Grandperson's Day Menominee Elementary 2014

Hello again BET's, and a warm welcome from Menominee Elementary Grandperson's Day 2014.  The festivities are ongoing and exciting and the paparazzi is adding to the madness.  Luckily, my wife is one of them, so we are cool.  But the tension is still thick in the air.

Bren and I got the distinct pleasure of being asked by our dearest friends son, to fill in for his Grandpa today, who was in the hospital.  Now, I can't name the dearest friends or their child, not because of any fear of getting their name or photos out there...they just wouldn't sign the release. Admittedly, most of my friends are imaginary, but Brenda was there this time, so I know this was real.

Anywho, what an honor to be asked to do this.  Although obviously, I am not even near old enough to have grandchildren(tongue piercing cheek), I find that I fill this roll pretty well.  I constantly dote over my pretend grandchildren and I put pictures of them up on the fridge.  I have an IPad, but I am way behind the times on what apps are cool and what apps are, "So last season." as my neice has said.  I drive slow in the fast lane and complain when someone is tailing me, and I like to eat at 4pm and be in bed by seven.  I was made for this role!

So, to sum up, I truly covet membership in this distinguished club and look forward to one day being an active and prolific member.  The only issue I have now is that I am only 50.  My life expectancy currently is about 80.  I don't think I can keep up this pace for another 30 years...although I am willing to try!  Wish me luck.

My Life as an Unpublished Author

Hello out there all you BET's!  So, it has once again be awhile since my last post.  In that time, I have finally finished my first children's book.  I have submitted it to the publishing agent I really want, and now it is all about waiting...and contentment...and counting my blessings...and all of the other stuff I say to myself to keep from thinking about being unpublished.

Before

After

This book has been a labor of love for over seven years.  Garrett The Wandering Goose(working title) was started about two years before Garrison passed, and then I took a five year hiatus to grieve and blame myself.  Not the best use of a hiatus, but I am finally back in a good place, hence the completion of the book.(I love it when I can find a use for the word 'Hence')

Anyway, for those of you who know me, you know that a seven year timeline on the book is not so outrageous.  After all, it took me eleven years to get my Bachelors degree.  And I think I am the first recipient of the 17 year Masters at IU.  So seven years is nothing in Mark World.  I am just glad I am not a dog or these numbers would be ridiculous...er.

So, my story is about a goose who is too cool for the gaggle or skein, depending on their flight status, and decides to go out and seek his fortune elsewhere.  He has numerous adventures and comes to the conclusion that a gooses life as a loner goes much slower and is much harder, especially in flight.  So he learns to be a good friend and helps himself, and the other geese learn about forgiveness, fortitude, and proper flight.

About six years ago, upon reading the first draft, Brenda said, "You realize this is your own story, right?"  I totally denied it and pointed out that my life doesn't rhyme nearly that much.  But after much reading and shouts from my office of, "No Way!  That is me!", I came to the conclusion that she was right.  I also came to the conclusion that most children's books and fiction books in general, are someones story.  Even the Grinch rings true for many of us.  And don't get me started on how many of my friends are the Lorax...and Wilford Brimley of course.

There is great freedom in being unpublished.  I know how great my story is and I can just live with the greatness of the text in my head.  No outsiders input to tell me what mistakes I made or that geese don't really behave the way I have depicted them.  So now that the writing is finally out of the way, I can move on.  I am currently starting Garrett's next adventure, just to make sure I don't lose my unpublished writer's touch.  Ahh, freedom.

The School Of Life

Hello BET's everywhere!  It has been a long while since I have posted, I know.  The last six months have been a crazy time for me.  Too much to go into, but always a learning experience.

Today I wanted to share a movie that I just saw for the first time.  Not a new film, and not overly popular to the masses, I'm sure.  But this film touched me in a way that only a handful of films have in my entire life.  The film is called The School Of Life and stars Ryan Reynolds and David Paymer, two of my favorite actors, which is one reason why this was such a treat for me.  I can't believe I had never heard of this before!

