Lambs to Lions

My second social media thank you goes out to the 2013-2014 Fishers High School We the People team.  These kids provided me with one of my favorite experiences in my teaching career.  These kids were already special to me before they ever won state and became Team Indiana.  It is hard to describe to those on the outside what it takes to represent Indiana in We-the-People.  The state is one of the “power” states in We the People year in and year out.  The top 4 teams in Indiana could have finished in the top 10 at Nationals.  The work it takes to be in the conversation with Muenster, HSEHS, Cathedral, and Plainfield is daunting.  Rather than choose between preaching to the choir or confusing people.  I wanted to focus on each of the people involved so that I can acknowledge why they mattered.

 Unit 1 was as close to a perfect team composition as you could create; their steady development and domination at nationals reflected that perfection.  Each of them played a different role and these different notes struck harmoniously by the end.  You could normally count on Elliott to be the first to answer a judges question.  Describing Elliott is difficult; part Tibetan monk, part computer programmer, and part renaissance thinker.  He is not of natural strong opinions, because he will wait until he has explored and discussed every nuance and angle before forming an opinion.  Once he has internalized the understanding, he can apply it globally.  Plus the ponytail and fashion sense play to the persona.  Meghan is the glue to the unit.  She brings the quote, the reference, and the direct response to the question.  There is no one that worked harder to understand and contribute than Meghan.  She would take a question and build a web of references to the question.  Her contributions always seemed to bring depth of understanding; she clearly demonstrated that she had researched for beyond the text.  Lastly, there is T.J., the unit closer.  He was responsible for cleaning up four responses at Nationals that took the team response from good to great.  My friend and fellow advisor, Geoff Tease, commented over and over again about how T.J. would speak last and give a response that directly answered the judge’s question.  ATDQ!  T.J. has this forward lean and eye contact thing that would charm judges; if he goes into sales he is a shoo-in for setting sales records.  On Sunday nights in my basement these kids would be one of my favorites to “argue/debate” with because they hated to lose and finally figured out how to fight back.

Unit 2; my unit. *sniff*  I love these kids. *tear* In the beginning of the year I was not sure why Paternoster hated me so much since two of my three did not talk.  I had some worries going into Regionals, but then something happened.  I would take credit for it, if I knew what happened.  Suddenly, the entire team found its voice.  Sally is my lead-first, feisty historian.  Talking is NOT a weakness.  She was made for We the People.  The fact she could probably teach APUSH provided the team a core of knowledge that was so valuable in competition.  Every group has to have that person who breaks the awkward silence and that was Sally’s role.  At Nationals her personality clicked with one of the judges and they had a little intellectual exchange that deep down I knew would win us that day (and it did).  Jeremy was our unit’s bullhorn.  His marching band-trained voice was a weapon.  We used it for every quote, because his voice demanded the judge’s attention.  Where he made the biggest jump was when he decided to dig deeper into Alexis de Tocqueville.  Something changed in Jeremy.  Now he did not become a one-trick pony, but it gave him a professorial depth to his responses; any question, any challenge he could support himself through this lens.  He drove himself to be better; he has “grit” to him.  He caused me more than one teary moment at Nationals with his demeanor and understanding.  Janka; my Hungarian, German-speaking, one-time mute who rose like an academic phoenix who discovered that she could bring forth knowledge.  Janka made Jeremy look talkative in the beginning.  When we were just talking together she would contribute, but in a front of a judge…no.  Going into state Janka changed; she decided to take responsibility for her contribution.  She was really good at state; but, during the lead up to Nationals and at Nationals she was the unit’s philosopher.  She could was link Madison and Patrick Henry to current events; talk intelligently about state conventions, but her moment came when the “cool” judge talked to her in German and she answered him back.  When he talked to her in German (her third language), Janka sold the moment…a slight hesitation, a smirk, and then she answered; in perfect German.  It was a golden ticket moment.  This unit was easily the most improved unit from Regionals to Nationals.  On the last day, in the longer discussion, they were the best they have ever been.  I could not be more proud.

