Popeye was Plant Powered - 5/29/19

Popeye was a Plant Powered 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

May 29, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

This morning I participated in my first #RunandRant. During my 6 miler I pondered this week’s question, “What is strength?” I finished my run, bathed in sweat, and punched “Record” on my phone. I filmed myself ranting for 40 seconds on what strength means to me. The question is still lingering in my brain and I figured why not go into a little more detail, a written rant.  

Strength to me has nothing to do about being physically strong. I’ve met many people who can run faster and farther than me, squat, deadlift, and bench more, but they are some of the weakest people I've come across. True strength is found in the mind and heart. How we hold ourselves, how we present ourselves, and how we treat others show how truly strong we are.  

I’ve been working on a multi-blog post about the differences between dreams vs. goals. Everyone has dreams, but not everyone takes the next step and transforms those dreams into goals. The strongest individuals are those that set goals. They see what they want for their lives, what is going to better themselves, and create a plan of action to get there. Not every goal is reached with the first attempt, or second for that matter. Those with strength learn from their failures, stand back up, pick up their chin, and go after it again and again and again. Once their goal is finally met, they evaluate and set another.  

True strength is also found by how we treat others. In society today, so many are self-absorbed in their own world and will lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want. Just scroll through any social media site and you will be inundated with many individuals looking out for only themselves and how others perceive this lavish, luxurious life they lead. This portrayal just shows their true weakness and insecurities. I want to follow those that not only are goal setters, but also know that once they take care of themselves they are here to serve others. We all have differences of opinions and beliefs. That does not make anyone better than the next. The strongest live to serve others, to help them in need, to encourage and motivate them, to have their back and pick them up when they fall. The strongest individuals see the good in others and display appreciation, kindness, and empathy.  

Lastly, strength comes when challenging the status quo and never accepting mediocrity. It is so easy to follow the herd and not follow through on what you know is right when nobody is standing by your side. Speak your voice, stand up for the less fortunate, and fight for what you know is the right thing to do even if you’re alone. I’d rather live my life knowing I stood for what I believed in my heart, what was for the good of others and this world, than following lemmings off a cliff.  

There you have it, my extended version of this morning’s #RunandRant. True strength comes from first taking care of yourself mentally, physically, & spiritually. It’s then followed by how we help others find their true strength. Finally, listening to your heart and following through on what you know will benefit our world. Take care of yourself, others, and this world and experience the beauty available.  

Teachable Moments - May 8, 2019

Teachable Moments 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

May 8, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

“Daddy, why don’t you want to go in there? I want to see what they have?” was what my daughter questioned, displaying confusion as to why I was telling her “no” to a simple request many parents would grant without hesitation. I replied, “Because babe, I said so, we have some other things I have to take care of.” Of course, with her being 7 my answer didn’t suffice. Eventually, I pulled rank and silenced her petition, “No, it’s done, don’t ask any more please!” Silence.  

My daughter wasn’t mad or hold a grudge the rest of the evening, and we had a great time together. Before heading home for the night, she pulled out her crowbar and tried prying one more time, one last ditch effort. “Dad, now can we check it out?” I took in a big hit of air, gazed into those eyes that melt my heart and said, “Honey, I’m sorry, but no, it’s over with now anyways.” Silence.  

We did one last sweep throughout the hallways, checking over everything to ensure there wasn’t something we missed. It was then we were approached by someone needing a favor. I put on a smile and graciously helped them with their simple request. My daughter threw on her coat, I grabbed my car keys and we headed home.  

As I was driving my daughter asked in an inquisitive voice, “Dad, why wouldn’t you let me see what they had in there? I wasn’t going to buy anything, I just wanted to look.” I pondered how I would respond for a few seconds. “Babe, I didn’t want us to go in there because there were some unfriendly people in there. They aren’t very happy with Daddy.” With a slight tilt of her head and scrunching of her brow she replied, “Why don’t they like you? What did you do?” I gazed at my daughter from my rear-view mirror and said, “They just don’t agree with or like the way Daddy does some things. They aren’t very happy with me and have a lot of negativity. Daddy doesn’t have time or the need to bring that negativity around him or his life.” The wheels were turning in my daughter’s beautiful brain. “But Dad, why’d you help that lady? Is she one of the people who aren’t happy with you?” 

My daughter is so smart. She wasn’t going to let this go until she knew why I would help someone who isn’t very fond of me. I knew I had to respond with the right words, this was a teachable moment.  

“Just because someone doesn’t like another person, that doesn’t give anyone the right to be disrespectful or unkind back. I don’t have room for negativity in my life. I’m a kind person, and if I put kindness out there, I know it’s going to come back to me.”  

That was my response, and without me saying that our conversation was over, it was over. I hope my daughter understands why I live my life with a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) mindset. I pray that she can follow in my footsteps. Only time will tell if she learned from this lesson. I believe she did.  

Little Mac Just Wanted a Dancing Partner in the Squared Circle - 4/29/19

Little Mac Just Wanted a Dancing Partner in the Squared Circle 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

April 29, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

Yesterday I was blessed and got to spend some quality time with my son in our Man Cave. My wife was working, as she does every Sunday, and my daughter was invited for a play date at one of her best friend’s homes. This left just me and my son together. Our time started as individuals, he was playing his Nintendo Switch while I straightened up, did laundry, and put together our new patio table. He would continually come and find me and excitedly ask, “Dad, when can we go into the Man Cave?” 

