'Weathering the Storm' Means More Than Just Surviving

I was working at the Katy ISD STEAM center last Thursday night. It was crowded with high-school students working on their robots. Not a cloud in sight. Students were focused on their task when several phones beeped with text messages, mine as well. It was an update from our district that school was cancelled for Friday August 25th. The hushed voices became a din of excitement as the news spread. Students began to call their parents and I could hear one particular conversation as the student came out into the reception area to be able to hear their parent over the commotion, "Can I stay at Rogers tonight school is cancelled for tomorrow? I know, I do not know why either, but it is a day off." The cancellation was for preparation, evacuation and taking shelter before the storm hit. Yet, with the hullabaloo occurring around me it felt more like a vacation, at least for the teenagers in the building. The adults became somber, knowing that if our district cancelled school, Harvey was going to be a big one. I knew I wasn't evacuating so for me it was about stocking up on food and supplies and keeping track of Harvey's route.

Friday ended up being a dry day. This only created a sense of complacency and security for many who opted to just relax and wait it out. Many were saying "My house never floods, so I am not worried." But, that night, thunder, lightning and torrential rain led to the first of many days of flooding and devastation. Neighborhoods that have never seen flood waters were submerged. Coastline cities decimated and that was only the beginning. If 12' of rain over night in some areas wasn't bad enough, tornadoes blew roof's off and high winds knocked down trees and power-lines. Even then, many people came on the news and said "Our neighborhood never floods, we have been here 25+ years, so I am not worried." Water continued to pour, mandatory evacuations were announced and this was only Sunday.

My neighborhood filled up with water quickly, it always does, but it crept up my driveway. Taunting us. The rain continued to ravish Houston and East Texas. Neighborhoods that never flooded, flooded. Bayous, rivers, reservoirs had enough. They spilled their banks and caused more flooding. The levels reached such capacity, they had to release water from the reservoirs for fear of the dams breaking under the pressure. More water washed away cars and forced its way into homes, that for every storm prior to Harvey remained dry. Not just inches but feet of water, attacked their surfaces like a storm of hungry bees. Trapping many in their homes. Boats arrived and rescues were all the news was showing. Just countless families in silver boats floating down Houston and East Texas streets. Roads became rivers and inland neighborhoods became unrecognizable.

Days passed. Rain began to slow, yet rivers continued to rise. Flooding expanded and encompassed anywhere it could. Affluent or poverty stricken areas, it didn't matter, water is both non-judgmental and unforgiving. The sheer force of it can shake even the strongest foundation. After five days of relentless rain, the sun peered through the clouds giving hope of reprieve. Yet, flood waters remained steadfast. Shelters, volunteers, first responders continued to offer respite. Then National Guard, helicopters, the Cajun Navy arrived. My part of Katy, drowned and beaten became a staging area and everywhere you look you see Hum-V's, buses, boats and every military and support organization imaginable. Helicopters and large military cargo planes are continuously flying over head, even today. Rumbling my house, reminding me that things are not normal, not yet at least.

The storm has ended but flood waters, still holding their stance are slowly retreating. Homes are being gutted, cars towed. Supplies are being sent in. Many shelves bare of food and drink. Stores closed even in dry areas as employees can not make it in, have evacuated or their homes have been damaged. Normalcy seems far away but Texans are strong, Houstonians are resilient. Neighbors helping neighbors and support efforts are well underway. But, many teachers in Katy ISD, not to mention the rest of Houston and East Texas, have lost their homes, students are displaced, families are in shelters. How do you go back to school when 5 of your schools took on flood waters? When you get back to school how do you as teachers, help students deal with trauma? All the while dealing with trauma yourself. Most people survived, although we lost some of our fellow Texans. But surviving is only part of this catastrophe. It is where we go from here that can be crippling to many.

Once we step back into our classrooms, we need to bring Harvey to the forefront. We need to have open, meaningful conversations. We need to listen to our students. Watch for signs of post-traumatic stress. Hug them. Make sure they know that we went through this too. Share stories. Be mindful and aware of the quiet internalization that is often overlooked. But, we also need to get some kind of normalcy back in place quickly. Reiterate routine and community. Not overwhelm our students with homework, but spend time reviewing and making them feel safe back in the classroom. It is important to remember that weathering the storm does not just mean making it through, but continuing to cope and make sense of the tragedy.

