Recent Posts

Categories

Interwebification ♥

I am an artist & teacher with a ❤ for visual expression, educational methodology, homesteading, & Jesus. My geek-love is The Joshua and we have three peanut-butters: Caleb, Jack, & Louritta.

Humble Nominations

04/09/2004

I just got nominated for Teacher of the Year for my district again this year. I’m not going to win or anything because there are the “dinosaurs of teaching” who have far more wisdom and professional development under their belts. It’s just neat to feel appreciated. The way it’s been going I hope I don’t get depressed the year I don’t get nominated!
Anyway, I like to think that good teachers are “standing on the shoulders of giants,” so to speak. It is because of those who have gone before me and have had the patience to try new things and teach me what works…they are the reason I am a good teacher.
Some really important people to my development as a teacher include:
Stephen Whiting (my dad). Seriously, my dad is teaching people stuff all the time and he does so in a really cool way that makes it seem as though you thought up everything yourself. He asks questions, plays devil’s advocate, and prepares things to help you to learn. He has so much joy…just his smile has taught me so much about teaching. Not to mention his incredible work ethic.
Jodi Domstrand (teacher at Valentine Hills Elementary). I did my elementary student teaching with her. She was just awesome! She had so much joy for her job and was very thoughtful. She let me try all kinds of new things with her Art program. She also taught me what I think is one of the most valuable lessons I learned before entering the work force: Don’t become an island. In other words, I need to work to develp relationships with other people at my work site. That means eating lunch in the teachers’ lounge. That means making other people at your school look good by involving them in your programs. That means seeking out others that you could help and helping them. That means greeting people with a smile and asking how their day went. She’s way better at it than me. But, the lesson is very important.
Steve Brink, Rick Hutchison, and Kevin Gilbertson: These are the poor souls that had to put up with me during my first year teaching. We worked together at Centennial Middle School and I learned a ton from watching them, asking them questions, joking around…all that. They are an awesome group of guys.
And others…Kate Merkel, Katherine Churchill, Dale Johnson, Peggy Little, MaryAnn Carlson, Mark Quinlan. These are all people that supported me, encouraged me, taught me. Great people.
So, thank you to all of the giants who have allowed me to stand on their shoulders.

Am I Still a Thinker

04/08/2004

My blogging absence (from commenting on other blogs & from my own) may make it seem as though I’ve been less of a thinker lately. That’s not the case. I’ve probably been thinking more, interspersed with many activities such as work, coffee with a friend, small group, judging an Art contest, hanging out with people….
I used to be scared to share the gospel with people or to support people in Christ (it’s easy to just support people, but it’s difficult to bring up God’s goodness sometimes). I guess I was afraid of looking stupid. I was scared of not knowing all the answers — what if they asked me something I didn’t know the answer to??? I was afraid of giving the wrong answers — what if I say something that makes them stray from God??? I was afraid of invading someone’s “personal space” and making them upset. I still have those fears, but God has given me a kind of peace about ministry. I feel confident that God’s word is infallible and that as a minister to others, I am kind of like a bridge between others and God’s word. Isn’t that kind of what a minister is? And that there is a certain amount of trust needed to trust that God will bring things about in His time. To know that God is so powerful that He could still work through my mistakes. To know that God is faithful enough that He will work through me.
I was getting frustrated by some of the political conversations about what is the “right way” to vote or the “right way” to handle Christianity vs. the government. I was so frustrated that I needed to do something about it…but what?
When I was in China, I met a man from Singapore named Tan Tien Ser, who was part of the start up of Care Corner and Care Corner International U.S.A. The philosophy and vision of this group is, in a nutshell, to select a corner of the world and care for it. That simple. God has been teaching me fervently about what it means to care for a person (not that I know all the answers…because I don’t), and especially how to care for them spiritually.
I started talking to people and have been realizing that many people are relieved when they have someone to talk to. Especially middle school kids because not many people talk to them. Actually, let me change that, LISTEN to them. And they want to talk about God and they want to ask questions and the want to seek God. It’s so fascinating that they are seeking even in a culture that shouts that there is no God or that God is “whatever you make Him to be,” they still seek Truth.
I want to care for my corner of the world to the best of my ability.
Anyway, it’s been good. I’ve been reading the Bible more. One thing that’s funny about the Bible is that you know that it’s a good book, but when you’re actually reading it you are still blown away by the same stories or by something you overlooked before.

