Teaching Thoughts for October

 Teaching Thoughts Newsletter for October

 

Can you believe we are already in October (one of my favorite months with one of my favorite holidays)? This week is already mid-term. Blink and the Christmas displays will be out in stores (if they aren’t already).

 

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves though, I thought I would share something that Nevin Lubarksi, principal at Sacred Heart in EGF shared with his staff at their beginning of the year in-service session. My nephew, Matt Schmitz, is Associate Pastor Chaplain there and told my sister, Barb Schmitz, about Mr. Lubarski’s incredible presentation. Knowing how much I love inspirational stories, Barb didn’t hesitate to share it with me when she made it to one of Kenzie’s volleyball games.

 

The main message of the presentation was on the dangers of negativity. Now we all have difficult days, but I don’t know if you have noticed lately, but a lot of negativity is going around like a terrible cold. I’ve had boughts of it too. But when I heard Barb narrate Mr. Lubarski’s story, it woke me up out of my negative thoughts and changed my perspective.

 

Mr. Lubarski talked to his staff about how negativity is a frame of mind. Too often, we view things as a “got to” task rather than a “get to” task. When I reached out to Mr. Lubarski to share the story he told, he not only gave me permission but he also talked about how he brought in Hunter Pinke, a former UND football player who was involved in a terrible ski accident that left him paralyzed. It was Pinke who presented to the Sacred Heart staff on the idea of “No Bad Days.” At one point, Pinke told the Sacred Heart staff, “Some people see the glass as half empty. Others see it as half full. I’m just glad I have a glass.” When you are hearing this from some who is paralyzed, how suddenly do your “problems” become trivial?

 

To help Lubarski and his staff and students combat negativity, he has a simple mantra: 172. Lubarski told his staff how several years ago his mother was diagnosed with ALS. Over time she lost much of her movement and was confined to her bed. Lubarski, though, visited her every day to lift her spirits and brought her library books to read. He knew she was done with her latest batch when they were free of her constant Post-It Note she used as a book mark. 

 

The important point, Lubarski said, was that as a lifelong reader and refused to let ALS rob her of that joy. She could have complained about losing so much in her life, but she stayed positive and found joy in the moment of simply still being able to read. 

 

One day after visiting with his mother, Lubarski brought her latest book, which his mother said she was done with, back to the library. It was then that he noticed the Post-It note was still in the book . . . on page 172. He realized that his mother had lost the ability to even turn the page anymore. Page 172 was the last page she had been able to turn over by herself.

 

Yet, rather than complain or let it get her down, she didn’t say a word to anyone. She just found joy in so many other things she still could do.

 

Now, whenever one of his staff members let something trivial get them down, Lubarski just has to remind them of the number “172” to know what a real struggle is like. He even told me that he was recently visiting the varsity quarterback who was complaining about having to play that night with a wet football since it was going to continue to rain all evening. They actually looked at each other and said in unison, “172.”

 

So what trivial matter has you down? For me it was losing a close game to the Green Wave Friday evening. It sucked. It stings. It likely cost us any chance at a home playoff game. It also means we probably won’t have as good of a record as last year, which means we will have a losing record. Still. When compared to real struggles, it is a joy to be able to play and coach some great young men who are playing a great game. In other words, “172.”

 

Inside this month’s teaching thoughts, you’ll find –

 

The World is a Fine Place – a fan reaches out to the actor Mandy Patinkin, who played the lead role in The Princess Bride. In a key scene form that film, the fan heard a rumor that to prepare for the emotions of this scene, Patinkin thought of his father who had died from cancer. Well, as it turned out, the fan’s own father had recently died from cancer. The two had always loved The Princess Bride. She was trying to reach out to Patinkin to see if that was indeed true. Sure enough, Patinkin replied to her that it was and that he would be pray for her father. The power of technology! It doesn’t always have to be about drama or cyber bullying. It can be used for the power of good!

 

Book of the Month – Tom Romano’s Blending Genre, Alternating Style. This text is all about one of my all-time favorite genres of research papers – the mulit-genre research paper. Check the post out to learn more.

 

Teaching Thought for October – I recount the power of voice and style and making connections to our students. In this post I recount attending the funeral for one of my former students and reading some of her work at it. Such a powerful moment. Such a gift to share.

 

Why I love Teaching – The inspiration I get from my colleagues!

 

Podcast of the Month – American Shadows. If you like the darker parts of history, check this podcast out. Perfect for October!

 

Video of the Month – Check out the story of Keanon Lowe, not only how he has transformed a school’s football team but also how he prevented a school shooting. Not all heroes wear capes. You won’t regret these 7 and a half minutes.

 

I hope you had a great September and have an even better October. Mid-terms are almost here as a parent teacher conferences. Enjoy these final few weeks before the snow flies!

 

 

PS – the background is an image of my favorite holiday – Halloween!