I am not sure when we will get back to school. But tomorrow, for the first time in a week, we get to enter our classrooms and assess the damage. A deep breath and calm focus brings me to a meditative state. Whatever lies ahead will be conquered. Harvey may have taken a bite out of Houston and East Texas but we are survivors, we are tenacious and stubborn. We can see the sunshine through the clouds. Even on the darkest of days. This is what makes us Texas strong.

Hitting the Pause Button: A Week In to School

Anticipation of this storm started early. The hum of worry echoed through the hallways as early as last Monday. Our school even had an emergency weather drill on Thursday. It become more real when school was cancelled Friday but even then the rain stayed away for the most part. Many became complacent and felt they were not going to be affected. Saturday came and a few showers occurred but still most of Houston remained basically dry. Over night Saturday my neighborhood flooded. As did much of Houston proper. Evacuations are numerous. Streets impassable unless you are in a Hum-V. The National Guard made its way through a few hours ago. Bringing the realization that this disaster is only going to get worse. Boats and tall trucks are rescuing many, yet, on my street children were splashing in the streets as the announcement was made that our school district is closed until after Labor Day. But for adults, this is when reality set in. We are trapped in our houses for days to come.

We have only seen our students for 7 days. We are still learning their names, still creating those bonds. It feels strange to not see them for another week. My students are all on Remind and Canvas and I am sending messages of positivity to keep the conversation open. I added some study tools so they can access some if they want. But, mostly I am asking them to check in and let everyone know they are safe. Our district is large. While some locations are flooded, many are underwater. Others are weathering the storm easier, so far. It is scary that it has only been about 16 hours since the rain has really hit us. We have 3-4 more days of this. Tornadoes and heavy winds are causing the alarm on my phone to ring out frequently. We are now in a flash flood warning and a tornado warning. I feel safe but I know the worse is yet to come.

The pause button has been hit. Learning has stalled. It is important when we come back to not brush past this experience but to incorporate it into our lessons. Talk about what happened. It is a great opportunity to strengthen relationships, build a deeper community connection and together come to terms with what has happened to ourselves and our friends and neighbors. For now, 15-25 more inches yet to come. So my current plans are entering my garage and moving the boxes to higher areas. Hunkering down and keeping an eye on the flood level outside. To get my mind off 24-hour coverage on CNN and the howling winds outside, I am writing. I am staying safe and focusing on what I can do to incorporate this event into a learning opportunity for my students. If I focus on that I get less stressed out. This is nothing like I have seen before or Houston has experienced before. The simple fact of focusing on my teaching makes all this seem less frightening.

Prayers for everyone in Texas who are being impacted by this storm. We will weather through, we will make it to the other side of this flooding. Stay safe.

The Power of a Classroom Graffiti Wall: Personal Expression

Why Graffiti?

Graffiti is a way of creating. An art form of expression. Intricate and unique, colorful and dynamic. On exteriors of buildings and underpasses it builds a sense of mystery, an announcement of presence and authority. These same levels of interpretation and articulation run deep in a student-centered classroom. Having a location where students can declare and comment on content is a great way to bring voice to even the quietest of students. Anonymity is appreciated. Fluidity of vocabulary and artistry is crowd-pleasing. As much as a beautiful mural of graffiti is work of art, a classroom graffiti wall is an intricate weaving of demonstration of knowledge and personal narration and style.

What is a Graffiti Wall? 

A large space, preferably a black board. Chalk just creates a feel unlike any other writing tool. Smearing and powdery, creating a sense of urgency and impermanence. I like to leave it blank for a few days, letting students see the need to draw and add their flavor to the space. It is their area in which to make connections, allow their ideas to come to life through art and most importantly, generate conversation. Students walk over to it and read through the posts every class period and by the end of the day a giant mosaic of science and imagination comes to life. A display of collaboration, individuality and the confluence of understanding and design. It is an amazing thing to watch as each students adds a layer to the board, bring more meaning and depth to the visual communication. It is a great way for all of my classes to interact with and learn from one another.

