better understand you, so I can better serve you. If you do this, I will accept it as your narrative essay, which moves you closer to earning credit. I want you to earn credit. Of course, there’s more to it than just your letter, but it’s not too late for us to get across that line. But more than the credit, we have another half year together, and I want it to be better than the first. I feel like I can do a better job if I better understand how to motivate and help you. Please consider my offer. I look forward to your response.

~Sy

Over the years, I have had numerous Jacks–and Jills–who have confused and confounded me in such ways. Bright kids who are reluctant to shine. And over the years, I have dealt with such instances differently. Before I knew better, I failed them to teach them a lesson. As I’ve learned, I have tried to meet them in the middle with flexibility and opportunity. And I am now doing that for Jack, but I want to do more than be flexible. I want be more knowledgeable. I want to understand. Even more, I want Jack to know that I want to understand. I want him to know that he’s worth understanding.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…work on Passion Papers.

…reflect in Journey Journals.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

“I’m not mad. You are not in trouble. My goal is not to make you feel bad or guilty. My goal is simply to acknowledge the reality that you are not reading Night and to offer you an alternative. Promise. It’s all good.”

This is the gist of a conversation that I had with a total of 10 kids yesterday from all four of my LA10 Honors classes. Of my 112 kids from these classes, I have 10 who have decided not to read Night. In my post, Big Kids, Big Choices, I made clear that in this they would have a choice, and I will honor that choice; I will walk that walk. Of course I am disappointed. I absolutely want every kid to read Night, but my twenty-two years in the classroom have taught me that this is a rare reality. So, in this, my goal is to live the real reality. Some kids won’t read the books we put in front of them–no matter what we do. I have come to accept this, but my acceptance does not end in apathy; it leads to alternatives.

Yesterday, my kids had three options.

Option 1: If you have read chapters 4-6, you will participate with your peers in the “Table Talk” activity to prepare for tomorrow’s performance.

Option 2: If you have not finished chapters 4-6, you will have time to read to prepare for tomorrow’s performance.

Option 3: If you are not reading Night, you will read Doris Lessing’s short story “Through the Tunnel” to prepare for tomorrow’s performance.

Of course, not all options are created equally. The kids who participated in Option 1 will likely be the best prepared for today’s performance. Their choices to read will benefit them as they were able to dig into the text with their peers in the “Table Talk.” But their “reward” was not intended to be punishment for those who were not ready. Still, in truth, those who did not read did, indeed, missed an opportunity, and this is at the core of my approach in the 180 classroom. I provide opportunities and kids make choices. And while they cannot get back that opportunity, all is not lost. I did not design the performance to “catch” kids. I designed the performance to give kids a fair shot at demonstrating proficiency with our standards, regardless their choices. I believe I have to give every kid an opportunity to demonstrate learning, even if that means providing an opportunity outside the boundaries of the planned unit. The kids who are not reading Night are missing out on many opportunities, and it is my sincere hope that as we continue our journey, they more carefully consider their choices, choosing to seize those opportunities rather than letting them get away. Opportunities. Choices.

In the past, I would not have approached it in this manner. I would have stayed the course. The kids who were prepared would be rewarded. The kids who were not would be punished. But I am no longer that teacher. I am no longer making decisions on the basis of reward and punishment. I am different. I am no longer interested in the convention of compliance. I am instead deeply intrigued by the promise of commitment. But that is a different place, a different land, so I have to, then, do things differently. And different is…well, different. I do not have it all figured out. Mistakes and fails are constant companions, but I find them better company than “it’s how we’ve always done it.” I am not convinced that the commitment I seek for my kids lives in the context of convention. So I try to find unconventional ways of doing things. My kids who are not reading Night will take a similar performance to the kids who are. No, this is not ideal. But it is real. And just as I ask my big kids to make big choices, I, too, make big choices. I could choose to punish them, or I could choose to make the most of the situation and provide an opportunity. Really, it’s a pretty easy choice.

Here is the “Table Talk” activity from yesterday

Here is the performance the kids will take today.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

...begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…take the performance.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Friday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

What is something that you struggled with on this piece of writing? Be specific.

