You might think that these open ‘Edu-Blogger Challenges’ could be received as a task, or a distraction. I find most of them quite the opposite.

The freedom that comes in being asked questions or assigned a topic and a word limit may be paradoxical, but it’s freedom nonetheless. 

This particular challenge was issued by Anthony Purcell on Random Teacher Thoughts. Having finally met him – sort of – I can’t help but want to jump in and try to shine. His blog may be a sporadic arena, but he’s, like… all legit and stuff in person. 

Kinda makes me wish I’d shaved or worn a tie or something, you know?

You can find the original challenge – along with Purcell’s own responses – here. 

What has been your ONE biggest struggle during this school year?

I never want to be that teacher who throws up my arms in exasperation at how helpless and hopeless and victimized “this” group is compared to “how they were” X number of years ago. 

That being said, I find myself throwing up my proverbial arms in exasperation at how helpless and hopeless and victimized each group is compared to the last. I love them dearly, but we’ve long ago given up focusing on teaching history, or even history skills. Most of my energy is spent trying to drag them into the possibility that they have brains, and that by using them they can find solutions to the most mundane issues of their day – and maybe even figure out possible responses to my assignments as well. 

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Share TWO accomplishments that you are proud of from this school year.

First, I’ve given up on professional boundaries. 

OK, that’s a bit of an overstatement. I’m old and tired and tenured enough, though, that I’ve stopped worrying about whether or not I SHOULD be letting kids talk to me about this or that, or whether it’s DEFENSIBLE IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE that I said X, suggested Y, or called Z a B. 

This is a group with few filters and many burdens. I want them to learn history, but to do that I first need them to survive the sloughs of despair we call 9th grade. So I let them talk, and I talk back, and then we try to get back to that Andrew Jackson speech. It’s actually LESS stressful to just let it happen.

Second, I’m proud of the Classroom Resources section on Blue Cereal. It’s not particularly fleshed out yet, but it feels like the riskiest thing I’ve done so far with this site. And while I don’t obsess over analytics, one of the Document Activities I’ve posted shows consistent visits over months and months. I hope that means it’s making itself useful out there somewhere. 

What are THREE things that you wish to accomplish before the end of the school year?

1. Still trying to figure out how things like student choice, moving away from the faux authority of letter grades, semi-flipped lessons, etc., work in limited practice for my kids and my class. I’d like to keep pushing.

2. The #OKElections16 stuff won’t be complete by the end of the school year, and it’s not directly classroom-focused, but that’s largely what makes it a challenge. My druthers over the years is to gripe a bit, then tune out state politics and such and just worry about the stuff I can control. I’m realizing now that this wasn’t “optimism” or “focus” so much as cowardice – or at least laziness. If we truly love our kids in the ways we’re so quick to meme, then we need to get out of our comfort zones and get involved in the yuckies. 

3. And… there’s one young lady, who obviously I won’t name. I want to understand why she keeps coming by and waiting, and why she mostly doesn’t talk. I want her to discover learning and find my room safe enough that she’ll speak – to me, to a peer, to anyone. My teacher-senses ache for whatever’s going on in her and I can taste the dark and empty, but I can’t DO anything about it. It’s not mine to reach. 

Gosh, that got heavy quickly. Sorry about that. 

Give FOUR reasons why you remain in education in today’s rough culture.

Mindy Dennison issued a challenge along those lines last summer. My response was essentially that it needs to be done, and I don’t know what else to do. The need is there, so we try. If someone better prepared, better qualified, would come do this – and better – I’d let them. 

There were quite a few really good responses, most with a bit more positivity. 

I haven’t really given you four, but I’ve given you one from me and a link to others. I’ll be particularly presumptuous and link to two poems that say it better than I can, and call that four. 

To the friend that once said, “You need to be realistic.” (Kris Giere, Involuntary Verbosity)

These Feet Will Drag (Jose Vilson, JLV)

Which FIVE people do you hope will take the challenge of answering these questions?

I’ve already passed the challenge along to a number of twittering blogger-types, although I always forget a few of the bestest. Instead, I’m going to challenge 5 people who aren’t regular bloggers – but any of whom could be. If they don’t wish to start or reboot their blogs in order to answer, but are kind enough to do so, they have open invitations to Guest Blog here. I would actually be quite honored. 

Sarah Pradhan – Who doesn’t yet fully appreciate how rare and powerful her words, ideas, and heart for kids truly are – especially in combination.

Lisa Witcher – Who responded to my very first blog with something better, thus both helping that initial effort and keeping me in check in a way only she and very few others can.

Kathy Dodd – Who dreams so big and strives so beautifully that she can rarely appreciate how much she’s done for the cause, because she wants so much more for those who can’t dream and strive nearly so well.

Alyssa Michelle – Who makes me believe it’s possible. All of it. With style. 

Matt Cone – Who has enough manliness to be the only guy on the list without it seeming unbalanced, and combines world-weary honesty with a hopeful glow I can never quite classify.