Cells Graffiti Wall

Our first graffiti wall of the year- cells vocabulary. The only instructions I gave: choose one of the cells vocabulary words and draw a comic or cartoon character representing the term. Add a motto they would use to define their function in a cell. This board of wonderment, humor, imagination and joy is the result of six classrooms adding layers throughout the day. It is a pure example of student-choice and student-voice. There are some hilarious references to not only current politics (I am okay with including political statements as long as they are not offensive), Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, even Dr. Who. This is one of many more to come. I am just joyful. Students were engaged, interactive and so excited to put their stamp on the wall. They of course all wanted to sign their work but my response- "Graffiti is anonymous for a reason. Graffiti artists want to be recognized for their work, but they want you to know their voice, their vision." As a community I want them to begin to recognize each others artwork and turn of phrase, this is when I will truly see a community of learners come to fruition. When it is not about who but what. When the graffiti wall is no longer personal but communal. When all student voices and individual artistry harmonize into community mastery, method and ingenuity.

Why So Serious? Laughter is Good for the Soul.

Farce, hilarity, wisecracking, three tools that are often neglected in the classroom. However they are useful ammunition. If used effectively they will not just brighten up a complacent learning environment but they will transform it into a haven of connection, cognizance, comfort and delight. This year, for me joy and mindfulness begin with a humble laugh and creating a humorous and compelling place where smiles occur daily and respectful banter is common place.

That first chuckle, giggle, guffaw. The moment their deadpan expressions turn into audible grins. This is the juncture when our classroom transforms from a stage to a society. Give-and-take becomes the norm. Quiet shifts to orderly networking. Each voice an interchange, communication seems like witty banter between characters, seamless and charged. The humor of a learning environment is a two-way street. An avenue of laughter, all the while, being one of academic attainment. Joking around may seem off-task but it builds rapport and camaraderie. It is all about the timing. I have actually heard teachers say "Do not let them see you smile the first few days of school. Only let them see you be stern or they will walk all over you." I simply reply, "Why so serious? Laughter is good for the soul."

In our classroom we are respectful and mindful. We listen to one another and support one another. We laugh a lot at ourselves and the comedy in error. We fail and rather than allowing ourselves to get stuck in the quagmire of defeat, we use the muck, the humor, to elevate ourselves above it. We talk things through rather than let things go undiscovered and un-approached. It's the anecdotes of trust we use to secure to each other, that we have all been there. Balanced pragmatism. I have never been one to skirt away from the bliss of laughter. When I make a mistake, I snicker. I am honest with myself and my students. This builds a bridge of equality, for they will make mistakes too and rather than shy away from them they will embrace them, share them and overcome them. Not alone but with the crowd of spectators. The audience that is watching, on the edge of their seats, anticipating the experience of knowledge and growth. The revel in satire and personal choice. If we use grins and smiles as a common language, then setbacks will never be dramatic but rather sitcoms, laugh-tracks and all.

Magical Mystery Tour: A Calling Card Extravaganza

It was about 1:30 in the morning, the eve of the first day of school. I was restless, couldn't sleep. So I just stared into the darkness of my room and envisioned a blank wall. I tried to imagine what a wall, that would encompass my mindful philosophy and student personalities, would look like. In the past, I have used 'All About Me' and other colorful handouts for students to share their backgrounds and interests. But, these stayed up for a few days, maybe a week and then ended up in the recycle bin (student choice). So I wanted to do something different this year. Incorporate the same basic idea, but also have it purposeful and relevant every day. A long-lasting and impactful design where students were building a community not just talking about themselves.

What came to mind was my UCLA quad community board. There was everything from lost cat signs to I need a partner to study fliers. It was always a messy, hodge-podge of student communication. This intrigued me. I knew I wanted something like this but with more purpose and interaction. I didn't want students to make something big, but something small and meaningful. I envisioned a business style card. A calling card, as I decided to name them. Something students can read and use to find like-minded students. Students who share the same interests and this in turn will help us become a community rather than a classroom. 

This concept came to fruition and became visible on the second day of school. I handed students various colored card stock, cut small like a business cards, and gave them three requirements: create your personal motto, logo and share three strengths that will enhance your learning and the learning of your classmates, or community members, in this class.

They created their calling cards and then we had a ten minute 'mingle' where students had to introduce themselves to three different students they did not know or that they knew, but rarely interacted with. Then they hung them on the community board. These will be used throughout the year to create pairs, collaborative groups and for students to find other people who share their passions and hobbies. 

