- "This is one of the greatest experiences of your young lives. So let's make sure you're having fun, all right?"
- "What is our job as coaches? To love us. What is your job? To love each other"
- "I was an outgoing, polite little kids who never really wanted anything beyond their attention and acceptance, and even though a good number of them seemed almost superhuman to me, they still made me feel comfortable in their world."
- Poem: That Guy in the Glass (pg. 9)
- "Ballboy. An euphemism. The ballboy is the jack-of-all-dirty-jobs in a football training camp...Long hours, hard work-- heaven...I spent my summers in heaven."
- Where are you on your emotional thermometer?
- "Is there truly a God who loves us, how could he allow this to happen? How can there be so much suffering and so much unfairness in this world? What is the purpose of life? Where does real meaning- real value- come from?"
- There are a few primary avenues on which one arrives at meaning in life. One is "by creating a work or by doing a deed." Another is by learning that "even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, and by doing so change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph."
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Season of Life (Part I)
Read/Review Chapters 1-7. Select one or more of the following statements to respond to/reflect upon:
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"Is there truly a God who loves us, how could he allow this to happen? How can there be so much suffering and so much unfairness in this world? What is the purpose of life? Where does real meaning- real value- come from?"
ReplyDeleteThis part of the reading resonated with me because there have been times where I have questioned why certain things happen. I witness events occurring in my life and in the lives of others around me and begin to wonder the purpose of it all. In my time of self-evaluation, I realize that the purpose is to continuously be optimistic and faithful. In life you have to accept certain things and make the best of your situation. I have learned first hand that my faith has kept me sane during the most depressing moments in my life.
This quote can also have great influence on my students. Leaving out the religious aspect or mention of God, as to not impose anything on the students, children need to know that life may be unfair at times and their outlook on life can affect the way in which they handle certain situations. Teaching children to remain positive can help them overcome any obstacle.
Great! How do you think that you, if possible, might be able to impart that knowledge unto them?
DeleteThere are a few primary avenues on which one arrives at meaning in life. One is "by creating a work or by doing a deed." Another is by learning that "even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, and by doing so change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph."
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite passages. It resonates with me because of the strong message of hope. I think it is so difficult to change the mindset of someone who has been through tragedy or has fallen victim to a helpless situation. However, I think Marx states it very well that a person "may rise above himself, and by doing so change himself". Sometimes all we need is a change of mindset to empower us to change our situation.
Also, I think that it is common for children to feel helpless and therefore, hopeless. This could be caused by something like a learning disability or family difficulties that keep them from excelling at school. Either way, this is a great message for these students. They can change their circumstances. Teaching students this reality can help them to conquer any challenge that they are facing inside and out of the classroom.
Exactly! Same question...how do you think, if possible, you can impart that knowledge unto them?
Delete"This is one of the greatest experiences of your young lives. So let's make sure you're having fun, all right?"
ReplyDeleteA student at camp was feeling really down last week and I explained to her how when I was her age I didn't have the opportunity to go to camp. I told her that many of my friends went away to camp everyday and it left me alone quite often, but my dad told me that I was young and I should be having fun, not sulking around the house. He took me out that evening for a bike ride and suggested that I start going on bike rides during the day and visiting friends in the evening when they got home. In a way, he really showed me that its important to make the best out of every single situation and opportunity that we have.
As is quoted in Season of Life: "Ballboy. An euphemism. The ballboy is the jack-of-all-dirty-jobs in a football training camp...Long hours, hard work-- heaven...I spent my summers in heaven." I have grown up with the belief that I was never “too good” for a job; work hard at everything you do and everything you put in will someday come back to you. This story itself is a product of the hard work and effort Marx put in as a child.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for me to teach my children when I grow up this same lesson, as well as the students I encounter if I choose to teach. Throughout camp I have met people, somehow related to my campers, who seem to have an “entitled attitude”. For example one of my campers mothers comes to sit in on classroom time two to three times a week. Although I would never have asked her about her working situation, she offered the information up to me. Apparently she had recently quite her job as a nanny because the family paid “too little”. Thus she is currently without a job and still trying to raise her two children. Of course I understand the frustration of not feeling compensated for the work you put in, however how do you know what the job will get you in the long run. Perhaps she would receive the fulfillment of knowing and influencing the children. Maybe the family she worked for would realize her hard work and soon increase her salary. All I know is that the work and effort you put in will eventually reenter your life in a positive manner.
