Formative Feedback

I find it interesting how easy it is to find fault with practically any aspect of education today.  Whether it is funding schools, teacher effectiveness, test scores, school lunch... the list continues to find itself into the center stage of  the media.  In our best schools quality is under scrutiny.  Our western culture grows to expect a high level of performance from educational institutions and if and when that level comes under question, the banter begins.  The following post is shared from a a perspective we usually do not hear. I am proud of the involvement we participate  in shaping the thinking of future  Christian educators.

Our school has had the privilege of providing a laboratory educational experience for three student teachers from Concordia University, Nebraska.  Each teacher can remember their own experience and reflect on how it shaped their view of education and modeled quality instruction. Here is what they said when asked what they take away from their experience with us:

"Student teaching is the most exciting and transformational part of an Education student's life in

college. Of all of the student teachers that left in January from Concordia, I truly believe that Andrea, Dana, and I received best placement. Having the opportunity to serve at St. John has challenged me to embrace technology, be more creative, use every resource possible, and collaborate with everyone! I will never find another place that is so "out-of-the-box" like St. John, but I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to experience it and make you all apart of my story. I will never forget the generosity of the families, support of the staff and the fearless leadership that makes St. John a spectacular place!"  Samantha Bodkin, Omaha, NE

"One of the most valuable insights I will take with me after leaving SJLS is how to facilitate independent learning within a classroom.  Teachers use a variety of techniques and practices that encourage and give students opportunities to explore and engage on a deep level.  Everything is taught with a purpose which allows students to apply learned knowledge to the world around them. SJLS students are equipped to use the tools they've been given to be successful."  Andrea Weiss, MI

"I am so thankful for the time I spent at St. John Lutheran School. I never knew I would get so attached to this place. I feel as if we are all family sharing the love of Christ each and every day. I am thankful for the relationships I have built with my cooperative teachers, as well as the students. Thank you for all the support from the teachers and parents! I have learned more than I could have ever imagined by student teaching here. St. John is the BEST place to grow in faith and learning!  I will miss St. John! "  Dana Miller,  Sioux Falls, SD. 

We appreciate the mentoring done by their cooperating teachers during their 16 week experience:  Jennifer Lochmann, Brooke Otto, Rhonda Peregoy, Sheri Dubberke, Daneen Hanson and Sheri Dubberke!  

Next Chapter

I have recently accepted a position to be the superintendent of St. John Lutheran School in Bakersfield, CA.  There is great sadness at leaving a place that I have invested so much of my life during the past 12 years at St. John, Ellisville.  In leaving, I thought about a parallel story that is going on with our STL Cardinals.  They lost their share of leadership this year, but baby, just look at them now!

Albert Who?  What a difference a few months make!  The Cardinals are off to their best start in years!  It seems like yesterday when we heard the news that our beloved MVP was leaving for the sunny skies  of Anaheim.  As of this writing,  newcomer Carlos Beltran is among the league leaders with 5 home runs, which is five more than Albert Pujols has !   The team is what makes champions and the Cardinals have picked up right where they left off in October, 2011.  There are a few new faces here and there but the management has made a total make-over.  Time will certainly tell whether they have the health and chemistry to make another championship run, but players play the game... and that fact simply does not change.  This important team called St. John Lutheran School is made up of more championship-caliber players than any 40 man MLB roster.  We have teacher all-stars that help shape hearts and minds in each classroom.  We have parents who partner with us to raise their children to take on a culture that is not in tune with God’s design for their lives.  We have kids who are learning each day what it means to be a witness in word and deed to the grace that God freely pours out upon each of them.  They are learning that God needs them on HIS team to play through the tough challenges life will bring their way.  As I considered the two calls on my heart, I felt that St. John Lutheran School is positioned to receive a new leader that will write a new chapter in the story of the school ministry.  My prayer is that as the process moves into search mode, the team pulls together to trust in God’s provision for a strong future.  The last command uttered by Jesus prior to His ascension was “ Make Disciples, Baptize and TEACH!”   He also mentioned that He would be with us ALWAYS!  May we all be faithful to  our part of the deal – equipping disciples and faithfully teaching those He puts in our care!

Holy Thoughts

It is said that that the way to the open tomb is a blood-stained cross. In order to get to the angelic message of the resurrected Savior, there must be a beating and crucifixion. So what is it about the story of this weekend that captivates you?  Spend a few minutes thinking about that question.

Pastor Hower made two illustrations in chapel that refer to the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins:

• "In order to get something clean, something has to get dirty"
• "In order for something to be free, something has to be paid"

In order for you to be right with God, a perfect sacrifice had to be made to purchase you back from the guilty judgment for your sins. Notice the plural form of that noun.  Shame is erased. Forgiveness is real - yet at an expensive price.

Isaiah 53 describes the purpose of Jesus sacrifice 1000 years before His birth: "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus stated "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"    

There is no greater statement than "I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He Lives, He Lives who once was dead! He lives my ever-living Head!" Jesus is the prime character in the story of this weekend! He suffered, He died, but HE LIVES! - all for YOU!