Less Like Scars

04/08/2004

And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like character
Less like a prison more like my room
Less like a casket more like a womb…
-Sara Groves, Less Like Scars, from her album All Right Here

What are your songs?

04/06/2004

They were having this thing on the radio this morning where people had to call in and give “their songs” as they pertain to certain categories. Here are “my songs” (plus a few added categories):
Get up and go song: Eye of the Tiger by Journey
Go to bed song: Chasing After by Clear
Chill out song: Tension is a Passing Note by Sixpence None the Richer
Most Nostalgic: Sandalwood by Lisa Loeb
I’m in Love: Water Runs Dry by Boyz II Men
Get work done: Nobody’s Listening by Linkin Park
I’m done with work: The Long Day is Over by Norah Jones
Last Day of School: These are Days by 10,000 Maniacs or Give Me One Reason by Tracey Chapman
These are the songs that I pick, not the ones that my iTunes playcount picks for me. So no comments about how many times you’ve played this and that song. But, for what it’s worth:
iTunes top 5 most played songs (it turned into 6 because of a tie):
Clumsy by Chris Rice (40 times)
Tension is a Passing Note by Sixpence None the Richer (40 times)
More Than This by Charlie Hunger Quartet w/ Norah Jones (40)
Over the Rainbow sung by Eva Cassidy (39)
If You Want Me To by Ginny Owens (39)
Child of Steel by Rosanne Cash (39)

The Cat in the Hat???

04/01/2004

I was looking through my Netflix account for movies I’d like to see. I happened upon The Cat in the Hat. Since I missed it at the movie theater, I thought, “Hey, I could schedule this to be next on my Queue and watch it at home. It’s Mike Myers, it can’t be all that bad.”

Then I saw that — Users who rated this movie high also enjoyed:

So…given the above facts, I have chosen to avoid having a few hours of my life sucked away from a seemingly lifeless movie. Maybe I’ll rent Patton instead. I haven’t seen that one yet.

Yay! I get to take a class!

04/01/2004

So, California thinks that teachers from Minnesota are stupid, so they have to take a lot of extra classes before they can get a teaching credential. Well, I’ve been notified that I need to take a course called “Technology for Educators.” Here is the description of the course:
This is a basic course that gently walks the learner through how to use a computer, how to use the Internet, how to word process, create a spreadsheet, a short multimedia presentation and a web page.  You will learn about ethics copyright, great software for the classroom, etc.  The focus is on technology use in schools, but it is a great class for anyone who just wants to learn how to use a computer.
I would spend 32 hours in class, plus outside assignments.
I just can’t wait to learn how to develop a website.
Is anyone else laughing? Because I think this might be one of the most horribly boring things I ever do!!!

At What Point Did You Feel Old?

03/29/2004

Well, I was mini golfing with some middle schoolers the other day. Every time I hit the ball I would say, “One…one hit. Ah! Ah! Ah!” In honor of The Count from Sesame Street. One of the girls eventually asked me why I kept doing that. I said, “I’m just impersonating The Count.” She gave me a blank look. I continued, “You know…from Sesame Street.” One of her friends piped up, “I think I saw that once! Is that the show with the lions that read?” She was speaking of Read Between the Lions, a Sesame Street spin off…sort of…but not really.
So…yeah. When did Sesame Street go out of style? Did I miss that? Isn’t it some kind of sin to grow up without Maria and Mr. Snufalufagus and Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird??? BIG BIRD!!!
The girls said that they watched Blues Clues and Barney growing up. Wow. That made me feel totally old and out of touch.
Reminds me of the time my students asked me what kind of music I liked. I said that I liked Natalie Merchant, U2, Blues Traveler, and some others…. One of the kids piped up and said, “Oh! You listen to the oldies station!” I was like, U2 is NOT OLD! Then I realized that they are, indeed, old. *sigh*