I spent yesterday afternoon just reading over all these amazing cards. Students are also stopping to read over the board. It is becoming another focal point for our student-centered classroom.

A Student-Centered Classroom: Design with Students in Mind

August 16th, a year that will live in merriment. A student-centered classroom becomes even more so by doing a few simple things. Colliding with science is my moniker on Twitter as well as our class blog and website. So it made sense to use it as our class motto. A vision is important and this created a sense of wonderment and magic as they entered the room. I also call our room a community and we start the year off with a group 'mingle' activity and creating our own motto's and logo's. These are then hung on the wall, on our community board. But, alas that is a topic for the next blog post.

When I was designing my wall space I decided to go minimalist. To leave the responsibility to my students so they feel connected to the community arena completely. The back wall of the classroom is a giant collision board where students will add articles, pictures and any other artifact they desire, to build the 'big picture' and make connections between concepts. I got it started to show them last years TEK's and this years TEK's and how they are connected. Then moving forward, they will have full control over the space. When I told my students this they were very excited and already have started collecting items to fill in the gaps.

The opposite long wall in the classroom is a community board, which will be used for their 'calling cards' (the next blog post), advertisements and extra-credit ideas. It will be like in a college quad, a cornucopia of student-driven ideas and communication. The blackboard is the class graffiti wall. This is an area they will use for collaborative formative assessments. They will draw, graffiti style, cartoons and vocabulary words and work together to solve vocabulary scrambles.

The tables are arranged in a community center fashion, some coming out of the walls, one long giant 'dining table', standing circles and round tables. There are also carpet squares so they can sit on the floor and soon bean bag seats as well. It is flexible seating so when students arrived the first day of school they were surprised and excited at the myriad of options. The second day they all moved about and tried out new locations. It was fun to see them begin to own the space. To feel comfortable and cozy in their learning environment.

Smack down the center of the classroom is our makerspace. Accessible from both sides and integral to the area. It is chock full of supplies just waiting for students to tinker, design and innovate.

Our daily objectives are written as We will... what we will accomplish as a class (the topic for the day) and I will, the task students will need to have completed by the end of the period, statements. I decided to make it look like a now showing marquee and every week (for extra-credit) students will design a movie style poster about the topic of the week. Including a tagline and cartoon. I can't wait to see the first one.

I have an average of 30 students in my GT classes and 20 in my Pre-AP classes. This leaves a lot of extra seating and this will come in handy during labs so I can spread them out and they will have plenty of room. Even my teacher desk is open for student use. Every inch of my classroom is student accessible and having this in place set the tone for the community when they entered the room. These last two days have been truly amazing. Flexible seating, student-controlled walls and lots of mingling and getting to know one another and already this year is shaping up to be a joyful and engaging one.

Overwhelming Becomes Integrated: Back to Teacher Mode

The feeling of being overwhelmed takes over, darkens the edges and creates a grainy, askew image of reality. Voices distant, hollow, speak and dissipate. Focus disseminates, scattering like the first semblance of morning light. The fog of hindsight ceases to lift, lingering heavy, every step leads somewhere but the journey is mysterious. Convergence of immediacy, procrastination, responsibility. The haze of summer meets the clarity of classroom life, yet how to begin remains aloof, just out of reach. The paralyzing effect of too much information in a minute amount of time. Expectations, vision, mission, goals, presented in rapid succession. A blur of data, I tell myself, just add it to the swirl of murk circling around me. People smile, greet and welcome, but in my head the vocalization of my colleagues remains a murmur, fighting to connect with my laden thoughts. This lasts for days, meeting after meeting, team building exercises, grade level discussions, planning sessions. I jot down notes in the hopes it will all make sense after the overwhelm becomes integrated into my reality and I settle back in to the routine of education.

An empty classroom, remains flat of expression. Desks put in place but the tone, personality, charm of the learning space is still absent. It will unfold and bloom on Monday when I get to spend time in my arena, our community space. It is Saturday, a quiet day of reflection and solidarity of thought. I am writing my first blog in ten days. I am using this platform to unscramble my thoughts and drive through a focused image of my educator persona, personal identity and writing disposition. The three are not one and the same. They each flow together, overlapping and isolating. Both ideas and emotions creeping into my mind and spirit. The personal identity, which is usually unbalanced, became stabilized and fruitful these last few weeks, which placed my writing and professional modes on mute. Today I am hitting the un-mute button. This week has been challenging: sleep, energy, communication. Mentally and physically exhausting. I have felt withdrawn and reserved. Happy to be back but overwhelmed and pensive. I must re-energize and lift the vapor so that Monday I can see with a clear vision and focused mind the tasks that lie ahead.

