Be Brave

I am an upbeat person and typically listen to upbeat music to get myself ready for the workday. The two genres that energize me most are hair band metal and today’s pop music. Think Bon Jovi and Motley Crue meet Katy Perry and Lorde. These genres put me in a good place, and I feel ready to take on the day. (Don’t judge).

I was listening to a song by Sara Bareilles titled “Brave” this morning. There was a line that hit home for me:

“Say what you wanna’ say

And let the words fall out.

Honestly, I wanna’ see you be brave.”

I wondered the rest of the day: how often am I brave in education? I think I am with my teaching: I stay current in my research on best practice and am always looking to integrate new learning into the classroom. I continually invest in myself by reading my PLN’s education blogs, attend conferences, co-moderate and participate in Twitter #edchats, write, and co-direct a region of a valued professional educational organization. But, do I invest in myself and others when it’s difficult, when I may face initial isolation for my honesty, when it’s harder for me to be brave?

Bravery as an educator (to me) means the willingness to be open and honest with peers when discussing best practice. I believe I need to be brave and willing to disagree respectfully with the hope that through this dialogue my fellow educators and I will both grow in a backdrop of honesty. This means we “say what you wanna’ say, and let the words fall out.”

When we do this, we aren’t being unprofessional or judging one another. Instead, we’re willing to have the hard conversation. It isn’t personal to us, it’s about personalizing the learning and making it relevant to the children we serve. Because, isn’t that why we went into education in the first place -- to make a difference with students and their parents? To change things for the better, so others could have a better overall educational experience than we had?

Bravery as an educator to me also means the willingness to be direct and honest with the parents’ of children who need it. It’s not easy to sit with a parent and explain why their child isn’t behaving in class, producing quality work, or making good choices. However, if we want to make the difference we told ourselves when we went into this field, then we need to have this conversation. Daily, if need be. Because if we don’t, not only are we not being brave, but we’re not honoring the educators who did invest positively in us and the lives of others.

Martin Luther King Jr. stated in his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, that “The architects of the constitution wrote a promissory note...instead of honoring this sacred obligation...America defaulted on this check….which came back marked insufficient funds.”

When we make decisions that impact children and their families, let’s make sure that those deposits we make in them never come back insufficient. That’s not brave. And, I think whether someone listens to Sara Bareilles or not, we can all agree that the more honest and real we are in our relationships, the more satisfied we all will be. Then, when we “let the words fall out,” we’ll be ready for them. And, we’ll hear them the way they’re meant to be heard. (Now you can judge).

Put Yourself in the Center of the Circle

When I began teaching thirteen years ago, I was told by my cooperating teacher that I needed to be an actor: “You’re on stage all day. You need to show energy, enthusiasm, and engage others, even if you don’t feel it.” My cooperating teacher was right about a lot of things, except for her point about being on stage: at this point in my career, I know the spotlight should be on the students, and and I should guide them from the side, as needed. Which was why as I entered the center of the circle during our Morning Meeting group activity, I was very conflicted.

I didn’t feel like I belonged there. Another student should. So, how did I find myself in the center during the group activity Description? My students asked me to go, but why did I listen? I was caught off-guard and couldn’t find a reason not to go in the middle. Three students huddled together and wrote something on an index card. Then, they taped it to my back. I stood up, shuffling within the area of the circle, so each student could see what was written on my back. Everyone, but me.

Description is like 21 Questions, the person in the middle will ask a question, and the members in the circle can answer with a yes or no. Occasionally they will tell someone, “that’s not a good question.” We modify the activity so that the person asking the question has three to five minutes to figure out the word on his or her back. Keep it quick.

The words on someone’s back connect to where we are in the curriculum. I use this as our jumping off point, or anticipatory set, for when we get to the topic mentioned in Description. The two words written and guessed prior to me standing up were: Andrew Jackson (where we are in Social Studies), followed by pizza (what Maniac Magee is allergic to in the Jerry Spinelli book we’re using as mentor text).

I began by asking if the word taped to my back was a place. (it wasn’t). Thing. (no). So, I knew it was a person. As I asked question after question, the students laughed, giggled, smiled, and all raised their hands. They were engaged, and I felt good.

