Everything I Learned About Education, I Learned From Watching The Princess Bride #Edchat

It has been a long time since I have done one of these posts. Almost two years to be exact. Sometimes we let life get too busy and you forget to go back to your roots and do the things that make you smile. Check out some of those old posts if you have a minute. They all still ring very true for me. One day I will drop all of those crazy thoughts into a book. Until then, enjoy Everything I Learned About Education, I learned from Watching The Princess Bride.

Look, I don’t mean to be rude but this is not as easy as it looks, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t distract me. - Westley

One of the things I've noticed is that some people think that teaching in a class with 1:1 devices makes teaching so easy. In reality, teaching with devices in the classroom makes life a bit tougher for a teacher. Only after a couple of years of having the devices did I feel like my lessons were fully taking advantage of the technology in my classroom. Every new lesson I want to create needs to take the devices into consideration. I'm constantly rethinking my approach to topics and curriculum because the devices offer more possibilities. I know I am very lucky to have the devices for my students to use, but it does take hard work to plan around the devices so students are using them for more than just expensive notebooks. Like all lesson, planning around tech takes time and is never as easy as it looks. I think it is important to remember that when we see what others are doing in the classroom.

Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. - Miracle Max

Teachers need to stop pretending to know everything. Saying IDK has been one of the most freeing things I've done in my years as an educator. Now, there are some things I should know and be able to answer in my classroom, but sometimes students try their hardest to stump me. I used to drone on about what a good question it was and then throw it back at them to see what they thought without ever really answering the question. Now, I can say that I don't know and we can look for an answer together. I've found that students are more comfortable saying they don't know something after I have said it in class. The most important part of saying IDK is saying that we should find the answer. IDK is not the end of the issue it is the beginning. We have the resources to find the answer. I've had students take out their phone and find the answer. If the student really wants to know something and I don't know it, I'll let him search it and report back to class. If it is a tad off topic, I'll tell him to search it and get back to me at the end of class. Teachers shouldn't dismiss inquisitive students and they shouldn't claim to know all the answers. Kids have a great BS detector. Being honest in not knowing something will create an environment where students will also feel comfortable not knowing and asking for help.

What did this do to you? Tell me. And remember, this is for posterity so be honest. How do you feel? - Count Rugen

This is the toughest part of the job, but it is so important. Student feedback allows teachers to change what needs to be changed and focus on areas student want extra help. We are always afraid of negative feedback, but there is always some truth to those comments. Google Forms are great for letting students provide feedback at the end of a unit of a semester. TodaysMeet is perfect for an exit ticket system to see what students know at the end of a class period. 

Using the feedback is the next step. It's great that you listened to your students, but what are you going to do about it? I've made changes on the fly based on student feedback and I let the kids know it was because of their comments. The students loved that they felt some control over how lessons were being presented. I've tried things students have suggested and got feedback again. They said the other why was better. Feedback is important and implementing it can really bring a class together.

You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles. - Miracle Max

We live in a world where everything is now now now. Teachers see a new tool, try to use it right away, and are annoyed when things did not got as planned. Any lesson created needs time to mature. For some reason, people think tech integration is different. Imagine all of the great lessons that would be lost if they were tossed after the first try because they were not perfect. Each lesson is designed to engage and inspire students. That is a miracle. Crafting great lessons takes time and all educators need to understand this aspect of teaching. Using ready made lessons out of the box is going to get the job done, but will it be a good job?

Teachers need to be given time to connect with other educators and craft the wonderful lessons that will make a difference in the lives of the students that sit in front of them every day. These lessons are not hastily thrown together. They need time to grow and become the lessons that will have the biggest impact. Let's all remember to take our time and allow our lessons to mature at their own pace so they can be little miracles for our students. 

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. - Inigo Montoya

There are so many buzz words in education that I have a hard time keeping track of them all. You are flipping over PBL or UDL or just keeping your head down and focusing on CCSS so students can be CCR. All of these terms are pretty much worthless. I have found that the brand new craze has been around before and it will come around again. There are also many different meaning to these words and people argue over the exact meaning from time to time. Is it "Problem Based" or "Project Based"? Does it matter? Let the mouths keep mouthing and the teachers keep teaching. We know what is best for the students that are in front of us. That should always be the number one focus. 

I know that I'm a big advocate for 20 Time in the classroom. Others call in inquiry based learning. Others call it Genius Hour. Instead of arguing over what to call something, let's focus on whether it works for the students. Frankly, the students do not give a crap what it is called when they are engaged. Those terms are for people obsessed with labeling things. A year ago, I had no idea what UDL was. I googled it and I realized very quickly that I have been doing it in my class for years. I'm actually a bit of a pro at UDL when I sit and think about it. I had no idea. 

As long as teachers focus on sound instruction, the labels will come and go and the students will always be prepared. Do not fret the new acronym. Just roll with it and be awesome in your class. 

As you wish... - Westley

I really wanted to end with this one. I think it is important to remember that we need to serve our students. I'm not sure how some are going to take this statement, but I believe it to be true. Some students are more needy than others, so it can be exhausting to be serving them more that others, but that is our job. It is not easy. If you wanted an easy job, you made the wrong life choice.

