Dene Gainey 6/11/20 Dene Gainey 6/11/20

News Flash: You Matter

I’m sure we’ve all been there a time or two, popular, at least to some degree…someone that others wanted to know or talk to. Perhaps you’ve been that person who had as many friends as there were stars in the sky (exaggeration) or a friend for each day of the week or month. Perhaps you’ve only called few friends. Perhaps you’ve only had one really good one who was without a doubt, the best thing that ever happened to you. Imagine for just a moment that the individual(s) in question all of a sudden disappeared? You stopped hearing from them. They stopped calling or texting, they moved away and didn’t tell you, then found new friends or the relationship had just seemed to fizzle out, whether boldly or indirectly. Suddenly the feeling grips you that speaks very loudly in your head “You no longer matter.”

Have I been there? Oh, likely too many times to recount, or maybe the truth is that I don’t want to remember all of those times and what it felt like. It definitely presents a vulnerability that is the ultimate challenge for me. To add to that, it seems a recurring theme, happening over and over again like that bicycle wheel that won’t stop turning. Have you ever felt like that? You reach and reach and reach some more only to realize that clearly, you no longer matter. You send a message and you may or may not get one in return. You send an email and it may or may not be read. You call and you only get to the voicemail, if it is even answered at all. Then, you get in your own head and you tell yourself that it is you. Something is wrong with you. Why does this thing keep happening to me over and over again like a recurring chronic cough that won’t let my lungs go? But I got to thinking. Now thinking can be quite dangerous at times, but I submit that this time, it was good.

So I began to wonder about the whole coming and going or the possibility that those individuals were never “really” there to begin with, and two things came to mind:

1) You served the purpose you had in their lives.

2) It was meant to break you in order to build you.

Let’s take point one to start. I’d always heard that not everyone is around to “stay.” While there could be a myriad of reasons why someone chooses to walk away, what I began to understand is that it is quite possible that the role looming over your head that needed to be fulfilled in that person’s life may be finished. It is quite possible that you were to sow a seed, or water and once the act is complete, so is that purpose and hence they, or maybe even you, walk away. Then, life goes on and someone else crosses your path. The spin cycle has just changed again and now you have the opportunity to fulfill purpose in the life of the new person you met. Maybe it is in something you say, or do. Maybe you listen well and they need that. Maybe you’re a giver and they have never known anyone like that. Maybe you’re just sincere or genuine and they get to see that modeled, altering their perception of people. Perhaps it is many things.

Moreover, consider for just a moment that your purpose is not tied to just a few. Maybe your gifts and talents are not designated to be limited. Perhaps your value is so much bigger and grander than you believed. Maybe your “why” supersedes that which you always thought it was. To clarify, as hard as it might be to stomach when things end, it may be the very design. It may be that what you brought to the life of another has been accomplished, and is in fact, not a negative at all, but a positive. Mission accomplished.

Moving swiftly to point two, which I must admit is the hardest to discuss. As if the potential pain associated with point one wasn’t enough, point two takes things to a whole new level. What if, by design, the feeling of ‘no longer mattering’ is to strengthen you, redirect you, focus you towards a path, a direction or a goal. A very short story is that I was once friends with a couple individuals. Memories were made. Bonds were shared. Life was lived together. Then, Boom! They moved away. Not only did they move away, the lines of communication were scrambled, cut or somehow abruptly discontinued. It bothered me for a long while. In fact, thinking about it now still makes me feel some kind of way. Nevertheless, I am stronger now than I was before. Because I endured that pain, I gained strength to keep it moving and perhaps handle greater things. Another example might be the wolf pack at Lackland Air Force Base during basic training. I was part of a flight of 59 airmen. We all took an oath to support and defend the nation, with one focus or mission, and that was to become airmen ‘together.’ So many experiences were had in those 6.5 weeks, triumphs and hardships. To this day, I am in contact with about 7 of those airmen, but the other 52 lasted for the 6.5 weeks and that was it. To that point, some relationships with others end and some last longer, and perhaps it is all due to purpose. That is not to say friendships cannot be maintained if desired, but as an alternative way of thinking, perhaps the relationships that end were not meant to last beyond the precipice of purpose being fulfilled.