Unit 3.  I loved these kids.  Jessie is the one I have known the longest as I had a hand in coaching her in softball years ago and her dad is someone that I have worked with on We the People.  Jessie does not lack for conviction (at this moment everyone who knows her is shaking her or her head in the affirmative).  Strong passions and a fearless heart make for entertaining theater.  At state competition Jessie went toe-to-toe over gun rights with a deputy prosecutor for the city of Indianapolis.  It was epic.  Jessie likes to bait judges to debate her so that can win the argument.  She makes me laugh, because I like to ask her questions during follow-up that I know will raise her blood pressure.  Caroline is the group wordsmith; a born English teacher.  She has a aura about that makes you believe her and trust her sincerity.  She took a while to find her voice, but by Nationals she was a full-time contributor and held her own on the biggest stage.  Caroline has another quality that is defining and that is her heart.  She cares deeply about people; it is written on her face when she listens.  The last member of the triad was Jake Patterson; another philosopher-king.  Jake is even more Tibetan Buddhist than Elliott.  Jake can philosophize in one moment and go straight math formulas the next.  Jake is unconcerned with the flow of the current; he is interested in the source of the water.  He wants to understand ideas at an organic level.  He does not parrot opinions; he forms his own.  Jake also rocks an interesting hat that with the US Flag sunglasses cuts quite a dashing figure.

Unit 4; the “man group”.  This is the other group that I worked with a lot because Geoff Tease and I work together with our units.  This group became a powerhouse as the year went on.  They became a ballet of leading men; each taking the lead, but dancing different steps.  Brady will be the youngest elected President in history; and I would vote for him.  He understands the moment and how to bring his audience (the judges) to his side.  Brady likes to utter the phrase “If I understand what you are asking” and it has the effect of bring the judges to his level in the conversation.  Every time he would do it there would be a little internal chuckling.  The “Colin Burke Show” featured our team’s favorite Canadian (Halley might also be Canadian, but I call her the “sassy French girl” so she doesn’t count).  Colin’s development was so fun to witness as he progressed into this calm talk show host persona with a wealth of knowledge.  He made the judges his audience and somehow made you feel like he was interviewing the judges and that Colin had the script for the discussion.  He was a joy to watch and gave Geoff and I a couple great moments at Nationals.  The member of the “man group” is someone that came out of nowhere; it is hard to describe the pre-district Ryan, let’s just leave it with you would have given long odds that he would become one of the strongest members of the 18 keys.  Ryan and I share a bond over military service; there is a special place in my heart for people that choose to follow that path.  Ryan started to show himself in the roll up to state competition.  He began to pull and incorporate knowledge that could only be done through his own personal study.  Every deep conversation in the basement seemed to weave itself into his responses; he understood, he understood everything.  We walked together at Arlington National Cemetery and talked about the responsibility of leading men; he gets it.  I am proud to know him.

Unit 5. Wow.  Tough unit in the first place; case law and more case law.  But what really makes this group is the need for feisty, argumentative, knowledge pit bulls; they had it and more.  The glue of this group was Jake.  He was the conservative platform surrounded by intelligent individualists who possessed Rocky’s “Eye of the Tiger”.  Jake was not a pushover; just the opposite he was calmly aggressive in his disagreements with teammates and judges.  We like units to have creative tension; this group has it is spades.  The feistiest member of was Abigail.  She jumps into fire pit feet first; articulate and polished, she could command the entire room.  Abigail would remind you of the successful TV lawyer whose personality was as big as her ability.  Watching Abigail compete made me glad every time that I had not committed a crime and she was not prosecuting me.  Abigail is the reason that I recruited junior high speech team kids for next year’s We the People 8th grade class.  Her polish stood out to me during the entire year; we did not have to teach her how to be polished in front of an audience.  Halley Rose.  *sniff*  I helped recruit her to the We the People team, because I believe in her.  She was my Student of the Year back in 7th grade, my NJHS President, and the editor of my yearbook.  She is so…European; and I mean that in the nicest way.  She is a philosopher, educated, and cultured.  Blessed with deeply held beliefs that she will defend.  When she talked to the judges she would bring a deep thought or obscure reference that told everyone in the room that she was someone to be attended to in the competition.

