"I'm just a dreamer..."

Well everyone, I just did it, I entered @

https://bluechairbayrum.com/yearoff/

This is my 199/200 word essay…

I just finished my 18^th school year as a public school teacher, but overall I have 22 years’ experience teaching; my first 4 years of teaching was in the private preschool, Child Care Center setting. I started in High School as a Career Vocational Education student and was a non-traditional college student, meaning I worked full-time while earning my college degree. Currently, for the past 6 years of my career, I teach high school Career Vocational Education students. Just like many of my students, I have other passions and interest outside of teaching; for example, I love attending country music concerts and singing along to my favorite songs.

In high school I tried to write songs, as many great country artists do, but they always turned into becoming better short stories. I started writing a blog in 2015. I am a reader who knows the power of a story so I decided to write mine. I had 300+ views on 1 blog. Thus, with a year off, I would like to explore opportunities in the country music industry, especially being a part of beach country concerts or song writing. I would like to share my journey online and with the world. #workhard

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Kenny Chesney’s music. Secondly, I am a fan of all great music, especially that tells a great story of real life. I am not sure what journey God has for me next, but when I saw this contest, I just had to enter!

This essay contest was a great end to my school year and reminded me to take a moment and focus on my dreams. I always help guide my high school students with their dreams and goals. We discuss goals that will help them to make money while pursuing dreams. My students know that I want to be an author and after they graduate, some find out about my interest in music.

I try very hard to be professional and the teacher that the public says I should be. However, like everyone else, I have dreams and enjoy adult things, like drinking responsibly and attending concerts. I have made mistakes, like drinking a lil too much and let’s say, getting sick; but for the most part, I am sure that people who know me would agree that my image is that of a real teacher.

Lastly, I like entering competitions and contest. Why not, somebody’s got to win!

I was not selected for the NEA “Global Learning Fellowship.” I enjoyed expressing my interest on the subject. However, during that same time, the NEA asked me to apply for the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), who accredits institutions, which prepare future educators and I was accepted. “More than 800 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP…” they say I may be attending training this July or sometime in 2018. I’m excited for this professional opportunity.

Summertime is here, I’m so ready!

Applying for the "Global Learning Fellowship"