I got the answer correct within the three to five minute grace period. The answer related to an inside joke we shared this year. It was unimportant. What was important was the feeling I had being in the center of the circle. I realized that it’s okay as the teacher to sometimes put yourself in the center of the circle. It drove up the energy level for the balance of our morning. When I guessed the word correctly, the children let out a loud cheer. It was almost deafening. I wanted to phone the teachers to the right and left of me and apologize. I didn’t want to interfere with their instruction.

By allowing myself to be in the center I connected to the students differently: I understood why they enjoy this activity, how challenging it is thinking of questions that give information, yet can only be answered with a “yes” or “no”, and to have all eyes focused on you. That can be pretty uncomfortable.

I still made sure to let the students guide the learning. They chose the word, they answered my questions, and when I seemed puzzled, they provided support: “You’re on the right track, Mr. Saide,” one said. “Go back, and think about what you know so far,” another stated. “That’s a good question, Mr. Saide,” said a third. Their positive language was a reminder that they know how to present themselves when talking to others.

As the rest of the morning unfolded, I realized how lucky I was to be a teacher in this room, with this group of kids, and what a superb moment I just shared with them: they had showed initiative by asking me to go to the center of the circle. This had never happened with any other class in the seven years since I integrating Morning Meeting into the day. Students guided my questioning approach when needed, and followed the Morning Meeting guidelines they created as we participated together. They acted as I’d taught them to.

At some point, you’ll have an opportunity to go to the center of the circle. Maybe, you’ll have a lot of opportunities. Every once in awhile, take it. You may just like how it feels.

PLN Challenge (Redux x 2)

So, I was nominated three more times for the Meme 11. This brings me to five times, total. I have to be honest my friends, I'm not that interesting. Wasn't Prom King. Didn't get Valedictorian. Never won that power lifting competition. Nor, did I medal in the submarine sandwich eating contest. (though I trained my rear end off for that one).

With that being said, I am taking a page out of +Ben Gilpin's book, I will mine my soul to share 11 more things about myself (we're in the dregs here), and put +Kim Hurd, +Kristen Wilson, and +Megan Stamer's questions together in one big blob. Then, I'll answer them, too.

Goodness, I hope someone reads this.

Kim was one of my first Twitter friends. She is helpful, kind, and always has a good word. I don't know how she keeps it so positive, and so real. Great woman.

Kristen and I share a desire to verbalize ourselves through our words, yet feel hamstrung by them, as our writing doesn't always communicate our spirit. We prefer to listen and learn from others. Listening to others gives us time to process and construct our own meaning. Then, we share. Only, Kristen is smarter.

Megan is one of my newest Twitter friends, and is a new addition to NJASCD North. I've seen her at EdCamps and unconferences. I'm glad she is enthusiastic and has the passion to learn. We're going to put her to work, utilize that energy, and build something great together. The future is bright in NJ education with Megan.

Here is my third round of 11 facts about me. (Remember, we're scraping for stuff here):

1. I REALLY liked the Facts of Life TV show growing up. A little too much. I wanted to marry Nancy McKeon. I was six or seven. I thought if you liked someone, you married them. I would've been divorced A LOT with the mindset I had then.

2. I always wanted a Coleco Vision. It came out after the Atari 2600, Inellivision, and before the Atari 7800. I still want one. Turns out, they're hard to find, as they weren't big sellers back in the day. Now, they are REALLY expensive. I blame my parents for this, as I could have a cool game console that is totally out of date, could play with my kids (they'd probably be uninterested), and it would be worth money!

3. I used to pass notes to people in school all the time. And, not just to girls. I really liked getting notes, reading them, learning more about people, and writing back. It was odd then, as my guy friends were like, "What's your deal, dude? We're in high school. You want me to WRITE something to you? For fun?" Then, they'd call me words I will not repeat here.

4. We used to order pizza from this place in high school where they had one delivery guy. His name was Ben, he had a standard script he read off of, and we thought it was funny to mimic him to each other. We made up an entire back story for him. One day when he delivered pizza to us, we shared his back story with him. He didn't find it funny. We stopped ordering pizza from there.