Long story short, I have had my days where it felt as though I didn’t matter, or no longer mattered, because people moved on and it seemed like they didn’t care anymore. I had to rewrite the script in my mind. I had to understand that what looks like loss, may not be that at all. Perhaps it is that very event or experience that had purpose in it. Perhaps the feelings are necessary to move me further along to realize that I am not here at all by accident, but I am here on purpose. If you didn’t do what only YOU could do, then who would do it? If you didn’t say what only YOU can say it (the way you say it) then who would? If you didn’t be YOU the way that only YOU can, then who could step into those shoes? I say no one! “YOU are the ‘only’ YOU that will ever be, YOUR experiences, YOUR story, YOUR diversity.” (Journey to the Y in You) Your life matters. You Matter.

Dene Gainey 5/23/20 Dene Gainey 5/23/20

Leaning Towards the Light

Have you ever paid attention to the actions of plants and trees in the world? Do you have the proverbial “green thumb?” Do you garden at home? Small things blow my mind every day and one of them is the need that plants have for the light. We learn that scientifically, the process by which plants, as producers, make their own food is photosynthesis, requiring the absorption of sunlight as one of its prerequisites. That has made sense to me ever since I learned it. However, the thing that fascinated me was watching what plants do when the position of the light source changes, or the position of the plant itself is altered.

This plant (whose name is to be determined) was grown from its seed and has been manipulated by me on many occasions, raising and lowering it, as well as shifting its position with respect to the light.

If you have ever spent time with your plants outside, surely you have likely noticed that your plants, depending on where you have them, will always ‘lean towards the light.’ So, the plants, though rooted into the ground are responding to changes in their environment. According to Journey North, there is a chemical called auxin inside of plants that allows the plant to regulate it shoot growth. In this way, plants’ auxin levels are generally spread throughout the plant, however in the case of light variations, the auxin on the sunny side of the plant is broken down and sent to the part of the plant being shaded, allowing the plant to grow longer stems in that area. Those longer stems allow the plants to ‘lean’ towards the light. The process is referred to as phototropism. If the plant or tree has fallen over, the principle remains that the plant or tree will still ‘lean towards the light.’ This phenomenon amazes me, makes me wonder, and draw on it to form connections between plants and people.

When I think of light, I think of the thing that shines, guides or leads. The lighthouse out in the middle of the water, is a beacon for seafarers and ship captains and sailors to safely make their way back to the shore. The small match in the middle of a forest at night dispels the darkness. A flashlight or a candle aids us all in the event of power outages or brown-outs. How much more might we, as individuals be a light, or the light for someone else? Who is leaning towards you? Are you shining as a beacon of hope and encouragement during tumultuous times? How can you be a light in times of darkness and uncertainty? Can be by lending you ear? What about offering a bottle of water? Is it possible that people just need to feel cared for, and even if you may not be able to deliver a hug, you find a way to be a bridge over troubled waters?

As an educator of 14 years, one thing I can say with 100% certainty, is that teachers always have been and likely will continue to be much more than someone who siphons out content. In fact, students come to us, in many cases, needing more than curriculum. It makes you wonder why curriculum seems to be so much more important than the human part, social-emotional learning, life skills and the like. It sounds very backwards to me. Yet there are so many ills in the world that could be altered if we turned on the light. What if the light influenced the degree to which learning could be augmented, deeper and more effective? I firmly believe that we have the potential to be lights, lights that encourage, guide, instruct, give hope and give love. Maybe it isn’t a visible light, maybe its a glow that you have that people are drawn to. Maybe it’s the way in which you incline your ear, listening so intently and talking so little.

How would things in our spaces and places change if we knew that there were those leaning, like plants, trying to find a light? A light that they can develop from. A light that they can produce from. A light that they can strengthen from. A light that they can glean from so that they even become a conduit for others plants (people) to grow. If they leaned in your direction, would they receive nutrient-rich light? And…maybe we as lights, can also lean toward others who, can encourage us in times of challenge..to show us all that ‘leaning towards the light’ is gives us all the strength to keep growing.

Dene Gainey 12/31/18 Dene Gainey 12/31/18

Forward in 2019.

