"There are windows that don't stay open forever, missed opportunities that never come back to you. And waiting for them doesn't necessarily mean you're strong or even right. Sometimes it just means that you're afraid to change the picture."
"There will be times when things don't seem to be working out, but don't give up. Student attitudes may be less than positive and student achievement may be at an all-time low. There will be days when student apathy seems to be the prevailing mood and other times when your students seem to be making bad decisions about their studies and their behavior. All teachers run into ruts and slumps at some point during the school year. At these times we just need an extra push and motivation to spur us on. . . . So when you are faced with the challenges of day-to-day teaching and you students challenge you at every turn, remember the words of Satchel Paige and find another way. What will be the choice for the students in your life? Will you nag them or cheer them on?"
- Deb Austin Brown. Growing Character
This is an excellent book that every teacher should own. It is sub-titled "99 Successful Strategies for the Elementary Classroom."
My day today was a lot like the one she describes above. I thought I'd share this quote now to help remind me that we can have days like this. It is normal. Tomorrow will be a better day. I will try something new to reenergize us all and get us back on track.
The intro to this video is kind of annoying. But suffer through it or fast forward because this song is definitely worth checking out. This kid is spitting some truth here. Check these lyrics as you watch the video.
"We gotta blame it on ourselves as a human being. Trying to disguise our inner emotions With big dreams and many lies From mid-teens ‘til you 25 With a heavy ride You got dubs sittin’ on every side. Because it’s cool, the rappers all do it. I bought this new gun, cuz rappers all use it. And now I got a new son cuz rappers all screw chicks, And I’m broke cuz rappers gotta have the new 6. Seven days, most rappers weak, So they, listen up when a nigga speak If not, my gun my word My bullet, my pen My aim sucks so they go right over your head. But then again, who am I to talk… It’s cuz of a rapper that I got my pants tucked in my socks. It’s cuz of a rapper I bought this pop, And because of a rapper I got this hundred dollar top on. It gotta stop cuz…..
Ain't No Use
Talking 'bout tomorrow.
Shit, I'm still here
Tryna get through the day
And that’s when I realized I’m the market, the kid making y’all money. Buying the merchandise, What more do you want from me? Whatever you do, I’m gonna try it I know my shit’s gonna sell, cuz I’d probably buy it. I got a nice image, Fit, like I eat spinach. My hooks is nice, and I got witty lyrics. And ain’t nobody reppin’ for the suburbs like I do. And ever since I was a young boy, I was the guy who, Would dress so fresh and smell so clean. My coller always popped, my kicks so mean. Always in a new hat, new gear, new Airs, Heard Nelly rhyme about ‘em, went and copped two pairs. Heard about Crystal so I went to Cheers. Bought a bottle with the allowance I saved for two years. Then I put my white tee on, Cuz I heard the white tee song, it was so damn long. And because I heard Diddy, it was Pepsi first. Until Labron James told me to obey my thirst. And I’ve been blastin’ my 50 and it’s starting to rub off, Cuz yesterday I told some niggas to fuck off! So fuck off if y’all rappers trying to hate on me. Cuz I’ve been trying to be like y’all since ’83! Rockin’ two different shoes like BBD, Now I cop your CD because it got a DVD??? Don’t hate me cuz I rhyme different!!!
"The more things change, the more they stay the same. I'm not sure who the first person was who said that. Probably Shakespeare. Or maybe Sting. But at the moment, it's the sentence that best explains my tragic flaw: my inability to change.
I don't think I'm alone in this. The more I get to know other people, the more I realize it's kind of everyone's flaw. Staying exactly the same for as long as possible, standing perfectly still... It feels better somehow. And if you are suffering, at least the pain is familiar. Because if you took that leap of faith, went outside the box, did something unexpected... Who knows what other pain might be waiting out there. Chances are it could be even worse.
So you maintain the status quo. Choose the road already traveled and it doesn't seem that bad. Not as far as flaws go. You're not a drug addict. You're not killing anyone... Except maybe yourself a little.
When we finally do change, I don't think it happens like an earthquake or an explosion, where all of a sudden we're like this different person. I think it's smaller than that. The kind of thing most people wouldn't even notice unless they looked at us really, really close. Which, thank God, they never do. But you notice it, inside you that change feels like a world of difference. And you hope this is it. This is the person you get to be forever... that you'll never have to change again."
- Ephram Brown writes a college application essay for his girlfriend Amy Abbot
- This quote was transcribed from the excellent TV show Everwood.