The Joy of Ministry

03/27/2004

Josh and I spent last night playing mini golf with kids from the youth group (and the friends they brought). We had a blast wacking our balls around, making up songs (with dances), sharing, yelling at our balls that don’t go the direction we want them to go, playing in the arcade. I didn’t get up the courage to play Dance Dance Revolution. Actually, I think I didn’t play because there were always a lot of sweaty boys around it. Ewwwwwwwwwwwww.
I took a couple of kids home and we had some interesting conversations about homelife, Christ, and just life. Overall the night was such a joy. I still have a smile on my face.
I used to really get nervous talking about Christianity with peole because I was scared I wouldn’t get all the facts right. Or I’d say something dumb that would just send them further from God. But, I don’t feel that way with kids. It’s just sharing with adults that makes me nervous. That’s interesting. I wonder why that is.
I grow frustrated daily by the circumstances that many of my students grow up in. I mean, we’re talking serious abuse, drug addiction (even parents who help their kids get stoned because “You’re going to do it eventually anyway, so it will be safer if I’m here”), alcoholism, really messy divorces (where the parents try to buy their kid’s love, or they say “You can decide who you want to live with, me or your dad,” then freak out when they pick the opposite parent. “Why did you pick him don’t you love me???”), and so on. It breaks my heart.
I get frustrated by people who have children and can’t raise them. Especially the ones who don’t seek some kind of help to raise their kids right. I have students who are living on their own (age 11-13) in this country because their parents have sent them “to learn English before we get there.” So, that means that we have kids that are essentially on their own for most of the year. They usually don’t have a lot of motivation to learn.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO FRUSTRATING. I just don’t get it. And sometimes I don’t really think there’s anything that I could really do to help them. All I know is to listen, to ask questions, and to try to help them in their search for God. He’s the one that can help them.

Feelings Aren’t Facts

03/25/2004

I’ve been reading this in Dr. Laura’s Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. I found this part that not only relate to wives, but really to everyone. I’ve been really considering the difficulties that occur when people concentrate on their feelings too much. And, it seems to be largely what our media pushes. God’s Truth doesn’t tell us to rely on our feelings, it tells us to rely on Him. Too often people drive their lives with their feelings and it ends up steering them into a really sad, self-centered place. It is when we ACT in a way that is truthful and right, good feelings will FOLLOW. It shouldn’t be the other way around.
Anyway, I’ll stop blabbing about my opinions and let you read the exerpt:
Obviously, one reason the fangs may come out quickly is that many women who have cycled through too many intimate relationships, shack-ups, and marriages, have developed a well of pain and disappointment. They don’t want to be hurt…again. They become hypersensitive and take quick leaps into misassumptions.
…your feelings aren’t facts, and your feelings ought not be weapons.
I like that last quote. It’s so true.

Playing Catch Up

03/25/2004

Well, third quarter is ending tomorrow. And, suddenly, despite my pleading and prodding earlier in the quarter, my students actually care about their grades. This is what I’ve heard so far today from several students:

  • Is there any way that I can get my “C” to a “B” by tomorrow?
  • A “D”??? I have a “D”??? How long have I had a “D”??? *I tell student that the grades have been posted in their cabinet weekly since the beginning of the quarter and that I have announced the new postings each week. And that, actually , the “D” is an improvement over the “F” they’ve been carrying all quarter. Oh yeah, and I sent three grade reports home. Apparently they don’t read things.*
  • What extra credit can I do? I want to do just enough (not too much & not too little) to make my grade go from a B+ to an A-.
  • I lost all of these assignments, can you make new copies for me? *Even though the assignments are from DECEMBER.*
  • I handed in my work, but my grade only went from a D to a C!!! It’s not fair that you only give half credit to late work!

And the list goes on.
The sad part is that it began to wear on me. After the ninth or tenth student struggled to make their way in my class at the last minute, I felt for the kids who actually are consistently on time, and consistently hand in their work. The kids that ask what they missed when they were sick the day before. Heck, even the kids that let me know in advance when they will be missing school and do their work ahead of time! Why should I hand a grade to the Last-Minute Honchos???
(I don’t, by the way. In case you were wondering.)
This made me even more aware of the human condition. Most people want to do as little as possible to get by each day. Especially spiritually. They sin and figure they can just confess their sins and get saved on their deathbeds. They are lazy and sluggish in life, then try to cram in the so-called important stuff at the end.
I don’t want to be that way. God, please help me to be consistent. Help me to strive and grow and reach further each day. Allow me the strength to seek You without growing weary or bored or out of touch. Amen.

Newer Posts
Older Posts
© 2024 Steph Lewis |