2018 came to a close with this opportunity to share with those of Lutheran Haven on 12/23. You can watch and listen HERE if you so desire! I am constantly reflecting (and analyzing) and I can admit that the challenges of 2018 changed me. I realize that I am not the same person. Not everything felt good, was good, but I believe that it was necessary. Now I, today, take a forward mindset into 2019. 2018 is now behind me or should I say serves as stepping stones. Reflecting on my previous post "Broken, but Built." The obstacles become opportunities, the sticky situations become stepping stones, the problems become possibilities. I am convinced that what we say and think of ourselves is our reality. Choosing my words and actions carefully, I will move forward, starting today.

Dene Gainey 12/29/18 Dene Gainey 12/29/18

Episode 4: The Power of the Light. (Journey to the Y in You)

Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: You can be a light to someone else that needs you. https://anchor.fm/denegainey/episodes/You-can-be-a-light-to-someone-else-that-needs-you-e2rl03

Dene Gainey 10/14/18 Dene Gainey 10/14/18

Sensing, Understanding, and Delivering

To teach is indeed a calling. To know that what you do daily has the capacity to live far longer than you do is mind-blowing! I can't help but wonder if there are certain people that need the very words that come out of my mouth? Perhaps there are students who, for whatever reason, are in situations that you can speak life to, provide solace in, and help them get out of through embracing, encouraging, and empowering them.

Embrace: This could be a physical embrace or a metaphorical one. Maybe a hug is in order or perhaps simply knowing that they can talk to and relate to you because though you are a superhero in their eyes, you are still human.

Encourage: Maybe they need to hear something positive. Acknowledge their strengths, help them to identify and find areas of weakness to work on and improve themselves. Help them to see the value of personal responsibility.

Empower: Teach them to reach, to dig, to expand and to grow, whether you are standing there or not.

I was recently engaged in a conversation at an EdCamp during a session called "Building a Positive School Culture." In the session was the discussion of the concern raised by teachers, namely the "the loss of instructional time" that comes through school-sponsored events, the time taken to redirect student behaviors and combat the societal things that walk boldly into the classrooms, etc. I challenged them at the end of the session to flip the script.

I create lesson plans every two weeks that are to guide the teaching and learning in the classroom. More times than not, there is a deviation from what I planned. In fact, if I were to be completely honest, I hardly ever stick to the strategic plan that I've outlined on paper. What I find to be true is that the real strategy is being able to deliver, provide or allow for what is needed by the students in the classroom at that moment, in the here and now, dependent solely on discerning the environment, knowing students and being able to be sensitive to the needs of others. That cannot be planned for, however, as an educator, I have placed myself in the position to be flexible and shift based on the needs.

Perhaps in lieu of building school culture and cultivating a rich, innovative and dynamic learning environment, we should not see these deviations from the norm as loss of instructional time. Perhaps these deviations are more instructional than any 'instruction' will ever be. Perhaps it is the words or activities that flow that are much more meaningful for the time, and without them, the curriculum would not stick anyway. So, if I flow with the needs of the class and increase my sensitivity to the needs of the day, how much more will the content itself stick when it does occur.

Signed,

One who does not stay the same.

Dene Gainey 12/10/17 Dene Gainey 12/10/17

What are my 100 Words?

First thanks, Jessie Boyce for putting this little challenge out there. It's really a little HUGE challenge. I'd never thought about doing this before and here goes my disclaimer: This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, putting my joy of teaching and learning in 100 words.

My 100 Words on Why I Love Teaching

I love teaching because it is a perpetual process of learning & I am just as much of a student when I teach as the students themselves are. I love teaching because of the immense ability to “reach” and not just teach & to see lives transformed through that reach! I love teaching because little by little, the world can be changed for the better. I love teaching because of spontaneous discovery and the ability to empower students to C.L.I.M.B.E. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing students actualize themselves and take ownership and independence when learning.

What are your 100 words? I think it’s time to get writing!