1 *What motivated you to apply to the Global Learning Fellowship? 2*As an educator, how have you facilitated a classroom environment that allows students to engage in open, appropriate, and effective interactions with others from different backgrounds? (2000 character maximum for each answer, so I had to remove some details) My Response... As an early childhood educator who now teaches career high school students who are starting their career path in education, I feel that I need to be directly involved in activities that will instruct me on how I can teach tolerance of all and learn how to close the “global achievement gap.” Currently, I teach an urban class that includes 6 foreign born students, 2 are illegal immigrants and 3 are english language learners; somali and hispanic. I see first hand the challenges that they have and I really want to be able to support them through the process of completing High School and the transition to college and/or the workplace. They share stories of the lack of opportunities from where their from. I like to share stories of real life along with statistics regarding test like the ACT, but mostly I think “closing the global achievement gap” is accomplished by creating real world experiences for students, being a facilitator to them through the learning process and offering encouragement to them along the way. I have had students say, “Mrs. McGrath you do not let us give up, you keep asking us to do it.” I have learned that you have to be real with students and I explain to them that I am just that, a realist. You may not like it but I do not want you to be surprised so I do not sugar coat things, I explain that college is tough, but I know that they can do it and that I am here to help them complete the assignments that I teach that equals college credit.      My grandfather spoke adamantly about the horrible treatment of his parents as Irish immigrants. They came here with nothing and battled depression and issues of poverty. As the oldest child he joined the Army in World War II to make money and to get his family a better life. He talked a lot about President John F. Kennedy and what it meant to see an Irish Catholic elected. I grew up in a changing urban area. In 2nd grade I attended Catholic School and a new black family was moving in next door. I was confused by the adult talk, because a very nice black family lived across the street. I was excited because the girl was the same age as me. We still had a separateness about us, but we had mutual respect and we grew up together, often sharing stories and playing. Just being kids. High School started 7 years later, and I was unable to get out of being sent to the historic black high school in Columbus. In the 1990's Columbus Public Schools was part of a desegregation process, so some kids were bused to non neighborhood schools to create more equally diverse high schools. Many of my white friends found a way to get out of it, I didn't. My father mentioned paying for me to attend Catholic Schools, but I left in 4th grade because we couldn't afford it and I didn't feel like I fit it with other rich catholic kids, so I decided to get on the school bus and go across town. My High School was about 65% black, 30%white and 10% other. This taught me to find the goodness of others, sometimes we would see the bad sides of our indifference, however, we had more in common as we struggled to figure out how to become better than our parents and make money. I share my story with my Columbus students today, so they know that I really do know these streets because I survived them. I have seen friends and family members of mine go down a path that ends in the tragedies of addiction by being buried and/or incarcerated. I still check in, love them and offer them hope because we are Columbus. I feel that the NEA Global Learning Fellowship will help me to expand upon my teaching experiences and help me grow as a teacher who is passionate about social justice and opportunities for all students. I have gotten to travel a little and I always encourage my students to take advantage of opportunities to travel. For example, my class is connected to a Career Technical Student Organization, CTSO, that holds regional, state and national competition leadership conferences. Every year I advise students through this process and sometimes we get sponsored to attend the National Leadership Conference; this is held in a different city in the United States. My students and I have traveled to Orlando, Florida; Anaheim, California; Chicago, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee and San Antonio, Texas. We get to see historical sites and attractions in each place, while attending leadership conferences and meeting other from all of the United States and Puerto Rico. I enjoy hearing stories of we are all more alike than different, but there's something about travel and meeting new people. I enjoy participating in the CAP Space Read Across the Planet event every year, since 2015. I have advised my high school students through the process of learning to read to young children by practicing and preparing props for a Dr. Seuss book. Then we have a web conference call and read the story to preschool class in South Carolina and West Virginia. The preschoolers teach us something too, like a song or about their art project. It is a great way to meet a teacher and students in a new city. I create a Google map to show the location of the children that we got to meet. I have to teach the importance of language and literacy so what better way than using the internet to connect to a new place. This is in addition to the preschool children my students work with locally while earning valuable internships. I start the school year off by giving multiple intelligence surveys. I like my students to know as much about themselves including new vocabulary to describe their strengths, like bodily-kinesthetic and interpersonal learning styles. Then I have them go around and interview each other to find out about others. Also, they complete career profile surveys. I discuss what the data means and how the information can help them in their career goals by writing back individual thoughts and explaining in class lecture. Howard Gardner is the theorist behind the multiple intelligences and I introduce his work with this lesson. I try to show how our differences help us to learn to work as team. In our class we work on a couple service learning projects in addition to our internship experiences with local preschool programs. I have students who sign up to be project managers as we tackle these task. Please see the lessons attached below.

Music in the classroom can be a powerful addition to any lesson, especially in the Early Childhood Education setting. This lesson is aligned to the Child Development Accreditation, CDA; Competency Goal  II; To Advance physical and intellectual competence  (Updated 8/27/12) Cultural and Linguistic Groups Identity (Bilingual appreciation) Assignment 1= Select 4 songs, finger-plays, word games, or poems that you can use to promote phonological awareness. Describe (means in 1 paragraph) strategies to promote phonological awareness among children whose home language is other than English. Clue; Refer to textbook definitions and lecture notes in regards to teaching phonological awareness.  For example, think about how you teach children to pronounce a word in English or the other language. ***Helpful Website; www.mamalisa.com/world Assignment 2= Create a song card collection of at least 10 songs for future use in your classroom; 4 songs have to have English words with translation of words in another language;. Spanish, Chinese and Somalia languages are often used by bilingual families in the central Ohio area.  Sign language explanation can be added to any song for your future use but does not meet bilingual or phonics requirement. Take notes below & make decorated song cards in preparation to Type your final essay response to this CDA goal. 1.       “Song Title”- country of origin. Why you chose this song and example of it’s use to teach phonics.

