tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412126300027157112.post5958234284465033951..comments2010-02-11T03:45:45.760-06:00Comments on Cardinal Connection: Week 13: November 17 - 21, 2008The Cardinal Connectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15399208640773786398noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412126300027157112.post-30095048286761031322008-11-28T14:38:00.000-06:002008-11-28T14:38:00.000-06:00Nice post Jeanette. (yes, I finally got around to...Nice post Jeanette. (yes, I finally got around to reading through it carefully)<BR/><BR/>I wish I could read this kind of thing here more than the litany of dates and other managerial stuff I have to wade through to get to the good stuff.<BR/><BR/>As far as: <I>"I need more input than what you gave me on the survey in order to make it better."</I> -goes... <BR/><BR/>I think the best thing that can be done is to foster more decentralized celebration, ala Bob & Tori's Barbosa soiree'.<BR/><BR/>I know that this is a characteristic of a tight staff... but as far as how to get that to happen from a place where it doesn't... is the million-dollar question.<BR/><BR/>You know me- I loves me sum top-down leadership where needed. However, I think we need to incentivize our people to create relationship-building activities from the ground up.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we have just implemented too many things beyond where our relationships allow comfort? It happens in the classroom every year. It happens in every teacher's classroom when the books get passed out on the first day.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we need to crane our necks... look back... and shore up some powerful relationship-building experiences prior to the next big push. ;-)<BR/><BR/>SeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412126300027157112.post-53250336654739295542008-11-24T09:22:00.000-06:002008-11-24T09:22:00.000-06:00I fear that all too often I am the one who deflate...I fear that all too often I am the one who deflates your sails when you think all is well, and I work hard to keep myself from getting trapped in a sea of negativity. There are good days. Days when my students are cooperative, smiling, willing to talk about what we read, willing to write about what they think, and I, too, am thankful for the many things I have in my life, including the opportunity to work with my outstanding colleagues at Benton in trying to help prepare our wonderful kids for the world in which they live.<BR/><BR/>And then there are days that as soon I walk in the door, I am disappointed, dismayed and discouraged. I returned today from a fabulous four days at the NCTE conference in San Antonio. Wonderful weather, great food and a boat ride through the Riverwalk area. So many new books for my classroom and those of my colleagues that I had to buy a second suitcase and find another carry-on to accommodate them all! But the note my sub left for me brought a gray cloud to hang over me. "1st period -- I had difficulty getting them to work. They wanted to talk. To top it off, they complained they did not have enough time to do it!" And that's probably my best-functioning class.<BR/><BR/>So what now? Really, I had left a task that was an extension of the work we had done before I left. They were prepared for it and simply needed to do their own analysis in class as practice. Yet they balked. I am dragging my feet to team collaboration today because I'm at a loss for where to go with these kids. This is not a feeling I've been accustomed to in my 19 years of teaching. And it's one I don't like. I'm open to suggestions from any and all.<BR/><BR/>Like you, I feel like we've done some good things to build morale and grow a more positive climate here at Benton, but we still don't seem to be where we need to be. I had a great discussion with another educator while I was gone about our situation, and it leaves me thinking that maybe we have to go beyond the four walls of Benton High School. We know that many of our students live in poverty -- and more and more every day -- and we know that because of that they bring certain issues into our classrooms. But what do we do about that? What do we do to reach out into our Southside community to educate those people, to seek their support, to ask for their ideas? What do we do to involve our students' families in ALL things that go on at Benton, not just attending a Friday night football or basketball game? I certainly don't have the answers, but I've spent a lot of time this fall reflecting on my situation, our situation, and the world of Benton, and I think we still have a ways to go. We still need to work on the plan to get us there.Tori Grablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00920828159144464222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6412126300027157112.post-22870000085621064392008-11-24T07:42:00.000-06:002008-11-24T07:42:00.000-06:00In the midst of lesson planning last night I recei...In the midst of lesson planning last night I received an email from Tori Grable telling us of the passing of the mother of Dawn Smith (Central Language Arts peer). The past several days of news have also included the deaths of young women in car accidents in St. Joseph. <BR/>That information caused me to pause and reflect on my moral purpose and whether what I do in my waking hours contributes so that I might leave a legacy of my time on earth.<BR/>I certainly don't harbor any fantasies of curing cancer or walking on the moon, but I do want people to know I was here and that my work had a positive influence on even a few.<BR/>Just as you ask the sometimes troubled students why they come here every day, I paused to consider that question and found that there must be something I am getting from it. Banging ones head into the wall will only provide stimulation until you pass out.<BR/>Then I realized that I'm letting the negative, frustrating moments outweigh the positive meaningful ones simply by focusing on them. Turn the focus away and the burden may just seem lighter. The workload probably won't diminish, but the perceived value of it will increase.<BR/>There is too much to be grateful for in this week of Thanksgiving to list, but my hope is that my prayers for those who assist me every day will be met with favor and the blessings will be upon you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18418952396433440327noreply@blogger.com