Enlisting

Its been too long (and life's been quite busy), so I'll give a quick "what's up."

First, our wee lass turned seven-months-old recently.  And she's trying to walk, which she mostly displays by bear-crawling and pulling herself up on any frestanding object.

Second, both Meg and I've been busy at work, doing overtime and being the sort of people who bosses depend on (the kind with work ethics- thanks mom and dad!).

Third, I've been playing around a bit with the birdie thing.  You know, something about goting tweet tweet.  Kinda like messanger pigeons of old, but without the need to throw breadcurmbs.  Anyway, its all in an effort to open more lines of communication to all (especially family).

Finally, going through application to seminary again, and this time the committee at the district is recomending I be admitted.  So, I'm going to try to post weekly (biweekly, or at least regularly) though this so that people can see what's happening and others interesting in the journey can get a perspective that isn't "polite."  (I won't be rude, just blunt.)  Kind of a cross between a progress report and an explorer's journal.

(Meg and I recenly went on a mini-adventure, hiking a bit and seeing the tallest waterfall in NE, and daydreaming about a canoe trip.  So writting about the happenings appeals to the newly awakened adventurer in me.)

So, that's all for now.  Gonna try to figure out how to tweet and all that, and see if I can interconnect these things.

Graduation

Today was 8th Grade graduation at Trinity Lutheran.  Its bittersweet, for the students and teachers.  Most of the nine graduates had spent close to eight years together.  It was emotional watching my first, and last, eight grade class graduate.  Well, I say "last," but that is not entirely official.  It is without a doubt my last eight grade graduation as a teacher at Trinity.

After reviewing my year here, and lots of reflection and prayer, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot stay.  I'm also marginally sure that I am not "the right stuff" for middle level, and I am wondering if I might not even be meant for "conventional classroom" teaching.

So, I've got a visit to the St. Louis Seminary in the pipeline.  For the first time in a number of years I am (nearly) entirely at peace with the idea of going to Sem.  There are still a lot of questions, but they are "housekeeping" and "details" compared to the big issues.  Hence the visit.  I am scared.  What if I get all my questions answered and I come to the conclusion that its a case of "not right now?"  What if I get all my questions answered and I come to the conclusion that its a case of "too late?"  But right now, none of that matters.

What matters is this: my time as a 7th and 8th Grade teacher in S. Illinois is over.  I will miss my students.  They have been a handful, even frustrating at times.  Many a day I felt like I was talking to a bunch of rocks.  But in spite of all the headaches (literal and metaphorical) great things happened.  They weren't always big things, but great none the less.  My students learned.  I got an opportunity to teach to eleven fantastic students.

I also had eleven fantastic teachers.  There is no doubt who learned more this year in "Mr. B's" classroom: me.  I learned about how to (and not to) teach.  I learned patience.  I learned diplomacy.  I learned forgiveness.  I learned loyalty.  I learned friendship.  I learned differentiation.  I learned English.  I learned foreign language.  I learned to laugh.  I learned to be open.  I learned to be welcoming.  I learned to care.

This has been a great experience, but now it is time to move on.  I don't know for sure what God has in store for me next, but I am at peace with that.  That's how I know it will work out in the end.  There is no panic, no fear, no impatience.  What happens, happens in God's time.  I'm just along for the ride.

Trinity Lutheran 7th and 8th Grade, 2013-2014: Thank You.

Four down, 170 days to go.

Well, I survived my first week as a teacher.

And it was exhausting.  There's still some (okay, a lot) of things that still are "in progress," but for the most part this has been good.  I'm still trying to establish myself and figure out how best to teach these kids.  They're dragging their scholastic feet a little, especially regarding reading.  Of the 21 students I work with, five or six seem to really enjoy reading.  And it seems my best reader is one of the 5th graders.  I assign two chapters and she reads seven.  On Tuesday I gave my kids (the 7th and 8th graders) a simple assessment to see what they remember.  I've done this before.  On the quiz was a map of the US, which I had them label as best they could.  Well, like last time it didn't work too well.  Only one did better than 90%.  Yesterday I gave them another states quiz, but this time three got 100% and five got over 90%.  Maybe there's hope for them yet.  Despite realizing there is more to do than I expected, I think I can handle it.

Greeting from Little Egypt, on the banks of the lovely Mississippi River

Sorry it has been so long, but its finally here: the first Terminal Introvert post from outside Nebraska!  This means two things.  One) I have a teaching job.  And two) I'll need to buy some Husker shirts.

