Listening to Sting Inspires Creative Thinking

The last month or so I have been on a Sting kick. If you don't know who Sting is, then I am sad. He is a singer AND he used to be the lead vocals for the Police. Google it. Now, I have been listening to him for my whole life, because my lovely mother made me when I was younger. But around 13 or 14 I actually started to love his lyrics.

As you all know I have been teaching my students some amazing lessons inspired by my good friend Sunny, and I finished that today. So I am sitting on my couch waiting to go to a meeting, and I am listening to my favorite Sting song, "Moon Over Bourbon Street." The lyrics have been so mysterious sense I was in high school. And the best quote is. "I must love what I destroy, and destroy the thing I love." To me this is the epitome of how I feel about my five days of teaching. (Yes I am summing up my entire mini worksample with Sting lyrics).

I loved teaching my students about what women went through to gain the rights they should have had from the beginning. But the hard part, is that students DON'T want to learn about this topic. It has nothing to do with the teachers, or the way we teach our lessons, it's the topic itself. WHY IS IT SO NEGATIVE? Why do students think that I am a hairy-legged, crazy, man-hating teacher if I teach about women's suffrage? Yes I am a feminist, but I am a third-waver. I love inclusivity (is that a word?) and I shave my legs for comfort.

The sad point I am trying to make here is that we need to take suffrage back! As women and educators we need to take this topic back and make it fun for our students. We need to show to them that learning this stuff is important and not boring. That it is interesting and engaging. I am sick and tired of people making suffrage to be this terrible topic like the Civil War.

Suffrage as a topic in public schools is cursed and has some terrible notion behind it. I guess the sad fact is that we haven't come that far. Burning our bras in the late 60s and early 70s wasn't enough. Throwing out our Cosmopolitan magazines, protesting beauty pageants, and throwing away our makeup was not enough to get out from under the patriarchy. I am sick and tired of feeling bad for loving a topic that inspires me to change the world.

I am tired of males AND females putting such a negative connotation with Women's Suffrage. Clearly, they weren't raised to think critically about history and learning. Clearly, they (males AND females I am ranting at) are not on the same playing field as all the other scholars I know. Clearly my fellow fems and I need to start a new Third Wave movement to show that women's history is, oh let's say 51% of the WORLD'S history. Does that not make sense to anyone but me?

I am just starting to feel the pull from "the man," and I am beginning to think that is not okay. I am thinking from scratch here when I say we need to change that whole idea, of "the man," as well as attitudes towards women. We haven't reached equity if people still can't understand that women's history is important. And complaining about suffrage is the entire reason women wanted suffrage.

Well, at least that is what I think. Keep is classy, brassy and a little sassy . . .

Shirley Chisholm

I must say, yesterday I forgot to blog about the AMAZINGLY inspiring, Shirley Chisholm. I too, want to be forever remembered as a catalyst for change. I think her simple and to-the-point quotes are so shockingly fresh.

I projected a quote from her "Tremendous amounts of talent are being lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt." And some of my students, with just as much tenacity as Chisholm herself, interpreted that quote in such a way that I wanted to cry.

Working with this beautiful curriculum, that Sunny put together, has really rejuvenated my activist spirit. I just can't express myself clearly enough in this blog. I feel like I am becoming the woman I have always dreamed about becoming. Going to NLO, and meeting women just like myself, renews my feminism and my love for women and politics on an hourly basis. I never knew how much I needed my own grit until recently. I never knew that teaching my students about phenomenal women would make me feel so proud of myself and so worthy.

At the end of the day I thank fate for pushing me to go to NLO, because if I hadn't gone I would have never felt so connected to myself and to my dreams and goals of raising awareness on women's rights. I would have never gotten the curriculum to teach my students about the trailblazing women from Oregon, and especially Shirley Chisholm.

Watching that footage from her 1972 campaign gives me goosebumps every time. She is the epitome of beauty. Her reasons for running for president were genius. Her words were so powerful, that when she spoke I couldn't tear myself away. Chisholm is a woman that I will never forget in my entire life. She is the reason that I feel confident in teaching my students about women's suffrage. She is the reason I look forward to hearing the whining about "learning about women" from my students. Because I can reply honestly, to my students, that what they are learning is important.

One student left my classroom the other day and thanked me for teaching because of my enthusiasm. I was touched, but I realized too, that I was excited to teach because the next day was Shirley Chisholm day.

I will leave you again readers, but this time with a quote that is more powerful than any other I have read in a long time.

"I am, was, and always be a catalyst for change." Shirley Chisholm

Roadblock on the way to Equity

Alright everyone, I have had some minor issues with curriculum. Let's say a couple of potholes. The first and foremost being whining. Apparently ALL my students have learned about women's rights and the suffrage movement, yet their scores on the content exam may say something different. I understand that they think what I am teaching is boring, yet at the same time I don't care.

I am passionate about what I am teaching, and I am excited so I feel like they should be too. I feel like all my students should try to engage in what I am teaching them, but it's definitely pulling teeth.

