(Will be published on Halloween 10/31/07 in the Delta Discovery Newspaper)
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Each new village I move to has their own way of recognizing this scary time. I hadn’t really thought about what would be going on that day, but leave it to the students to remind me.
A week or so ago I noticed some Halloween artwork displayed in classrooms and the hallways. I began to feel my students were left out and it was my fault. Therefore, I started planning some activities that would bring my classroom up to par with the others.
Soon there were a few things on the wall. That was a beginning.
The next day a couple of my students asked me, in as few words as humanly possible, “What you Halloween?” I said, “What.” They repeated, “What you Halloween?” Again, I responded, “What?” It wasn’t that I couldn’t hear them; I wanted to make sure my almost deaf ears were listening correctly. I resorted to asking one of the teacher aids what they had said. She told me they had said, “What you Halloween?” I’ll never learn to just keep my mouth shut. Finally I got what they were asking. Translation: do I have a costume and what is it? You gotta love their vocabulary. I do.
I told them that I was born in my costume and grew scarier over the years. That got a laugh, but it didn’t satisfy them. In reality I had no idea. I wasn’t planning on wearing a costume. So, I guess I’ll go to school dressed as a teacher on Halloween. That will teach them.
At a staff meeting last week the issue of a Halloween Carnival was on the agenda. We had wondered what, if anything, would take place. From my understanding (which I hope is right) the Atmautluak Tribal Council will host a costume and a pumpkin-carving contest amid some games and other activities at the school. There isn’t a door-to-door trick or treat. Instead, the whole community gathers in the school gym after the event and forms a line. Everyone goes down the line with a bag to trick or treat. Each person puts something in the bag. It sounds good and I would imagine keeps safety in check and gets everyone home at a reasonable hour.
One of the new teachers asked how many would be there? We were told that there could be 200 – 250 people. I immediately wondered to myself if I had enough candy, but that thought was put to rest when another teacher spoke. Apparently others were thinking the same thing. He suggested that you be one of the first to go through the line collecting goodies. Then you simply stand back in line and hand out the candy that you got. He provided us with a good laugh and solved my problem in the process.
I’m looking forward to experiencing this community’s way of celebrating Halloween. However, November 1st is a school day and the buildings will be full of kids on a “sugar high.” Am I a happy camper about that? You bet – because I’ll be on the same high. It will be sweet!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
First Trip as Coach Kip
(Note: Bethel is a city 18 miles away from Atmautluak. It is a treat to get out of the village for a day or two. Some students' villages are over 100 miles. It is an awesome treat for them to go to Bethel.)
This year I volunteered to coach the school speech teams. The whole junior high speech “team” (consisting of one student) and I recently returned from a district competition in Bethel. It was my first time as Coach Kip, but the student’s third year competing.
The trip went really well. It helps when the student you are responsible for is himself a responsible, respectable young man. Some people (yes, even teenagers) are trustworthy.
During the coach’s meeting at the LKSD district office my “team” hung around and visited with friends from other villages in the lobby. We then located a quiet place for him to practice his speech for there was a lot of competition.
Roughly 150 students from 18 or so villages were entered in the various English and Yupik speech categories (Humorous, Expository, Dramatic, etc), all vying for first place in their group. The competition consisted of four rounds spread over a couple of days. During the first three rounds the students performed their speeches in front of two judges behind closed doors.
The judges used a rubric to score the students and only the ones who scored in the top third in each category moved on to the third round. Then the field is narrowed down to only a few. They proceed to the final forth round where they perform their speeches one more time in front of judges AND an audience of students and coaches. This round determines who places first, second, etc.
My “whole” team had made it to the third round and he was happy. He told me that it was the furthest he had gotten in any of the competitions he had entered. He may not have made the final round, but his attitude sure earned him first place in my book. From the beginning, he didn’t wish ill will on anyone – only the best.
A couple hours after the final round there was an awards ceremony complete with a pizza dinner. It was followed by a dance at Bethel Regional High School – a dance so different than I remember when I was their age.
I recall that the males were on one side of the room and the females on the other. The dance floor separated the two genders. The males spent their time trying to get the nerve to go ask a female to dance while the females would gently sway to the music wishing for an invite to dance. Eventually, most would find himself or herself on the dance floor with a partner. However, there were some people by the end of the night that didn’t dance at all. They went to the dance, stood around, and then went home. Believe me, I know.
Of course the coaches and other adults chaperoned and monitored the entrances to ensure a safe environment for the event. That wasn’t any different, but the dance was. People congregated on the benches and couches socializing while others danced – with whomever or went to the dance floor alone and had at it. If they wanted to dance they simply would. If they chose to socialize, that was fine too. It didn’t matter. I was in awe and somewhat envious of their carefree attitude. They attended the dance to have fun and by golly they did.
