In 2013 I questioned if I should allow myself to be uncomfortable and move on from the school I had taught for a number of years. I preferred to be comfortable, but God made it so that I had no choice but to leave. I started at a new school at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year. I came into that school year with a number of goals. One of those goals were that I would wear a dress shirt, tie and slacks the entire first quarter (even on Fridays). I wanted to gauge how students would respond to a series of planned out decisions. I ended up having a successful school year despite not knowing if I should have left my previous school. However, by the end of the first quarter of my second year working at my new placement, I understood why I had to move on.
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I began to notice it around the third quarter of my first year even though it started well before then. I started having students come to me about situations outside of school. I've had some students tell me things they were going through, and it seemed like these stories were written for TV, but this was their lives. By the end of my first year I was called "dad" by a number of students. It phased me at first since I don't have any kids, but I grew used to it. I thought it was a fad and some kids were calling me dad because they were following their friends. I never saw myself as a parent although I made jokes about having a hundred some odd kids every school year. Within this past first quarter I had a student (who I didn't teach) come back and tell me he took my words to heart and he's changed his mindset, and his actions for himself, his daughter, and his younger brother (who was shot most likely because of his actions). I've helped another student cope with not being able to father his children, and helped him take the first step to rebuilding his relationship with his dad. I've given legal advice, and helped keep a kid from going to jail for some YEARS (without talking to him directly), and I've helped other students handle home problems while bringing lunch and just talking. Some actually think I have the answer to every problem and they are surprised when I say, "WOW! We gotta figure this out together". One actually opened up and told me that I helped during a time they were suicidal. Most of these scenarios these students were enduring before the school year began. It took time to creating these relationships although I was unaware of my actions. I was just doing my job, and being who I am. It started with having students open up while writing and letting them eat lunch in my classroom. These kids studied me, and they valued my insight because they respected my character. These kids see me in a light that at times I don't see myself in. This light can have various meanings, but two of them are of admiration and of hope. They hold me accountable when they respond in a shocking way, or when they question me on a decision I've made out of curiosity. When they respond in these ways I ask myself am I being the best role model, the best teacher, and the best me I can be? Most times it's a yes and other times it's a no, but I'm honest with myself.

We as teachers have personal issues that we must endure and mask when we stand up in front of our classrooms, but students do the same thing. They may have witnessed a parent get beat, may not have eaten or wondering what they will eat later on, may have a parent who is hooked on drugs, they may have parents who are forcing them to sell drugs or maybe it is all the above. Whatever the case maybe education may not be their focus on a particular day because of events going on at home. For example, I had a student who was acting different one morning, I thought she was going back to her old ways. I could sense something was wrong when she abruptly walked out of class, and instead of yelling at her, I let her be. When I said something to her directly after class, she about broke down right in front of me. I told her to go to the back of the class and put her head down. Later on she explained to me a student unknowingly triggered her to cry, and she left class so that no one would see her in tears. She also shared with me what she experienced the night before. Normally I would have said something when she tried to leave, but I knew her well enough that I knew she did not need to be in the class at that moment. Educating today's youth requires establishing relationships. Students need to know that despite what they are going through you care for them and can put their needs before education. When she broke down in front of me and opened up, I officially felt like a parent. I am speechless when I think about how much these kids trust me.

Students want your GLOW. Whether you know it or not you have students watching and analyzing you on your worst and best days. They aspire to be you although they may not like you, or your profession, or the course you teach. IF you love your job and bring love into the classroom. IF you are consistent in showing love is unconditional while holding them accountable then you are not just affecting the children you teach, but you are touching lives outside your classroom. You will find students who are not your students being your students because of your GLOW. As a teacher your GLOW has saved someone's life!!! Whether they came back and told you is irrelevant. You have not only changed students' lives, but you have literally saved lives as well. You have either helped build a strong foundation or you have helped them make the correct decision.

I know this job is demanding, stressful at times, the paychecks should be better, and you may often question changing careers, but never forget your legacy will grow with every child you touch. Your legacy will touch not only this generation of youth, but their offspring and their offspring, and their offspring. Your legacy will live on forever because of the GLOW you give off today.

Educating is our job, but we wear many different hats. Be prepared at any moment to wear multiple hats, but regardless of what hat you put on never forget to GLOW.


Show every student you are Graceful, Loving, Optimistic, and use Wisdom when interacting with them.