The last lesson I shared for the global learning fellowship was my work on project based service learning.

Why is Project-based Service Learning Important for 21st Century Learners?

Why is Project-based Service Learning Important for 21st Century Learners?

December 2016

Rebecca McGrath-Hinkle

I have always been an advocate for project based learning, quadrant d work, relevant and real-life assignments for students; regardless of the title, students need to use higher level thinking skills to become problem solvers and effective employees in our society. Teaching in a project based way has helped me learn the importance of building relationships with my students and other teachers.

Teaching in the urban setting and dealing with learned helplessness and depression has really taken it’s toll. As an alumnus of an urban public school setting, I want to offer students these “Aha” moments like I had, when I had teachers who took the learning beyond the pages in a chapter.

Therefore, I am a little biased but I truly believe that project based service-learning is the way to go. The bottom line is that most jobs require a service component.

It does take you out of a comfort zone and you end up assigning and/or reassigning parts as you go. Sometimes to points of exhaustion, but in the end it is a powerful thing to be a part of.

I am not perfect at it and feel like an alone outsider within my school teaching culture; however,  I really feel that a collaborative approach where all teachers in the school are involved would be ideal. Thus, I come to this question; How can I convince buy in?

In 2010 the “National Youth Leadership Council,” reported the following;

• “81 percent of dropouts felt that they would have been more apt to stay in school if their school had offered real-world learning opportunities…”
• “Low socio-economic status who participate in service scored higher in achievement, motivation, grades, bonding to school and attendance than similar students who did not participate in service.”
• “In a national evaluation of high quality middle and high school federally funded Learn and Serve programs, Melchior (1998) found that at the end of one year, service-learning students significantly outperformed comparison students in overall grades…”

I know that my transition from High School to college happened successfully because of the college credits I earned from my career center class. Today, twenty years later, as a career center teacher I see how my student’s GPA’s and attendance increase within the first semester of taking a career center class that is internship and project based. Service learning is connected to the school but in a voluntary way through a teacher on special assignment who assists counselors on helping students earn service hours to meet graduation requirements. Therefore, I agree with the evidence that academic achievement increases when students have these real world internship and/or service learning experiences

The National Service-Learning Clearninghouse, “Fact Sheets Why Districts, Schools and Classrooms Should Practice Service-Learning,” states that,”Studies show that service-learning has a strong effects on several areas related to character, reduction of risk behaviors and promoting an ethic service...Character development occurs because students are often given responsibility for outcomes in service-learning settings and are more likely to engage in interdependent tasks and joint productive activity (2007).” Also, they mention the improvement of higher level thinking skills that matches other research mentioned above. The one thing I want to point out is that students are given roles of responsibility if the adults, teachers and employees of the service business, facilitate the student through the process by asking the right questions.

The teacher needs to guide the students through the work and work alongside them but the teacher should not be taking over or completing the work. The teacher needs to schedule meeting times and facilitate to help guide the students through the process; however, the process needs to follow an organized method, such as;

-The Five Stages of Service Learning (Kaye & Connolly 2013)

-The FCCLA Planning Process (FCCLAInc.org 2016)

- A Planning Model for Learning with Purpose... Serving with Passion (Growing Together Service Learning Network, Partnerships Make A Difference 2016

Kaye and Connolly, from CBK Associates, explain how “The Five Stages of Service Learning” is aligned to the CCSS, Common Core State Standards. Ohio has adopted the common core state standards, so this aligns to teaching expectations for students in my district. Specifically, the CCSS expect students to be able to, “1. Demonstrate independence; 2. Build strong content knowledge; 3. Respond to varying demands of audience, task, purpose and discipline; 4. Comprehend as well as critique; 5. Value evidence; 6. Use technology and digital media strategically and capably; 7. Come to understand other perspectives and cultures.” (2013)    

The teacher needs to introduce the planning process, provide examples during meeting times that students can reflect upon while creating their plan. There are similarities to each of the plans but a major difference is that the FCCLA Planning Process doesn’t include planning of entry events or celebration which extends upon the follow-up evaluation into a more extensive reflection process, as explained in the other 2 plans listed above. I feel that the entry events helped me facilitate the students from the start while creating more reflection for students who were also excited about planning a celebration, this motivated my students in a new way.