“I got it done. I started over a lot. I couldn’t find the words for the experience, but I stuck with it, and they eventually came together. I’m sorry that it took so long.”

Maggie finally turned her narrative essay in. It was nearly six weeks late. I knew it was late. She knew it was late. I pushed occasionally. She responded gradually. And she finished eventually. I knew she would. I trusted her. I gave her room. And she grew within that space. No, she did not meet the deadline, not even close. But she did accomplish the required task. She did meet the given standards. But she did it within a time frame that allowed her to do her best. And as the guard at the gate of deadlines in room 211, I could grant her the time and space necessary. Time was, I would not have granted such freedom. Time was, I would have given her a zero until she turned it in, mercifully granting her half credit, teaching her about the importance of meeting deadlines. Time was…

That time has passed. I no longer penalize kids for late work, even really late work. More, I now better understand that learning happens in different ways and at different paces. Even more, I now better understand that true responsibility comes from commitment, not compliance. Maggie did not miss the deadline out of laziness. Maggie missed the deadline because she had not finished creating. Creativity cannot be canned. It doesn’t always fit neatly into the packages we prescribe. It happens outside the lines. It happens in the margins. It happens in ways we don’t readily imagine. But. If we give our kids, time and freedom to exist and explore beyond the borders, it can happen.

In my compliance-classroom of old, I may have had more marks in the grade book at the time of the due date, but I am not sure that those marks were indicative of more or better learning. Yes, there’s some inconvenience that comes with such flexibility, but that is a small price to pay for kids who need the time and space outside my convenience. I gave Mag that space. And she took advantage of it. She took advantage of my flexibility. Some would suggest that if we give an them inch, they will take a mile. In this case, that’s exactly what Maggie did. And I could not be more proud of her. She obviously needed more than an inch. Below is the beginning of her essay that took a few extra miles.

The bus shook as it rattled down the dirt roads of Saint John, Washington. One young boy screamed and fought his seat belt, trying to avoid going to school. This happened every day. He was a cry baby who needed to grow up. I wasn’t the only one who thought this, who rolled their eyes and sighed as he kicked and screamed onto the bus every morning. He was a pain.

The days went on, the screams got louder, and our sighs of annoyance grew deeper. Looking back I don’t look down on my or my fellow bus mates’ reactions to this young boy, it is human nature to assume everyone can control their actions and emotions. As the year went on my curiosity grew about the boy. I needed to know more about why he acted the way he did. I grabbed my backpack lying on the seat next to me and made my way down the aisle to the only seat with straps.

My feet shook as I took the risk of meeting the boy. I sat down in the adjacent seat. It was at that moment that I spoke the most powerful “hello” of my life.

He was quiet, not very comfortable talking to me. But I began, day by day, breaking down the barriers, digging deeper into a relationship with the boy strapped into the seats on the bus. At first it was just a shy “hi Moggie” and then a quick snap of his head to avoid more eye contact with with me. However, that changed.

As days went by he opened up to me. I saw a spark in his eyes, and I could feel one in mine. He began sharing his day with me. I helped him with his homework. We mastered the ABC’s. We became friends…

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…discuss chapters 4-6 in Night.

…reflect in our Journey Journals.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

New. New year. New outlook. New goals. New self. And of course, for me, a search for a new better. The double-edged instrument I wield. The burden I bear. Too quick to sharpen the edge. Too soon to blunt it by use. It, too, I turn 180 degrees at a time. Never sharp. Never dull. Change the only constant.

And this is how I find myself on the first day of school in the new year–an edge not sharp. Sure, I have come far in my journey to turn education upside down in my own little corner, but I find myself wanting, searching for that which still eludes. And perhaps that in itself is the problem. Maybe it’s simply that I do not know what it is–what it exactly is–that I seek. For some time now it has been about grades and the taint they leave on learning. And while I still seek answers in this realm, I grow ever restive with this reality, convinced that it’s bigger, convinced that it’s more.