"What is our job as coaches? To love us. What is your job? To love each other."
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have read this passage at any better time. I find myself very discouraged during the day at camp while I stress about making it through all of the curriculum and keeping kids in line. But this quote reminded me that even though this is an academic based camp, some of our campers just need someone to lean on. The behaviors that drive me up the wall every day have a source, and to me, it is more important for me to address that source than to punish and scold the outcome. As for the kids, they must learn to love themselves and each other before they can accomplish anything else. I find that one of the most disruptive behaviors in my classroom is bullying. I feel as though I spend more time addressing these behaviors than actually teaching sometimes. It is important to establish an environment in which the kids will feel loved and safe before productive learning can occur.
The Boy in the glass has so much meaning behind the very few lines. The first stanza asks you to look at your self once you have obtained from what you glorify or chase. In my opinion the writer is asking you to reflect on your character after you gain what you desire. Materialistic items sometimes nchange people and aspects of their character morals and lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteThe second stanza says that when it comes to judgment and who we look to for validation it isnt our family and friends but ourselves who hold the most judgment. What we think of our own actions is what counts most in the type of person we deem ourselves to be.
The third stanza refers to going through life with people giving you validation and praise for the choices you make and giving you recognition for the person you make yourself out to be. People raerly take the time to understand who you are and simply make small remarks off what they see on the outside. People give you small "pats on the back." The final reward in life however if you are not true to self will be nothing but an unfulfilled life if you choose to cheat your character. To cheat your character would be to live by positive morals and values. It would be to not live by the truth. Cheating the guy in the glass is not living up to your full potential and using your talemts to better the world!
This is my reflection of the Guy in the Glass
"This is one of the greatest experiences of your young lives. So let's make sure you're having fun, all right?"
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this writing very much because making sure my kids are having fun while learning is very important to me. In the beginning it took me a while to figure out a good balance between the two but now I've come up with strategies and games to use all throughout the day. I really enjoy my class because they make it so easy to have fun and learn and I know they enjoy the class.
There are a few primary avenues on which one arrives at meaning in life. One is "by creating a work or by doing a deed." Another is by learning that "even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, and by doing so change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph."
This excerpt identifies with one of my students greatly. He is Autistic and came to my class half way through camp from another teacher's class. In the previous class he was in he wasn't doing work or participating. From day one in my class I made sure I told him as much as possible that he is capable to do anything that the other kids could do. With much needed encouragement, he now participates everyday and always completes his work, he even volunteers to go up to the front of the room to present his work. He also is now learning how to communicate his feelings to others and how to interact with his peers. I think something as small as his experience here at camp will forever help him with overcoming obstacles that are put in place due to his disorder. I think that statement goes for the rest of my students, I try my best to make my classroom as positive and encouraging as possible so my students will feel confident to face any challenges in their lives.
Where are you on your emotional thermometer?
ReplyDeleteThis quote speaks out to me for a few reasons. Emotions are at a constant flux during a day at camp. Whether it is myself or a camper. Whether it is crying, laughing, screaming, happy, sad, angry, or loving, the meter is always moving. Sometimes when the kids get upset for no reason and it gets tedious and hard to address. THe kids work themselves up because we stop playing a game when its about to be their turn or for things of that sort. Sometimes I want to laugh and other times I want to pull my hair out.
Another common occurance is when the kids act mad at me all day and then when it gets to the end of the day they want to hug me and talk to me like we are best friends. I never know what to expect from the emotions in my room. No one is ever on the same page. When the whole class is serious and read to focus one boy in particular always breaks out in a laugh and doesnt stop until the end of the day. I think if I were to show this quote to my class they would agree with me. Therefore I feel that it speaks both to me and to the class.