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Dene Gainey 8/26/17 Dene Gainey 8/26/17

Don't Stop Moving

I believe I read a quote at some point that said "If you try to make everyone happy then you'll never make anyone happy." As I constantly evaluate myself and place myself under the microscope, I am really that kind of educator that is all in. I am always thinking and doing something supports my professional role. It's like I live and breathe this educator thing. As if I was an educator before I was even born...and once I was, everything I did, good, bad or indifferent, led me to this point. I remember my first grade teacher who had supreme influence on me while I was a student in her class. I also went back to her classroom every day after school through fifth grade, to help her if she needed it. When I was off to middle school, I would still make it a point to head back to the school to help her in whatever way that I could. As a high school student, I began to track my volunteer hours since that was such a big thing and quite frankly I'd been involved a lot anyway. I went back to help her yet again, and upon graduation, was recognized as a member of my graduating class with a tremendous amount of community service hours. So this isn't the first time I've mentioned that little anecdote, but it is still a relevant piece regarding why I stand here in this position today. I grew up with high expectations, or in other words, those around me expected much from me. That said, as an educator, my expectations are also high, as it applies to those in my area of influence.

I do my best to check my intentions to ensure they are always genuine. In other words, I try to ensure that my actions reflect an awareness of self and a focus on others. I have come to realize that even when actions are genuine, the actions don't always please everybody. As an educator, it's not so much about the quiz or the project or the school year as it is about life, character and responsibility. So my actions, beliefs and overall philosophy is driven by this premise. Perhaps it's a "bigger than me" mentality. It's not about me, but it is about the lives of the those within my reach. And thus, I am always focused on who those people are or who they will be, not the here and now.

The truth is that not everybody will agree with you, believe in you, take the journey with you, or even support you. Whether that means family, friends, colleagues, administrators, parents or even students, trials come that they might make you strong.

However there was a reason this "thing" all got started, and thus there is a reason why it should continue. Obstacles, opposition and trials truly are all a part of the journey and I have come to know that by design, they are tasked with making us better. I would never have known the strength I had to get through something had that something never challenged me or came my way. You realize who you really are in the face of opposition. Opposition can of course come in many shapes and sizes. But I've learned to put the opposition under the microscope too. There are times I've asked myself "What's in it for me?" But the more I live, the more I realize that "Perhaps there is something I need in the opposition."

Philosophical at best, this post is just a reminder (to myself too) that even though there are times that we question why, and criticize ourselves (guilty), we can't stop moving. Funny that the song "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey is in my head as I finish this post. I almost titled the post that way. :)

Dene Gainey 6/11/17 Dene Gainey 6/11/17

Challenges & Limitations: Are they the same thing?

Challenges & Limitations: Are they the same thing? Can challenges lead to limitations? Can challenges open the door to opportunity? This blog has been written as something to consider and maybe even open the door for conversation, inspired by nature itself. (Side note: there is much to be learned by observing and appreciating who and what we are surrounded by.)

Are challenges limitations? I was watching a nature documentary recently, titled "Africa's Deadliest," I couldn't help but notice the sheer number of animals with physical and perhaps geographical challenges that may serve to box the animal in or by which we are able to identify the animal as it's species. For example, the crocodile is regarded as a fierce predator, who has intense bite force and is able to take out animals that are equal or larger in size. The water is where the crocodile's greatest strength is realized because of its ability to ambush prey, often by surprise as they draw closer by holding their breath underwater.

You might say that the water is the croc's livelihood. However, the crocodile's teeth are not designed to tear and chew it's prey once caught and suffocated. Instead the crocodiles must group together and rely on each other to tear prey and then swallow it whole. Not only that, crocodiles are sloppy & less balanced and effective while on land versus in the water. You might say that the challenges that the crocodile experiences are opportunities for them to capitalize on their strengths and/or cooperate with other crocodiles in order to accomplish the task at hand. Are these challenges experienced by crocodiles also their limitation? Well that depends on how you view it.

Let's take another example. The cheetah is hugely regarded as the fastest land animal on Earth reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour or more. This is of course a feature that enables the cheetah to attain its prey when it travels at intense speeds. Unlike its counterparts and related species, it is able to traverse distances in order to reach what may otherwise be unreachable. A drawback however is the need for cheetahs to recuperate after traveling at such immense speed before it can devour what it's speed allowed it to reach and overtake. In fact, the documentary identifies that the cheetah becomes so overheated that it is close to going brain dead after working so intensely to feed itself. If this wasn’t enough, the cheetah then has to deal with the lions and hyenas, opportunists, that pose a serious threat to the cheetah itself, not to mention its prey being stolen. Is the cheetah’s speed a challenge or a limitation?

