Letter to a New Teacher

Dear New Teacher,

Welcome to a wonderful and challenging profession,  What can I say as you begin your career? I am halfway through mine, and I still find myself thanking my grandmother who "quilted" my way through college.  She must have sewn and sold dozens of patchwork designs so that I could become a teacher. The warmth of her efforts has rewarded me time and time again, but what words of wisdom can I give at a time when 1/3 of teachers leave the profession by the end of their third year? What is the secret that enables me to love what I do?

Education is one of the most physically exhausting, emotionally draining, and intrinsically rewarding professions.  The paperwork is horrendous, and continues to grow even more demanding.  The salary wilts in comparison to others with the same amount of education.  If, however, you love people and you enjoy seeing them grow, if you are the kind of person who thrives on being able to give more than you take, if the voice of a child makes you turn your head in wonder, then there is not a more rewarding profession on earth.

This career is ever changing.  Stay active in professional organizations and opportunities.  ASCD and NCTE are more than just memberships to list on a resume.  They are the lifelines to current practice. They are the voices of educators across the state and the nation who strive for what is best for all students.  There is immense pleasure in the gathering and sharing ideas with colleagues.  Develop your own voice in education; you owe that to yourself and your students.  Teacher voices have been silent for far too long.  Build strong relationships with colleagues who are enthusiastic and positive. They will support you through tough times and celebrate your successes.

In Teammates:A Portrait of Friendship, David Halberstam recounts the lives of Ted Williams, Dominic DiMaggio, Bobby Doer, and Johnny Pesky as they reveal the important role that baseball has played in their lives. For me, it also describes a quality teaching life:
     "But baseball (or education) has provided a wonderful, rich life. The pleasure had always been in the doing, the sheer delight in going out there every day and playing, being paid to do the thing you loved to do.  And the richness had come from the friendships, he said.  How many people in other professions have friendships that last so long--unusual friendships because when you see each other, you were instantly taken back to a time when some big game was on the line.  When Bobby Doer and Dominic DiMaggio talked about their own lives, it was with the same tone as John, with an appreciation--indeed a gratitude--for their good fortune, and a sense that although they prospered, the best part, the richest part of their lives had little to do with material things, and that they had lived their lives with very few regrets."

It is through such relationships with colleagues that you will find innovative strategies and ideas to help you do what is best for students.  Every child wants affirmation that he is special, that his ideas are good, true, and wise.  They are willing to work and able to learn if they can see the benefits of their efforts. This is your job. Encourage a positive vision for every child you meet.  Find their interests and help them set goals for success.  Challenge them with all that you have; nurture them with all that you believe.  Remember, they will spend more time with you than they will spend with spend with their own family.  They need more than any state standard could ever encompass.

Most importantly, learn from the children..  I used to believe that my priority was to prepare kids for the future--but then came Jessica, a beautiful seventh grader who missed my class every Tuesday for chemotherapy.  Jessica sat beside me as she struggled to put her thoughts onto paper.  "Jessica, your writing is very general here.  You write, I am strong even when things are crummy. Give me an example.  What is Crummy?" I ask.  "Chemo is pretty crummy, Mrs. Wagner, " Jessica replied.

And on that September day, as I sat side by side with her, I realized that my task is to help them learn and grow and share for today.  That the important thing is that you an make a difference here and now, which means there is no time for busywork, no time for circling nouns on a worksheet.  There's barely enough time to immerse them in the power and wonder of reading and writing.  Introduce them to Draper and Crutcher and Spinelli.  Introduce them to their own voices as their lives fall gently on the paper.  Introduce them to the future as they grow into the adults of tomorrow.  Make your classroom a place of joy, a place of laughter and tears and growth.  Make it a place where you emphasize and model the importance of working together.  Make it a place where they will want to be, and it will become a place where you will want to stay.

May you find comfort in the relationships that build your teaching life, with the students who struggle and those who triumph, with parents who look to you for knowledge and assistance in preparing their child for the world, and with colleagues who will encourage you to grow and learn and give to yourself as well as others.

Best wishes on your journey,

Darla

Middle School Matters

Middle School Matters: A Message to 7^th Grade Students in the Last Week of School

There are many times in conversation with students or parents that Mr. Frank and I hear things like, “Well, at the high school when it really matters”, or “when the grades really count”.…

I want to impress upon you today that middle school matters.  Who you are today counts.