In mid November I, as coach and the male chaperone, along with a female chaperone will escort the high school speech team to Bethel for their competition. The only difference with this trip is the team is coed, but I’m not worried. The team members have shown me through their actions that they respect each other and authority, rules, and policy.
I’m looking forward to accompanying the high school team of young men and women from Joann Alexie Memorial School in Atmautluak to Bethel for their speech competition. It should go just as smoothly.
This year I volunteered to coach the school speech teams. The whole junior high speech “team” (consisting of one student) and I recently returned from a district competition in Bethel. It was my first time as Coach Kip, but the student’s third year competing.
The trip went really well. It helps when the student you are responsible for is himself a responsible, respectable young man. Some people (yes, even teenagers) are trustworthy.
During the coach’s meeting at the LKSD district office my “team” hung around and visited with friends from other villages in the lobby. We then located a quiet place for him to practice his speech for there was a lot of competition.
Roughly 150 students from 18 or so villages were entered in the various English and Yupik speech categories (Humorous, Expository, Dramatic, etc), all vying for first place in their group. The competition consisted of four rounds spread over a couple of days. During the first three rounds the students performed their speeches in front of two judges behind closed doors.
The judges used a rubric to score the students and only the ones who scored in the top third in each category moved on to the third round. Then the field is narrowed down to only a few. They proceed to the final forth round where they perform their speeches one more time in front of judges AND an audience of students and coaches. This round determines who places first, second, etc.
My “whole” team had made it to the third round and he was happy. He told me that it was the furthest he had gotten in any of the competitions he had entered. He may not have made the final round, but his attitude sure earned him first place in my book. From the beginning, he didn’t wish ill will on anyone – only the best.
A couple hours after the final round there was an awards ceremony complete with a pizza dinner. It was followed by a dance at Bethel Regional High School – a dance so different than I remember when I was their age.
I recall that the males were on one side of the room and the females on the other. The dance floor separated the two genders. The males spent their time trying to get the nerve to go ask a female to dance while the females would gently sway to the music wishing for an invite to dance. Eventually, most would find himself or herself on the dance floor with a partner. However, there were some people by the end of the night that didn’t dance at all. They went to the dance, stood around, and then went home. Believe me, I know.
Of course the coaches and other adults chaperoned and monitored the entrances to ensure a safe environment for the event. That wasn’t any different, but the dance was. People congregated on the benches and couches socializing while others danced – with whomever or went to the dance floor alone and had at it. If they wanted to dance they simply would. If they chose to socialize, that was fine too. It didn’t matter. I was in awe and somewhat envious of their carefree attitude. They attended the dance to have fun and by golly they did.
In mid November I, as coach and the male chaperone, along with a female chaperone will escort the high school speech team to Bethel for their competition. The only difference with this trip is the team is coed, but I’m not worried. The team members have shown me through their actions that they respect each other and authority, rules, and policy.
I’m looking forward to accompanying the high school team of young men and women from Joann Alexie Memorial School in Atmautluak to Bethel for their speech competition. It should go just as smoothly.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Time for School
The first quarter of the school year is coming to a close. It is a time to reflect on what the students and I have learned and what skills should be addressed again. Because in life you will make mistakes and not understand some things that happen.
Ready? Let’s go to school. Below are today’s schedule, objectives and synopsis of what will be covered. Classes begin now.
Period 1: Government – Fairness/Equal Distribution of Funds
For the second year in a row our school met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as set forth in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. This dropped us back to a level zero. We are good to go now. Although it isn’t required to make a School Improvement Plan, it was done anyway. Writing down and working toward goals works, so why stop now?
The government recognized and rewarded our achievement by taking away thousands of dollars from the budget. That will put a damper on the very programs that helped us get knocked off the school improvement list. We are expected to continue the upward rise in test scores without the money. Makes sense – government wise.
Period 2: Science – Effects of the Weather
When it is a warm day some students seem lethargic. They are tired and it takes some encouraging to get them on task.
However, wake up to cold temperatures and you have kids that are full throttle. They are constantly on the move. I assume they are trying to stay warm.
Period 3: Mathematics - Time
The art of telling time should be reviewed, as some students only know portions of hours and minutes through the day. They don’t have a problem with knowing how late they stayed up before going to bed or how little sleep they had. They have also mastered knowing when a class is over, when breakfast and lunch start, the exact time school is let out for the day, and when any extra-curricular activity they may participate in begins.
What should be emphasized for some are the times that classes start so they are not tardy.
Lunch-30 minutes (most eat within ten)
Period 4 – History
We all know that history is the past. The students know that too. What we may want to do is to let them in on the old saying that, “History repeats itself.”
If you wore a light jacket last year when it was 25 degrees and you were cold all day, then the same will happen again unless you dress more appropriately. If you run on a slick boardwalk you will eventually fall down. If you push another person, they will push back. If you don’t do your assignments, you will not get good grades - and so on.