Oh, that it is not to say that I won’t continue to experiment with new and better ways to measure and report learning, for it is central to addressing the systemic problems in education. It has to change. But, it is to say, that I will set forth from here with eyes fixed on new horizons, horizons that I cannot fully imagine, but horizons that I believe are there, horizons that will make better and more meaningful the educational experiences I share with my young charges. And that, I believe, requires my taking even greater risks, an admission that I found both exhilarating and terrifying. Think of where I can take my kids! But what if I take them too far? What if I take them nowhere? What if we get lost? The worries of a wanderer. But, still…. The possibility. It pulls. It calls. So I will follow; I will answer–though I have no idea where I am going. Never stopped me before. No reason why it should now. Time for a new better.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…reconnect through Community Circle. I promised the first Friday of each month, but I am going to trade days. Today seems a more appropriate time for reconnecting.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy New Year, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

Co-blabber…no.  Co-labor…yes.  Collaboration can be a powerful thing, but it is more than just sporadically sitting in a room and goes beyond just having a surface-level conversation.  And it is not easy.  It takes respect.  It takes trust.  It takes commitment.  I believe that our LA 10 team works because we are engaged in true collaboration.  

No one forced Monte Syrie, Maddie Alderete, and I to work together.  It was a decision that each of us made last Spring.  We wanted to move from the mindset of “I’m a 10th grade LA teacher” to “I’m a member of the 10th grade LA team”.  We knew we wanted to make this change, but we also knew that it would take work.  A lot.  And that work would be ongoing.  So, we had to make some changes.  We could no longer continue to do things as we’ve always done them.  

To start, we knew we needed to dedicate time, consistently, to meeting with each other throughout the school year.  Now, I think any teacher out there would agree that the morning is precious time.  Before the kids arrive, before school starts, it’s the time when we prep for the day.  But, those things now have to get done earlier because we meet as a team every Monday, Wednesday, and most Thursdays from 7:30-8:00.  Sometimes we talk about the plan for the day or week.  Sometimes we talk about questions we have.  Sometimes we talk about issues that have risen to the surface.  But, the focus is always on our students, what we’re doing, and why we’re doing it.  

Aside from the time I spend in my classroom with my kids, this is the most important part of my day.  It isn’t always easy.  Sometimes we don’t see eye-to-eye on an idea.  But we don’t just give up and quickly move on.  We take the time needed for each person to explain his/her disconnects or struggles.  We talk it through, and sometimes it takes more than one morning to sort it all out.  But in the end we arrive at a place that we’re all comfortable with because we are committed to the group, and our group works.  Why?  Well, 1) We like each other.  2) We have similar worldviews.  3) We are willing to have open and honest conversations even if that means asking each other the difficult questions.

And now, only a few months in, I know this team is an essential part of what I do.  Regardless of what is going on, I know I have my team to come back to.  They are my support system, my co-laborers, my teammates.  And I couldn’t imagine doing this job without them.  

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

Ugh. Sick. Should stay home. No subs. Last day I see the kids for two weeks. Can’t be gone. Guess I will just overdose on cold medicine…

Yesterday I mentioned that we are watching a movie for the final two days before we go on holiday. The kids selected How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And while they were seemingly engaged and entertained, this may be the last time I show a movie before the holidays. A follower on Twitter, who is a parent and a strong parent advocate in education, Elise Foster sent me a link for alternatives to showing movies, alternatives that are more fitting for school and more engaging for kids. I have only given it a quick preview, but it looks promising; it looks to have the potential to be my next “better.” Thank you for the nudge, Elise.

We will still finish out The Grinch today. I already promised the kids we would. And to be frank, I may only have enough energy to push play today anyway. Sometimes, it’s just about survival; today is one of those times.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…finish The Grinch.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Tuesday, all. And happy holidays, too. Won’t post again now till we start back up in January. Thank you, all, for your support this past year. Means everything. Thank you.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

Well, it’s a week to Christmas. And while I’d like to think that kids’ minds are on learning, they are not. And yes, I know that I should muster the strength to inspire them to keep plugging away, but I won’t. Call me lame. I will wear the hat. My mind’s not on learning, either. So, in the absence of any motivation to stick anyone’s nose to the grindstone, we will instead relax and have fun. We will watch a movie for the next two days as we impatiently wait out the clock for the next 48 hours to get to our holiday break.