A third example is the Monarch butterfly, a delicate creature, faces more than one challenge in its lifetime. Of its challenges are habitat loss, pesticides and herbicides, and climate change. Starting out as a caterpillar, eating constantly, it has to undergo a complete physical change, only to have a limited lifespan once its metamorphosis has taken place. An average butterfly has an average life span of two weeks in which it must carry out its life obligations in order to ensure that generations behind it may carry on, survival in mind.

And so now we attempt to bring it home, to the crux of the matter, the reality of the world we live in today. We all have challenges, animals and human beings alike. We all have things that we face on the daily that we have the opportunity to overcome. If we sat here and thought long enough, we would be able to identify challenges for each animal and even plant on the face of the earth. All living things face obstacles and challenges that “challenge” the existence and survival of the species. Could we ask the cactus plant to stop sucking up water so that it can survive during the harsh times of drought? Could we ask the kangaroo to stop digging holes into the ground in order to cool itself in times of extreme heat? Would it be appropriate to ask the alligators and crocodiles to remain in the water so they do not threaten our existence on the earth? The truth is that challenges can be viewed as obstacles, but are not necessarily limitations at all. They are opportunities to be creative, adapt and find ways to conquer what could have conquered you. We fill continue to face challenges but we do not have to allow those challenges to keep us from moving forward in the best way possible.

So let’s think about education and the roles we have. Our students. Do they have challenges? You bet they do! We as the educators face challenges as well. Our students have various backgrounds, cultures, experiences, values, morals and beliefs that may not necessarily line up with the next person. Does that mean they are any less valuable? Of course not, but perhaps these challenges are opportunities to learn how to embrace and celebrate the various aspects of our world that make it unique and diverse. Where would we be without challenges? We’d never learn how amazing the world and those therein truly are without challenges. We’d never see the bravery if there was nothing to fear. We’d never know love, if rejection wasn’t a reality. We’d never see the stars if they didn’t shine in the middle of darkness. We’d never know the opportunity ahead without the challenges that propel us to pursue with patience that which lies before us! Turn your challenge into an opportunity, don’t let it limit you.

Dene Gainey 4/30/17 Dene Gainey 4/30/17

I'm All Ears.

"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said" --Peter Drucker

Now the above quote is the type that really reaches out and grabs me. Consider for a moment that listening helps you to understand what is missing or rather what can be added to a conversation. Is anyone really listening to you when you speak? Do they even care enough to stop talking or doing, long enough to listen to what you have to say? That is the question of the day. When I listen to you, it means that I care about what you have to say and that I am allowing you the space, the time, the platform, or the opportunity to share it. Sounds easy right? fullsizeoutput_282

Is there truly anything to be gained from talking and never stopping to listen. I’d heard someone say that we have two ears and one mouth (Epictetus) The more I consider it, the more I realize that there is such value in being one who listens, or in fact, is slow to speak. I can attest to the fact that I have learned so much simply by listening to people, without ever having to utter a word.

My dad had always been slow to speak. But when he did speak, his words commanded the attention of all those in his vicinity. You might say that was due to his profession, his family or his wisdom. I submit that it was due to his decision. I question today the value that is placed on positioning yourself so that you can hear from someone else, "truly." All too often, the experience as been the opposite, where we talk constantly, or even without regard for what someone else may have to offer.

As an educator, one considers the students that he or she teaches; I definitely do. Naturally in a classroom where learning is to take place it requires both listening and speaking skills. Is one more valuable than the other. Perhaps not, however, they do have equal relevance in the day-to-day expectations of a teacher. a0085a5108aa211f9769138291d94f8f This is of course not limited to students listening to a teacher, but students listening to other students. Listening is an important skill for all. Surely I cannot truly expect my students to listen if I don't model that, or walk it out in front of them. I'd rather be the example instead of a hypocrite.

They all get excited about sharing. They are all engaged in the process of speaking, and will take every opportunity to talk to others. But what about the listening piece? How do you teach students about the inherent value of being a good listener? How might you model being a good listener for students such that he or she (the students) can understand that if they listen, they can earn greater understanding of an idea, but at the same time, consider a respectful and sound response to what they have heard?