I've been really busy getting my classroom set up, so I won't be posting a lot for the rest of the month.  Sorry to tease.  But here's the gist: my first day teaching is August 20th.  The school is Trinity Lutheran School in a community known locally as Prairie, just outside Red Bud, Illinois.  The church was founded in 1847.  The class I will be in charge of is 7th and 8th grade in a combined semi-self-contained classroom.  That means I have them for most of the classes, trading only for music and math, which is fine.  There will be, according the the latest count, nine 8th graders and two 7th graders.  Oh, and when my kids go for math, I take the 5th and 6th and do English.  And I have to get ready to coordinate a science fair.  And lead a class trip to Washington D.C. at the end of the year.  And rebuild the literature selection for four grades.  And create curriculum for all of my classes from scratch, which this year includes theology, biology, early American history, vocabulary, Illinois government, art, and physical education.  And I may get to lead youth Bible studies a couple Sundays a month.  Its exhausting just writing all that.

Commissioning and installation is this upcoming Sunday, August 11th.  Thank God He brought me this far.

More evidence that US education is screwed up

Read this: Stupid History Teacher

This teacher is a complete idiot.  She said that you cannot "slander" the president or you will be arrested.  So, how is it that talk show hosts and news anchors of syndicated networks avoid that.  8 years of bashing Bush lead to no arrests.  And even if someone was arrested, they would be read their rights, unless charged with terrorism.  Why?  Because that makes them enemy combatants outside a combat zone, and therefore not under the protection of any nation or treaty.

We, as citizens, have the right to criticize the president.  We should refrain from disrespecting him and the office, but disrespect is not illegal.  What is illegal is threatening the president's life.  Saying Obama is the second worst president in US history and a socialist who is the cause of our current economic woes is not arrest worthy.  It's my opinion of he man Barack Obama, who happens to be the current president.

So here's my question: when did criticism become synonymous with disrespect?

Today's rant: Exxon-Mobile commercial

Hey y'all, been a while.  Like kinda snuck up and, well, I just haven't had anything really to say.

(Well, except that I have an awesome wife, but that goes without saying.)

But here is what's been bugging me for a few days.  Exxon-Mobile has a commercial out reminding everyone that the US is #17 on an international list of "Best Math and Science scores."  So, E-M is working to gain support for teachers, specifically those in the aforementioned fields.  And I don't like it.

Seventeen out of 200 nations.  That's not bad.  Actually that's really good.  That would be a 91% on a report card.  If I get a student moaning about how "horrible" that score is I would be tempted to laugh at them and say they may not have their priorities straight.

Which I feel is our problem in this nation.  We have great math and science programs.  But our history seems to be lacking.  There are a lot of people (including some politicians) who apparently don't know what type of government the United States has.*    How do we survive as a nation with a voting population that is so inept?  That is why I am going to be a history teacher.  My goal is to be "the most dangerous history teacher in November."  In other words: my (future) US Government students will not the the stereotypical ideological "deer in the headlights" voters.  They won't take any political BS or spin.

So, to bring this rant to a close: when is Exxon-Mobile gonna send funding for the real backbone of US society: history teachers?

* If you think you know what type of government we as a nation has, take the poll over on the right.  I'll post results in two weeks.

Done?

Its been a long day.
Correction, its been a long year.  I feel drained.  Dead.  Flat.  I've spend so long fighting to prove myself, and now I have.  This morning I was standing in a group of almost 600 waiting to wait.  Waiting to sit in a crowded and stuffy gymnasium and wait our turn to receive a piece of paper that validates our hard work.  Well, for me it was three pieces of paper.  As with many of my peers, I walked twenty feet across a stages to receive a Bachelors of Science in Education, specifically a Lutheran Teacher's Diploma, with an emphasis in Theology and History.  And if that wasn't enough, I got a Bachelors of Science in Theology, too.
No more going to classes.  No more papers to write.  No more pulling hair out trying to get things at the library/registrar/computer lab set up.  I am done with the traditional education experience.  I have graduated.
So, I'm done now, right?

Yeah, right.  I've just barely scratched the surface of my learning.  I'm still in "limbo" regarding my future classroom.  And this adventure known as being a husband and father has only just begun, and is starting to get really interesting.  As if it wasn't already.

Well, this stage of life has come to a close.  Its been fun, but it has been a struggle.  And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Per ardua ad astra!

Its been a long semester...

Yesterday was the last day of student teaching.  That means no more getting up a 5 to get to the school on time, no more 10 to 12 hour days, no more grading papers and making lessons until the wee hours, a no more having to deal with middle school students.  This has been one of the most emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally draining endeavors of my life.  But it has also been the greatest learning experience ever.  I have grown more in the last 18 weeks that I though possible.  I have found patience and endurance beyond what I imagined possible.  And I have discovered that I have not wasted the last few years chasing after this nebulous and fleeting concept of being a "teacher."

I am a teacher.  All that is left is to cross the stage at graduation and receive official documentation that says so.

And I am tired, so I think I might go pass out now and catch up on 4 months of sleep.  So, until tomorrow, peoples of the internet, good night and God bless.