This blog is dedicated to all the teachers who have begun a new school year, are planning their year, or are just about to. Do not feel stressed or encumbered by the mists of reemergence. This is the time of year where so much is relying on our attitude and mindfulness. Know that you are appreciated and that every day you spend with your students, the more they will love you. Be present and joyful and embrace the 'freak-out.' Listen to the myriad of voices all around you, they may be numerous and distracting, but many of them will be telling you 'good luck and thank you for all you do.' Take time to reflect and find your center and know that your purpose is to build relationships and help those around you to shine. Most importantly, your voice is a voice of change and innovation. So through the dense miasma that may form around you in this time of deluge, listen for your own foghorn because it will guide you to shore.

Things You Think of While Staring Out the Window on A Long Drive

I just returned from a month in Albuquerque. Returning home is always bittersweet, on the one hand you are home and you get to sleep in your own bed. On the other, you have to leave behind something. I left behind my oldest son, Gabrial who is now 18 and beginning college. He is living with my daughter Hannah and her husband and child. So I know he is safe, but it is my first son leaving the nest is stressful. I have three more at home, and saying goodbye to my oldest was harder than I could ever have imagined, it was heartbreaking. Lots of tears. So, beginning the sixteen hour trek home was a somber one. The car was quiet for a while, all that was heard was some sniffling. It was an event I had been dreading since our arrival in Albuquerque. But, I had to rip off the band-aid quickly so we didn't drag out our good byes. Hugs and kisses and off we went. Looking back now, only four days later, it still stings. But, I am so blessed to have such an amazing family and I know he will mature and grow so much between now and December when we get to see him again.

When you are riding in a quiet car, you tend to stare out the window, a lot. I just meditated the best I could and let all the thoughts and ideas just flow over me like a gentle breeze. I had so much on my mind, saying goodbye, starting another school year and getting prepared, and even just adjusting back to being in Texas. It is over 5,200 miles in elevation from Albuquerque to Houston so it takes its toll on my lungs. It is interesting travelling back down to sea level, it is right about El Paso when breathing gets easier. But when I get into the final stretch, in San Antonio, my ears pop and the density of air molecules becomes lessened and the humidity kicks in and I know I am close to home. A lot of new ideas for my classroom came from this journey. I am so excited to implement them next week as I set up my classroom. I am definitely back in teacher mode, this is my first blog in over a week, after a full year of daily writing, I needed a break. But, after a few days of mulling over my vacation and adventure home, I knew I had to write a blog post.

The first epiphany, that inspired my classroom design, came with a change of name of the EDISON board to COLLISIONS board- seeing as my class mantra/tag line is collidingwithscience. The set up will be the same, like a murder or crime scene board, but with a more purposeful and relevant name. This will be 1/2 of my back wall. The other half of the back wall is going to be a community board, like in a college quad where students can post advertisements for team members, they will pin their calling cards (personal learning cards, logo included). I will also put some advertisements for jobs etc. This will be a haberdashery of papers and business cards. It should look messy and communal. The front wall will be a 'now showing' wall. Including a marquee I will make from cardboard and hang on the wall. Each unit students will write a tag line and brief synopsis of the topic, like a movie plug, and post it up there. I will also have students create the "movie poster" or topic drawing, to hang with it. The objectives in I will... and We will...statements as required, will be embedded on this wall as well. Finally, the show times will be posted too, class times. All three boards will be updated by students. These three walls will set the tone of communal involvement and student-centered design.

It is amazing what floods in to your thoughts when you are staring out a car window for hours at a time. Switching to teacher mode helped me focus and become more calm and centered about family. Finding the joy in trying new things is something I look forward to every day. With Gabrial being in Albuquerque I know he will be experiencing new things and having exciting adventures that he otherwise would not be having. He is growing up and needs his freedom. Just like our students need to not simply be taught knowledge, but be provided with opportunities to find their own wisdom, so do our children. Sometimes the best way for our children to find this wisdom, is to leave the nest. At least his new habitat is with family and only one state away.