So together, listening and speaking form a conversation. And the conversation is one that has value because the participants are involved in both the listening and speaking components. What would change if we all made it a point to be better listeners? And by so doing, what we are able to add to the conversation is both impactful and relevant, furthering the learning, rather than taking from it. Does listening make you a pushover or "weak?" Not at all. I believe it truly means you understand and respect others when you can see value in their words. We all have experiences. We all have stories to tell. Dare I say that we can all benefit from someone who will listen? Dare I go further and say that listening will change not only the life of whom you're listening to, but your own as well? Someone listened to me. I've not been the same since.

Dene Gainey 4/2/17 Dene Gainey 4/2/17

Celebrating Diversity & Building Community

This blog post is partly in response to an extremely intriguing and moving conversation at EdCampHCPS on Saturday, April 1, 2017, and no, it wasn't a joke! Haha. Aside from that, it has played an essential role in my own beliefs and practices as an educator. Thanks to Zac, Alex, Amber, Bryan, Nik, and Maria. What an awesome conversation we had!

I was so fortunate to have been able to attend EdCampHCPS this past Saturday and not only that, but be able to facilitate a session or discussion or conversation about this topic: "Celebrating Diversity and Building Community." I find it important to start with a the why of celebration and building, but further, to identify a working definition for both diversity and community. I believe we are blessed to live in a world that includes different types of people whether those differences are realized through gender, race, culture, language, opinion, viewpoint (perspective) and life choices even.

This is an important conversation to continue to be had. Is there a mold that students are expected to fit in when we really are all different with different backgrounds and experiences that must be taken into account because it makes us who we are? Is there a mold that we as educators are expected to fit in? Are we being asked to change the very essence of who we are rather than attempt to understand & celebrate diversity? The discussion ensued that students are often stripped of their diversity when we expect them to be who they are not, or to fit a predefined mold. How often do we as educators enter the classroom and assume this position: "This is how we do school," even unintentionally? Consider how we limit the learning experiences of students when we choose to intentionally or unintentionally expect every student to be the same.

Suffice it to say we were able to start the conversation at #EdCampHCPS, but we were far from ending it at the time that we were scheduled to move onto the next session.

Thus, the term diversity seems to encompass a whole lot more today than may have been identified years ago, or even captured by dictionary definition. How do you define diversity? Merriam Webster defines diversity as: "the condition of having or being composed of differing elements OR the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization OR an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities." Why is diversity, specifically celebrating it so important? Melissa Etheridge qualifies diversity as our greatest strength as a nation but furthers her thought to suggest that it too has the power to break us down when we choose not to see the value in it and how it has the power to build bridges, fill gaps and connect us."Diversity is not judging a situation before trying to understand a situation."

Everybody has their own piece of the pie and the pie becomes whole when all of the pieces come together. Or consider the puzzle, if you will. Everybody has something valid to say, but we need to be open to hear it!

Diversity: the art of thinking independently together. I must say that I agree with these sentiments because I do not see how we will ever lose our difference. However, I do see how those differences can not be capitalized on when we choose to stay separated. We can be different and we can be together. Let's embrace our "different" while we sit at the table together.

When you think about Dr. Martin Luther King's words here, you can see that though we all have stories, his goal was to bring change to serve the greater good. My perspective is that when we shift our focus on bringing change at this great a scale, it ultimately affects everyone anyway, including ourselves. It does not see us as separate and disconnected, but rather connected at the very core, and only separated due to viewpoints that have not come to the table of "together." What I mean is that there is great value in our own individual perspectives and viewpoints, but there is an immense power when we can bring those all together and reason.

Where would we be without our ability to see. Let me be clear though, it is possible to be able to see and yet have no vision. We need a call to action. We need to not only understand the why of diversity but also things that we can do in order to bring change to our current understanding and fully move forward with the vision of understanding the role that each individual plays and the power that is created when all of these individuals have the space and time to come together.

I think it is highly important for students to learn about other type of people, other cultures, others' backgrounds because when this can happen, we can understand for example, why people do what they do and understand how this new learning can improve the individual. I am better when I know a little Japanese, because I then can communicate with Japanese people. The wall or barrier that would have limited me before is removed when I am able to immerse myself into the learning about others that ultimately builds a bridge where there was once a gap.