Some of my colleagues will be giving tests today and tomorrow. And though I understand their desire to maximize every instructional moment there is, I have a hard time believing that, come sixth period tomorrow, students will be in a learning mindset. And as such, I have a hard time understanding the rationale for giving major tests the day before break, and consequently, so do the kids. It’s okay to let down the education standard we wave each day on occasion. I find the next two days to be such a time. Lazy? Maybe. Honest? Always.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…watch a movie (TBD).

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Monday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better. 

They come. They go. Sometimes, they come late. Sometimes, they go early. Yesterday, one of our valued community members in 3rd period left early. Jaden and his family are moving to Colorado. And though we are only a third of the way through the year, his absence will be felt, his absence will matter. And that’s because we are a community. A community is defined by its members–each member. And that is the test of a community. If each member doesn’t matter, then it’s not really a community.

In education, we often talk about classroom culture, about classroom community, but talking it and walking it are not the same thing. Like anything worthwhile, community doesn’t happen by accident. It is created through intentional work. In the Project 180 classroom, community is a priority. From daily Smiles and Frowns to monthly Community Circles to daily Mantras, we work to build and sustain community every day. And that takes time. By year’s end, through such intentional activities, we will have spent well over a thousand minutes of instructional time. And while some may consider this a waste of precious time, I find it to be my best use of time. I do not believe that giving each member, each day time to matter is a waste of time. I do not believe that breaking down barriers and crossing clique lines is a waste of time. I do not believe that shared laughter, cheers, and tears are a waste of time. In that, I do not believe. But I do believe in kids. I do believe in community. I do believe in empathy, compassion, and kindness. But I do not believe these things happen by accident. So I make sure that I create the time, space, and opportunity for them to come to life, for them to grow. They are among the most important seeds I plant.

Yesterday, one of our saplings was uprooted, but I want to believe that he has the roots, the strength to flourish upon his replant. For even if he’s living states away, he is still our neighbor, he is still a member of our community. To ensure that he knew that, the kids and I made a card for him with the following words.

You will always be a valued member of this community.

You will always be a reader.

You will always be a writer.

You will always be a learner.

You will always be awesome.

Always.

Sy’s Class

CHS 2017

We also rearranged our schedule to make sure that we had the opportunity for one more Community Circle before he left. All my other classes will be doing it today. Additionally, in a move that is not common for me, I gave Jaden my cell number, so that he can text in his Smiles and Frowns each day to the class. Of course, this won’t last forever. He will make new friends; he will create new connections; and he will join new communities, but for awhile we will keep him and he us. That’s the way of things. And even though, our ties will diminish, I want to believe that he will always remember his 3rd period class in little ol’ Cheney, Washington. But yesterday was not only about Jaden. It was about all the members in our community. It was not simply a testament to Jaden’s place among us. It was a testament to everyone’s place. It was, I hope, a revelation to each that he/she matters, that he/she is indeed a valued member of our community.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

...begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…waste time…rather, build with Community Circle. 

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Friday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

Seek to understand. Discover truths. Create connections. These were the threads through our day yesterday. With grades off the table, one must take a different approach to motivate and move kids. Some days I find the right one. Other days I do not. Yesterday, I got lucky.

Seek to understand. This is an ever-present thread in my class, but yesterday it took on a bit of a different form as we worked on performance corrections. A correction is different from a retake. A correction cannot be used to demonstrate (proficiency, a 3), but it can be used as evidence of growth. If done correctly, I will change scores to a 2 (a near miss), but in order to get a 3, kids must do a full retake. Our process yesterday required them to not only find the right answer but also provide the “why.” I told them that while they could just copy or get the answers from a peer, that would buy them little, for they were not seeking to understand. They will be asked to perform against these standards again in the future, so there is a benefit to understanding, not just getting it done. So with that, the kids tackled the work differently than they might in a class that offers corrections as a way to improve a grade. They took their time, they poured over their notes, and when they came to me for help, they started with, “I wanna understand.” I wanna understand. Those are beautiful words. And from those words, we danced. Well, not really, but that’s what it felt like. We weren’t simply completing a transaction, we were digging into understanding, and I…I felt like a teacher.

