Uncertainty stirs
School bell rings with excitement–
Hello Mister Hink
Listening to tunes
“Please put your device away”—
Back in the saddle
“Hurry Doug, hurry”
Yellow bus driving away—
“My record’s perfect”
Always stirring
Filling young minds
Potential grows
Feeding mankind
Always sharing
Molding fresh clay
Confidence soars
Blessing each day
Always leading
Bringing to light
Innocence beams
Shining so bright
Always waiting
Sowing each seed
Patient teacher
Feeding each need
Always teaching
Learning comes forth
Compass setting
Heading true north
Excellence is not an act, but a habit.
A person cannot all of a sudden become good at what they do just by switching streams.
Marva Collins (1936-2015) was an American educator.
Classroom welcomes each student
Powering through school day’s grind
Staying focused with each task
Finishing up what’s been assigned
Day after day, grind calls out
Rewarding for job well done
Overcoming each challenge
Smiling students, having some fun
Each moment filled with learning
Sharing bit of joy today
Moving past grind’s sweat and toil
Making school seem more like child’s play
Grind’s journey teaches respect
Helping out one another
Encouraging with kindness
Working as sisters and brothers
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
This is a true story about one of my former students. I was teaching at a high school in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana.
A disgruntled John entered my classroom on the first day of school. The senior was enrolled in an Accounting class with a room full of other seniors as well as a sprinkling of juniors.
As I was checking in later with each student, John bluntly told me, “I didn’t sign up for this class.”
I told John, “I am sorry to hear about this, but this class is a great one to take. I am looking forward to having you as a student.”
John quickly replied back, “The counselor dumped me in here because I need the credit to graduate.”
John’s stubbornness left him with a poor attitude. His first quarter grade was well below passing as he completed very little of the work. He continued to balk as each new chapter showed up on the class syllabus.
I visited with John’s mother, and she was quite concerned. She had her hands full with John’s noncompliant attitude as well.
An Accounting course works quite a bit like a math class. As each week progresses, students continue to add more building blocks of skill and knowledge related to the previous chapter. John was falling further and further behind.
During the second grading period, John began to show a tiny bit more interest in his performance. After all, he needed to earn a passing grade by the end of the first semester in order to receive credit.
I was beginning to see John’s potential which had been buried under the “chip on his shoulder” about school in general. Through it all, I could see that John was a sharp young man. Therefore, we just needed to find more ways to unlock his potential.
As the semester ended, John squeaked by with a passing grade . . . just barely!
Quote from British writer, C. S. Lewis: “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down the jungles, but to irrigate the deserts.”
I remained patient with John as the second semester began. He seemed more eager to discover himself when he returned to school after Christmas break. I continued to encourage him each day, and made an effort to touch base with him frequently. As the next few weeks continued, we both began to build an improved relationship based upon trust and respect.
As the third grading period progressed, John began to see the light. He was excited about class in ways I had never seen before. There was a genuine enthusiasm in his work as well as his much improved attitude. His failing marks were being replaced with A’s and B’s.
By the end of the third quarter, John was a solid “B” student in Accounting. He pulled me aside and told me one day, “I am really enjoying your class. In fact, I am thinking of taking business courses at college next year.”
He continued to excel and progress through the rest of the school year. I visited with John’s mother before graduation, and she was very proud of her son’s progress. He had matured beyond even her expectations.
In my short teaching career (I was in my fifth year), I had never witnessed such a turnaround as experienced by John. It was amazing and very gratifying to see a student literally catch fire and take off. At the end of the school year, John received my “Most Improved” award. John encouraged me with his own discovery of success.
This story captures the essence of why I found countless rewards from teaching over my 40-year career. I lost track of John long ago, but I feel assured his life turned out quite well.
Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pexels.com
Originally published May, 2020.
Welcome to “Behind the Scenes.” Today, we have returned to visit with Richard, the creative voice behind the writing journey of Big Sky Buckeye.
Welcome back Richard. It is a pleasure visit with you again.
You have mentioned previously that your first years of teaching took place at Plevna High School, which is located in a small farming and ranching community in southeastern Montana.
Yes, I moved to Plevna for the 1978-1979 school year. Today, I would like to shine the spotlight on two of my high school students.
Both of these gentlemen graduated in 1980. While their lives shared some commonalities, they each had far different backgrounds.
Paul Neumann and Loyd Ketchum played on the boys basketball team. As starting guards, they helped to lead the Plevna Cougars to a district tournament championship. Their team’s efforts earned the school’s first title in nearly 20 years. While Paul’s gifted touch allowed him to be the playmaker, Loyd was recognized for his hard-nose defensive play.
Paul was a town kid. His father ran a service station along the highway, and his mother operated a beauty salon. Paul’s musical talents were extraordinary as he played keyboard and trumpet.
Loyd grew up on a ranch outside of town. His parents raised beef cattle and quarter horses. His mother was an accomplished rodeo barrel racer.
Paul had always dreamed of becoming a member of a rock band. While many in the town were not too sure about his career choice, Paul would persevere and see his dream bear fruit.
In 1986, Paul (using his professional name of Paul Daniels) was a founding member of the heavy metal band, Rox Diamond. Paul played keyboard and served as one of the band’s vocalists. Paul’s band would remain active well into the 2000s.