5. I like the underdog, the quirky, the weird. People who are different are interesting to me. I want to figure out what makes them tick, why they behave the way they do, an what they find interesting. I also find people who do not conform to society easy to be around. They either don't realize they're different than the norm, don't know what the norm is, or don't care what is considered normal. I admire that, and need more of that. #goal2014

6. When I was in elementary school, I told my mom once that I wanted to be either a lawyer or a DJ. For some reason, my mom thought that was awesomely funny, and made me retell the story for days on end. Everyone laughed. I still don't get it. I was seven. Seemed right at the time.

7. I watched an episode of The Brady Bunch and saw one of the Brady boys try to grow taller by hanging from the top of the swingset bar. Didn't work for him, but I thought I was on to something. So, I tried it by hanging from my door. My mom saw me, and asked me to show others. Again, not to point fingers, but my wife wonders why I like to instigate...

8. I learned more about the mindset necessary to be a successful administrator from the friends I've met on Twitter and in ASCD than I learned in graduate school, or the six years after. There are some brilliant people out there. Some of them are late in handing in their meme homework from me. Not going to out you, but just sayin'...

9. There are people who don't blog, but should. I'd love to read Matt Mingle, Rich Kiker, Tom Murray, or Becky Kelly's thoughts. I think I would learn a lot from them. Yes, Tom, I would learn a lot from Rich. Now, be quiet. #hush

10. I laugh REALLY hard when I see the Farmers Only online dating commercial. I can't explain all the reasons why I laugh. You just need to go to Youtube.com and see it.

11. Did you ever watch the Winnebago Man on Youtube? It was awesome. I actually saw a documentary of his life. Not so awesome. Felt bad for him, actually. Brilliant guy, great sense of humor, dark view of the world.

Here are the answers to +Megan Stamer's 11 Questions:

1. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Mint chocolate chip. Hands down.

2. What made you decide to go into education? I liked working with kids, they seemed at easy with me, and couldn't believe you got paid for it.

3. Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher was Mrs. Pace. She looped with my class in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. She really understood us, differentiated her instruction to meet our needs, and got to know us as people, not just students. I miss her.

4. What drew you to the school you work in now? The chance to work with the administration at the time. Both have since left. They were looking for people to mentor, which was why I went for my ed admin masters. I wasn't looking for a second masters. I was looking for guidance and direction. They gave me that. Still do.

5. Why do you blog? To better understand myself. To process information. To get things out. To see if others can connect or relate to what I'm thinking/feeling. To see if I'm on the right track. For feedback.

6. What is your favorite Twitter chat? Too many to list. I've co-moderated #NJED with +Bill Krakower, so I have to stay loyal to my man Billy J.

7. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving. All food, football, no presents, and no one seems stressed. Plus, it's cool to sleep after you eat.

8. Where would you like to go, if you could go anywhere in the world? Texas. I answered this one in +Jill Thompson's meme. FYI, if you're not following her, you should.

9. What is biggest challenge you've ever overcome? Every obstacle I've ever put in my way by saying "You can't do this," "You don't deserve this," or something similar.

10. What is one goal you have for 2014? Stop being fat. #fittolead

11. What is your favorite color? Green, though I look better in red.

Here are the answers to +Kim Hurd Horst's 11 Questions:

1. Best App I downloaded and love is Twitter. On it all the time. Just ask my wife.

2.  Faceook is the biggest time waster for me. Honestly, who wants to know what I'm eating?

3. Schools shouldn't offer, and teachers shouldn't take cash bonuses for testing. We teach because we love what we do, we get high off of making a difference, and the opportunity to help young people succeed in life. Cash bonus? Bah humbug.

4-6. The journey I want to take is to go to Texas. See above.

7-8. A personal mascot about me would probably be a Narwhal, because it's odd, different, and attracts attention without trying to. Like me.

9. I can't go back very far at all into family ancestry. I don't think the Saide family has done too much noteworthy. I'm looking to change that.