I still have some students who participate minimally, but the ownership and connection with entry events that connected us with real business people, like social workers from Franklin County Children Services, was very relevant and eye opening. I tend to be a doer so I like helping create products with the students, but I try really hard to keep to their plan. I only share my expertise if I know money is an issue to carry out their plan and I know of something that is more cost effective. It is important that I do not try to control or push my ideas on them, I need to facilitate and allow them to problem solve as much as possible. I would love to collaborate with other teachers and share this amazing transforming process that happens as a result of project based service learning experiences.  

 

Works Cited

CBK Associates, C.B. Kaye and M. Connolly. “With Common Core State Standards, Why Service Learning Matters Even More.” 2013, 6 pages.

FCCLA Planning Process.  Family Career and Community Leaders of America,  2016

fcclainc.org/pdf/planprocsamplefilledinworksheet.pdf. Accessed 26 December 2016.

National Youth Leadership Council. “Generator School Network Service-Learning and Academic Achievement Research Summary.” 2010, 3 pages.

RMC Research Corporation. “Fact Sheets Why Districts, Schools, and Classrooms Should Practice Service Learning.” June 2007, 4 pages.

Helping undocumented students

I am so excited!
Today I learned about a process to help young undocumented students.
Thank you again Gloria Galloso, your perseverance & care of others is an inspiration!

Gloria said...
It is called the DACA, (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) 

I found the following...
The following website,
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca

Has the forms and answers to many frequently asked questions about this process, a former of student of mine is attending Columbus State Community College and plans to transfer for a bachelor's degree. Students who are 16 and meet the criteria, like school records for 5 years with a school ID can apply. Fee waivers are available to cover the current screening cost of about $450.
Directions and all forms are free from this site;
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca

This was passed as part of the...
On June 15, 2012, President Obama created a new policy calling for deferred action for certain undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children. Applications under the program which is called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) began on August 15, 2012.
Retrieved from;
http://www.immigrationequality.org/get-legal-help/our-legal-resources/path-to-status-in-the-u-s/daca-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals/

The immigrationequality.org website has detailed information about President Elect Trump's plans. 

Please share this with anyone who needs it, my source completed this process on her own with a trusted friend, she did not pay a lawyer or anyone to assist her. In fact, she said that a lawyer tried to scam her. 

What have I been up to?

What have I been up to? Well trying to teach in a new 21st Century way! What an adventure it has been, with mishaps, unplanned distractions but some successes. 

Thank you to the following organization that I have been working with this school year, without this connection none of this would be possible.

Kathy Meyer and Ellen Erlanger

Partnerships Make A Difference

www.partnershipsmakeadifference.org

                                            

Service-Learning/PBL Project Planning Notes

By Mrs. McGrath

Theme/Topic;   "Becoming Family & Community Leaders"

Each of my students will have the opportunity to understand the needs of the community and how to be a leader and/or support leaders.

Team Members will be made up of groups of FCCLA students in the Early Childhood Education Class, groups of 3 students per team.

ODE defines The Early Childhood Education program; "as a program that will prepare students for professional careers in both public and private childcare and educational environments. Careers for which this pathway prepares students include: Teaching Assistant, Child Care Worker, Child Care Center Operator, Educational Aide, Student Monitor. Postsecondary majors for which this pathway prepares students include: Early and Middle Childhood Studies, Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood Education, Special Education, Technical Education and Training, Human Development and Family Science, Social Work, Elementary Education Administration, Psychology, Counselor Education." (2016 www.education.ohio.gov)

THE BIG IDEA   

Question

Issue/Service Focus: Who needs our help? What issue needs our attention?