My favorite question thus far has been, "Ms. Cogburn, why do we have to learn about women?" Well young, impressionable student, we are 51% of the population--maybe it would benefit you to learn about them. Why does history and government have to solely be about males? I think that women are a very important and I don't understand why it's so painful for students to learn what teachers are teaching.

Therefore my answer is this, "I am the teacher and I decide what we learn. Ergo, deal with it." I just think that students need to try, no matter what their opinion on the matter is, just try it.

Other than that, my potholes comprise whining about taking notes and whining about writing critical thinking questions. Every now and then I get some minor snags with what is a part of the lesson, like today a fire drill ruined my jigsaw. But who knows? I feel like teaching is a fun challenge, and I never back down from a challenge. I love my students, they are great individuals, but all the little problems really built up this week.

I am feeling drained, but teaching the same thing, three times a day is really hard. At the end of the day everything is so regimented and structured I feel like I want to do something completely different.

Until next time, keep it classy, brassy and a little sassy . . .

One Down, Four to Go

I have completed the impossible. I have taught three different classes today, with one great lesson, from a great lady I know. It went really well. The students are responding to the material like any other unit.

HOWEVER, one of my classes was SO engaged today. I was blown away with how smart and awesome they are. I cannot even tell you how bad I thought it was going to go. I said "suffrage" and their faces dropped. Then I gave them a comprehension test, the handouts, they read and did a worksheet. It was pure magic. They were roaring through this content and asking some amazing questions. I love them.

My other two classes were not as equally engaged, but I still brought enthusiasm to the table. Just in case. At the end of the day I know that I am doing the right thing. I am teaching them what needs to be learned, I am loving it, and I hope they all love at least one of the five lessons. I don't care if it's not until next Tuesday, but I hope they do.

The best part of all, is at the end of the day, one of my students said I did a good job. And he said he likes me teaching, because I am so enthusiastic. Well, fyi, I love that you came to class and didn't complain about all the work I made you do.

Good day, great lesson, nervous for the formal observation tomorrow.

Putting on My Big-Girl Pants to Teach Tomorrow . . . eeek!

Alright everyone. The time has come for me to actually teach this mini worksample. I swear, my students better love me too, because candy is going to improve their attitudes. I am not above bribery, by any means. However, I am super NERVOUS! That is the only reason to mention candy, and it's almost Halloween.

Ok, so for serious now everyone. I am nervous though. What if the lessons have too much, what if my students don't understand the material, what if they hate it? I have all these worrisome questions in my head running rampant. I don't know how to answer them. I guess I am just nervous that what I am doing won't appeal to my students. I don't think it's an issue of failing at anything, except what if the lessons are not going to rally the students to fight for a cause?

I want to do my best and inspire my students at the same time. I want them to understand that equity has not been won, there is still a fight, and everyone should understand that. I want all the girls to leave asking the question, "when should I run for office?" I want the boys to leave asking similar questions, "when should I run for office? why don't I inspire my sister to run for office?" I want to leave asking the question, "What more can I do for these students to inspire them to be the best they can be?"

I think every single one of my students can do something to change the world. They just don't know it yet. They all have the power to change the world, and I hope that these nest five days will show them some great examples of women who have done just that. I won't lie, I am using some great stuff. Thanks Sunny for all your hard work. (And I hope you don't mind that I had to tweak the lessons to fit my students) . . .

I feel like there is this huge fire inside me, that I can't put out. It's a blaze for change. I want to impact the world, my students, and people who are close-minded. I want to show a different vision, I want everyone to feel included. I just can't even articulate it right, but I want to leave something behind for posterity.

If one person was ever changed for the better because of something I did, then I would know that I have made a change. If one person ever stands up for what they believe in, because of me, then I will have made a difference.

I sincerely hope that my students take away, from this set of lessons, what I have learned over the last 5 years of my life. That women are strong, capable, and wonderful leaders. That women have the power to change the world in a blink of an eye.

Until tomorrow readers, keep it classy, brassy and a little sassy . . .

Learning How to Teach

Thus far the masters program I am in has been really fun. However, I have been reminded daily that organization is key--I keep finding myself frazzled and behind. Yet at the same time I am just looking forward to teaching my students.

I guess as teachers, we try to motivate ourselves by what we will be teaching. That doesn't always work though, because organizing ourselves to teach is what makes us so stressed out. I find that releasing that stress comes so naturally when I hear someone say "great job."

I was stressed this morning, with the surmounting pile of work I have to do in the very little amount of time I have to do it in. But then I heard those words that are so simple, yet impact me so much. "Great job." It's like saying hello to someone in the hall or in passing. You never know what someone is feeling, and by speaking with them so easily and naturally, you can change their entire day.

So I was teaching my fellow MAT students today about computer integration. My group members, Chris and Phil, did such a good job at synthesizing what the book said about the section. But I had the fun task of creating the activity to do with my fellow peers. So what did I do?