METC 2012

Our entire staff recently attended the Midwest Educational Technology Conference held locally at the St. Charles Convention Center. This is the 5th year we have attended the largest technology focused conference on educational applications. SJLS views technology as a tool to engage students in meaningful instruction. There were literally hundreds of sectionals that opened up thinking about the future of education and how technology impacts what happens in the classroom. A few of my take-aways:

• Last years' conference had one sectional on a tablet applications , this year there were over 50...
• It took 10 months to reach 10 million tablet users through 12/11, it took Apple one month to sell another 10 million tablets between December 2011 and January 2012.
• Technology is a tool that can create things, not just access other people's information
• Ford Motor Company no longer puts CD players in cars because no one uses them
• The biggest challenge for higher education is that students do not know how to access information (information fluency).   Education was once how you presented information - now it is about accessing information.
  Quote : "When you change what you believe, you change what you do." -John Carver
• The US Army is re-writing training manuals for 2015 by moving away from drill sergeant mentality by rethinking instruction:
  • Convert classroom experiences to collaborative problem-solving
  • Tailor learning to more individualized approach
  • Reduce instructor-led lectures
• Quote: "Shoot for where the puck is going - not where it is" Wayne Gretsky
• The future of education is a blended environment of inquiry and project-driven. Learning is anytime- anyplace 24/7.
• Don't ask questions that can be answered by Google
• Most local school districts are moving toward a 1-1 initiative of "bring your own" device because they can't handle the costs.

I walked away from another two days with lots of thoughts and practical solutions to the changing world of education.   I appreciate the team of educators that we have at SJLS and how they are open to being as much of a learner as their students are.  

Linsanity!

I am not much of a basketball fan.  It was definitely more enjoyable  for me to coach than play.  I will join the frenzy following the NCAA march to the  "Final Four" championship in a few weeks.  The pro game is not even on my radar screen. I can't deal with the constant drama of LeBron James and Kobie Bryant... until lately.  Have you heard of Jeremy Lin?
This rookie from Harvard is lighting up the scoreboard for the NY Nicks.  He has averaged 24 points a game and led the team to a six game winning streak since getting a starting role as point guard just over a week ago.  The Nicks and the NBA are not the same since his rise to stardom.   He is a Roy Hobbs, Rocky, Secretariat and David story all rolled into one.  You can also throw in Tim Tebow  because Jeremy is a professing Christian. Keep an eye on this rising star!

• He was a high school star on a state championship basketball team who learned humility through an ankle injury that pushed him from arrogance to confidence.
• He was not recruited so attended Harvard who does not give athletic scholarships. He graduated with an economics degree and became the all-time leading scorer and top player on the team.
• He went undrafted and waived or released from 3 different teams in his first year.  But he caught a break  with NY and is now the most celebrated story in the NBA.

What is it about the underdog that makes us stand up and take notice?  Hidden potential just needs the chance to come out.  I love the opportunity our kids have to share talents in a variety of ways.  From singing with a microphone in their hands to playing a guitar, to assembling technology presentations, I am amazed at the gifts kids get a chance to uncover and courageously put into action. I wonder what Jeremy Lin's parents dreamed for their son as he walked into his elementary school as a kindergartener?  He is changing a paradigm on the courts among the most talented athletes (this is debatable)  in their sport.  Keep encouraging your kids to take a chance and try something they might be interested in.   You never know the plans that God has in mind for them.  They are plans to prosper, plans to witness to the goodness and graciousness of  their Heavenly Father

Super Bloat

The 2012 Super Bowl is now a week behind us. I'm sure you probably joined  the most-watched event in the year. The game is full of interesting statistics.  We know that due to the worldwide volume of viewers, the price for commercials during the game is astronomical.  While it is a big day for players and fans, it's the biggest day for advertisers. A 30-second spot during the game cost around $3.5 million dollars and according to NBC and there is usually 45 minutes of advertising in the 60 minute game. The Super Bowl is the biggest live event of the year with a U.S. record of 112 million viewers tuning in. This is more people than voted in the last presidential election.  There were more than 68,000 tickets sold to the live event at an average ticket cost of $3984. There are also humongous statistics about the number of wings eaten, guacamole dipped and burgers devoured. There are over 2.9 million HD televisions sold by electronic retailers leading up to Super Bowl week.  Each player on the winning team receives a ring worth $37,000.   

Source :  Matt Simon of BRBleacher Report January 26, 2012

So, why is this an event of such exponential excess?  What if…

·         The number of people who attend or watch the game would contribute one game-time hour to mentor and tutor students who struggle in school?

·         The amount of money spent on one commercial could be given to impact the world hunger crisis

·         The amount spent on personal consumption at a party could be given to feed the malnourished in our own US metropolitan cities.

·         The revenue given by these companies to gain exposure could be used to support worthy efforts to improve struggling school districts or build homes to redevelop our cities

So much to-do is made over one sporting event. The day after it will have no lasting impact?  Do you remember who played in last year’s game?  Can you name the winning teams from the past five games?  So I wonder:  Are we investing in things that really matter?  What are things of significance that we can individually and personally improve through leveraging our resources of time and money by investing in lasting or life-impacting experiences? 

You may read this and say, “Yea, but…” or “You really don’t get it…” – you are right – I don’t.

Socially Speaking

We live in the era of intense social media. You may not be as connected as others you know, but you are missing out if aren't connected in some way.  People are connecting daily and sometimes hourly through email, text messages, Facebook and twitter. Our social footprint connects us to people from our past and communicates our daily activities to anyone who will listen. I made a Facebook connection several years ago with a friend from high school and college. He was a driver and stage builder for the Rascal Flatts Band.   Through this connection, I have had the opportunity to attend two St. Louis concerts and his occasional visits when he drives through town. He has recently agreed to join our 4th grade in communicating his travel experiences through their class blog. The students view Casey as a celebrity "rock star". Casey views this project as a serious responsibility to teach kids through his travels in a classroom setting that he once thought only existed within a building.   He spends so much time traveling that he is not connected with a church or ministry. This week the fourth graders began sharing with Casey their weekly Bible verse. He called me this week expressing how meaningful that verse was in his life circumstances.   You never know how God can use a relationship and share His love even through a 21st century learning experience. Our touch extends far beyond our community to the highways and byways of our country.   So the next time you see that big "Rascal Flatts semi truck parked in our lot, it is someone who has now made SJLS part of his story.