Answer

Last year, 2015-2016, we had 3 projects

1. Cancer Ribbons;

Identify Concern/s: We have all been impacted by Cancer and we want to celebrate people we have lost and helped survive. Set a Goal:  We want to donate all of the profit we earn from selling the ribbons and the signed poster of the people who donated to ‘’Stand up to Cancer” Foundation, which is a foundation that gives 100% of the money that is donated to them to …?

Forming a Plan  Who: Whole student body at CDHS. What: Ribbons and Donation. Also a pledge memory banner(s). Where: CDHS. When: Second week of April 4th-8th. Sold during 4th and 5th period.

How: Students in class will cut out and make ribbons from pre donated items (Ribbons+Safety Pins)

ACT; We plan on donating all the profits we receive to the Stand up to Cancer foundation. Which is a program who donates 100% of funds to cancer patients. FOLLOW UP;

We want to impact the people impacted by cancer in any possible way. We also want to send out a survey to the people and ask them what they wanna see more of about cancer.  

2. “Lead 2 Feed”; Doing more than just our school food drive!

Identify Concerns:

Learning how to “Lead 2 Feed” by helping people get healthy food. Set A Goal:

We need to contact people in our community about helping get healthy food to children and families. Our school already partners with a food pantry and in December we donated 1,700 pounds of non-perishable food items to St. Stephen’s Food Pantry. Our goal is to do something different than a canned food drive.

Forming a Plan:

Who:  L.G.G. (Linden Gardening Group); Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Foster-Munnerlyn 1402 Cleveland Ave. Cols., OH 43221 and H.K.C.L. (Heavenly Kids Center for Learning); Mrs. Norman 404 E. Mound St. Cols., OH 43215.

What:  Helping the centers get the garden ready for spring planting and also teaching the children about gardening.

When:  LGG; 8 students will go on Wednesday starting March 21, 2016. Then every Wednesday April-May 2016 from 8:30 to 11:30am. HCKL; 6 students will be going but the dates will be announced later.

Where: LGG and HCKL locations and addresses are above.

Cost: Unknown; at this time both programs have grant money for supplies but they need us to help with the labor.

Act: We plan on donating all the food that is grown to the families that live within each area.

Follow Up: We want to impact the families in the Linden, North Columbus and Downtown Columbus areas with our project. We will survey the garden supervisors about how helpful we were and/or what we can do better.  

This year we will take a look at what students are passionate about after completing the Entry Events described below.

Franklin County Children Services partnered with our school. They asked if we could make products for children in foster care this winter holiday season. We discussed ideas, like designing activity pages for young children. This was not an authentic idea from the students.

The Cosmetology students partnered with St. Dominic's Catholic Church. The plan was to see what class collected the most canned food items to donate to families for Thanksgiving. Donations where collected for 1 month, ending on November 11th and the winning class earning a Pizza luncheon.   

Question;

Learning/Academic Focus: What will we be learning about? What could our "Driving/Essential Question" be? How will this service-learning project connect to your curriculum goals/content standards? What 21st Century Skills (e.g., collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, etc.) might be addressed?

I would like to present service learning in the new project based way. Then I will ask students to reflect upon last year’s work and then form new groups in areas of concern found from their "Imagine our world without…." 

Students started this on Friday October 7, 2016.

Standards; 21st Century Skills

Outcome 1.2. Leadership and Communications

Process, maintain, evaluate and disseminate information in a business. Develop leadership and team building to promote collaboration. An “X” indicates that the pathway applies to the outcome.

Competencies

1.2.1. Extract relevant, valid information from materials and cite sources of information

1.2.2. Deliver formal and informal presentations.

1.2.3. Identify and use verbal, nonverbal and active listening skills to communicate effectively.

1.2.5. Communicate information for an intended audience and purpose.

1.2.6. Use proper grammar and expression in all aspects of communication.

1.2.7. Use problem-solving and consensus-building techniques to draw conclusions and determine next steps.

1.2.8. Identify the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of leadership styles that influence internal and external workplace relationships.