After I completed my chores, I rummaged through his backpack and found some weekend homework he had buried in the pit. I approached him, asked if it was homework, and he reluctantly said it was, but he didn’t want to do it. I told him if he cranked it out he would be finished at the same time I was and then we could hang out. Now usually getting my son to complete his homework is more excruciating than a root canal with no meds. To my surprise, he plopped down at the table and got right to work! He took his time to ensure he did everything correct, but he got it done without me having to plead, persuade, guide, and sit right next to him. I knew there had to be catch.  

Once we got into the cave he said that he only wanted to watch me play Punch Out! and get to Mr. Dream. I tried to convince him that we should play something together, start a new file on his new Super Mario Bros. Deluxe game, but he insisted on watching me live my boxing dreams out through Little Mac. Again, I knew he was up to something and soon I would figure it out.  

As I ducked, weaved, and jabbed me way through each circuit, my son munched on popcorn and talked to me about video games, school, and life in general. We laughed, smiled, and had a great time talking about everything, anything, and nothing. It was then I finally realized his what he was up to. 

It did not matter what my son and I did together. All my son wanted was to spend time with me.  

Kids do not care what they do with the adults in their lives, what matters to them is that they are WITH them.  

I began to think about many of our students, students that don’t have parents and families that can, or are able to, spend quality time with. That’s where we, as educators, come in. Sit down and take an inventory of how many moments you have throughout your day where you can talk with a student. I challenge you to give up one lunch a week to either eat with a table of students or invite them to eat with you in your classroom. Instead of checking your email or texts when students are working on a task, go chat with some. At recess, get involved, play a game, draw with chalk and get some conversations going.  

Many of our students don’t have an adult outside of school who is able to give them undivided attention. As an educator you can make that difference for kids. Take advantage of this, don’t let moments slip by, and be their difference maker! 

Schools are the Perfect Venue for a Circle Pit - 4/17/19

Schools are the Perfect Venue for a Circle Pit 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

April 17, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

 

“You are not punk anymore!” is what my wife yelled laughingly, hands at her side, palms facing the skies, torso bent slightly forward, and her beautiful eyes cutting through me! “Yes, I am. Punks not about the look, it’s a mindset babe!” “No, you’re not. Please stop calling yourself punk!” Then her body straightened, eyebrows raised, and I knew the conversation was over.  

If you’ve read through some of my older blogs you know that I grew up listening to punk rock, skateboarding, and styling my hair with Elmer’s Glue. While yes, these are the traditional “signs” of a punk, it’s much more than that.  

Punk rock is not just a bunch of young, lost, frustrated adolescents setting out to cause havoc every day. Punk rock is a mindset, and one that has a place, and needs to be, in our schools today.  

Punk rock to me has not just been about expressing oneself, but about challenging the status quo, not accepting mediocrity. When one looks at a stereotypical punk, they see kids with growing pains (thanks Lagwagon!) The outsider gets uncomfortable. They begin clamming up, palms sweating yet body freezing. Sometimes their face forms as if they are looking at molded roadkill, nostrils inflamed from the rancid smell. Punk rockers are not a pleasant sight for those that aren’t familiar with their beliefs and ideals, and that needs to change, especially in our schools.  

Too many of our schools are still delivering kids with antiquated methods. There are far too many trees being cut down for worksheets kids do not care about nor connect with. Much of the delivery students are receiving is how you and I may have gotten our education years and years ago. Today’s student is much different than when we were. Today, students have education literally at their fingertips every second of every day. The world you and I originated from is a myth to them. Kids will never understand what it meant to plan a road trip by studying maps, getting lost, sucking in your pride and asking a gas station attendant for directions. Kids will never understand why it was essential to study spelling words every week, when now everything they type auto corrects their misspellings. Kids will never comprehend the hours we put into a research paper, scouring World Book Encyclopedias, knowing and taking full advantage of the Dewey Decimal System to locate backups of our claims.  

And this is all OK.  

The world has changed, education has changed. What took us hours, days, and weeks to learn is now literally seconds away in our students' pockets. We need to accept that fact and make our classrooms and lessons more engaging, more hands on, more collaborative and exploratory. We need to ensure our students are prepared to work with others, rely on others’ strengths and accept their own weaknesses, and build empathy for all. This approach to education will ensure success for tomorrow. Our job is to prepare students to become successful and productive members of society. We must prepare students to solve today’s problems, and those of the future.  

If we want to prepare our students for life, we need to get away from the suit and tie model of education. We must throw on our bomber jackets, get our liberty spikes sticking up with glue, and challenge the system. It’s time to take a different approach, one that is not popular or stereotypical. The alarm is going off to get punk rock again.  

I will never agree with my wife that I’m not punk rock. My coat my sport a Northface logo instead of an Operation Ivy patch. No longer are my feet housed in Dr. Marten’s with plaid laces, but now reside in a pair of comfy Steve Madden’s. The hair on my head may be showing signs of gray, thinning and not sticking straight up in a mohawk. None of that matters.  

With all of my heart I'm challenging the traditional belief of education, and it doesn’t get much more punk than that.