Unit 6.  “Let it go, let it go”   This unit was so much fun.  Xiaohong singing only 8 words from Frozen’s big song on the bus ride to and from Nationals.  This group was a constant in my basement on Sunday nights.  They worked so hard to become better.  Dimi reminds me of a college professor; he even has the best beard, he just needs the pony tail and the earth shoes with a sports jacket and he is ready for the classroom.  By his nature he is soft-spoken, but when he talks he has something to say; unlike some folks in put words in the air and hope some of the words make a point.  Dimi offers a solution to gerrymandering that is a mathematical model that takes politics out of the discussion.  Xiaohong cannot be described very easily   She is brilliant in so many areas and could probably get stuck on an escalator.  There is no one on our team that worked harder and studied more (well maybe Meghan) to improve.  I thought her responses to judges’ questions on the immigration paper at Nationals and the civil disobedience paper at State were her best moments; both moments showed how much worked she put into understanding the material.  Lastly, Jason brought about one of my favorite moments of the year when after Dimi and Xiaohong introduced themselves in their native tongue and English, Jason introduced himself in English, twice.  It was a light moment in tense situation that put everyone at ease.  Jason was made for We the People.  He is passionate about study of government and history.  He could be counted on to fire out first.  So many times, just when it appeared the unit was stuck, Jason would save the day.

My last part of the thanks go to Geoff Tease, Taylor Schueth, “Dr.” Dyson, and Liz Paternoster.  Geoff and I worked side-by-side with our units for the last 5 years.  We coached softball together before that.  He is my friend.  There are few people who understand the Constitution and the history surrounding it like Geoff.  He is also a Red Sox fan which says something about his character.  Taylor is known to me at many levels; a student in my building, a terrible Camp Tecumseh counselor, and a one-woman force of nature in We the People.  She is tough and passionate; her units always improve and excel.  She cries as easy as I do; which is saying something.  “Dr.” Dyson knows more about the Civil War than anyone I have ever met; his clever quips and spot on questioning as a judge helped prepare this team at every level.  Lastly, Liz.  Thanks for trusting me with your kids at Nationals; thank you for getting me involved when my schedule should have told me to say “no”; and thank you for your passion for civics. Wow that was a long thank you.

As a summer project for my NJHS chapter, I have offered a challenge to send 30 thank you notes through social media.  The only instructions that they will receive is to be genuine and specific.  My hope is that they will inspire other people to be thankful and pick up the challenge.  I have made my list (there are 43 names).

My first thank you goes out to my mom.  She is not perfect and was dealt more than her share of tough blows in her life.  However, my mom is the master of what really matters in life.  She has a loving heart.  Her heart extends beyond her family and into her work and friends.  Growing up with a dead beat father was tough and a source of emptiness in my life.  My mom did all she could to fill that hole by giving me more love than what should be possible.  We could always talk to each other.  In my adult life my mom and I have a shared history and memories that does not exist with anyone else.

My mom is a caregiver.  She cared for her mom in her home for over a decade; no complaints.  She has nursed brothers and been the empathetic ear to so very many people.  I have tried to look at my students that have a need for care like my mom would care for them.

Lastly, I am thankful to my mom for giving me a work ethic.  She always worked hard with multiple jobs and finding time to care for our extended family.

