Wanna inspire kids??? Have them create!

Here’s a cool site to help in this endeavor:

http://www.artyfactory.com/africanmasks/design/design.htm

I’ve been a Cincinnati Reds fan since I was a little kid.  Tonight they’re playing the Pittsburgh Pirates in the final series of the season.  Both teams will meet Tuesday night in the first game of the post-season.

I thought about the baseball season often this past week.  Major league baseball has a 162 game season.  That doesn’t include post-season, or pre-season games.  My school year includes 185 days.  So, if a team goes to the World Series, they play about as many games as I have days in a school year.  What an interesting comparison!

If you play 162 games, you’re going to have some bad days…if not weeks.  Baseball commentators often put player slumps into perspective, “It’s a long season.  He’ll come around!”

Well…I’m trying to treat myself with similar compassion.  Some days, I just don’t have it.  Some periods are successful, others, not so much.  I’m going to attempt to program my self-talk to say, “It’s a long school year.  You’ll come around!”

I take unsuccessful periods seriously, but I’m trying to think more of the long game.  All star baseball players do this.  Amazingly, hitters who achieve a 300 batting average, are only successful 30% of the time they step to the plate.  Teachers certainly perform better.

I like to take an inventory at the conclusion of each day, sort of like a major league box score. Each period was either a hit, or an out.  There are no gray areas, and rest assured, my standards for success are high.  Today, I started out strong, but I slumped mid-day.  My 3rd and 5th periods were a bit flat.  I just didn’t connect as strongly.  The students were not as engaged.  But I rallied and finished strong in my last two periods.  If an administrator would’ve observed my 3^rd or 5^th period classes today, I’m quite certain she would’ve come away impressed.  But I’m determined to bounce back on Monday and jack a home run in both classes!

September 27, 2013 Box Score

Totals                                    6                                                4                                    .667

Socratic Circle #2 took place this past Friday at Big Walnut University. Students discussed the Vedas, the Epics, and the Upanishads

In 1500 BCE, the Aryans poured through the Khyber Pass and fanned out into the Subcontinent. With them, came Brahminical Hinduism (Hinduism dominated by the Brahmin caste). The following questions unleashed discourse:

1. If one embraces reincarnation, Is the caste system fair?

2. The Bhagavad-Gita stresses dharma (duty) and karma. Do you believe in either?

I can’t believe I’ve been teaching for all these years and never…until today…tried a Socratic Circle.  Today was transformative!  Students in my dual enrollment class (Big Walnut University), were tasked with discussing the question, “How do you make people behave?”  The students applied ancient Chinese philosophies to the prompt:

• Confucianism
• Daoism
• Legalism

My class moved the desks to form an inner and outer circle.  The inner circle discussed, then the outer circle evaluated.  Then, roles were switched.  These kids:

• Explored
• Questioned
• Pontificated
• Enlightened
• Pondered
• and Speculated

I sat in the back observing, and kept my mouth shut!  What an interesting class period.  This will absolutely be a staple of my instructional arsenal.   And…I have no doubt that my students have a solid understanding of the philosophies.  Bout’ time I got on board!

Most days, I put together a solid ensemble, look in the mirror, and ponder…”How could this outfit be tied to my curriculum?”  No kidding!  I actually do this.  I use my clothing as a hook to elaborate an interesting concept.

But more importantly…these efforts bond me to students.  Say what?  Oh yes…students become quite intrigued by the whole mystery of “What exactly is Sturtevant’s attire communicating today?”  This often leads to ample enjoyable interaction.  Even if, that communication includes statements like, “Mr. Sturtevant…you’re a bizarre individual!”

Yes, I spiced up yesterday’s casual Friday with this ensemble. I love the maroon and orange/yellow hues in this shirt.  It reminds me of the robes worn by Buddhist monks.  Hence, this concoction is called…”Buddhism’s Great Vehicle”

2500 hundred years ago, Siddhartha Gautama enlightened the world about Impermanence.  Samsara is the concept of constant flow.  Change, paradoxically, is an absolute.  Great suffering occurs when we cling to possessions, and or, the present.

I’m striving to accept my mortality.  I’m striving to accept the ageing process.  To do so, could lead to GREAT freedom.   But that doesn’t mean I neglect my health and vitality.  Far from it…I derive pleasure out of maintaining my health and suppleness.

This semester, I have 1^st period conference.  At first, I was disappointed.  1^st period conference equates to a long day.

But my paradigm shifted. Most over the age of 40 have at least some low back stiffness.  I’m no exception.  I now look at this early conference period as an opportunity.  So…I stretch out my lower back each morning, before the teenage hordes of Eastern Delaware County flood Room 111.

Perhaps, my more supple body will filter upwards and facilitate a suppler mind and disposition.  We shall see.  Regardless, I’ll only have 1^st period conference for one semester…SAMSARA!

Yes, I know…I try strange things. Just for the heck of it…i washed my dishes on Wednesday evening at 6 PM, and did’t eat again till Thursday at 6 PM. That small meal I ate very slowly, in silence, savoring each bite! It was a great 24 hrs. I felt light, not too hungry, energized, quite spiritual. I can see doing this periodically. Here’s a good article on the 24 Hour Fast:

http://drtheresa.com/article/fasting-how-to

Although I’ve been teaching for many years, I’m totally open to trying new approaches.  This fall, I will utilize Literary and Socratic Circles.  These tactics have been around a while, but for some reason, I’ve never given either a test drive.

My new dual enrollment class will be a perfect laboratory.   My goal is, for half the instructional days at least, to morph from Mr. Sturtevant the instructor, to Mr. Sturtevant the facilitator and fellow seeker.

To this end, I’ve been reading two highly recommended and fascinating books:

Mini Lessons For Literature Circles

by Harvey Daniels & Nancy Steineke

Socratic Circles

by Matt Copeland

Preparing for my Columbus State World history class has been fun.  I’ve had to take my knowledge of world religions much deeper.  Fortunately, Central Ohio has a diverse religious community. Today, I visited one of Delaware County’s Hindu temples for the Ratha Yatra festival.

The temple population was very welcoming, but shoes, are not welcome.

My Caucasian Foot

Most Westerners recognize Ganesha.

Ganesha

This temple has plenty of Southern Indians. They are more partial to the female aspects of the divine. Hence, my favorite alpha female Durga is prominently displayed.

Lakshmi, Durga, and Sarasvati

Inside, the Brahman priest chants mantras in Sanskrit. Much like Latin in the old Roman Catholic masses, much of the congregation is uncertain what is being said, but the sounds are holy to devotees.

Ratha Yatra continued in the parking lot. Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri called Badadanda. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt’s temple

Yes, the whitest member of the congregation’s third eye, was smudged with ash.  I now have new friends that will help me grow and teach.

Eckhart Tolle was asked his age on the Oprah show. He responded, “This body is 60-years-old.” This was a terrific response. Our bodies are only vehicles. I enjoy mine, its like a Honda Civic. But it still has a a rapidly expiring shelf life. Hence, I rather love my new workout shirt…its motivational, and keeps things in perspective. I’m getting a green 53 in March. 40 yrs from now, I’ll be meditating in my purple shirt with gold 92 numerals.

These are the kinds of things I do with my vaca!