The Dog Days of Summer-Back to School!

Greetings to you, my fellow BETs!

Today is the last day of summer vacation for me.  Every year, I struggle to understand the way the summer progresses.  It goes fast and it goes slow.  It seems like it will last forever, and then it is gone in the blink of an eye.   As I reflect on these last eight weeks, I can’t help but consider a few very important thoughts.  Like, where did my summer go?! And, why do we have to go back so early?!

Firstly, my summer went exactly where I thought it would go…away.  During the first few weeks, it seems like the summer will last forever.  In the midst of vacation and general loafing, I would stop in to the school, and haphazardly work on some things for the fall.  Going into early July, my frequent visits to the school lessened, and my anticipation for the fall semester grew.  I went in to school yesterday to do some fine tuning to my plans for the fall, and realized that I had made very few plans, and that I had spent most of my time during those visits cleaning and getting my room reorganized.  It smells really nice!

Secondly, we have to return to school so early because…er…um…okay, I don’t know why we have to return to school so early!  When I was growing up, the earliest I ever remember school starting was about August 23^rd or so.  I even remember when we didn’t have to return until after Labor Day!  That’s not the part that is so frustrating.  The frustrating part for me is how we were able to start so late, and still not have to go to school into June.  How does this make any sense?  How does this disparity work out to better education for our kids?  It must be the new math!  I was never good at math.

So, I sit here in my recliner typing and watching golf, wondering where exactly my summer went.  I really don’t think I will ever figure this out.  What I do know, is that although I am wishing there were just a few more days left to not wake up to an alarm, I am equaling excited for what this new school year will bring.  I have missed the kids this summer and I look forward to their stories of conquest and ease, and their general sense of awe in navigating a new stage of the teenage journey.  Just to be a part of that is worth heading back to school in the midst of summer.  And just think; Fall Break is a mere 79 days away!

Remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Networked Blogs, or Google Plus, or subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc.  Thanks again for reading!

A Year in the Life?

Good Morning BET's!

Yes, it has been almost an entire year since my last post.  For as much as I love writing, you would think this would be a bigger priority for me.  Oh well.  Today is a new day!

As many of you know, last June, I took my first teaching job at the high school level.  I am teaching Business and Computers in the Culver Community School system, in Culver Indiana.  As the year is coming to a close, I thought I could reflect on what I have found and what this journey has done for(to) me.

As we started the year, I was ecstatic about the opportunity to connect with kids and to teach them so much that I had stored up over the years.  I was wide eyed with the possibilities and my imagination ran wild with thoughts of the intellectual exchanges I would be having with the students.  This alone, made sleep almost impossible for the first few weeks.  And then, reality set in.

The students weren't nearly as eager to engage me in intellectual tennis, as much as they were to just figure out why a 50 something would start his teaching career in this small rural Indiana town, and even why a 50 year old would change careers at this advanced age.  So many questions.  I was the new kid again.  The students wanted to figure me out.

As the year progressed, I found that what the students wanted from me more than anything, was the chance to be heard.  The opportunity for them to speak to me as an equal, and not just as a kid in my charge.  For those of you who teach at the high school level, you know what a balancing act this can be.  But, oh, what a magical dance!  I proceeded with two left feet, but have made strides throughout the year.

As November approached, my rallying cry was "Only ______ more days until Thanksgiving, and then just three more weeks!" Enough said.

As we entered the spring semester and the snow days piled up, I saw a side of the students I hadn't yet experienced.  A realization in their minds that makeup days are worse than coming to school on scheduled days.  While I appreciated the decisions made by the administration concerning our safety, snow days became more of a hassle, and no matter what anyone says, they never seemed like a day off.

As we moved into the last nine weeks, I realized that my complaints from first semester had turned from, "How many days until Thanksgiving?!", to "Why do I lose my students so much for testing?!  I need more time with them!"  The need to put more information in these kids brains seemed to be of more importance now than it had been in the past seven months.

And then it really became clear to me.

No matter how much wisdom or intellectual matter I throw their way, the most important part of what I am doing is the part that can't be measured on a standardized test.  The most important part of what we do, is that we are here, every day for the kids.  We are a great constant for them...possibly one of the few consistencies that they have in their day.  I have come to this conclusion:  I have much more to offer these kids, than I have to teach them.

So, year one, almost complete.  The kids are starting to check out as the final three weeks wind down, and I am very very tired.  It's a good kind of tired though.  It's been a good kind of year.

Blessings in a Backpack Update!

Went to a great meeting last night with the people working with Blessings in a Backpack.  Last year they were able to serve 25 students, providing weekend meals for the entire school year.  In less than 9 months, they have increased their goal to serve 100 students!  This is where all of us step in. 

