Building you PLN

It is so important to build a PLN (Personal Learning Network)!  This network can give you ideas, support and encourage you to keep learning.  You may build your network though social media, conferences. professional organizations and getting to know the teachers in your building.

I feel sometimes we overlook the value of the professionals in your building and district.  Get to know these other teachers and staff, even if they teach a different subject or age group.  You will learn ways they deal with classroom management that may work in your classroom.  Maybe they found an app that would work in your classroom if you just tweaked it.  The idea of visiting other teacher's classrooms intrigues me.  I have visited one class and have another planned but I think some are afraid that I am coming in to judge but we can all learn from everyone.  I have been teaching 18 years but I love to see some of the things the young teachers are trying.  I also like to see how some of my students learn in other classrooms.  Maybe I can learn from successes another teacher have with a student that I struggle with.

Also by getting to know other teachers in the building, it gives you someone to go to.  I know that Mrs. Ulrich is going to give me a different perspective and Mrs. Stausing is going to give me her honest feedback.  If I want to integrate art in a lesson, I know Mr. Daniels will be thrilled the help me out and all these amazing teachers are in the same building as I am in!

Through FBLA and Southeast MO Business Educators Association, I have gotten to know other high school business teachers in the area.  These are great people to have in my network because they are business education experts.  They are great people to consult when changing books, adding classes, writing grants and keeping up with changes in career education like technical skills assessments or advisory committees.  I have also built my network though conferences.  Some of those conferences have to do with professional organizations that I belong to such as Missouri Business Educators or just amazing conferences like the Midwest Education Technology Conference.


And then there are those people we connect with on social media and I have a bunch of those as well!  Using Twitter I have connected with a teacher that grew up in a neglected home and has taught me how to better connect with students in neglected homes.  I exchange ideas with education professionals across the country and world.  I have connected with authors and those on the cutting edge of education theory.  I have debated current issues with experts in the field.

I don't believe any PLN is complete without a wide variety of professionals, so go out and find those amazing teachers.  Find a wide variety professionals that you can support and they can support you, it will make you a better and more efficient teacher!

What I Learned from being the Mascot

Offhandedly I was offered the chance to be the school mascot at one of our home football games and I jumped at the chance!   So, lets just get the bad over with first, yes some people were rude. I thought I was going to have to call administration on one of the adults because they would not let go of my tail.   A junior high student asked me if I was a lesbian and another student asked if I had a penis or a vagina and it was hot.  The temperature at game time was high for this area and the costume was hot but ......... 

OMG, I had so much fun!  The high school kids had no clue who was in the costume they just knew it was not the normal girl and it drove them crazy.  I did not talk and for me to not talk from 6:30 - 9 is an amazing feat of its own.  I got to dance with the band and high 5 the colorguard!  I cheered with the student section and high fived the parents.  I stood out on the field to welcome the team in.  The little kids were amazing!  There were several students that got hugs a dozen or more times.  There were little kids that were scared of me until I went in the corner to "hide" and then they decided I was harmless.  I had bunches of pictures taken with kids of all ages.  I even got to hold a whole bunch of babies.  

So lesson learned, no matter what the age, take time to laugh and have fun.  Also there are a lot of people out there, big and little, that are in need of a hug.  Even if that hug comes from a sweaty person in a tiger costume.

For the Love of Students

Last week was a very tough week, we have all had them.  It does not matter if you are a teacher, accountant or an engineer, you are going to have bad days or weeks.  The thing about teaching is we have students.  Students that can challenge us but they also support us, many times without even knowing it. 

Monday I had a conference and I drug myself into school on Tuesday.  Before I even got to the mail room several students stopped me to tell me how happy they were that I was back.  A couple of them even came to give me a hug.  Not what the general public would expect from teenagers.  I headed up to my classroom and a student came in first hour with a thank you card and a loaf of homemade banana bread.  The week has continued that way.  One day a student brought me my favorite candy bar another day a former student sent me a long text about how much she appreciated all the things that I did for her while she was in high school.  So after a rough week last week I look forward to Friday.  Not because it's Friday but because I get to spend the day with these marvelous teenagers who prove everyday that they will make the world a better place!  I love you all!