In terms of academic performance, the skills and knowledge you gain from middle school courses provide the foundation for all of your future learning.  If you have a weak foundation, it’s hard to build a sturdy future. Take this opportunity to develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening and reasoning.  Make it your goal to do more than just “get by".

More frequently than not, students who excel in middle school continue to excel in high school, college and their careers because they have developed the self -discipline, organization, and motivation to achieve their goals.

More frequently than not, students who are good citizens in middle school, who participate in service projects, who contribute to doing good things --become people who are respectful of the places they live and work and who contribute to their community.

More frequently than not, students who are kind and respectful to others in middle school are the adults who are happy with their lives because they are full of positive friendships and experiences.  They go out into the world and make a positive difference. They leave behind them a place that was better than they found it. 

Middle school counts.  Every day of your life counts.  You matter.  The choices you make now not only impact the lives of those around you, but they build your character; they reflect who you are and who you are becoming.

My challenge to you is to think about your actions and words.  What do they say about you?  In a few short days you will be considered 8^th graders.  It counts.  Make a difference.  

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Keeping Students in the Game: A Reflection on Discipline

It is sometimes difficult to be the disciplinarian when your heart is in instructional leadership. Nonetheless, my job requires me to try to balance the two. In my daily work, I have discovered that how we manage discipline in schools may have the greatest impact on student success.  I am fortunate to have a team of dedicated professionals, guidance counselors, a resource officer, a social worker, teachers, and my fellow administrator who work side by side with me in the effort to change behavior and support students and parents.

We focus our efforts on providing interventions and strategies to help students reflect and change behaviors rather than label and remove them from the educational environment. We engage students in reflection. We implement strategies to support good decision making. We role play, question, suggest, and listen. We continue to give students the opportunity to hit the reset button.  Whenever possible, we hold students in our building rather than suspending them outside of school.

We separate behavioral intervention and consequences from academics.  Yes, they get credit for the work and learning. No,we don't believe that we can "teach them a lesson by giving them an "F".  Usually the students sitting outside my door are already a part of the school of hard knocks. In many cases, a tough approach from me pales in comparison to the tough lives they live outside of school. So perhaps my heart is here in this role after all...it's just that most of the time it's hurting for the kids who sit in front of me. Kids who have made a bad decision, on a bad day, caught in a bad situation. There is no doubt that it is exhausting when the learning process takes longer than we would like, but we wrap our arms around them, rethink our strategy, and keep moving forward.

Perhaps the important work that those of us who are responsible for student discipline have to offer is to help close the achievement gap not widen it, which can only be accomplished if we keep our kids, every kid,  in the game.

Take care & encourage the heart,
Darla Grace

First Responders

Any veteran educator will tell you that teaching is not what it used to be.  I am often reminded of the changes in our society that have impacted our  schools.  Today, as our teaching and support staff participated in ALICE training, I was reminded of how much our lives have changed.  We speak of intruders in schools, and guns, and fatalities.  We talk security cameras, and first responders, and counter attacks. Through our training programs we realize that there is really little we can do that is fool-proof.  There is no "supply kit" or manual to help teachers prepare to physically save lives.  Some listen intently as police officers explain ways to take down an intruder, others shake their head in disbelief, and some can't even bear to watch the demonstration.

But I know that these staff members already use the best defense methods possible.  They develop relationships with kids.  They listen to children's frustrations.  They sit side by side with students.  In their classrooms on a daily basis they spend time modeling compassion and helpful behavior.  I believe this may be the best we can do.  By building positive, supportive relationships with students, we open the doors of communication.  Teachers who make their classrooms a place where students feel comfortable sharing information provide a venue for students to alert us of peers who may be thinking of harming themselves or others.  

Perhaps teachers really are the first responders, providing help and redirection to students who might otherwise get lost along the way.  As schools across the country implement new programs and train staff on ways to recognize and survive a violent situation, let us not forget the importance of the daily preventive work that is happening in classrooms and hallways and guidance offices.  In our efforts to implement common core and race to wherever it is we are going.....we must keep in mind that the most important work we do is taking time to build trusting relationships with students.  

Take Care & Encourage the Heart,

Darla Grace