At the meeting last night, we were able to secure commitments from four people who will serve as coordinators at the school level in the Plymouth school district..  These people will pack the backpacks and work with the kids, making sure that the backpacks are returned each week so that they can be filled for the following weekend.  We are still in need of many volunteers, so contact Chris Garner or Ellen Stillson and let them know of your interest in serving this incredible organization locally.

To meet this aggressive goal, we need to continually tell people about this great program.  Once people see the great need this organization meets, people seem to want to help.  You can go directly to Blessingsinabackpack.org, or read my previous blog about the organization on this website.  The great thing, once again, about Blessings, is that ALL of the money raised goes to buying food for the kids.  The backpacks are supplied by the parent organization, so all of your money goes directly to feeding truly hungry kids.  This can mean the difference between a successful elementary school experience, and a very sad story later in life.  Let's go for the successful school experience, huh?

Some of us will be at the annual Plymouth Indiana Blueberry Festival this weekend, collecting donations and spreading the word.  Come by and see us at Jefferson Elementary on Saturday.  Put the word out and let's make that goal of 100 kids a reality by this weekend!

Week Two- My Dogs are Barkin'

We started school last Wednesday in our school district. So including today, that makes four days of school complete, 176 to go. This being the first Monday completed on our schedule, I wanted to take a moment and share something with you all. You know how they say that when you are elected President of the United States, you stop aging at a normal rate. For every year in office the body ages anywhere from 2.5 years to 4 years. This is why President Clinton looked 47 when he took office. and eight short years later he looked closer to 62, than the actual age of 55 years. That's why we pay them the big bucks. You gotta pay to play, and all that.
Well, the same is true of teachers, but for shorter periods. Now, I can't back this up with any solid data, but I believe teachers age this way on the first week of school. Let's just say for the sake of argument, that teachers age in "Dog Years" during the first week of class each year. With the ratio of dog years to human years being 7 to 1, that makes the first week of school(5 days), equal to 35 days, or seven weeks of teaching. If we add that together over a forty year teaching career, we come to an additional...5.4 years of aging!  This would explain why some of our teachers look at bit more "frazzled", let's say, than we think they should by retirement age.

I'm not saying that teaching is like working in the coal mines, or even as stressful as being POTUS, but the first few days back are definitely a transition to a new way of walking, and bending, and stooping...you get the picture. So let's take a few minutes today to remember the unsung hero of the classroom, the Break Even Teacher, and give them a round of applause. Or maybe a massage, or soak their feet, or maybe a free week at the spa!

What I did this summer. what did I do this summer?

So, what did I do this summer? Actually, I'm not sure. Let's see, there was my son's graduation from High School, with parties and such. That took a couple of days. I studied for the Praxis test. That took a couple of weeks. We went to the Mall of America. That was a five day trip. We went down to Richmond for the weekend. That was three days. I had a pitch in and meeting at school. That took up half a day. In total, that comes to that comes to 24.5 days. So what did I do with the remaining 49 days? I have no idea!

That's what happens when you do something for a living that you love. It becomes a pleasure and a privilege to be doing it, and the time spent away from it seems less important. Now, I know this is coming off my first year doing this, so many of you think I am in the "honeymoon" stage of this job. You may be right. I will tell you though, that in 30 years of being in the full time workforce, this is the first time this has happened. Better late than never, I guess.

As I stated above, we did have a meeting and pitch in at school last week. It was great to see everybody again. All of teachers were getting their classes in order and a certain excitement was so noticeable. It seems that I am not the only one who has missed the kids this summer. And though I could tell that many of the teachers didn't take the entire summer off, they are just as ready to get back to school as I am. Summer, I bid you farewell. I will notice your absence, but will not long for you as I once did...unless I get to teach summer school!

Break Even Teaching "Getting to Know You!" Giveaway

Since I am just starting out, I thought I would have a little contest to "Get To Know You!" Here's what is up for grabs for the lucky winner!

Activities include: matching exercises, number tracing, pictures with color keys and more! 4 Silly Song CDs with 102 Silly Songs total Songs Include: Can You Name That Animal Sound?, The Muffin Man, Sally The Camel, Silly Shapes and More! Activity Books recommended for ages 3 and up Package Includes: 4 Activity Books: Learning to Cut & Glue, I Like to Color & Trace, Fun with Numbers, Fun with Letters; 4 Silly Song CDs. So follow the directions in the rafflecopter, and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hot Summer Day Missing the Kids...

Today I am sitting at home doing nothing.  It seems like such a long time since I have had this opportunity, but today it feels less like an opportunity and more of a chore.  I have talked to several people this week that have commented how fast the summer is going by.  I find it to be the exact opposite for me.  For the first time in my life, I feel like the summer is never going to end!  I think it is mostly because I just miss the kids.  Most of the people I have shared this with assure me that this feeling will pass the more years I spend working with the kids.  I have my doubts.