Let Them be Bored!

Kids complain they are bored.  That is nothing new,my grand kids get bored,  my kids got bored and when I was young I got bored.  We were told to go find something to do but so often now children are handed a toy or phone or iPad to answer the question for them.  What is wrong with kids being bored?  We came up with some of our best ideas when we were bored.  That is when we figured out that if we put a car hood on the hill before it snowed we would have a ramp to sled ride off.  Boredom resulted in us learning that if you rock the jon boat in the pond, the little fish would jump out of the water.  If we were never bored we would have never figured out that if we climb half way of the barn ladder, we could climb on the cow's back and ride her.
Now, not all those were the greatest ideas but when are ideas going to come if everyone is always busy and never get bored?  When we or kids are bored we think.  We think about problems and issues.  We think about ideas, solutions, and we get creative.  So the next time kids complain they are bored, maybe we should say "Good, go get creative!"

On a side note, the day after I posted this blog the barn I spoke about started falling over.  It was way over 100 years old and sat on my parents property.  It was the backdrop for so many pictures and a host of memories!

Real Life of High School Teachers

I am amazed at the number of times people ask me "Are you not scared to go to work at the high school?"  I think it is an excellent example of the misconceptions the general public have about teachers, specifically high school teachers.

I have been teaching high school for 18 years and have never been scared to go to school.  There have been lots of experiences that would amaze some.  The reality is that every day is different and we always expect the unexpected, and I am not talking about fire drills or computer issues. Days are not boring and no two days are alike.  Five days a week I spend 45 minutes a day with each of my kids (aka my students).  I get to know them and they get to know me, therefore it is not a surprise that there is a lot of learning that goes on that is not in the curriculum.  There is the kid that did not believe that teachers really cared until I gave them a letter of encouragement before the ACT.  After that he gave me a hug almost every day of his senior year.  There was the freshman girl a few years ago that found out her dad was in a construction accident and that it was bad but no one had time to come get her; we sat on the floor in the hall and both cried.  There was the senior boy whose mom got beat up the night before; I had never seen such big tears.  And that boy that refused to to anything in class until he heard stories about my class.  That senior boy that wrote a letter after graduation to say he had considered suicide but he always felt safe at school.  Oh and that senior boy that come running down the hall to tell me he got accepted to college, that was the first time I had seen him smile! We cheer with them over classroom successes and sports events.  We listen to heartbreak over broken

relationships.  Then there is the boy that asked about a girl he wanted to take to prom; then she asked if she should go with him.  They have been married five years and have two children.  The boy that cried because he was going to have to move his senior year.  The former students that hang out of car windows to yell at you while you pump gas always generates a smile.  The days that you forget that your first name is not Mrs..  When there are those events that parents stand with their kids and high school teachers check to make sure no one is standing alone.  We have stood in for many an absent parent.  When you cry at graduation because you know you are going to miss these kids.  The kids that you will never forget because they are just so special.  The pictures you have in your room to remind

the current students that they will always be one of your kids.  The tears of joy when a student tells you they got a full ride scholarship and the heartbreak when student check their new ACT score.  And there are the times the ACT score is amazing and we force students to call their mom, NOW.  And some of them will forever own a piece of our heart. There are the kids that call me mom, or school mom, or momma Taylor, or believe it or not, Mother Theresa, lol.  So keep in mind that most teachers love your children, even in high school.  We hug them, we high five them, we support them, we cry with them but most of all, we love them and enjoy being a part of their high school memories.


This bog post is dedicated to Bennett.  One of my former students that mentioned that he actually ready by blog and wished that I posted more often.

Why Hate?

Charlottesville, VA happened today and I must comment or vent before I burst!  The thought of hating or hurting someone because of  the color of their skin makes me sick.  The thought that someone would hurt one of my students or friends because their skin is not white makes me literally sick to my stomach.  The thought of getting a call that Sam, Alyssa, Moriah, Andre, Nita, Tyrus, Stephon, Jennifer or Thomas or any one else was the victim of a hate crime is more than I want to even consider.  Who freaking cares what color a person's skin is?  It is no different than the color of someone's eyes or hair.  No one is born a racist, it is learned.  Whoever is teaching this hate, STOP IT!