Once more my year with my students is coming to an end; for the 17th time.  It seems impossible to me that so many children have graced my classroom.  Like every year it began with a sense of loss; a loss stemming from missing my students from the previous year.  School years have always been a little different for me.  I don’t really enjoy the beginning of the year; the kids are just so….lamby.   It takes time to build them into our team’s mindset.  I abhor all the stupid questions, minimalist effort, and the lack of deep thinking.  By the end of the year my babies can do anything.  They understand.  They think.  They achieve.  It seems just as the buy-in is complete it is time to let them go.  I hate that.

It has been a good year.  My student of the year showed early (my only problem is whether or not to name two).  This year’s kids have their own personality; they smile easy, are really artistic, for the most part they work, and they make me want to go to work everyday.

The academic side of the year featured more reading (which caused me to get behind), weird weather (which caused me to lose days), and more evidence that 7th grade is the first year that they receive a true historical education (something that I need to compensate for next year).  My spirit is restless again so this summer it is a complete rewrite of my curriculum.  I am shifting completely to an inquiry and historian model…It matches my personality more.

Professionally, my heart is full.  I love Fishers Junior High School.  Our principal is a perfect match to our staff; she wants what is best for kids and will support every endeavor that encourages that end.  My close friends still push me to want to be better.  My teaching partner of 17 years is still the finest teacher I know and his willingness to listen and hold me accountable keeps me from isolating myself.  I will be taking the NJHS back over as Tony’s kids have entered the age where he is obligated every day after school…I will keep the seat warm until Ben starts driving.  I have linked up with the Social Studies Education chair at Ball State University and will become more involved in the development of teachers next fall.  The highlight of my year was taking the Fishers High School We-the-People team to Nationals in April.  Watching these kids that I have worked with since September achieve the highest finish in Indiana’s history was so satisfying.  The experience moved me so much that I will be teaching one class of 8th grade social studies class next year under the We-the-People format and will hope to take the team to the state competition…I will call them the “Weeplets”.

I will still be teaching on the last four days of school to keep from saying goodbye…hello Australia in One Day lesson!  I will most likely shed tears at our awards program and will get emotional after the kids leave on Friday.

I sent the following email out to my school this morning:

Last night the Town of Fishers issued a proclamation honoring a unit from Afghanistan that received a Presidential Unit Citation <kind of the Blue Ribbon School award except for the shooting part>.  The unit was led by Captain John Wagner…some of you may remember John.  In junior high he was known for his spiked hair and duct tape accessories.  He was one of my “felon boys with potential” <John was busted by Jan Quick for flipping off his friend at an early in the year convo which led to John and I having a one-direction conversation>.  John was the kid that in every team or group photo would make the odd face….you know the type.

 When John was a sophomore in high school he interviewed to be a Tecumseh counselor.  I remember the conversation between Tony and I about hiring John, we almost did not hire him…sins of the past;  in the end we did and gave him boys just like him…they thrived.  John still traveled to the beat of his own drummer…in the group counselor photo everyone is in t-shirts and John was in a flannel shirt.  In his senior year he was accepted into West Point.

Last night Captain Wagner walked to the podium and gracefully deflected praise from himself to his platoon, he talked of the difference he felt they made in the lives of villagers tormented by the Taliban, he talked of the grace that his wife, Lauren Achtien (also a counselor…remembered for a complete lack of rhythm when dancing), showed during his deployments, he praised his family for their faithfulness in sending care packages to his unit, and he cured dry eyes when through choked tears and unrehearsed pauses he remembered the 68 soldiers from the 101^st Airborne who died clearing the Taliban from the Khandahar Valley.  Quiet humility. 

What a great reminder for me to not judge a young boys future based on the stupid things 12 and 13 year old boys do sometimes and for me to remember that they are not fully formed; their metamorphosis not yet complete. 

 Mike

 Michael J. Fassold, M.Ed.

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.  ~Kahlil Gibran

My 17th year has begun…looking forward with a peek back <my beloved student teaching year students are turning 30…wow>.   My checklist has slowly whittled down…

Made my “THINK” letters out of pennies.  Pinterest is the inspiration for many of my projects.  My next “money” project will be to make a sign out of nickels…just waiting for inspiration on the letters.  Okay, there is no educational purpose for my “Ninja Exit” Sign other than everyone needs to have one in their classroom.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it.  The kids did not take long to ask me about it.

