This is a blogpost I wrote after I ran in to some former students waiting in line for a movie. The importance of 'seeing' students. The learning doesn't end just with the class.

The news is so full of negativity that a few years ago I took to creating a positive story board on Pinterest to try and remind myself that there is good in the world.

Here is this week's example of what Hemingway was talking about - US Army Vet Now Hunts Poachers in Africa . . . Next to teaching, I don't know if there's a job I'd rather have than this one.

Dweck's work on the growth mindset is now iconic, especially in education. Just yesterday Cash was showing me some of his in class work from Friday. He had a Weekly Reader (if you're old enough to remember those from your elementary school days). There were three scenarios where athletes or students faced adversity. In each case, the outcome was to apply the growth mindset to the situation to help the student or athlete overcome.

I said, "Cash! You're learning about the growth-mindset. This is awesome."

He was nonplussed. Cash just said, "Yeah, I know."

This is an excellent read, if a bit dry at times. But it will transform your world view.

I ordered this for my College Comp classes. It fits quite well with Outliers and So Good They Can't Ignore You.

Week #7 (Oct. 15 and 16)

Teaching Thought #30

Here is an interesting take on the Ten Things Teachers Should Unlearn, this one instead looks at what Parents Should Unlearn.

Fifth, Parents and teachers should discuss students without the learner present.

Kudos to the parents who bring their daughters and sons to conferences! I have had a handful of parents bring their children with them. And it’s always so effective. It might seem a little uncomfortable at first, but now that I’m used to it, it is so rewarding.

Teaching Thought #31

Here is an interesting take on the Ten Things Teachers Should Unlearn, this one instead looks at what Parents Should Unlearn.

Sixth, Homework is an essential part of learning.

We had this very discussion in class one day. A student shared a line that he tried on this mom one night after she told him to get working on his homework. He said, “Mom, how long did you work at Digi Key today?”

“Eight hours, why?”

“Well, I had eight hours of school and two hours of practice after that.”

“So?”

“So,” he said with a smirk, “instead of sitting down to The Real Housewives of whatever why don’t you go back to Digi Key for a couple more hours.”

Now, I don’t necessarily support such talk back to parents, but it raises a very intriguing issue – sometimes we forget just how busy the lives of our students are.

Young illustrates the "never give up" mindset. He is a great example of thinking outside the box. And the benefits of just doing something.

Tweet. Tweet. Tweet.

Popplet

This one I use a lot with my remedial reading 9th grade class. It allows students to create a storyboard of linking events. It's great when I teach plot or linking ideas in an essay.

Students find this one enjoyable and engaging too. For each 'bubble' students can add text, imagery, and video too.

I am married to the most amazing person in the world, Kristie. It was love at first sight. At least for me. And it still is.

We have four wonderful children, Casey, Koko, Kenzie, and Cash. I also happen to have the greatest job in the world: teaching English to high school students. I'm even blessed enough to teach an Intro to Education class at UND during the fall.

I am about to begin my 21st year of teaching at Lincoln High School. I graduated from Lafayette High School in 1992. I come from a family of teachers: my grandmother was a country school teacher for a number of years before finishing out her career at Knox in TRF; my uncle Jim was an English professor at Western State in Gunnison, Co. My niece, Amanda, is a math teacher in Wayzata, MN. Teaching continues to run in the family.

As a result of my family influences, teaching was always something I wanted to do. The deciding factors, though, came because of two amazing teachers, Mr. Mueller, my fourth and sixth grade elementary school teacher and assistant baseball coach, and Mrs. Christianson, my 9th grade English teacher, respectively.

I attended Northland Community College, and had my life changed by the amazing Dr. Diane Drake. Then I transferred to Bemidji State University in 1995. There I had amazing professors who further inspired me to teach English (Dr. Helen Bonner, Dr. Mark Christensen, Susan Hauser, and Gerry Schnabel). I graduated with my BS in English Education in 1997.

I student taught with the wonderful Lisa Semanko and then began teaching full-time at LHS in 1998.

I took a year's leave of absence in 2001-02 to return to BSU for my MA in English. There I had the privilege to teach and work closely with my greatest mentor, Dr. Mark Chirstensen. I earned my MA in English in 2006 and was honored with "Thesis of the Year" for my creative non-fiction, braided, multi-genre memoir, "Meeting Myrtle: A Biography."

In 2013, thanks to my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Jodi Holen, I was offered an adjunct teaching position fall semester at the University of North Dakota. Tuesday nights I teach Intro to Education: Teaching and Learning 250 from 5-8. Those three hours fly by in about ten minutes.

Then in 2016 I was blessed to win a WEM award (thanks to a nomination from a former student - and now an amazing elementary school teacher in her own right, Ciera Mooney).

In 2017 I became part of the #pineconepd podcast club along with Brian Loe, Jeff Mumm, Kelsey Johnson, Kelly Weets, Josh Watne, Tevia Strand, Megan Vigen, Mariah Hruby, and Laura Brickson. This has been one of the best forms of PD I've ever been a part of. They make me a better teacher every time we meet. Please think about joining us in the summer at the Pine Cone Pub from 6:30 - until we've solved all the world's problems. For that evening anyway.

Thanks to the inspiration of Shane Zutz (our former principal), whose weekly newsletter "High Impact Leadership," is directly responsible for influencing me to create this newsletter.

I devised this as a way to distribute my Teaching Thoughts and add more content to, hopefully, help out and inspire others.

Email: kurt.reynolds@myprowler.org
Website: http://teacherscribe.blogspot.com
Location: 101 South Knight Aver Thief River Falls MN 56701
Phone: 218-686-7395
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Twitter: @teacherscribe