Teacher's Must be Lifelong Learners

Teachers value education and learning, its what we do!  If it is so important for students to earn

everyday, should it not also be important for teachers to learn everyday?  The world in changing and technology makes it so easy to learn.  Part of encouraging students to learn is to make sure that they know we are also learning.  How do we do that?  We are busy people. The best way to learn is what works for you.

Conferences, like Google Summit #edtechteam or METC etc are very traditional way of learning and works for many of us.  Sometimes I just need to get out of town and concentrate on learning and a great chance to network with other educators.  Check in to traditional conferences, some are a day or two while others are a week.  Some are local and others are hours away.  I think every educator needs to attend at least one national convention.

Another option is twitter.  My #PLN on twitter has been amazing!  I follow and have followers from 29 states and 9 different countries.  I have learned so much from chats with all these amazing educators.  They answer questions and help refill my bucket.  I participate in at least two education chats each week.

Maybe online learning that you have complete control of works better for you!  Pick a topic and search youtube for lectures, Ted talks or videos that you can learn from anyone in the world on the topic you need to earn.  I have used this method to teach me PhotoShop after that class was added to my schedule and I continue to use it keep me up-to-date when new versions come out.

The important thing is if you truly value learning, don't just preach it, do it.  Be a lifelong learner!

A Teacher's Summer

“Oh, wow!  You have three months off, must be nice to be a teacher!”  I get so tired of hearing this.  First of all, it feels like they are saying that I have an easy job and I do not work hard.  I do!  Secondly, it is a career choice and anyone that is willing to get the education and pass a background check, can apply for a teaching position.  Thirdly, you do not really understand my summer vacation.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my summer!  I have flexibility in most of my days, I get to spend some time with those who I do not make enough time for in the school year and a get to unwind.  But what about the rest of that vacation.     So how do I spend my summer.  I will be teaching summer school half a day for four weeks.  I also have a class during the regular year that needs revamped so I will take care of that.  The Moodle page for my PhotoShop class needs to be cleaned up and updated; that will take most of an afternoon and I want to reorganize my College Readiness class for next year to make it better.  In late June I will take two FBLA members to National contest for 5 days, and before that make all the arrangements.   In mid-July I will be going to a two day Google Summit.  There is a one-day leadership conference I want to take my FBLA officers to and I also want to meet with them for a day-long meeting in July to plan for next year.  In late July I will go to a business teachers conference for most of a week.  Senior orientation starts on July 31^st.

Now in between those activities, I will also welcome my 8^th grandchild into this world!  I will visit my oldest son and his family so I can watch a t-ball game or two and hopefully a dance recital.  I have several projects to complete at my home and some serious housework to get done.  I will also have lunch with several former students to catch up on how college is going and most importantly, I will “fill my bucket” and be more than ready to return to my amazing students in August!

The Bad Side of Building Relationships

Those who know me may be shocked at this topic until they think about it.  We have all been encouraged to build relationships with our students and I agree that students work harder and teachers are better teachers when both groups have built a relationship of respect, understanding and getting to know each other but it is May.  In May, seniors graduate and go away.  Graduation was a whole lot easier way back when we did not do all this relationship building!  Now we know that Bennett is going away to college in Kansas and what a big heart he has.  Sam is off to Missouri Baptist and I will no longer see his smile every morning.  It is hard!  I have grown to know, respect and love these kids and to see them walk out the door for the last time is sad.  Some I will see again.  Some will come back to visit.  Some I will see on social media and some I will have an annual lunch with the in the summer.  Some I may never see again.

So off to graduation I went today, determined that I was not going to shed any tears.  Then I got a shout out from one of the senior speakers and one of the kids brought me a heartfelt card, another told me how much a difference I make to my students.  Another student had gone to alt school after she had wore out many staff members; she cried when she saw me and told me thank you.

Then their are the past students that have come to graduation.  Every year there are few that are there and for them to come and look for me to say hi, or introduce me to their husband or tell me how college is going.  Those small things mean a lot.

.I wish them all the success in the world and I hope they know, they will truly be miss, especially by this teacher, but it is really sad to say goodbye to them!