Have you ever been in a moment, and was outside the moment, only to miss the moment, because you were reminiscent of a moment? 

Have you ever taken a deep breathe, or how about numerous deep breaths although you were not out of breath?

Have you ever been racing, but never broke a sweat?  Your mind would not slow down despite how fatigued you were physically and mentally?

Have you ever closed your eyes but never fell asleep?  Better yet, have you closed your eyes and opened them just as quickly as you read this phrase as your alarm confirms it's time to get up?

Have you ever had an intimate conversation with......ummmmm yourself?  I mean the type of conversation where you answer back and forth?  The type of conversation where you swore there was somebody else there with you?

Have you ever felt like you were Superman?  I'm talking about the Superman exposed to kryptonite.  Not the small little pieces, but the am I visiting Krypton amount.  You know one moment you can handle anything, next moment an undersized moment is getting the best of you.  You still fight on because when did Superman ever quit?

Have you ever had that moment when you question that phrase God is good all the time?  And it doesn't matter how brief the thought but it ran across your mind.  

Have you ever had that moment where sleep was not a choice.  Clubs, not feeling it, talking to someone can wait. Working out or running some insane length of time was the only option despite it being early in the am! And I mean EARLY in the AM!

Have you ever pictured your life with that loved one? Then you asked yourself who goes first?  Now you play out each scenario, what does it look like?  Then you realize, you want to live longer since you didn't want to let them down.  You didn't want to put them through the pain that you are feeling in that moment.  BUT you also understand what's the point of living if they are not there to share your memories?

Have you ever felt a great pain, but you were perfectly healthy?  No sign of trauma, no internal problems, but you felt like you were on your last breath?

Have you ever been so connected with someone that you don't have to see or speak to them for years, but when you all get in the same room you don't miss a beat?  That phone call can go for hours, the sobriety will come back, and you may catch the sun rising before your moment is even close to being put on hold.

Have you ever felt something good or bad just happened to someone you are connected to?  No words needed, no communication was used.  You just know!

Have you ever made it rain?  I'm not talking about with money, but with tears.  Whether they were of joy or sorrow these tears had nothing on 40 days and 40 nights.

Have you ever heard a voice or seen a face and said NAAAAH!  In that moment you were sad, scared, excited and positive.  Mixed feelings confirmed but also created doubt. Real or not, it didn't matter because it gave you a peace only that person could give you.

Have you ever been a part of a moment where silence screamed at the top of its lungs?  The type of silence where you could hear a grasshopper jump from blade to blade.  Where it was so quiet you could hear yourself blink as caught the rhythm of a heart beat. 

Now I could go on but I will stop here.  Somewhere between being born and before you say your final goodbye experiences like this will occur if you have experienced love.  I sincerely hope you could share one of these moments with me.

lluv



Feel free to share some "Have you ever" moments below.

Children playing AAU basketball at an early age has become a normalcy.  The youth leagues are focuses more on competition than development.  For every one or two practices a game is played.  Unfortunately, playing endless amounts of games does not improve a child’s skill set, but it can reinforce bad habits.  For this reason leagues for young players place restrictions on how the game can be played. Would these limitations be emphasized if our young players were skilled before they could play full court basketball?  Creating a solid foundation for a child is far more important than having them run plays and sprinting up and down the court.  Footwork and ball handling are critical for kids to develop and master in the younger years and many times these areas are overlooked.  AAU and recreation teams will not always have the most qualified coaches, so as a parent, you must understand what is instrumental in the progress of your child’s development.  Investing money on basketball camps , basketball training DVDs, and or credible trainers could be far more beneficial in the long run.

Research different basketball camps and or trainers before investing.  Once you registered, attend the camps and take notes.  Taking notes should also be utilized after purchasing basketball training DVDs.  If you have decided to to invest in a trainer, talk with the trainer about your role in the developmental process.  Recording important objectives, points, and progressions will be important.  Showing up with a note pad while your child is at a basketball camp or video taping workout sessions or consistently examining basketball film will provide your child an opportunity to see how important it is to study the game.  This will allow children to be more accepting to watch and study film of players, film discussing tactics, fundamentals, and different philosophies when they become older.  It is imperative that young players understand that there is a cognitive side of sports and developing a high IQ in basketball will make them more efficient players.