Discover truths. We have our first discussion on Night today. Yesterday, I handed the kids a “truth ticket” for our discussion. I asked them to write their names and a truth they have discovered in Elie’s work. Today, they will hand me their tickets, and I will place them in a hat and draw them to use as guides for our discussion. I want them to “lead” our work here from the truths they find about the human experience. As I was explaining the process, I sensed some anxiety among my kids. And so, I paused. I iterated that my goal with the discussion was not to “catch kids” who’ve not read. I reminded them that reading the book is an option. If they choose not to read the book at this time, that’s fine. Of course I want them to, and I am moving forward as if they have, but I will not blame or shame if they do not. That said, I went on to explain, that if they have not read yet that they just need to write me a note on their truth ticket, letting me know. This is another kind of truth. The truth of ownership. If I come across such a ticket today, I will just quietly put it back and choose another, not calling attention to the kid. What I like about the format of our discussion around truths is that even the kids who have not read can still learn and make contributions, for they are “livers” of life, and they know something of such truths. My hope is that from our discussion my kids who are not reading may jump aboard and begin.

Create connections. Yesterday, we began our work of creating a new mantra for each class. I created the first mantra, our Mindset Mantra, but I want the kids to create their own. So we began the creative process yesterday, and though it started slowly, by the end, ideas were flowing, and the kids were getting excited about the work. It’s a bit messy–getting thirty kids to consensus is a chore, but we made progress. Our goal is to have our mantras ready to go by the time we come back from break. I’ll share when they are done.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…talk truths from Night.

…Reflect in our Journey Journals.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.

As I wander, I wonder. I wonder about the path I am on. I wonder about the kids tagging along. I wonder about those on the outside looking in. I wonder about my own truth within. I have many wonders as I wander.

The path. Most days I can see it clearly, ground rising to meet my feet. And I am elevated to mighty, resolute in my mission. I will conquer the world. I will vanquish the status quo, leading my kids to a better land. Other days it fades in and out as I look for firm footing. And I am reduced to meek, doubtful of my vision. I will submit to the world. I will surrender my sword, returning to where we began.

The kids. I look to them each day and guess their minds. But one is never sure what to make of what one finds. I think I read them. I think I know. Of that I am never fully certain, though. They are young and I am not. Maybe not all is as I thought. I could be wrong. I could be right. For this I wish I had better sight.

The outside. Many folk are looking in. And I wonder what they really see. Are they really seeing me? Do they know the struggle behind the shine? There’s much doubt and consternation behind the fine. The good is there; I will suggest. But there is also, too, a messy mess.

The inside. Oh what I hide every day, though my class is on display. In truth, I struggle behind the facade. I doubt and fret but feel no fraud. I am human. I fail and fall. A heavy load it is to haul. But at times, too, it carries light, for a triumph will have set me right.

Okay. Now that amateur poetry hour is done, here’s the deal. This is no Sunday stroll. I, as all teachers, struggle each day as I face my path, my kids, my world without, and my world within. Sure, I share my positives, for that is what matters. But I want all to understand that I have not found the answer. The past two days have been a real struggle for me. Maybe it’s stress. Maybe it’s the weather. But I am in a place where my doubt outweighs my certainty. And to this I am no stranger. I am on familiar ground. But I do not share this to evoke sympathy. I do it to suggest that I am simply a teacher doing his best, chasing his next better. And I think that is all that we can do. And I want to believe that I am not alone. I want to believe in this we are connected. And today, I want to feel that connection. I want to know that I am not alone.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…have an opportunity to correct or retake our latest sentence performance.

…create a new Mindset Mantra.

…set the stage for our Night discussion tomorrow.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.