And Any Other Required Duties

What does that sentence really mean?  Every teacher has read it on their contract and we assume that means morning duty, dance duty etc but this week I have thought a lot about that sentence.  As a high school teacher we do a lot that is not listed as a duty on our contract.  Prom is coming up the end of the month and each year somehow I end up in the middle of Promposals or someone that wants a date or wants a date with someone.  This year I ended up with the job of stopping a promposal to avoid public embarrassment when a student was going to say no. Guess that is “other required duties”.   Last week I noticed one of my students standing in the hall looking in my door with a desperate look.  I go to talk to her and she collapse in tears, ten minutes later she was feeling better after a heart to heart talk.  Guess that is “other required duties”. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am glad students feel comfortable coming to me if they need to talk, cry or get adult opinions!  When my own children were in school, I know they had teachers they would go to if needed.  

What else do high school teachers do that the community and parents do not realize?  There is the laughter and the high fives over test scores, athletic success and displays of their personal talents.  We advise students, write recommendations for college and scholarships.  We spread the word of job openings and follow that up with agreeing to be a reference.  We give tips for job and college interviews, and help them look up answers to all kinds of questions.  Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, teacher bonuses come in the form of thank you cards.  Take the time and write one or send an email to a former teacher of yours or your child’s teacher.  

Student Voice

You arrive at a PD meeting, you have no clue what is going on today except that you must be there are 7:30.  Someone else decided on the topics, when breaks are, how long they are, when lunch break is, how the information will be presented or anything else..  We as teachers feel we should have a voice in what we need to learn and how best to learn it.  Students feel the same way, they want a voice as well.

Now we all know that in education, sometimes students can have a say and sometimes because of rules and regulations we just cannot change some things.  It is still good to give them a chance to voice their thoughts and opinions.  They may have an idea that you had not thought about. How do we go about giving students a voice and more importantly convincing them that their ideas and opinions are welcome?

The first thing that must be done is to create an environment where students are comfortable having an open discussion.  The first day of school in your class would most likely not be a good day.  They have not had time to trust the teacher.  When you work in class, you let the kids get to know you and understand that you are willing to take their opinions and not judge them or put them down for what they said.  They need to know that your room is a safe place to offer ideas, thoughts and opinions.

Next we need to give them a voice.  Ask for their opinions; listen to what they have to say.  If a project is failing, ask them what they think is the problem.  If you are going to try something new, like gamification, ask them what rewards would motivate them most.  One of my classes will do almost anything for food but another class wants 10 minutes of free time.  It is much easier to ask than to guess and be wrong.

You can also give student's a voice in the big things.  Why are college students required to evaluate professors but high school teachers almost never ask students for an evaluation?  If a school is run for the benefit of students, why not have a student group that administration can consult with for ideas and suggestions?  When students are frustrated over a desision, why not ask students for idea.  It may not change anything or it may, either way at least students feel empowered.

How have in incorporated student voice this year?  First of all, I did have students evaluate me.  There were a couple surprises and I guaranteed students that it was anonymous and it was.  The problem was that a student made a comment that I would have liked to discuss more in depth but I could not figure out who the student was.  I have also asked students how we could improve our new Advisory hour, and how do they best learn, what distractions are in my room and how could I reteach a topic so they may better understand.  Or how would they learn better in groups, peer tutoring, lecture, investigation.

Student voice can also apply to a one-on-one conversation.  A student says they hate school, ask them why, give them paper to write down suggestions to improve school.  Make sure they know that you are not only going to read the list, you are going to investigate your ideas to see if any are realist.  Sometimes that voice is a quiet voice asking you to check on a student that is more quiet than normal and sometimes it is that loud voice that yells that he is going to drop out.  Sometimes it is an entire class saying this project makes no sence or a few students saying that the project does not work for them and can they tweek the assignments.  What is more important, learning or completing the project exactly the way you created it and used it for ten years?