How do we take what could rip us apart and translate that into something that revolutionizes us? Melissa Etheridge's thoughts here really make me think. I find it to be amazing that this understanding or lack thereof can build bridges or tear them down. I have personally been in situations that as a black male I am looked upon as someone out to hurt or harm, when truly that could not be farther from the truth. Stigmas and stereotypes exists and often I feel the burden on my shoulders to be the antithesis of what we currently experience. I think this is a perfect example for how we may judge a situation prematurely rather than being open and willing to connect with people, because there is certainly a strength that comes when we take the time to be intentional about understanding and knowing that everyone is not the same, but that they may have an experience that will change me, or make better.

So on the topic of student support, I believe that we must first learn about our students and their needs before we are able to support them. How are students best supported? Do they all have the same support needs? The answer is no. I believe that it is time well spent when we first understand that yes, we are different and ultimately when we are able to affirm the difference in students, the quicker we are able to use those differences to benefit everyone.

Involvement is essential. We cannot make diversity and community big ideas unless we have others involved. How can be make it a focus? My goal is to include, whether directly or indirectly, a focus on diversity and community in every lesson that I teach or in every activity that I ask students to engage in. I want them to understand how what they are doing now is reflected in the real world and the connections between them. Not only are we speaking of meaningful learning here, we are talking about getting them ready for real challenges or experiences.

Empathy is so important. You might define empathy as the ability of one to understand and share the feelings of another. Is it important to integrate this idea into our classrooms? Absolutely. Why? It would totally make us more mindful of what, how and why we do before we do it. It fosters an appreciation for this around us and how we can all help each other in this tangled web we weave.

How do you define community? With regards to community, what thoughts come to mind when you view the pictures below? In what ways do these images reflect "community?" Merriam Webster provides the following as a definition: "a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society." When think about the following pictures below, I understand that each aspect of the environment or these living elements in the same place, has a role to play. They may have a common interest in the sun, or in oxygen and so while they may be different in organizational structure, genetic makeup, physical characteristics, and even their upbringing or origination to bring it to where it currently is, they can commune together in these photos.

As part of the #FLEdChat Twitter chat on Wednesday nights, I have the fortunate opportunity to facilitate/lead a Celebrate Diversity ('Focus on Diversity') chat on every third Wednesday where the focus is on the importance of both diversity and community as these two components are married together. You can't truly have one without the other. Nevertheless, we converse about philosophy, practices, suggestions and even action plans for how we might embrace these two very important ideas in the classroom, creating the space for students to understand their importance as well as the education body at large.

One of the content areas that I teach is English-Language Arts. I love to integrate technology into the core curriculum at every effective moment. And as a result, this year I moved students from using a paper-and-pencil blogging experience to an electronic means of students responding to their reading, either nightly or at the culmination of each book. Students were able to "personalize" their spaces and make them their own. "Class Press" was the platform and unfortunately they are discontinuing the site as of October 2017. However, students were able to "interact" in a space where they shared about their texts and could comment on each other's posts and asks questions where appropriate. As the educator, I was able to do the same. It was also a great way to help students learn revising and editing, because they could make corrections to their posts at any time.

What I did not count on, or should I say "plan for," was the community that was built. Students really dove in to the idea of commenting on other students' posts. It was not strictly academic either; students were essentially "being themselves" within this secure space. I was able to introduce students to Digital Citizenship as well and how to appropriately respond or pose questions to others. Students had many "coming together" moments and continue to do so, although the platform begins to lose viability as it comes to an end this year. Students literally had conversations about the books as well as many generic topics or writing topics they chose to put on the site. It was enlightening to see the students be able to conduct themselves in such a mature manner as fourth and fifth graders. I am very curious about the direction I will take now, as I want to continue to have students blog in a secure space. I have definitely put a plug out there to Fresh Grade, an e-portfolio platform that I already use, as it will be yet another layer of ability and resourcefulness for the already booming student-centered company.

In summary, instilling an appreciation for diversity and community is of great importance, as it serves the greater good. It points to the idea that we are better together. And in the words of Josh Groban, You Raise Me Up, to more than I can be.

My 100 Words on Why I Love Teaching

“YOU are the only YOU that will ever be, YOUR experienceS, YOUR story, YOUR diversity.”