10. My family has always been in the United States, as far as I can trace back. I wish I knew more.

11. The most awesome field trip to take the students on would be Camp Bernie in New Jersey. They can spend a day or a weekend learning leadership skills, social curriculum, and more. I have seen more positive change from this program than any other field trip in the 13 years I've been in education.

Here are the answers to +Kristen Wilson 's 11 Questions:

1. Who is your favorite actor of all time? Edward Norton. The dude is a genius.
2. If you could go to have attended any famous speech anytime in history, what would it have been? JFK's "Ask not what,..." speech. What an eloquent, poetic speaker. MLK Jr.'s "I  Have a Dream" speech is right there, too. (But everyone chooses that one).
3. What do you do to relax?  De-stress? Eat. Workout. Eat more. Sleep.
4. If you could invite anyone to dinner who would you invite and why? Jimmy Casas. The man's reach extends far, and has left the single biggest imprint on what I do.
5. Would you prefer to visit a Zoo or Aquarium and why? Zoo. Aquariums freak me out. I have an unnatural weird fear of sea horses. Don't ask.
6. Do you sing along to the radio, if yes, what is your preferred music genre?  If not, do you make fun of people who do? Yes to both. I'll sing to any song that is upbeat and gets me pumped up.
7. Favorite twitter chat? See above.
8. Best place to be quiet and reflect? Walking the dog outside is a quiet experience, and I have thought of many of my blog posts when walking the dog early in the morning.
9. Favorite book of your life? See the meme I did for +David Culberhouse.
10. Do you prefer salty or sweet? What is your favorite salty or sweet and why?? Both. Give me chocolate covered bacon. I will give you my heart.
11. What is one thing you never/rarely share that you are exceptionally proud of? I can't share it until it's legit. I'll know soon, then let you know.

Here's 11 Bloggers I want to recognize and believe they should have some love:

1. +Todd Whitaker (READ his leadership stuff)

2. +Sean Junkins (have you read his tweets in the last 24 hours?)

3. +Baruti Kafele (if you're not reading his work, you are missing out)

4. +Tom Whitford (a mentor, sounding board for me)

5. +Dan Butler (leads with heart)

6. +Bill Ferriter (we've been sharing a lot, I like how his brain works)

7. +Amy Baskin (met her at an NJASCD North conference, very passionate educator)

8. +Salome Thomas-El (because he is as passionately positive as it comes)

9. +Jeff Zoul (because he's Jeff Zoul)

10. +Nick Schiner (had some great convos with him during #chats)

11 +Paul Bogush (if you see one person present, ever, choose Paul)

Here Are 11 Questions for Those Nominated:

1. Last time you used a swear word emphatically?
2. Food good to eat anytime that is not Chinese food or pizza?
3. One inspirational quote that is not religious in nature?
4. One thing your parents made sure you learned to do that was not academic?
5. When I say Halloween, you think of a time when?
6. What motivates you?
7. What is one thing that you find "shady"?
8. One thing you said to someone that you wish you could take back?
9. When I am driving next to 18 wheeler trucks, I...(finish sentence)
10. Funniest thing you ever heard a kid say?
11. One moment you would freeze in time?

Here's The PLN blogging Challenge:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.

4. List 11 bloggers. They should be bloggers you believe deserve some recognition and a little blogging love!

5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. (You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.)

You're Fired!

My mother used to tell me I was "very persistent" growing up. "You didn't take no for an answer," she often said. One of her favorite examples of this was when I was fired from a summer camp job and managed to get rehired for the following summer. (I was 22).

I  made a lot of mistakes that first summer working as a head counselor, most of them because of pride and immaturity: being afraid to ask questions when unsure, not actively listening to the children and assistant counselors in my group (I was real good at telling them what to do), and not utilizing problem solving strategies prior to making decisions.

When I wasn't rehired I was surprised: didn't most of the kids like me? So, I had a few parental complaints. Don't we all? Yes, the Camp Director had to speak to me privately once or twice. Isn't that an initiation rite? (It wasn't).

The camp let me know by letter that I would not be rehired for the following summer. The administration cited my "inconsistency in relating to staff, campers and their families. on a regular basis." I really liked working at the camp, liked the kids, and enjoyed the staff. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. However, the place I liked didn't think I'd be a good fit in the culture and climate they created.

