Teaching for the Master

      If you have been in education for anytime at all, you are keenly aware of the ever present need for funding. Projects in the classroom, supplies, lab equipment, sports uniforms, etc. must be paid for from somewhere. Teachers may be encouraged to help bring in such support by participating in annual fundraising events. We have all sold the chocolate, gift wrap, cookie dough, pizza, doughnuts, and more to do our part. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we did not need to try so hard because the donations just come? Such a volunteer provision would shock us for sure!      When we think of our school community, we must think beyond just our school families and consider businesses in the immediate area of our school, neighbors affected by our traffic pattern, churches and community centers, and more. Each of these groups is a potential helper for our school. As I think of my school, I am aware of three gas stations, nearly a dozen fast food options, grocery ...

As educators, we often seek ways to involve our students in community outreach, but I believe it is equally important to give the community opportunities to come into the classroom, as well. In an earlier post, I spoke of inviting parents to attend as a guest speaker. Allow me to outline just a few examples of such occurrences. Each year, my Anatomy & Physiology class learn about the cardiovascular system. Our local EMT has an individual who is assigned to give presentations to students. At our last meeting, he admitted that we were the only school to every ask him to attend and give his presentation. I was shocked! He was responsible to several of the surrounding counties, and none of them had reached out before. My students were thoroughly engaged as he demonstrated the use of the echocardiogram machine. Students volunteered to have their heart rate analyzed, and he skillfully taught them to read the printed graph. Student scores on the assessment were notably higher than had we ...

 I wanted to speak today from my teacher perspective, as well as from my role as a parent. I am sure that every parent of middle-school or high-school age students has experienced the following conversation at least once. Parent: "How was school today?" Student: "Fine" or "OK" or *grunt/shrug* Parent: "What did you learn?" Student: "I don't know." or "We reviewed." Parent Perspective Conversations such as this one can be quite discouraging. Unfortunately, many parents give up at this point, and communication never takes place. Radios get turned up or earphones are inserted and the child makes a bee line for their room upon arrival at home. How sad! My eldest child went through this phase. To be fair we rode in silence often due to behavior triggers with his younger brother...certain words would guarantee a meltdown that we preferred to avoid while on the roadway. After a few failed attempts at navigating past the script me...

      In my years of experience, I have noticed a pattern when it comes to parent involvement at school events. Parents of elementary students tend to show up for every gathering, volunteer to help with class parties, send in needed supplies, and send in those needed coffee gift cards. In middle school, parents come to open house, meet the teacher, and email when the grades are posted. They tend to be less visible at functions around campus. Parents of high school students often are only seen at sporting events. There are those select few in each grade who tend to do everything. These moms (typically) help with class fundraising, food provisions for parties, and respond to every email.       Unfortunately, these few supermoms can often intimidate others from participating. some have expressed feelings of inadequacy when comparing their own capability with this uber parent. As a result, requests for parental support frequently go unmet. Having spoken wi...

 Over the years, I have noticed a stark difference in the perceived interest of my students' parents based on their attendance at school events or responses to my emails. I have come to realize that their absence does not necessarily equate to disinterest. Often the families may simply be unable to attend another meeting due to already full family schedules or work commitments. Before jumping to conclusions, I need to have confirmed a preferred method of  contact for the parent and have made alternative meeting options a stated possibility.  I may not enjoy a phone call when the benefits of seeing facial expressions are so dear to me. However, if a phone call is the only time a parent has available, I need to start dialing. If a family is struggling to pay for gas, I shouldn't require their attendance at another event. I could send home a note or video message. The first contact opportunity should be as soon as possible with a genuine interest shared in the way their chil...

 My name is Adina León. I am a wife and mother, an eldest sibling (of seven children), and a child of teachers. God has allowed me the privilege of teaching in multiple settings and states over the past twenty-seven years. In that time, I have taught every grade level and subject. My favorite subject is science which I teach currently. I love to show God's fingerprints throughout His creation and to build a sense of wonder and appreciation in my students.  My own children represent an array of learning styles which has alerted me to the need for varied approaches in instruction. I have two children who are gifted and extremely creative thinkers and two others who are on the autism spectrum (both severe and higher-functioning) who require a more consistent pattern and literal interpretation of concepts. Each learns in a unique way, but each also deserves to be taught in a way that allows them to be successful. This "homeschooling" I have received from them has greatly enha...