I combined learning, fun, competition, service work and rice all into one great big plate of comprehension sushi. I had 8 volunteers come to the front of the class, 4 in one group and 4 in the other, and we had ourselves a little vocab. competition. While getting the answers right, the students were also sending grains of rice to help hungry children in Africa. The website is called freerice.com and it is a very simple way to feed the hungry. You pick your subject and just start answering questions. For every right answer, 10 grains of rice are sent to African children, somewhere, who are in need of more food. I think that this was a fun way to teach others how to use the computer to help students learn, BUT also have fun.

Even though I sacrificed my peanut butter cups for this activity, none of the stress or confusion afterwards really mattered when my professor, who I have known for four years, told me I did a wonderful job. She pumped me up for the rest of the day. She made an impact without knowing it. She made me drop all the stress from hiring workers for football, to making sure I can do my observations, to realizing I have about 3 1/2 weeks to write one paper and two weeks for another into nothing. I am automatically in a good mood and none of that stress is agitating me right now. I am like a free tigress running through the jungle stalking my prey, which happens to be a fat little warthog (maters/teaching credentials).

Thank you Sharon Porter for changing my attitude today. I appreciate your simple, yet kind words today.

The moral of the story is, I hope to be that teacher that can change a kid's attitude by just saying "great job." I am hoping that students will take my compliments to heart like I did today, and use them to break away from stress and step into lighter thinking. I hope that I can affect change in my community with just words.

So my beautiful blog readers . . . keep it classy, brassy and a little sassy!

Beginning the long road from Suffrage

Earlier last spring I was having issues deciding what I wanted to do with my life. I had been writing my senior capstone for some time and I was feeling really disconnected to it. My topic was about how religion adversely affected women's education in the Early Modern Period in England and Italy. I loved writing on women's history and learning about how hard it was and all the obstacles that the women had to face, but I felt so beat down by a system that has been so long ingrained into society.

I was speaking with my boss Le about everything one day, while working on stuff for my paper. He mentioned to me that I should sign up for this conference at PSU called New Leadership Oregon. It's all about women engaging in politics and public policy. I was very hesitant to do it, but I thought, what the heck. So I signed up right there, with Le standing over my shoulder. I filled out this application thinking, I am so not going to this. They won't ever accept me. I had been to leadership conferences before, numerous conferences actually--but I never really thought about engaging in public policy. It just wasn't my forte, but politics have always been a passion of mine, and so was working with my peers.

So I kept writing my paper and reading books and looking up articles last minute about women in the EMP. I finished my stinkin paper. I thought to myself, wow, I did this on my own. All 30 pages of that beast came from me. I was so proud. I turned it in, did my presentation, and then the email came that detailed my grade. I got a "C." I was so livid. For the amount of say my adviser had I couldn't believe I got that grade. I had SLAVED over that paper. I had worked so hard I thought, but I didn't really meet with my adviser, or let's say they wouldn't ever let me schedule a meeting.

So I blamed my adviser, I blamed myself, and I blamed the fates a little too.

ANYWAY . . . Two months had passed and I hadn't heard from NLO. Well, guess again Ashley, because I just remember that day so vividly. I came into my apartment, got my mail and had a huge envelope. It seemed pretty large for a rejection so I tore that puppy to bits, and of course it said CONGRATULATIONS in some seriously bold print. I cried. Because I didn't just get accepted, but they wanted me. NLO really wanted me to come to them, in Portland, are participate in something so diverse.

The first thing I did was call my mom. She is the one I call for everything, much like the Ghost Busters, because I always know she will answer and help me with my problems. So, I called her, cried and said, "finally, I feel like I have a purpose again." I'd been beat down by the man, the system, negative people, and petty ex-friends. I had actually believed that I deserved little and that's how I felt, really small. But NLO brought back some of my fire, it made me start believing in myself again. It made me feel like I was a person again.

So school ended, I walked in commencement and then I got strep. For a girl who doesn't have tonsils, I sure wanted to start off my post-grad with a bang. So I was nervous for NLO, but went anyway.

Two days and many antibiotics later, I was in Portland trying to find one freakin' building. I find it, leave my bags, and walked down to where the infamous NLO 2011 was going to commence. I finally showed up, to the conference, to my confidence, to my life.

I was back in action, being a force of change and loving it. NLO was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Something I will never forget. And it has to be asked, "Are you Dave?" I made some lasting connections, showed off my rockband skills, and ate a lot of froyo!

SO, what does this have to do with anything? Sunny Petit, literally the most amazing woman I know, second to my mom and aunt, gave me the most wonderful news when she said she had created a curriculum to teach women's suffrage history in Oregon. She is the kind of woman I aspire to be, the kind who won't stop fighting, who won't say no, and who is always doing something for someone else.

After many moons and 14 or so emails I had the Vision 2020 curriculum in my small, yet cute, little hands. I adapted it for my students and I am teaching it in exactly one week! I am so excited. My students may hate that it's content rich, very regimented, and structured. But they will learn from me, and hopefully I will inspire some girls in my classes to make a change for the better and get more involved in their community. Maybe it will help them say no to peer pressure or say yes to a community service opportunity, maybe they will be changed like me. Maybe they won't ever stop fighting for equity and become the first female President.

So until next time blog fans, keep it classy, brassy and a little sassy . . .