Loyd was destined to find success on the rodeo circuit. He became a world champion bullfighter in professional rodeo. Sometimes called rodeo clowns because of their colorful attire, these men were gifted athletes who looked out for cowboys when they were bucked off of a brahma bull.
Loyd’s skills were evident for several years on both the PRCA and PBR circuits. His efforts were best described with this phrase, “Bullfighting with class and finesse.”
Sitting here thinking of these two men and their hopes and dreams, they each made a name for themselves as well as making the community of Plevna proud.
We have appreciated spending time with Richard from Big Sky Buckeye. Look for more “Behind the Scenes” in future postings.
Here is a recent recording from Rox Diamond (dated 2018). If you are a fan of heavy metal music, this might interest you to listen in.
Here’s a short video clip of bullfighters Loyd Ketchum and Justin Hawks from 1997. Look out Loyd, here comes Georgie Porgie!
Every school year brings challenges to our youngest learners in the classroom. These struggling children find hope in a teacher, administrator, custodian, instructional assistant, or any other type of mentor. This is the hope of this poem.
Fearing tomorrow’s tasks
Dreaming of something more
Probing life’s gloomy path
Failing again to score
Meeting darkness once more
Ignoring teacher’s clues
Bearing sounds of silence
Surrounding failure’s blues
Learning nothing today
Parking in empty space
Sharing with hidden friend
Reaching familiar place
Retreating to safe zone
Boarding life’s empty plane
Watching goals crushed again
Seeing more fire than rain
Entering new classroom
Looking into hope’s eyes
Hearing assuring voice
Launching learning’s sunrise
The student is infinitely more important than the subject matter.
A sense of responsibility in teaching pushes us constantly to think about and promote the best interests of our students.
Nel Noddings (1929-2022) was an American educator and philosopher. Her teaching career included 17 years as an elementary and high school teacher along with serving in administrative positions. Before retiring in 1998, her career moved into teaching and administrative positions at Stanford, Columbia, and Colgate universities.
Lord, my God, hear this prayer
Bless the students in my care
Together, we’ll face each day
Overcoming times of gray
Bring patience to this classroom
Allow these young minds to bloom
Create a safe learning zone
God with us, never alone
There may be days not at school
Find ways to make learning cool
Cover colleagues with your love
Devotion, to be proud of
Send families gifts of grace
May we all stand and embrace
Loving each child in my care
Walk together in prayer
It seems there are nearly infinite challenges to educating our youth (both in schools and universities). My own daily prayers include significant time for teachers, students, and families during these challenging times. I especially reach out to my former colleagues who are still teaching as well as two of my daughters who teach. I may be retired from the classroom, but my heart still misses all whom I served and worked with.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
This is a true story about one of my former students. I was teaching at a high school in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana.
A disgruntled John entered my classroom on the first day of school. The senior was enrolled in an Accounting class with a room full of other seniors as well as a sprinkling of juniors.
As I was checking in later with each student, John bluntly told me, “I didn’t sign up for this class.”
I told John, “I am sorry to hear about this, but this class is a great one to take. I am looking forward to having you as a student.”
John quickly replied back, “The counselor dumped me in here because I need the credit to graduate.”
John’s stubbornness left him with a poor attitude. His first quarter grade was well below passing as he completed very little of the work. He continued to balk as each new chapter showed up on the class syllabus.
I visited with John’s mother, and she was quite concerned. She had her hands full with John’s noncompliant attitude as well.
An Accounting course works quite a bit like a math class. As each week progresses, students continue to add more building blocks of skill and knowledge related to the previous chapter. John was falling further and further behind.
During the second grading period, John began to show a tiny bit more interest in his performance. After all, he needed to earn a passing grade by the end of the first semester in order to receive credit.
I was beginning to see John’s potential which had been buried under the “chip on his shoulder” about school in general. Through it all, I could see that John was a sharp young man. Therefore, we just needed to find more ways to unlock his potential.
As the semester ended, John squeaked by with a passing grade . . . just barely!
Quote from British writer, C. S. Lewis: “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down the jungles, but to irrigate the deserts.”
I remained patient with John as the second semester began. He seemed more eager to discover himself when he returned to school after Christmas break. I continued to encourage him each day, and made an effort to touch base with him frequently. As the next few weeks continued, we both began to build an improved relationship based upon trust and respect.
As the third grading period progressed, John began to see the light. He was excited about class in ways I had never seen before. There was a genuine enthusiasm in his work as well as his much improved attitude. His failing marks were being replaced with A’s and B’s.
By the end of the third quarter, John was a solid “B” student in Accounting. He pulled me aside and told me one day, “I am really enjoying your class. In fact, I am thinking of taking business courses at college next year.”
He continued to excel and progress through the rest of the school year. I visited with John’s mother before graduation, and she was very proud of her son’s progress. He had matured beyond even her expectations.
In my short teaching career (I was in my fifth year), I had never witnessed such a turnaround as experienced by John. It was amazing and very gratifying to see a student literally catch fire and take off. At the end of the school year, John received my “Most Improved” award. John encouraged me with his own discovery of success.
This story captures the essence of why I found countless rewards from teaching over my 40-year career. I lost track of John long ago, but I feel assured his life turned out quite well.
Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pexels.com
Big Sky Buckeye 