Ride Your Bike, Ellen...

I didn't learn how to ride my bike until I was 9 years old.  I was terrified to get on my forest green Schwinn with it's sparkly silver banana seat and lunge myself forward.  No amount of coaching was going to convince me that attempting to ride that shaky form of transportation was a good idea.  

If it wasn't coaching or encouragement from my parents, what was it that finally got to me overcome my fear of two-wheelers you ask?  It was the sight of my 7 year old brother enjoying himself while riding my bike.  When I saw him having a grand time on MY bike, I was livid.  I got on my bike, rode across our yard, rode down our neighbor's driveway, and ran right into the mail boxes at the bottom of that driveway.  When I close my eyes I can still recall the goose egg that first ride gave me.

This memory makes me question something that has been bugging me about teaching for quite awhile.  If all children don't learn to ride a bike at the same age, why do we expect all children to read at the same rate and at the same level when they are in the same grade?  Why are we not focusing on helping each child make growth every day?  Some days I daydream of teaching in a classroom that is similar to the learning I do with my PLN.  I'm not chatting, tweeting, reading, or Skyping for credit, or a grade.  I'm not doing these things to reach a certain benchmark.  I'm doing these things because I know they will make me a better teacher which will result in my students becoming better learners.  At the end of the day, I want my students to feel proud of their accomplishments and more determined to face their fears.  I want my students to help each other to solve problems and to encourage each other to keep trying regardless of the obstacles they encounter.

I want them to know it's okay if they aren't ready to ride a bike until their 9th birthday.

Determined Dottie...

This morning I woke up to discover my friend had a new blog post.  This educator friend, who I've never been in the same room with, has made a big difference in my role as a lead learner in the last two years.  He has encouraged me to stretch, to explore new territory, to grow, to question, and most importantly to learn to embrace being uncomfortable.  Every day I wonder if my best efforts are enough.  But this friend is just one of a growing tribe who remind me daily it's not about you or me or we; it's about our students.  We are a team working together for one goal...every child will make remarkable progress while learning every day.

His latest post was about connecting the dots.  I won't try to paraphrase what he did a great job describing.  Here is a link to that post https://shiftparadigm2011.wordpress.com/.  Make sure you take a tour of his blog while you are there.  You'll be glad you did.

When I reflect on my elementary and secondary years certain teachers stand out.  I remember I wanted more than anything to have handwriting like my 4th and 5th grade teacher Mrs. Aquaviva.  I remember Mrs. Loomis because I knew she loved us.  The only two things I can see vividly in my memory regarding my first grade year with her were the monarch butterflies we raised, and her smile.  I remember how much my principal in middle school Mr. Kosinski made me laugh, and how much he believed in me.  I remember Mr. Steinbrenner working extra hard to help me understand algebra, and I remember Mr. Wilharm for his patience.  In high school my music teacher and choir director Mrs. Weaver showed me how music can inspire and encourage and uplift us.  I stand taller today because of my time with her.  I also remember the energy of Mr. Eichert, my high school biology teacher.  He made me excited about fruit flies.  You read that right...fruit flies.

I also recall coming home from kindergarten being very upset because I couldn't find a quiet place to color.  On a different day in kindergarten I recall being very upset with my teacher because she told me there was no way my parents were 12 and 14 years old.  I told her there was no way my parents would have lied to me.  I can laugh now about my parents' wisdom in not telling me their real ages when I was 5, but the memory of being a frustrated coloring student sticks with me.  I also recall being very upset when in 4th or 5th grade some fellow students and I were told to change our bulletin board honoring our teachers.  We had written Thank God for our teachers, and our teacher had the difficult task of explaining to us why we needed to change it to Thank goodness for our teachers.

So on the afternoon of the Super Bowl, when most of my fellow Charlotteans are watching pre game coverage I find myself pondering these questions.  How do I connect more dots for my students?  How do I meet them where they are and lift them up and encourage them to reach for the impossible? How do I show them they matter, and they will make this world a better place?

My nephew's elementary school made a video to cheer our Panthers on to victory today.  My hope is that regardless of whether the trophy ends up in Charlotte or Denver, that all those involved use their success to get others even more excited about educating our children than they are about Super Bowl rings, half time shows, or funny tv commercials.  For me, sports give me encouragement to keep doing what I'm doing regardless of how discouraged I may get some days.  I want to remain determined to connect the dots so my students realize their full potential.  From this day forward, I think I will call myself Determined Dottie:)

Go Panthers!