We all have our good days and our bad days, but we need to remember that we are there to support our students in their learning. We can teach them to be independent and we can teach them to pursue their passions, but we cannot expect them to get their on their own. We have been tasked to do the most important, and most difficult, thing in the world. We can inspire the next generation by meeting their needs. Those needs will continue to change and the rules of how we have to meet those needs will change, but we need to do it. Who will if we do not? Congress?

There were many more quote that I could have used for this post, but these were the best for the education topic. Thanks for reading. If you want to share your favorite quote, feel free to do so in the comments section.

- Nick

Everything I Learned About Education I Learned From Watching WWE #edchat

In honor of the 1,000 Episode of Monday Night Raw tonight, I thought it would be the perfect time to bring back and old stable of The Nerdy Teacher.

Growing up, I used to watch the WWE (WWWF back in the day) frequently. I would watch on Saturdays and then make my own wrestling magazine filled with highlights to share with my friends who were not allowed to watch for a quarter a view. A teacher busted me and took my mags away. Stifling an aspiring writer. My Dad scored tickets to Wrestlemania when it was at the Pontiac Silverdome and I watched Hogan slam Andre the Giant. It is one of my earliest memories. Anyway, wrestling has been a part of my life in different ways and I thought I would share its impact on my view of education.

Every teacher needs to be part of a tag team!

I loved tag team wrestling. The tag teams always had cool gimmicks and great names. The Bushwakers come to mind as do the Bolsheviks. They worked together to obtain the coveted Tag Team Championship belts. The teams worked hard and had each other's backs no matter what the circumstances. If you can't count on your tag team partner, who can you count on?

Teaching needs to be more of a tag team sport. We are up against some very big numbers every single day, it seems silly to go at it solo. Every class can be like a Royal Rumble. There is tremendous value in having a tag team partner at your side. Being a lone wolf might get you some places, but a tag team partner will allow you to accomplish things not possible on your own. Teachers need to break out of the independent model of instruction and look to others for support and guidance. The best tag teams would eventually reach out to rookies and mentor them in the ways if the ring. Teachers need to treat teaming up and mentoring in schools same way. Granted, the rookie usually betrays the team and slams them within a steal chair in a shocking turn if events, but I do not foresee that happening in the classroom.

You have to think outside of the box, or ring, to be successful.

There are many great wrestlers who are proficient at what they do in the ring. They have tremendous technical skills that make the formidable foes. However, there are those that see the value in taking their opponent outside of the ring to get the job done. They see all of the wonderful tools outside of the ring as valuable in accomplishing their goal. Whether it be the stairs to the ring or the Spanish Language Announcers table, everything is fair game to win the match. This innovation has allowed WWE to continue to grow and be successful.

There are many great teachers that can do the traditional stand and lecture model of teaching and be effective. There are others that need to try things differently to get the most out of their students. While some might look oddly at this behavior, it can be very effective in reaching students who need a different approach to teaching. By looking at the world around us, we can see the many great tools out there. Some of my favorite teachers were the ones that chose to be different and told me it was ok to be different. Without innovators, any business will fold in time. Education is no different. The WWE has been innovative for years and the best teachers are innovators as well.

You have to put on a show.

There have been wonderfully sound wrestlers with tremendous wrestling skills, but they never lasted very long because they could not work the crowd. If they could not rock the mic, they never made the cut. Wrestling is a very important part of the job, but so is the show. The Rock was a fun guy to watch because he always told you what he was cookin'. Stone Cold Steve Austin and Degeneration X were fun to watch in the ring, but more entertaining on the mics. There is something all teachers can take away from this.

I have know some of the most knowledgable teachers in the world, but they are terrible instructors. There needs to be a flair in your teaching and I think it comes from the passion teachers need to have for their craft. Every class is another show where we try to engage our audience in the story we are trying to tell. All of our favorite teachers were masters at keeping our attention no matter the topic. Wrestlers have the same ability. Do we really care about the weird storyline? No, but they seem it with a passion that is entrancing. I haven't watched wrestling on a regular basis in over 10 years, but I have been sucked in on multiple occasions while some guy was ranting and raving about his current adversary. Passion is infectious and teachers need to show that in the classroom.

The best characters evolve over time.

In wrestling, the wrestlers had to be willing to change their character if they wanted to stick around. Playing the same tune for too long will not entertain the crowd. Good guys will become bad guys and some will take on a completely different persona all together. As a young kid, it was a bit confusing. As I got older, I understood the value of evolving as time went on. Watching Hogan become bad guy was crazy! Mankind to Cactus Jack to Dude Love was so much fun! Change is important to keep things fresh. This is true for all people, but especially to teachers.

If I was the same teacher from 10 years ago, I would not have a job. It is that simple. I have chosen to evolve and grow as an educator. I'm adding new tools to my chest and I'm striving to put on a better show in my class each an every year. The teachers I look up to most are the ones that have shown me the value of change and adaptation. I find value in re-inventing myself because it means that I will be bringing something better to my students.