I needed to be honest with myself if I was going to grow and put forth a better me: introspect, digest what the camp administration stated to me during our "one-to-one conversations" over the summer and in the letter, then share with the Camp Director and Camp Owner that I'd learned from my failures. 

So, I wrote my own letter. To them. I stated that I understood I had made some poor decisions when interacting with some of my younger counselors and campers. My role was to model how to behave in a recreational atmosphere, build on the positive environment they'd created, and send the children home wanting to come back the next day. Campers needed to have fun playing sports while feel safe and appreciated. Their parents needed to feel that the environment was nurturing. I hadn't fulfilled my end of the bargain, and if the administration hadn't fired me, they wouldn't have done their job.

However, my job description was now to show them I listened to them, that I took the time to have an honest conversation with myself, and I wanted an opportunity to show them I used my failures as learning opportunities. I asked the Camp Owner and Camp Director for two things in my letter to them: to meet with me so I could apologize personally, and if they were open to it, to hire me back on a contingent basis. Week to week, day to day, unpaid, didn't matter to me. I wanted to be there. I wanted to make a difference.

The Camp Owner and Camp Director met with me. They were honest with me, sharing what got them to the point where firing me was the best option. I reciprocated their honesty, explaining my thought process during different incidents, what I learned from each experience, and all I asked for was an opportunity to continue to learn in an environment I truly enjoyed. We could figure out the money situation later.

I was hired back. I'd like to say I was a a new man, but I wasn't. I still made errors in decision making as I continued to learn. But, I grew. Rapidly. I made less mistakes. I shared my stories with new counselors and counselors in training who I saw making similar decisions early in their career. I made fun of myself, and said, "Don't pull a Barry." For some of them it stuck, and we remain friends to this day. For some, they weren't ready to hear the message, weren't rehired, and made a choice to seek future employment and guidance elsewhere.

I stayed at the camp for seven more years, until an opportunity to direct a summer camp came my way. My mom references this camp story as an example of me "being persistent, of not hearing no. I still can't believe you got that job back." I view it in a different lens now: I was taught that having grit, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks were worthwhile. I didn't like being fired, so I asked myself what I could do to change the situation. When I made mistakes during my following years at camp, my administration took the time to ask me questions instead of making snap decisions: explain what happened? What was your thought process? Why did you chose to solve the problem that way? Upon reflection, what can you do differently next time? How do we know this experience will make you better?

I keep these questions and this story in mind when I work with students and teachers. No one comes in fully-formed. (Exhibit A: me). We all have room to grow, and it's incumbent upon me to teach others how to think (not what to think), identify mistakes and learn from them, as my camp administrators did for me.

I wouldn't honor them if I did not pay it forward, and remember their lessons when I need to tap into my own perseverance and grit. Because, each opportunity in my work with teachers and students is another chance to reinforce to the Camp Director and Owner who rehired me that their investment in me taught me something, and made a difference in my life.  And if I'm lucky, a student I've taught, a child I've worked with in the Before and Aftercare program, or a teacher I've mentored will internalize and model what I've shared so they "Don't pull a Barry" too.

Tagged By Jill 'The Thrill' Thompson

I met Jill Thompson this past summer at ASCD's Leader to Leader Institute in Virginia. Jill was an Emerging Leader, identified by ASCD as someone with a strong education skill set, with a passion to channel it for what's best for kids. Me, I was a newbie, a neophyte. I didn't know anyone but my NJ Edubrethren, recently having joined NJASCD, attending a few State Executive Board meetings, and going to a few events. As I tried to get my bearings in a new environment where I was a big fish in a school of MUCH bigger fish, I met Jill. She was kind, helpful, and made me feel at ease. Probably what she does when working with teachers and students daily, and just one of many reasons she represents what ASCD stands for.