This is my first summer to experience this.  All those little ones at your feet all day, then BOOM, nobody.  No one to send to the nurse with a scraped knee.  No one to have stand on the wall for disobeying a rule.  No one asking those great questions that we adults love.  You know, the ones that make us feel so smart to that second grader, who looks up with that grin like, "Mr. Ringenberg is soooo smart."  Yeah, I kind of miss all of that.

Registration is only a week away, and then only a couple of weeks until school starts.  I think I can make it.  Maybe I'll read a picture book or work on some fractions.

Back to School Shopping-A Random Act of Kindness

Good Afternoon Everyone!

The other day I went on a huge journey to the civilization located a mere 25 miles-ish north of my home...a land we call Mishawaka!  They have a Super Target.  We don't have a Super Target.  We have a Super Wal-Mart, which puts us slightly lower on the food chain in terms of shopping I think.

As I was strolling through the aisles, salivating over the selection, that just a "normal" Target doesn't have, a thought occurred to me.  Why not put a little "care package" of school supplies together for my favorite teacher's classroom?  This would only cost me maybe another fifteen bucks, and it might put a smile on the face of some student who didn't get to do their BTS shopping at a Super Target. 

Then I had another thought.  What if something like this is already in place?  What if the PTA or another organization already organizes something like this to help the students?  After a two minute search on the web, I found that this is a very common practice.  Communities and school systems are doing this all over the country!  This is great!

Alas, another thought came to mind.  I had a lot of thoughts in that Super Target.  SO What!  What if it's not being done in my town?  Then the kids will suffer!  So I decided to do it.  And I encourage all of you to do it as well.  You don't have to spend a ton, just get a list of the required school supplies for a child in a specific class and make it happen!  If you can afford to, make it happen multiple times!

Folks, with unemployment and underemployment and the economy and all of these factors going against us, we can only count on one another.  Do this small act if you can and I know you will make a huge difference in the life of a child on the first day of school!

Thanks for reading, and acting, and Peace to you all! And remember, if you like what you are reading, don’t forget to follow me on Networked Blogs, or Google Plus, or subscribe on the top right, and recommend posts at the bottom of each post using Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook etc.  Thanks again for reading!

Back To School Shopping? Already?

The other day I was having lunch with some friends and we got on the topic of "Back to School" shopping.  I know it seems early, but if you go into any store that sells anything remotely close to school supplies, like pencils, crayons, dog food, you will see what I mean.   In our discussion, two stores came up; Walmart and Staples.  One of my friends claimed that Staples had much better deals than Walmart, which of course, took me by surprise.

When I think of back to school shopping, I think of just popping in the car and heading to Walmart, like everybody else, right.  After thinking about it for a while, I realized that the reason my mind goes to Walmart, is that Walmart is my only choice for local deep discount shopping.  I don't want to drive 24 miles to the nearest Staples!  But do I have to?

After lunch I decided to see if the Staples deals were all that great, and to see if I could get those same deals online.  To be fair, I also checked Walmart.com to compare.  So, here we go.

Walmart is a true American success story.  They started out as a five and dime and have become the worlds largest retailer.  Their 100,000+ square foot stores can save you money on almost anything you purchase.  Sometimes the quality is a bit in question, but, you get what you pay for I guess.  As an online store, they really don't have a clue in my opinion. 

For being the worlds largest retailer you would think their web presence would be astounding.  You would think they could find the best of the best to program their sites.  Apparently they are shopping at the programmers equivalent of Walmart to get their discount programmers.  What an incredibly boring website.  It is also very confusing to navigate. This could be because of the amount of products they sell, but that should not be the consumer's problem.  You would think "Back to School" would be highlighted immediately on the first page.  I have a 22 inch screen and I had to scroll down just to find it, which is a cardinal sin of website design.  Overall, I decided to not make a purchase and if I need anything from Walmart, I'll just get in the car and make the trip.

Staples on the other hand has been paying attention the last fifteen years.  They have come from being a great retailer to becoming a great e-tailer!  Not only is their site striking to look at, it leads you to your products and allows you to explore their store quite easily.  Best of all, the "Back to School" deals are good on the website, and, if you spend $45 or more, shipping is free!  Who of us won't be spending that much this fall?

Just a quick note to add to all of this.  I am all about shopping locally and supporting the local small business owner.  At this time of year though, when you are buying multiple items and possibly a good quantity of them, you need to find the best deal.  If your local merchant can compete, wonderful, shop locally.  If not, you might find the best deals right on your laptop.

So, think outside of the box this year and look around for your back to school deals.  You may be surprised at what you find.