Period 5-Language Arts
Although frustrating to learn at first, reading and writing are a necessity. You will use these skills until you die and in everything you do. To get a driver’s license you need to know how to read road signs and the written test. Purchase a certain candy bar or pop requires reading. To hook up a dish receiver cable you should know how to read the connection labels.
Writing has changed. As a teacher I find that what is acceptable grammatically now wasn’t when I learned. The present generation was raised with technology from birth are bilingual. True English is their second language. Their first language seems to be Email Lingo/slang comprised of mostly short acronyms.
Period 6 – Elective – Free Choice
Yes, times have changed. It seems as though anything to save a second and/or make it easier to multi-task is now acceptable. Do I feel out of touch? Sometimes. Do I wish to dramatically alter my ways to “conform?” Not really. It is their generation.
Our generation grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s. We too were misunderstood and even shunned by some in the generation that proceeded us. It is a fact of life. The best lesson we can teach is to respect others’ differences, and pursue your own dreams. It is your life. - Your choice.
Ready? Let’s go to school. Below are today’s schedule, objectives and synopsis of what will be covered. Classes begin now.
Period 1: Government – Fairness/Equal Distribution of Funds
For the second year in a row our school met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as set forth in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. This dropped us back to a level zero. We are good to go now. Although it isn’t required to make a School Improvement Plan, it was done anyway. Writing down and working toward goals works, so why stop now?
The government recognized and rewarded our achievement by taking away thousands of dollars from the budget. That will put a damper on the very programs that helped us get knocked off the school improvement list. We are expected to continue the upward rise in test scores without the money. Makes sense – government wise.
Period 2: Science – Effects of the Weather
When it is a warm day some students seem lethargic. They are tired and it takes some encouraging to get them on task.
However, wake up to cold temperatures and you have kids that are full throttle. They are constantly on the move. I assume they are trying to stay warm.
Period 3: Mathematics - Time
The art of telling time should be reviewed, as some students only know portions of hours and minutes through the day. They don’t have a problem with knowing how late they stayed up before going to bed or how little sleep they had. They have also mastered knowing when a class is over, when breakfast and lunch start, the exact time school is let out for the day, and when any extra-curricular activity they may participate in begins.
What should be emphasized for some are the times that classes start so they are not tardy.
Lunch-30 minutes (most eat within ten)
Period 4 – History
We all know that history is the past. The students know that too. What we may want to do is to let them in on the old saying that, “History repeats itself.”
If you wore a light jacket last year when it was 25 degrees and you were cold all day, then the same will happen again unless you dress more appropriately. If you run on a slick boardwalk you will eventually fall down. If you push another person, they will push back. If you don’t do your assignments, you will not get good grades - and so on.
Period 5-Language Arts
Although frustrating to learn at first, reading and writing are a necessity. You will use these skills until you die and in everything you do. To get a driver’s license you need to know how to read road signs and the written test. Purchase a certain candy bar or pop requires reading. To hook up a dish receiver cable you should know how to read the connection labels.
Writing has changed. As a teacher I find that what is acceptable grammatically now wasn’t when I learned. The present generation was raised with technology from birth are bilingual. True English is their second language. Their first language seems to be Email Lingo/slang comprised of mostly short acronyms.
Period 6 – Elective – Free Choice
Yes, times have changed. It seems as though anything to save a second and/or make it easier to multi-task is now acceptable. Do I feel out of touch? Sometimes. Do I wish to dramatically alter my ways to “conform?” Not really. It is their generation.
Our generation grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s. We too were misunderstood and even shunned by some in the generation that proceeded us. It is a fact of life. The best lesson we can teach is to respect others’ differences, and pursue your own dreams. It is your life. - Your choice.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Getting Used to Me
One of the things I was told when I took the job in Atmautluak that there is a TV satellite dish that the teachers can tap into. All we’d have to do is run cable to our home, get a receiver, order programming, and pay our own bill. That eliminates any misconceptions or bill discrepancies. It is fair and logical. Not a bad deal.
A couple of weeks ago it was time to run a cable to my house. We (meaning the site administrator while I watched) first drilled a hole through the outside wall and inserted a co axle cable. Then “we” put an end on the cable. The site administrator (SA) went outside to connect the cable leaving me to attach the other end to the satellite receiver.
We tested it, but couldn’t get a signal.
Thinking the cable was bad; we found another cable to try. After we switched them we went into my house. He put a new end on the cable, crimped it and then began to connect it to the back of the receiver. At that time I chose to open my big mouth without thinking. As I watched him attach the cable to the back of the receiver I happened to say something like, “We didn’t have it there last time. We put it here,” I said pointing to a different outlet.
I thought he was going to faint. I thought about it myself. He kindly explained that I had put the first cable where a TV Antennae should go and that the connection with the word “Satellite” written by the satellite symbol was where the satellite cable goes.