Everything I Learned about Education I learned from Christmas Cartoons

It's been a little bit since I have written one of my favorite types of posts and I thought the holidays would be the perfect time to share what my favorite Christmas Cartoons have taught me about education. Here are 5 of my all-time favorites in no particular order.

Frosty Snowman

I have always had a soft spot for this cartoon and will go out of my way to watch it when it is on TV. The part of the show that stands out to me is the Magician with the magic hat that brings Frosty to life. To me, he represents all of the worst things about some teachers. He tells the kids to never question an adult and to do what he says because he is older. Kids to him, are an annoyance. The possibility of Frosty coming to life is not possible and the kids are crazy for even thinking it possible.

Kids have some of the most amazing ideas and teachers should be asking them their opinion more often than not. The Magician, like all bad guys, are driven by greed and they do not want anything to do with children. I know some of the teachers. These are people that are just in it for the paycheck at this point and kids are a constant bother. Frosty showed me the fun kids can have when they are allowed to be a little bit silly. Beware of becoming a Magician and, under not circumstances, throw a way a top hat. You never know how magical it might be.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

Now, I know this is not technically a cartoon, but the claymation is amazing and it is too great not to write about. I think this is the easiest show to write about for this post. Rudolph being an outcast is something all of us have felt once in our life time. I actually want to focus on the Misfit Toys.

When you look around your classroom, it is sometimes very easy to identify those Misfit Toys. These are the kids that haven't found their place in school. Our job as teacher is to help those students find the place where they will excel based on the talents they have. They might be suggesting they take an art class after watching them doodle in their notebook or leaving a book of comic design on their desk. It could be letting a student rap part of his assignment after hearing him rap during lunch. Everyone is a Misfit Toy at some point in their life and I think a teacher is a person in the perfect position to help those students find their passion. I had some special English teachers that pointed me in the direction of Drama my Senior year and I'm eternally grateful. An education student pointed me towards education in college. Students are often looking for just one person to show interest and help them. They are very much like the Misfit Toys. As a teacher, let's play Santa and find a place for these kids. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas

This lesson is very similar to the Misfit Toys idea. This sad little Christmas tree just needs some love to truly show everyone what it could really be. There are students around the country that are waiting to be loved, but they are being taught by Charlie Browns. These teachers are good intentioned, but they need a little help. Sometimes, we need to help those students who are not in are class because they might have someone who just doesn't know how to reach them.

There are also plenty of Lucy's out there as well. These are people that are focused on the bells, whistles and buzz words surrounding education, but have failed to see what the real meaning of education is supposed to be. Linus reminds everyone about the meaning of Christmas and I think it is important for teachers to try and remind everyone that education is about students, not test scores, politicians, technology and the other things being talked about right now. Be a Linus for your school and advocate for the students who cannot speak up for themselves. 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I want so badly to write a paragraph that is all about Michigan Governor Rick Snyder cutting the education budget this past year, but that would be too easy.  Instead, I want to focus on the ending of the cartoon that gets me every time.

The Grinch thinks that he will ruin the morning of all the little Whovillians (sp?). However, the sun comes up and the entire group is up and singing. He is shocked and confused. He was sure that Christmas was all about presents and the roast beast. His hear then grows three sizes and he brings all of the presents back to town.

I look at lesson planning the same way. Some people are obsessed with technology and the role they want it to play in their class. (This coming from the guy with the class set of iPads) I'm an advocate for technology in the classroom, but not at the expense of the lesson. Lesson planning needs to be at the core of every class. My lessons are designed with the skills and content in place first, then I see how technology can enhance it. Some are trying to build lessons with the technology first and the content and skills second. While I would be sad if a Grinch came in and took all of my toys away, I would still be happy to have my job and teach my students because I know my content is strong with or without an iPad. It's ok to want the iPad or Smartboard, but remember that the lesson is the real important part of the teaching day.

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire 

 

Christmas would not be the same without The Simpsons. This was their first full length episode after doing shorts on the Tracy Ulman Show. I was only 10 years old, but I remember watching this and becoming addicted. It's as funny in 2011 as it was in 1989. Bart gets a tattoo and Marge needs to spend the Christmas money to get it removed. Homer did not get the bonus he thought was coming, so he gets a job as a Santa. He ends up gambling the money away at the dog track looking to hit it big. As they walk through the parking lot, the dog he bet on, Santa's Little Helper, is kicked out by his owner and joins the Simpson family. Homer brings the dog home and everyone is happy.

What did I learn from this? Well, some of the best things come when you least expect it. The best part of my job are the little surprises that happen every week. The student that learns something new about themselves or the student who makes a connection to our readings and their life. The little thank you note from a parent or student for something I didn't realize was so important. When life is at its lowest point, nice things are bound to happen and that is why I love teaching. The Simpsons provide me joy every day. Some may say they have jumped the shark, but they still get me laughing a few times an episode without fail. Their first full episode was the beginning of an amazing show.

These are the five shows that have meant the most to me as a child and as an adult. I look at them now and I can't wait to share them with my son. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.