Finally clarification...

The other day I read this blog post by Dr. Scott McLeod.  It's very short...heck, I'll just copy and paste it and give him full credit for finally clarifying my struggles as an educator.  The reason behind all the nights I have laid in bed tossing and turning struggling with teaching and learning could possibly be summed up in this short blog post.

"How do you reconcile…

principles of standards-based grading; “begin with the end in mind and work backwards;” understanding by design; and other more convergent learning ideas

with…

project-, problem-, challenge-, and/or inquiry-based learning; creativity; innovation; collaboration; and our need for more divergent thinkers?

How do (or would) you reconcile these potentially-conflicting concepts? How should schools navigate the tension between convergence and divergence?" - Dr. McLeod

I have taught for 6 years at a school for inquiry.  However, I have rarely felt that I have been encouraged to teach with a divergent mindset.  I have always wanted to, but I have always been pushed towards convergence.  Standards preach divergence, but practice convergence.  Administrators want the beauty of divergence, but coach towards convergence.  Even I long for and LOVE to see the beauty that stems from divergence, true learning, yet I am often weighted down by the restriction of convergent standards.

As a learning leader next year, how will I "reconcile these potentially-conflicting concepts" with the teachers at my school?

My reflections on "Mindset"

After hearing a lot about "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck and participating in an intriguing #educoach, I had to read it for myself.  I majored in psychology in college, so books like this always catch my eye.

There is no way that I can summarize the book and do it the justice that Justin Tarte did in this blog post, so I will let him do his thing.

I did want to take time to reflect on what I gained from the book, please share what you thought!

3 reflections:

#1: A little bit of growth and a lotta bit of fixed: I would call myself a person of the growth mindset, but after reading this book, I can tell that I struggle to remove myself from the fixed mindset most of the time.  Fear of failure grips me, and I'm not sure why.  My parents were always that parents that were proud of me if I did my best no matter the grade on my report card.  I preach to my students EVERY day the importance of "failing successfully".  However, many times, I won't bet if there is a possibility that I won't win.  Even writing this post makes my stomach turn to think of all the times I could have done more, pushed harder, went further, but I was scared of not making it.  As I enter into my new role as assistant principal, I am glad that I have exposed this about myself.

#2: Fixed mindsets cannot be changed externally: I need to stop trying to "fix" my fixed minded students, friends, and family members.  There is nothing I can do to change their mind.  Only they can decide to change from the fixed mindset to the growth mindset.

#3: Understanding the presence of the fixed mindset helps: I had several discussions with people that the book did not teach how to un-coach the fixed mindset out of someone.  Looking at point #2, that is probably easy to infer.  However, I did feel that after reading the book I was able to pinpoint some areas where I have a fixed mindset which will help me move toward the growth mindset in the future.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but not in the case of the fixed mindset.  It helped me to know that there are just some people that ain't going to budge.  To me, understanding the presence of the fixed mindset is like naming someone's personality type: you cannot change it, but you can learn how to approach it!

I encourage you to check it out!

Thinking cap

This is the hat that one of my students wore during testing today! It was her thinking cap! This hat sure did help lighten the mood!!!

Change

I've just redone this blog (name & purpose) in an effort to begin reflecting on the learning that will take place in the next school year as I transition from the classroom to the main office as an assistant principal.  I will also be transitioning from the beloved honeymooning stage of my 5 &1/2 year marriage with my wonderful and beautiful wife Rachel to having a beautiful little girl named Tinley Grace sometime in June.  I won't use this blog to share that learning, but I'm sure it will inevitably slide into the posts at times!

Recently I have been captivated by a simple slide that Kathy Perret (@kathyperret) posted on an #educoach chat recently.

Major Change Chart

View more presentations from Kathy Perret

This is very simple to follow and makes a great deal of sense.  I understand that many other things can cause frustrations and anxiety and confusion, etc, but this is a great starting point.  For change to occur (and be accepted), many things must fall into place.  Thanks for sharing Kathy!

PS: If you have any ideas for how can "snazzy" up my blog, please share!

Colossians 2:13-15 (part 2)

Nothing is better then being made alive in Christ! The most awesome thing about being made alive in Christ is the fact that ALL of our sins are forgiven. Let me repeat that in case you missed it...ALL...yes, I said ALL our sins are forgiven. Did I mention that ALL our sins are forgiven. Well what had to take place for Christ to take away all of our sins?