With that being said, it was an honor to be tagged by Jill for this meme. Not so much for the fact that she thought of me as one of eleven to learn more about, but because I'm interesting enough to her that she reads my blog. So, Jill, and the people I will tag in this post, here are 11 random facts about me you may not know:

1. I really appreciate the opportunities to talk to people in the education field and hear their points of view. I like knowing what they do, what their background is, and what their experience has been like in education (from being a student who sat at a desk to one who is in the front of the room). These experiences root our approach and interpretation of our pedagogy, and I like knowing what motivates people.

2. I learned a lot from Harvey Silver at a presentation he gave. I reference this PD at least once a week, somehow. He was entertaining, engaging, and his presentation was something I was able to turnkey in my classroom the next day. Of course, I lesson planned for it later.

3. I've done Weight Watchers three separate times. One of these days, it will click.

4. On the flip side, I trained for a powerlifting competition while in college. I trimmed down to 5% body fat, 155ish pounds, and tore abdominal muscles. I think I'd rather be chubby.

5. Rutgers was my dream college of choice coming out of high school. When I applied to the New Brunswick campus, not only did they reject me there, but they passed on my application to the Newark campus (without me asking), but then rejected me there, too. Good times!

6. I love to read. I read every night before bed, and cannot go to sleep until I have read something, no matter how tired I am. It was something cultivated in me from an early age by my third grade teacher, who was also my fourth and fifth grade teacher. I kept going, she kept looping. Every Friday we read for an hour independently. There was no formative or summative assessment, it was just read, read, read, and I loved it. @mattrenwick talks about the power of pure independent reading in his blog, and I believe it. Now, how to market it to the powers that be...

7. I find people interesting. I take something away from each person I meet. It may not be a "good" takeaway, but there's always something to learn from someone, if you listen well enough.

8. My wife is NOT into sports. At all. The best line I ever heard her say about baseball was: "I like the Yankees. They have good french fries." Upon many people laughing, her response: "What? Why is that funny?"

9. To piggy back off of that, my wife's explanation of football: "One team has the ball, the other team wants the ball. One guy runs with the ball The other guy runs into him, they crash, and then do it again 3 seconds later." Well, she's not wrong, but I like to think there's more to the game, mainly because it's my favorite seasonal sport.

10. Best thing a student ever told me, that no one ever finds funny but me: when I taught third grade, a student came up to me and said, "Mr. Saide, I eat my boogers. They're really NOT that bad." My response, "Bud, never tell anyone we had this conversation. Do not tell anyone else about this. You will thank me one day."

11. Before I want to ASCD L2L, I hadn't written anything in almost 20 years. I was motivated to write about my L2L experience from my conversations with @alinadavis and @beckcikelly. Now I'm tagging them, and they will need to take a turn. My way of paying forward and saying thanks.

Jill's Eleven Questions for Me:
1. If I could give my younger self some advice, I would tell myself to start being me sooner. Don't worry about what other people think, your own thoughts are challenging enough.

2. If I could go anywhere in the world it would be to Texas. Sounds silly, but everything is supposedly bigger there, and I want to see HOW big that is. I also love BBQ, and I wonder how well we get it here in the tri-state area.

3. I pay it forward everyday somehow. I listen, learn, and leverage others. I enjoy the moments, and I help others to do the same. That's what living is.

4. I haven't lived in too many states: just NJ, PA for college, and VA for an internship.

5. My favorite device is whatever the newest thing I don't own is. Currently any Apple products, especially Mac stuff and iPads.

6. The title of my first book will be: Dudes Can be Maternal: Life Lessons from a Male Elementary School Teacher.

7. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. There's no connotations, no gift exchange, just let's hang out, eat a lot, and watch football. That, and I get to sleep on the couch and it' okay.

8. A goal of 2014 is to get to the gym three times a week, and be consistent with it. I actually like the gym, I just need to get there.

9. My favorite teacher was Mrs. Pace, who taught me in third - fifth grade. She made me think, appreciated all her students, and didn't try to change any of us. She's my first reference on who I want to be.

10. I'm not a reality TV show fan. Actually, I really dislike it, mainly because it's not reality, it's scripted, cut, and by the time it gets on air, it doesn't remotely resemble what happened during the taping. With that precursor having annoyed others, I think I would enjoy being a judge on Chopped. I think I'd be campy about it, and be a caricature of the 'serious judge.'