He connected the cable in its rightful place and we gave it a shot - still no signal. The SA then went to his house and hooked up the cable to an unused splitter.
Back in my house we saw the familiar bright red line on the TV screen meaning no signal. Then he pushed a button on the remote and it worked. We were only picking up the odd numbered transponders, but at least we figured the cable was okay. He explained that for some reason that splitter won’t allow even numbered transponders. That is why they don’t use it. But, he had an idea to take care of the situation.
I was going to Bethel soon so he asked me to pick up another cable. At the present we were using two different lengths of cable to go to a main junction box where all housing cables begin. He told me to get one long enough to go all the way to the main junction box. Using one long cable instead of two would be better. I measured the distance and phoned in the cable order so it would be ready.
Apparently, I heard “new cable,” but not “main junction box.” I came back with enough to run the same way we had run the other two. Thanks to me the SA’s brilliant idea became void. But, at least we had a new cable to run halfway.
While we were at it, the SA logically decided to go ahead and run three cables to take care of all the housing. That way we only had to do it once. He found and tested three cables. They all worked beautifully. Two of them were the ones we had originally strung to my house. It wasn’t my place to say anything, but I couldn’t resist. I laughed and told him, “It will take you a while to get used to me.”
He didn’t dispute that fact.
After installing the new cable to my house and running the other three cables it was time to test my receiver again. We were in front of my TV looking at the familiar bright red line showing no signal.
We were at a loss on why nothing was working and the SA was heading off to go hunting. He showed me where he connected all the cables and basically said he would leave me with it to figure it out. Talk about faith. With my help it had only taken us four hours to do an hour job – unsuccessfully.
Nevertheless, he left to go kill something leaving me to scratch my baldhead. I guess I needed a good scratching because I ended up figuring it out. I don’t know how I did it, but I got a good signal to my house and also a neighbor’s. My all-afternoon hour job was done.
Maybe one theory to my success is that I am used to me and know how to handle myself.
A couple of weeks ago it was time to run a cable to my house. We (meaning the site administrator while I watched) first drilled a hole through the outside wall and inserted a co axle cable. Then “we” put an end on the cable. The site administrator (SA) went outside to connect the cable leaving me to attach the other end to the satellite receiver.
We tested it, but couldn’t get a signal.
Thinking the cable was bad; we found another cable to try. After we switched them we went into my house. He put a new end on the cable, crimped it and then began to connect it to the back of the receiver. At that time I chose to open my big mouth without thinking. As I watched him attach the cable to the back of the receiver I happened to say something like, “We didn’t have it there last time. We put it here,” I said pointing to a different outlet.
I thought he was going to faint. I thought about it myself. He kindly explained that I had put the first cable where a TV Antennae should go and that the connection with the word “Satellite” written by the satellite symbol was where the satellite cable goes.
He connected the cable in its rightful place and we gave it a shot - still no signal. The SA then went to his house and hooked up the cable to an unused splitter.
Back in my house we saw the familiar bright red line on the TV screen meaning no signal. Then he pushed a button on the remote and it worked. We were only picking up the odd numbered transponders, but at least we figured the cable was okay. He explained that for some reason that splitter won’t allow even numbered transponders. That is why they don’t use it. But, he had an idea to take care of the situation.
I was going to Bethel soon so he asked me to pick up another cable. At the present we were using two different lengths of cable to go to a main junction box where all housing cables begin. He told me to get one long enough to go all the way to the main junction box. Using one long cable instead of two would be better. I measured the distance and phoned in the cable order so it would be ready.
Apparently, I heard “new cable,” but not “main junction box.” I came back with enough to run the same way we had run the other two. Thanks to me the SA’s brilliant idea became void. But, at least we had a new cable to run halfway.
While we were at it, the SA logically decided to go ahead and run three cables to take care of all the housing. That way we only had to do it once. He found and tested three cables. They all worked beautifully. Two of them were the ones we had originally strung to my house. It wasn’t my place to say anything, but I couldn’t resist. I laughed and told him, “It will take you a while to get used to me.”
He didn’t dispute that fact.
After installing the new cable to my house and running the other three cables it was time to test my receiver again. We were in front of my TV looking at the familiar bright red line showing no signal.
We were at a loss on why nothing was working and the SA was heading off to go hunting. He showed me where he connected all the cables and basically said he would leave me with it to figure it out. Talk about faith. With my help it had only taken us four hours to do an hour job – unsuccessfully.
Nevertheless, he left to go kill something leaving me to scratch my baldhead. I guess I needed a good scratching because I ended up figuring it out. I don’t know how I did it, but I got a good signal to my house and also a neighbor’s. My all-afternoon hour job was done.
Maybe one theory to my success is that I am used to me and know how to handle myself.
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