1.2.9. Identify advantages and disadvantages involving digital and/or electronic communications.

1.2.10. Use interpersonal skills to provide group leadership, promote collaboration and work in a team.

1.2.11. Write professional correspondence, documents, job applications and résumés.

1.2.12. Use technical writing skills to complete forms and create reports.

1.2.13. Identify stakeholders and solicit their opinions.

1.2.14. Use motivational strategies to accomplish goals.

Question

Project Idea: What can we do to address the identified need/issue? What community partner(s) might be involved? What opportunities could be provided for student “voice” and “choice”?

Answer

As of, 10/8/16, I have not had time to give this question to the students, but I am planning to do so the week of October 10, 2016.

I did not receive any proposals from students that completed the "Imagine a World" assignment, therefore, I moved forward with the food drive and the Franklin County Children Service's projects that was presented by our school's community resource coordinator, as explained above and below.

POTENTIAL STRATEGIES/IDEAS FOR EACH STAGE OF YOUR SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT

           

Entry Event(s)—"sets the stage" and inspires student engagement in the project.

I held the following Entry Events;

1. September 20, 2016; Four students attended the "Critical Issues Summit" at Mid-Ohio Foodbank with one of my fellow Teachers, Mrs. C.

2. The week of Sept. 26, 2016 Students completed a Multiple Intelligence Survey, FCCLA Webquest to discover what is FCCLA  and You tube Video from "The View," Whoopi introduces Mr. Ferroni. I passed out pink or blue post-it notes to divide the class in half. Then, similar to what Mr. Ferroni did, I said that anyone with a pink note was not allowed to come to school anymore and they had to move to apartments that I assign to them. Immediately students reacted. We discussed were this is happening, like in Syria and why America or other countries take in refugees.  

3. The week of October 3, 2016 I presented the following 3 Youtube videos to students and asked them to "Map out the heartbreak" they see in the videos compared to their own neighborhood and/or heartbreaking experiences they have had.

The Youtube Videos watched;

-"Video that will change your life. I have no words left," by the corpfa

-"Why should we care about others?" by Julianna Bouwers

-"Half the Sky Empowering Women" by St Stephen Children's Centre

Students are given a cut out of a child shape to finish the statement, "Imagine a world with… or without…" thoughts.

4. Week of October 10, 2016; Students will learn about their Multiple Intelligence area. Also, I compiled a list of common themes used in "Imagine a world with or without…," I will share this with students and we will decide if anything is missed, while student who were absent can create their "Imagine a world with … or without…" thoughts. Next I will create groups of 3 to decide their top passion/concern and then each team will come up with a response to the Questions mentioned above in, Project Idea;

What can we do to address the identified need/issue? What community partner(s) might be involved?

Lastly, the students and their teams will be able to move into the Preparation/Planning step.

Question/Task to do

Investigation/Inquiry—"Exploring Possibilities"—helps kids identify potential topics and become emotionally engaged

Answer

I believe that my Entry Level Events explained above achieved this. Also, some students felt overwhelmed, how do I know this because they said so. I tried to reassure them that our efforts, even small will go a long way.  

After reflecting on this, on October 14-2016, I decided to share a diary entry from the, "Freedom's Writers Diaries," by Erin Gruwell and her English class. I shared the diary entry about the day one of the high schoolers Father's killed her Grandmother and she becomes homeless. The Freedom Writier's Diary movie and book is a theme in my class because I am a graduate of a Columbus City High School that was similar to the school in the book that was turned into a movie. I share this so the students understand what it was like when I was bussed across the city because I was white; however, I would never trade the experience it Is part of the reason why I teach in the urban setting. 

That morning we went to the computer lab to create an activity page, however, due to login errors and printing issues we only got about 5 pages done.

The following week, the students who had expressed the most interest was out sick, and then the following week I became very ill and had to miss 3 days of school. The last week of October 2016, as I gave time for students to finish projects and some had to take Ohio standardized test, we watched the "Freedom Writer's Movie." This really was a great bonding moment; unfortunately due to racial tensions over the current election season, many students said Mrs. Mc was it really like that at your high school? I shared stories of how we learned about one another through the book, "Black Like Me." This really took me back to that time in my life, I shared with them how my mom was worried but she said good people come in all colors, find the good in everyone. My phone never drove the freeway and was worried about me being far from home off the freeway. Again, I will never forget the lessons I learned about racism and prejudice when I became one of the students who made up 30% of the population attending a historic African-American school. I really did learn that we have more in common and issues of poverty affected all in the same ways.

