Hard Work, Challenges, More Hard Work...Success!

Two messages in one day!
It's often evident that young people (and sometimes not-so-young) tend to have a sense of entitlement. The world "owes" them something, just because of some circumstance--like breathing? I find it infuriating.

I understand how Life can be unfair or cruel. I've been looked down on, and not just because I'm short. My mother taught me that I would have to work harder and be better, just to be considered "equal". Life isn't always fair, parents tell their kids. Deal with it, work harder, be better than the other guy.

I'm sure you've heard much the same thing. So has our new President. Was his a charmed life? No. Barack Obama's childhood and youth has been publicly documented. He had his problems, too. He worked harder, didn't give up, and has been more successful in the public area than anyone. Imagine being the first African-American President!

Obviously, President Obama is not alone. There are many inventors, pioneers, politicians, clergy, teachers, writers, actors, musicians,artists, explorers, and more who have struggled, endeavored and accomplished things that have become part of American (or world) culture. I want my students to learn from their experiences, just as we want our children to learn from our own.

While I am also still doing ACCESS testing (till nearly the end of February), I am pulling my students as often as possible, and have given them a long-term assignment. This assignment will be a MAJOR part of this marking period's grade. Briefly, this is a reading and research project, which will be due in late February.

Students have chosen a history-making African-American's biography to read at home. They will be making notes of key events, words, struggles, and achievements, and I will be guiding them (during class) in composing a timeline for the person's life. My goal is to enable the students to understand that success is not without personal effort and hard work.

Thank you in advance for encouraging your student to continue to work, not only in school, but also in pursuit of thier personal interests. Through our efforts and their own, we will raise a generation of appreciative, conscientious, successful young people and adults!

Celebrating Culture

You don't have to have a "holiday" to recognize and celebrate something special or timely. This time of year, it's cold, rainy, and generally unpleasant outside. Inside schools, there's always something going on! 

One thing I appreciate so much about what I do, is the ability to recognize and celebrate the cultures and backgrounds of my students, including those in Multicultural Club. We have been spending extra time reading African folktales, and my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes are reading biographies of well-known African-Americans, and their valuable contributions to our society and culture. More on that project another time...

In the midst of all this, I want to enable the students to understand that different cultures intertwine, weave, and bind us together, not unlike a quilt. To this end, I am having a special lunch with my hard-working 7th grade class, where we will share (my treat) traditional Chinese holiday foods. I am hoping all of that class will be able to participate, because as with fabric, if you pull out a thread, it leaves a hole, or empty line. Like life, we are in this society together, and our cultures and differences are what bring us together, yet distinguish us as individuals.