Now I won't go into the plot at all, because I really encourage you all to take the time to watch it.  I will warn you that there are parts of the film that you will find campy and simple, but see it through. The one thing I will tell you, is that it speaks to the meaning of why you all do what you do.  You may not approach it the way the characters do, or you very well may.  But I encourage you to look at the real message of the film, which I believe to be this.  We all teach for different reasons and from different perspectives, but regardless, what you give the students is much more than what they will show you through test scores or academic prowess.  What you give is yourselves, and that, will remain with them for their lifetimes.

I hope you enjoy this film as much as I have, and by all means, let me know what you think.  Until next time, keep doing what you do, and offering your students a part of you.

2012 Picture Day at Jefferson

Other than the "2012", this title could be as timeless as a 1967 Corvette. Aren't all picture days the same? The night before, thinking about what to wear. Be honest guys, even we did it. The morning of, your mom making sure you didn't wear your favorite striped shirt with plaid pants. The "walk of Fame", sporting your very best outfit as you walked into school for the day. The anticipation of when your class will be called down to the gym. Now, from the inside, I see that it has hardly changed.

Today was picture day at Jefferson Elementary School, where I work. What a day! The kids looked so great in their not so oft worn ensembles. It is funny though, some kids really do it up, and others just don't get into it that much. I understand that some of that is economic in nature, but I think there is more to it than that.

Some kids like the whole "dress up" gig. It's fun for them to get all fancied up. Some of the older kids come to compete, it is obvious. Many just conform to the group of kids they hang around. Some kids I am certain, think what they normally wear is already good enough, so why upgrade for a photo? I think I am in this camp.

Today was special for me though. Today, I was reminded of the most magical part about picture day for us guys. The FREE COMB! Sure, most of us had a comb or several at home. But this was the brass ring. The slim black beauty...and free! Some of us would even go to the bathroom before our turn and mess up our hair, just so we could land that tiny plastic piece of black magic. We would sport around all day with that thing hanging out of our back pockets, asking each male passerby non chalantly, "Did you uh, get the free comb?" Many of our friends would look back in horror, forgetting the whole reason for all of the pageantry, knowing that they would have to wait 365 days for this chance to present itself again.

Today, sadly, I was an adult. When asked by a bright eyed third grader, "Did you get the free comb?” I had to awkwardly reply, "Oh man!" Oh well, at least next year is not a leap year...only 364 days to go.

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!

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

Olympians Were Once In Elementary School...Any Stories?

Growing up, I can remember idolizing a certain speed skater named Eric Heiden.  He was the fastest skater I had ever seen and only lived two states away, so he was very real to me.  I watched the "Up Close and Personal" segment with Jim McKay and got to see all of the inside secrets as to how he trained.  Then I went out to the barn and tried to recreate the sliding panel he had on his workout room floor in Wisconsin.  Then, in the sub zero Indiana winter, I took my shoes off and struggled to imitate what I had seen my idol do, so effortlessly, on TV.  To say it was a mess would be an incredible understatement!  I can tell you it was much less painful than trying to learn the "Fosbury Flop" in my  homage to Bruce Jenner in the summer of '76!  But Olympians do that to us as kids...and sometimes as adults too.

Here in Plymouth Indiana, we have an Olympian, I believe, for the first time.  Her name is Morgan Uceny, and I can bet there will be girls all over the country watching the Olympics that will try to train just like her, and be just like her. 

I've never lived in a town that had an Olympian and I can tell you it is really exciting.  Seeing people wearing the wrist bands in support of her and her family makes me feel good about the community in which I live.  I can't wait to sit around the TV with friends and watch her run.  It doesn't matter if she wins or not, at least not to us.  She is an Olympian no matter what happens now, and no one can take that away from her.  An incredible accomplishment to say the least.

So what stories do you have?  Did you train like a champion after seeing your first Olympics?  Did you have an Olympian in class at some point?  Was Morgan your student?  This is your chance to tell the world your story and share your experience with friends. Nothing inspires us as Americans like these stories, and nothing brings us closer together as humans than these two weeks, every two years.

Image:  Courtesy Patrick Hoesly via Flickr

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.