This moved us into a new grading quarter and November. I had a busy month planned, 4 observation visits to local Child Care Centers, the non-perishable food drive for St. Dominic's Church to provide thanksgiving foods for families as set up by the Cosmetology class and a guest speaker who shared their foster-care/adoption of a child with severe disabilities caused by an incident of shaking baby syndrome. All students provided a summary of they learned from the presentation.

220 families received foods for Thanksgiving

Observations and reflections were getting completed, but I was at a lost for how to refocus back on the activity pages for the foster-care children. I said we need to pick experts for the project as well as class FCCLA officers, but I was not getting applications turned in.

Thus, I moved to the next step, preparation/planning.

 

Question

Preparation/Planning—"Becoming Experts"—includes further research, necessary knowledge and skill development, project schedule/logistics, and scaffolding (facilitated by the teacher as needed)

Answer

I presented FCCLA officer positions again and shared examples of alumni students work. I asked students to raise their hand if interested and created a voting ballot.

Action—"Doing the Work of Real People" . . .

            Authentic Product(s)/Service(s)—identifies “important stuff” that kids will create and/or

            accomplish   

            Authentic Audience(s)/Client(s)—identifies who else will be part of/become aware          of/benefit from the students’ efforts

I asked students to tell me what jobs they thought would be needed, but I think that was too open ended. Thus, I presented this on the next day, 11-18-16;

Creating Activity books for Franklin County Children Services

Project Managers

What is your task;

Coloring Activity Page Designers (winter animals, heroes, super heroes, places, jobs, avoid family)

For;

Boys

Girls

Ages 3 year to 10 years old

Puzzle pages, word searches, Sudoku math, practicing writing letters, counting

Immediately, the following students accepted the positions; Syomay, Fadumo, Dejanaee &

Makenna. They were able to get other students to help and give feedback. Then we printed pages, sorted and made a stack of the original books.

Reflection—"Attaching Meaning"—extends the learning by helping students attach individual and collective meaning to their experiences. What reflection questions/prompts should we consider? What reflection strategies/forms of student expression should we consider?

Answer

On 11-28-16, all students reviewed the 2 activity books that were complied. 11-29-16, I returned all students their "Imagine a World" cut out person with their thoughts. I asked them to think about these thoughts, what they have learned about an education career so far as the obligation to helping parents and teaching children, as they watched the following 3 YouTube videos;

1. "Removed, statistics Foster Care Break the Cycle, " April 2016 by Kelsey Mayberry.

2. "Removed," by Nathanael Matanick   (watched about 4 mins of the 12 min video)

3. Ann's Story- A Foster Care Story by DA Blodgett St. Johns

Students answered the following;

- What have I learned so far?

-What has moved me/resonated with me?

-What statement, thought or quote can you share with a foster care child?

    Tips; to give hope and understanding

We can use your Initials and site our school so the children know that it is high school students that created this book and do care about them.

It was magical, students who had not been engaged suddenly wanted to be! I noticed one student, who I know is going through custody issues seemed disengaged.

Demonstration and Celebration—"Making Learning Visible"—makes learning visible, reinforces relationships, and “captures the magic of the project” by documenting the process, its outcomes, and related next steps;

As of 11-30-16, I feel like some students would like a copy of the book we created. I have heard a discussion of having a "Secret Santa" gift exchange so I think plans for a celebration is in the works.  

"People don't buy what you do but why you do it," T. Jaeck of OEA

"People don't buy what you do but why you do it," T. Jaeck of OEA

I can't get this expression out of my head!
I sat in a training, yes learning some union stuff, whether you like them or not it is necessary. I cannot believe the decrease in Teacher pay and lack of input or control over the learning environment in schools that don't have unions, okay so let me step off that soap box.