First of all, if Christ is not fully God and fully man all in the same body then it was not possible that Jesus could take all of our sins. We have been made complete and full (fully forgiven) in Christ because he was able to be to propitiation of our sins. He would have not had the authority to do this otherwise. Without Jesus being fully God and fully man, our sins would still be a mill stone slung around our necks.

Second, Christ had to be willing to take on a criminals torture in order to nail our sin record or "certificate of debt" to the cross. In bible times, a certificate of debt was an official document written in a debtors handwriting that they used to acknowledge their debt to the indebted. Christ on the cross acknowledge this document and then canceled the debt by "taking it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross".

To sum up the points: Christ had the Godly authority as well as perfect human existence to qualify as a sacrifice that would allow our sin record to be canceled.

On top of all of this, Christ not only forgave ALL of our sins (which is more then enough) he also disarmed all other "demonic powers" that may utilize false power of us. I love how Colossians 2:15 says "He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them." In modern day terms, Jesus slapped 'em all in the face and showed He was da man!

Now that ALL of our sins are forgiven and ALL powers have been triumphed over, what do I need to do now? Well, being free from legalistic powers and the shame and burden of my sin records frees me live a life used to glorify God. I can now access the power of the Holy Spirit to move towards the fruits of the spirits. I can work to be sanctified (made more like Christ). I have no more hoops to jump through, I have only a God to glorify!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for canceling my debt. Thank you for being willing to take on human form to come and be the sacrifice that I could not be for myself. Neither my sins nor false rulers and authorities have power over me. Holy Spirit, reveal to me the sins that I hold so dear and guide me towards your glorification. Since I am no longer a slave to sin, let me be a bond slave to God!

Colossians 2:13-15 (part 1)

Can a non-believer truly understand the saving power of what went on when Jesus died on the cross without confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and humbily repenting from their sins? In verse 13, When you were dead, shows right there that there is NO life without the saving power of Jesus Christ. Here it just shows that even though I am living, I am dead in my "tresspasses and sin". I could even say that even though I am living, I am in a never ending downward spiral of bottomless and unfulfilling self-fulfillment. This downward spiral of bottomless and unfulfilling self-fulfillment is why my commentary on these verses says that this word "dead" does not mean annimilation from this earth, rather it means spiritual seperation from God. There is no possible way for you to be serving two "spiritual" masters as it refers to in the gospels. Either you are serve and glorify yourself or you are striving to serve and glorify God, you canNOT have both: the actions are too contrary.

Well, since we are dead, seperated, selfish, unable to glorify God on our own accord then we basically come to a very quick conclusion that we have no chance. However, we a so quick to miss the the tense of the pharse. PAST TENSE! When we are talking about death and suffering and eternal damnation, I am so glad I realized that this death (seperation from God) is now in the past. The next phrase after "when you were dead" seems to be contridictory and only possible after a lengthy explanation of why. You used to be dead, but he made you ALIVE.

In my eyes, these two very simple phrases are the things that drive men mad. How can I go from seperation, spititual annihilation, self-glorification to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness etc. and only have it seperated by a comma? How can it be that someone I hated through my selfish actions, I now long to give glory to through my actions? How can I now be alive and inherit the crown of life, an eternal life of glory, and not have done any physical action to earn it other then confession and belief? It blows me away that the same power that Christ used to be risen from the dead in order to be made alive is the same power that can take a spiritually dead, sinning man (just like me) and ressurect his life in order to make him spritually alive.

So, can a non-believer truly understand the saving power of what went on when Jesus died on the cross without confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and humbily repenting from their sins? Well first the non-believer must begin to understand the death that has them intangled. We must first see our death, in order to accept the life that is freely given to us.

Prayer:
Your power is unbelievable at times. I just don't see how such a great God would ever let me into heaven. However, the best thing is: you don't just want to let me into heaven, you are longing to have a relationship with me. You want to be my daddy. You not only want me to give you glory, but you are more then willing to give me power that is greater then any earthly power. I just don't get it, but I am thankful and humbled and forever indebted to you. I will strive to live my life to glorify you!

First Crossfit Workout

Rachel

5 pull-ups
20 squats
10 sit-ups
in 9:36


Chris

10 pull-ups
10 dips
35 squats
15 sit-ups
in 13:49