Once your child has practiced certain skills, then games would allow for mastery of fundamental skills in a game setting.  3-on-3 games are the best game for novice players.  This will allow players to learn how to play basketball.  Players will learn about spacing, passing, pick and roll, screening and cutting while each player will have the opportunity to have more ball touches.  This also will allow players to defend against the skills named above.  Once the player has become proficient with executing these different skills in a half court setting, it would then be time to start playing full court basketball.

This ideal may sound odd but parents who focus on the long term process will allow there child to grow and become better basketball players, while ensuring there child does not burn out.  This developmental process is completely opposite of the United States model but followed throughout Europe.  Europe has earned a reputation of teaching and developing fundamentally sound players.  Players are not rushed on a court to play games and can barely dribble and do not understand the concept of traveling.  This is counterintuitive and will allow players to practice and strengthen bad habits.  However, if time is taken to strengthen fundamentals a players self-esteem will grow and the game will be more fun for the player.  By focusing on the development and not games played, you can ensure that your child will become fundamentally sound intelligent basketball player, who loves the game of basketball.

Players who practice more and play less will become strengthen there fundamentals, allow there body to rest,
More time practicing, less time playing (4-6 workouts for every game) one to two practices for every game
allow a developmental process so that kids do not get burned out

#neveridle168  #LFT168  #wedotheydont

"Coach" best describes the every day practices of a teacher. Think about it.

Teaching Philosophy

Although educators wear many hats, the concept of “coach” comes to mind when describing my ideals on what defines a successful educator. The two professions coalesce and easily can be confused when describing one another. I inspire, mentor, instruct, and prepare individuals to become better in their skill and then enable them to collaborate in order to achieve goals. I set high standards for myself and the individuals I am enriching, while maintaining the focus of the objectives. Coaches study their profession through evaluating the microcosm of their art through self-reflection, observing their vocation through different vantage points and assessing what needs to be mastered in order to be successful. As a coach, I use the service-learning technique module which encourages dialogue to influence successful outcomes during competition. Although I am a teacher, I am a student of my craft and I encourage my community to be students of their craft. Every second is a teaching moment, and every action can be connected to the objectives that are being sought out. I borrow ideals, then modify and incorporate these concepts to fit my class chemistry. Coaches compel individuals to self-reflect and see the potential they have within and then extract that potential into fruition. Furthermore, a coach also means a device that moves passengers from one place to another, whether by land, sea or air. As a coach, I am responsible for taking care of my passengers while in transition. I must provide a safe atmosphere for my students that protects and yet connects their mind, heart, body, and soul during the journey of erudition. Throughout this journey I focus on the importance of systems. What they are and why it is important to not only establish systems, but master the systems they are affiliated with. Whether these ideologies deal with social, political or economic systems, my students will understand they must play the game, and avoid the bench at all cost. Preparation, making the right decisions, understanding their opponent's mindset and tendencies will put them on a road to success. A coach creates an atmosphere that allows for absolute truth to be discovered, respected, and accepted through collaboration while protecting the sanctity of the individual. When the coach has successfully created a team, the team resembles a family which no longer competes against each other through conflict, but is in harmony to make the individual stronger; this allows the community to be strengthened because truth is being continually pursued. The pursuit for truth and execution of the found truth are ideals that are the cornerstone of the community. The role of coach is synonymous with my ideals of being an educator. High standards, assessment through different vantage points, learning while teaching, keeping the subject as the focal point, protecting my students through the transition of learning, and teaching students to develop and master systems are the expectations I have set for myself.


What are your thoughts? 

‪#‎neveridle168‬ ‪#‎LFT168‬

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~My feelings grew like how a caterpillar blossoms into a butterfly

It was hidden, out of sight, but later seen floating in the sky

Soaring high and portraying all of its beauty

And this was its God given duty

You see you may not notice its presence 

But sight and feeling equals its existence

As like time for the butterfly my love was limited 

And its soon death has brought feelings that are now being exhibited

My butterfly laid dormant until we were no more

It finally decided to open its wings, when it was you I realized I adored

Now its flying around in the midst of blind eyes

And so hopefully one day you will witness its beauty before it dies

lluv

When you plant a seed deep within

The roots will become strong and will grow to no end

As the plant gets enriched and fully nourished

The plant will grow and eventually flourish

Through its life it will experience some horrible weather

But its roots will grow deep and keep it from being moved like a feather

Time will allow it to experience many different types of pleasures

These are the moments in life couples should learn to treasure

This tree will witness four types of seasons, and a multitude of sunsets and sunrises