Why do I do it?
Do what you ask? Attend community meetings on subjects that are affecting our families like, the Linden Police and City Council meeting in August of 2016, or the Community Open House on the Heroin Epidemic tomorrow night at Franklin Heights High School.

I gotta find hope to bring people up out of the hurt and hate! I need to educate today's youth to learn from other's mistakes and to know how to ask for help but by being resourceful.

I get up everyday to build relationships with others by offering a smile. I care about their mind, body and soul. I explain to my career center students that it takes a village to raise a child which means family members, friends, teachers, community members and that we are stronger by helping others find these connections and resources.


I have to fight for the right to get paid or maintain a middle class wage to do my job, to explain the uniqueness of teaching work conditions, to understand the impact local and federal government has on the teaching profession.

This is the burden I carry.
It keeps me up or awakens me some nights.
Some days I want to hand my burden to someone else, but in the end my faith pushes me through.

It is amazing how the right thing will come in my best made lesson plan, through my faith in the moment of connection and I feel like I can get the students excited about the learning. I can help them find hope and see their goals for their futures. I can see them as productive citizens, even through the whines of completing essay's and creating their own lessons. As they say, "Mrs. Mc, it's too much,"
I explain, "Yes it is but I am teaching you how to teach children and they deserve to have someone who accepts the "too much."

Okay, goodnight on that note of feeling hopeful!

Update...my life has taken me here!

Update... My life has taken me to a place I never wanted to go...my sister is on drugs. As a graduate of and educator to students in the inner city of Columbus, I have over 20 years experience listening to or trying to help friends, students and parents with drug addictions. In April of 2016, I walked in a jail to talk to my sister on a phone while looking at her beaten up, track marked, shaking body on a television screen. She said, please don't cry. The whole time saying to myself, I don't belong here, oh my God my sister is a drug addict.

I wanted her to know she was loved and that I could only bring myself to visit her the first time, that she has to learn from what got her here and prevent this. Drug addiction is not alcohol addiction, I explained to family members who tried to compare the two. Through my research of countless family stories of loss, a heroin drug addiction is something non comparable. My sister had the ADHD label from an early age and I am guilty of always saying, "Ugh, What are you doing, sit still, stop that." I didn't understand that she couldn't help it until I began my education career and we were young adults.

She continued to struggle as an adult with keeping focused. She was always needing to pay to get a new license because she had lost it. A couple years ago she came home from her out of town job working with race horses. She got on government insurance, battling pill addiction and was diagnosed bipolar. Now 3 years later, I am sitting here tonight, terrified by the memory of speaking to a police officer on a prostitute infested street corner at 7 pm asking if he had seen my sister. He politely explained, while looking at her picture on my phone, "Not today but a few days ago, I broke up a fight between her and someone else."

My sister had told me 3 months ago that she had done sexual acts for money. She was released from jail, pending an arraignment and was attending rehab every other day as planned by her attorney. For 2 months I could see my sister, the fidgety ADHD but good-hearted sister. However, she was still not ready to return. She was going to rehab but I felt that she was not fully embracing it. It is hard to trust the person after a hurt. I thought she could get help to be more independent, she really was homeless, moving back home in her thirties.

I just don't know what to do. My mom told the police officer that she is on probation so can he arrest her, please just arrest her. I am praying to God  to be with her and/or take her home. I cannot shake the images of the other nameless girls that I saw on that street corner. They are someones sister and daughter too. It is the walking dead, cold eyes and tattered bodies. I just can't believe I couldn't prevent my sister from being there! I know it is not my fault, but that fact does not help my hurt. I will worship through this like I did my divorce, my miscarriage and all other of my life's hardships... but how do you prepare to bury your sister or pray that she gets arrested!

I just never expected to be in this place. I pray over and over for my sister and other's who are out there following this evil and living hell on earth. They don't know the trespasses they have done and it will take time for us to trust them again but please be with us all as we struggle to get through this.
I pray...
"Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." 

Amen