Don't Kill Student Curiosity

Okay I admit it, I have not read a book in a while, I have gotten very busy with other things.  Having said that, I am addicted to reading The Innovator's Mindset and even joined a book study, #IMMOOC.  I teach high school and hear on a regular basis how students hate school.  I know some of them are more frustrated for the day verses every day but there are those who really do hate it.  How many hate it because they have lost the love of learning or maybe they were never sparked to love learning?  I do not know but I can do my part to make learning fun.  Hopefully that will ignite the curiosity of those who love to learn and those who have lost it.  Students today need to accept that they must be lifetime learners.  If they have lost their curiosity and love of learning, what are the chances of them staying involved in learning?  Sometimes that fun is a simple as corny jokes that are tied to the curriculum to help them remember the concepts.  One of my database jokes, you cannot create a new relationship if you have the old girlfriends around.  That helps them remember that they cannot create database relationships while they have tables open.  Yea it is corny and the kids agree with that but they laugh and remember the concept.  I believe that if laughter is associated with learning, it is a good thing.  Also so many students have very little in their lives to smile about, much less laugh. 

Sometimes is means having snacks for hungry students, they cannot learn if they are hungry.  Sometimes it means taking time to listen to a student, it is tough to teach a student that is stressed out or upset.  I want students that walk in to feel more like they are at home, low stress and safe.  Students are then more willing to try something new, or accept failure, or feel free to speak up if they feel safe and welcomed.


I also decorate my classroom with various hand made quilts and student paintings.  I tell them the theme  of my room is find your talent and put it to use.  I tell them the stories of the quilts and paintings and the skills required for each.  Then I encourage them to explore what interests them and to put forth the time and effort to develop their interest and skills. 

Currently I have the honor of assisting one of my FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) students this week and last as he finishes up a project for competition.  His event is 3D Animation and I know nothing about it.  My job was things like have the lab open for him and install the software that he needed on computers.  He has worked on this project for months just because it is his interest and he is self taught.  He has spend a huge number of hours on this project and has loved every minute of it, even the failures.  It is so much fun to watch him work and I love to listen to him explain what he is doing.  This is what learning is all about!  He was curious about animation and went on to learn about it, that is so exciting.

We must teach students to love learning so they continue to learn.  Hopefully they do not look back at their school years and cringe.

College for the Neglected Child

For years there has been discussions about getting low income students into college.  There is another group of students that that need some major attention, the neglected student.  Unfortunately most of us know a few, those kids that live at home with one or two parents but the parents do nothing for the student.  Many times these are also poverty kid but not always.  They are the students that get themselves up for school, do their own laundry,  and work a part-time job.  Their parents don't come to parent/teacher conferences, don't return calls or even show up for athletic or recognition events.  Many times they yell and fight with each other a lot.  They do not show affection to their kids or help them out.  They may be in and out of jail or they just do not care about their children.  Many of these kids want to have a better life but the process is overwhelming.  Not only is the cost shocking, they struggle with the process.  There are so many basic skills that they have not witnessed or been taught how,  like speaking to a sales person, dealing with frustration or asking off work.  These parents are not going to fill out the FAFSA form for their kids or even help them fill it out.  These parents are not going to take them to college visits.  They are used to "the world being against them" leaving them quick to give up with frustration.  When they encounter problems with the FAFSA, they want to give up.  Many of these kids we ask, how did that apple fall so far from the tree; the kids are so different from their parents.  These kids are often problem solvers, bright, hardworking and proud.  They are in no hurry to ask for help, they are going to try to do it all themselves but college many times is the exception.  Some of these students have no transportation or drivers license so they cannot visit colleges on their own. There are some colleges that are arranging so students can stay in the dorms during breaks and even summers to combat the issue of homeless students or students from difficult homes. The best thing, in my opinion, for some of these kids is to go away to school and get away from their situation but how do they move into the dorm.  Who is going to tell them what they need. They could get a full ride scholarship and the parents may not be willing to help them move away to a dorm, or not even support the idea of them going to college.  The student has their plates full with school, work and maybe even babysitting siblings.  This leaves no time for community service but most scholarships ask about community service.

Maybe it is not my problem.  I raised my children and never neglected them.  Why does it have to do with me?

Years ago, Hilary Clinton said, "It takes a village".   I did not agree with her at the time but now understand.  We are all chained together in life.  Make it your job to help one kid become a stronger link in the chain.