11. My last meal on earth would be sushi. Eel sushi. A lot of it. With avacodo.

Here is my list of 11 bloggers: (in no order)
1. Michelle Lampien

2. Manan Shah

3. Suzy Brooks

4. Jim Cordery

5. Eric Sheninger

6. Alina Davis

7. Becki Kelly

8. Anthony Fitzpatrick

9. Scott Totten

10. Scott Taylor

11. Michael Parent

My Eleven Questions:
1. What are you currently reading right now?

2. What do you usually eat for breakfast and where do you eat it?

3. Describe one incident of road rage you were involved in.

4. One non-educational dream you have that is recurring.

5. From 1 - 5, one being least, five being most, how much of a fan of The Walking Dead are you?

6. What was one conversation you had that changed you?

7. What was one time you helped someone, but it will never be recognized?

8. Name one disturbing thing you saw in person.

9. Does your significant other tell you to order a different meal when going out to eat if you both want the same thing? (or is it just me?)

10. Favorite dive bar where it feels like everyone knows your name.

11. Something someone once said that blew your mind. (think inconceivable!)

Thanks for reading and asking me to do this Jill, it was a pleasure. To those I nominated, I enjoy interacting with you and reading your tweets and/or blogs. You inspire me daily to be better than I currently am. Keep fighting the good fight, and love like no one's ever felt.

The Culberhouse Meme

David Culberhouse nominated me as one of 11 bloggers he reads and wanted to complete this meme. David is someone I look up to. He models through his thoughts and actions what service learning is. His openness to better understand himself through his blogging drives me to be more open, transparent, and vulnerable with my thinking. It is a honor that he reads and responds to my work, much less that he wants to know more about me. So, with humility and pride, I will now share 11 random facts about myself that readers of my blog probably don't know about me...

1. I was in the Guinness Book of World Records for a little over a year: I was born four full months premature. In 1973, no baby born at my term lived. I was in an incubator for a year, as my newly formed skull couldn't handle the air pressure in the outside world. At one point my weight dropped to 870 grams. After five months in the incubator, the nurses told my mom I could go either way. I lived. And, the doctor who delivered me called me on my birthday until I turned 21. I guess he thought I was too old then. Too bad, I would've bought him a beer legally.

2. I didn't come out alone: I was born a twin. My twin's name was Ryan. When the nurse told my mom that I could go either way, she meant me and my brother. I made it. He didn't. I wonder sometimes what it would have been like to have been a twin. Then, I realize life was tough enough with one of me. We were all probably better off.

3. I have a learning disability: I think this makes me more sensitive to those who learn and think differently, have a lot of personality, or have a challenging background. I like quirkiness and I find that endearing. I like people who are puzzles. They're the most fun to solve. No one is easy to figure out.

4. I collected comic books and baseball cards up through my senior year of high school. I was drawn into the world of the X-Men, Daredevil, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. I liked Wolverine before Wolverine was on a t-shirt and a key chain.

5. I coached basketball for four years, despite having never played it, even recreationally: someone I played on a summer softball team with asked me if I would coach her co-ed basketball team. I told her I didn't really know basketball. Her rationale was that since I was a captain of the softball team and people listened to me when I spoke, that I would make a good basketball coach. Needless to say we were awful that first year. 

6. The fourth year I took a team in the same league to the finals. 

7. I went 15 years between hits in a baseball game: I loved the sport growing up. I went to camps, played on teams, and played for three years of high school. A friend of mine played in an adult baseball league an asked me if I would play. We went to the cages, I hit a few balls, and he said if I could hit at that speed, I would be fine. I got my first hit during the third game. 

8. I don't want to  be famous, I just want to be better tomorrow than the day before. I can go through my whole life anonymously. As long as I have my wife, two kids, and a career that makes me feel like I make a difference, I'm all good.

9. The best job I ever had growing up was working in a gas station: I made $5 an hour, under the table. I worked all summer for the local Exxon in town. Pumped gas, talked to people, and felt rich. I mean, $5 an hour cash in 1992 was good money for an 18-19 year-old.