And through all these experiences, its foundation will strengthen and it will continue to grow high

There will be no limit to its height, and in order to see the top you will have to fly

This symbolism describes the feelings I have for you and they are deeply rooted

I’m done trying to hide my love because I can no longer refute it

I never knew it would grow so tall in a short period of time

This should let you know how badly I want you to be mine

So hopefully one day you will encounter that heavenly sign

Which could be a feeling or a vision that is unmistakably divine

In which I will appear as your knight, your king, and your significant other

I will then take your hand as we ride off into the sunset forever.

lluv

Fewer students are pursuing doctorate degrees in special education.  This creates voids within universities special education departments and students from kindergarten to collegiately suffer from inadequate education.   Lack of special education degrees also creates a lack of research, uneducated administration and policy makers.  Multi-education has been difficult to implement and with minority shortages, this problem will continually get worse unless a contingency plan is devised to entice minorities to pursue a career in special education.  The FIRST program tries to tackle this problem by focusing on two of the least represented minority groups in special education.  The Native Americans and Spanish communities are grossly misrepresented and the FIRST program has created a cohort which allows teachers of these ethnicities to earn a doctoral degree while not having to sacrifice like the average doctoral student.  This program will allow for more minorities to pursue special education, while researching their effects on academics, linguistics and social outcomes.  These teachers will be taught how to be culturally diverse while implementing strategies, and technology in an inclusive setting.

This article discusses three major problems within the education community.  The shortage of teachers in special education, the shortage of minorities in special education.  Due to the need at my previous school, I became a special education teacher and limited research within special education.  I have had experience with the special education department shortage on teachers.  I taught special education with no formal training and no assistance on how educate special needs students.  I studied and incorporated different strategies that allowed me to be successful but that was done through trial and error.  Some counties like fairfax, pay for interns to study in the field and hires them after they have completed the cohort.  The shortage with minorities in education is difficult to asses when teaching in a urban setting that is culturally diverse, however when looking at America, this is a major problem.  In the article "Preparing Preservice Educators for Cultural Diversity: How Far Have We Come?" discusses that the teacher population is becoming more White although the schools are becoming more culturally diverse.  Most of the studies that were orchestrated in the review were dominated by white teachers, and actually showed the lack of diversity within education.  The last problem is the culmination of there being a shortage of education teachers.  The lack of research hinders the growth and knowledge of teachers and students.  "A huge gap remains between the quantity of studies published in both fields, with the larger number of studies being published by general education researchers" (Trent, CEC, p. 345).  Since there is a lack of research, teachers are left to questionnaires and surveys, and these surveys are isolated from other teachers.  

The idea of the FIRST program is a great idea and I agree with getting Spanish and Native American teachers interested in obtaining a doctorate degree.  However, I do not agree that this great idea is limited to these ethnicities.  With the shortage of special education teachers, the objective should be to create an influx of students into this field.  By focusing on the microcosm of two ethnicity, the program limits the growth and the research of the effects of this program on special education.  Caucassion females dominate the field, but if there was a focus on multicultural education, this would not be a problem but an issue.  There is no doubt that there needs to be a diverse population in the education field but the pundits have not figured out how to instigate this growth.

Peterson's research is relevant because it brings to light crucial issues in the special education field and how answers are being developed and exercised to fix this problem.  This articles content is not necessarily relevant for this course, but the ideals emerged in the text are very benificial.  I will not benifit from the program that was discussed in this article, however the knowledge I gained has strengthened the possibilites about earning a doctorate in education.  The focus will be to connect special and general education together.  I am not eligible for the FIRST program but I am sure that I will be effected indirectly by the context of this article.

I enjoyed this article although I was not entirely happy that all minorities was not incorperated in the plan.  The article was extremely limited and focused on the Native American and Spanish Americans, when the article first discussed the shortage of special eduation teachers in general.  I would have loved to see data that discussed all minority teachers compared to white minority teachers in the university setting.  This article did peek my curiosity with how many minority students have doctoral degrees and work in the colligiate setting.  I believe the more minority professors, the easier ideals on multieducation can spread within the educational sphere.  The lack of information about minorities in education allows me to analyze the importance of obtaining a doctorate in the educational feild that focus on special education.  I have met six skillful female professors and two interns, one a male who teach at George Washington University.  I however have not encountered a minority who has or is pursuing a doctorate.  Maybe I will fill this void after I have completed this cohort.