I wanted to find a way to have my students look at the entire year as one experience soooo I divided my bulletin board into all the months of the school year.  My plan is to post sample “lion” work, torn “lamb” cards, and some other reminders of the month.   Best part of the bulletin board?  Making the lamb and lion icons which tell a little story.  On the top left of the August/September panel is a scoreboard of lambs and lions….Lamb 160 and Lions 0 as of today.  I found <on Twitter> a great poster that read “Great Minds Discuss Ideas; Average Minds Discuss Events; Small Minds Discuss People”…it quickly became a poster <I put it over a project done by Rachel Rees many years ago…still there but my lack of wall space is causing me to place a second layer> A shout out to my principal for buying a poster machine.

Pinterest gave me the inspiration for the next quote that is prominently featured in my room.  It mirrors Fassold Rule #26–“Those that have the least to say speak the most and those with the most to say stand quiet.”  In my classroom I want to reverse this trend by getting my best and brightest minds to find their voices…too many times they stay out of the conversation unless they are brought into the conversation.  My last change was to search for a way to keep kids from feeling disconnected from me.  My beloved 7th period class talked with me last year about changing seats all the time; I thought it was because they wanted to get near their friends…it turned out that they wanted to be nearer to me.  I finally arranged my seats into two squares around the middle of the room…mission accomplished…no student further back than row 2.

My 7th period class also asked me to post Fassold Rules in my room <it seems they thought I was just making up the numbers and rules when it was convenient>…shocked face…however I finally wrote the first 25 rules down <I have added a couple since to the printing of the posters…grrrr my brain grrrr>.  I still have a couple minor things to do before my list is exhausted, but I feel pretty productive.

Finally, I moved my oldest daughter to college…toughest thing to do as a parent…she is strong and she will be okay.  I miss her,  but am proud of the person she has become.  Of course, my “red-headed” wonder is loving the only child status that she finally gets to experience.

Sir Ken Robinson has posted his 10 favorite TED talks on education.  Here is the link to his playlist: http://www.ted.com/playlists/124/ken_robinson_10_talks_on_educ.html.

If you haven’t seen Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk on Changing Education’s Paradigm it is a well-spent 15 minutes (plus the animation is top notch and really cool).  The link is here: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_changing_education_paradigms.html

This next summer will be another summer of adding to my teaching inventory.  This summer’s rewrite will be influenced by the following people / programs:

1.  Stanford’s Beyond the Bubble.  Which is a history scaffolding systems of dealing with primary and secondary sources which lead students to understand and empathize with primary and secondary sources.  This is a building block program to students being able to handle and master a Document Based Assessment (which I am going back to next year after a couple years of thinking that the Social Studies ISTEP mattered).

2. Stanford’s Reading Like a Historian.  This is a foundational program in my class.  Students must be taught to discern information found in primary and secondary sources.  They must learn to seek background when moved by the words of the past.

3.  Kelly Gallagher’s Readicide.  Reading is back baby (insert Dick Vitale’s voice over).  Weekly articles and a novel will be in my class.  Hello Tunnel in the Sky!!  I will be looking at Gallagher’s recommendations on novel reading, but I will find a level that is in my comfort zone.

4.  Kagan’s Cooperative Learning.  I have to find a way to teach my students to work in cooperative teams.  It is my weakness and it is a disservice to my students in the long term.

5.  My friends Brett Bontrager and Tim Wade who are business people who talked a lot to me about how employees cannot write with voice and argument.

6.  Expanding inquiry in my class.  The idea is to give my students a way to be creative with focus in my class…I need a rich sponsor to buy my class a Mac lab off of my classroom so that my kids can use technology in the assessment area of my class.

The best part of the summer is always the promise of the next year.  The chance to improve and grow.