10. I voluntarily did 4 years of high school in 5: I graduated public high school and realized I wasn't ready to go away. I needed a year to understand HOW to be away from home: learn to have a roommate, eat at designated times, make classes on my schedule, do my own laundry, sleep in a foreign bed, and study. My guidance counselor recommended I go to prep school for a year, and it was the best decision I could have made.

11. In my basement is a "man cave." I have a fully stocked bar, mounted flat screen TV, three custom made poker tables, framed movie posters and signed athletic memorabilia on the walls. I host a monthly game, welcome to all who like to play and socialize. Anyone is welcome. If you're not nice, you're no longer welcome.

My second task were to answer the 11 questions David asked me:

1. What is your all-time favorite book? 

My favorite book is Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bizzinger. I have bought it five times because I lent it out four times. Never again.

2. What is a favorite quote that best represents you? 

I have two: "Never let anyone take away your excellence," by Jimmy Casas. The second one is: "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody," by Bill Cosby. I try to live by those two every day, especially when things get uncomfortable.

3. What accomplishment is the most meaningful to you? 

Most meaningful is each year when I start the year with a group of students who are not ready for fifth grade, and when they leave they are more than ready for sixth. I take pride in being part of creating an atmosphere that allows students to enjoy the learning process and push the envelope when learning. 

4. When its all said and done, what is the one thing you want to make sure you have tried or accomplished? 

I want to do a tough mudder. I don't know why. I don't like to run, nor do I like live wires hanging over water. But, the idea of being a warrior for a day, running, getting muddy, completing all these obstacles like a contestant in American Gladiators, that just sounds cool.

5. What was the best part of your school experience as a child? 

Having a teacher that understood me, cared about the students she taught, had high expectations, and made sure that each day was a little bit different. It made me want to come back each day. I guess she was the first PIRATE.

6. What was the worst part of your school experience as a child? 

Being bullied. I know the teachers saw it. And, no one did anything. I will never allow that to happen to any students. No one deserves that.

7. If you could play in any band, which band would it be…and what instrument would you play? 

I would play in the original Guns N' Roses, before all the changes. I would be the drummer. Definitely. I have to play Rocket Queen on the drums.

8. What is your favorite thing to do outside of your work? 

Spend time with my two boys (3 and 15 months) and my wife. I used to love to sleep, but that's over.

9. Who has or does inspire you to go beyond what you thought you could do or be? 

All the people I meet on Twitter, the friends I have made at EdCamps, NJASCD and ASCD, and my children. I want to leave a legacy for them: that the educational system is better for them because their dad was in it and made it his mission to leave it in a better place than when he came in.

10. What is your favorite childhood memory? 

Playing kickball, baseball, whiffle ball, football, and any other sport we could play in the street until it got too dark out. I miss those days and can't wait to do them with my own kids.

11. If you could live anywhere, where would that be and why? 

Wherever the weather is nice year-round, near a beach, somewhere where the pace is slow, the barbecue is good, and the bar is open late.

My third task is to generate a list of 11 questions for 11 other bloggers to answer:

1. What keeps you positive?

2. What did you think when you heard Twinkies were gone forever?

3. What makes someone easy to be around?

4. Favorite movie line?

5. Best food to eat on the grill?

6. If you could master one of the martial arts, which would it be and why?

7. Favorite Star Wars movie quote?

8. Have you ever hit someone on purpose?

9. What scared you most?

10. Favorite non-mainstream cartoon you liked as a kid?

11. Do you ever wish you could still ride a big wheel and why?

My last task is to nominate 11 bloggers that I want to see join the More Homework Meme: (in no order)

1. Glenn Robbins

2. Kevin Kelly

3. Tom Murray

4. Phil Huggins

5. Rich Kiker

6. Jimmy Casas

7. Andre Meadows

8. Walter McKenzie

9. Kevin Scott

10. Rebecca McLelland - Crawley

11. Ross LeBrun

11. +1 Cory Radisch

Here's how it works:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.

2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.

4. List 11 bloggers after you write this.  

5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated.  Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

Go on, you have homework to do.

All the best.