Homework Helper - December 2, 2020

 Homework Helper
By, Michael Earnshaw
December 2, 2020
@MikeREarnshaw

I am very fortunate to have a PLN, my crew, that spans the United States and even crosses our borders. I get to speak to educators from all over, with different backgrounds and experiences, to help me learn and grow. I hope they would feel the same about me. We’re able to collaborate and help solve each other’s problems, share stories of successes and laughs about funny times, and also shed tears for situations that may not have personally affected us, yet being in the game we know exactly what our comrade is going through. Throughout all of these conversations, there is one topic, one issue, that always comes up. 

“These kids are not completing their homework! 2020 and remote learning have made it worse than ever! You can’t believe how many kids are failing simply because they’re not completing their asynchronous work!”

I know, you’ve been part of this conversation, we all have. It doesn’t matter what coast you’re from or if you’re educating young minds over the borders, another pandemic the field of education is facing is that many students are not completing independent work. Much of this plague is happening for those students that are learning remotely. It’s not only remote learners, but the majority of our students either have been, currently are, or will be learning remotely at one point of the 2020/2021 school year. This non-completion of homework virus, much like the Covid-19 virus, is something we as educators must try and combat even if we do not have all of the answers. We can put some things in place to help our students, our future, understand the importance of asynchronous work. 

First, the homework debate has been going on for years and we’re not going to get into that with this blog. Every educator has their own differing opinion on the value of homework and honestly, I don’t see the argument coming to a consensus while I’m in the field (I’ve still got about 30 years or so). What we need to look at is the situation our students are currently in. For over a decade now educators have been stating that kids aren’t learning at the rate they used to, that engagement and attention are almost non-existent because we are competing with the technology at kids’ disposal when they’re outside of school hours. Hell, we’ve been competing with this DURING school hours with cell phones serving as mini-computers in the pockets of every child at every grade level. 

So the argument has been that today’s students are disengaged in school because they have too much screen time. Now with the Covid-19 Pandemic what have we done? We’ve added about seven MORE hours of screen time for our students with remote learning. Look, I understand this had to be done, how else could we reach our students when it’s not safe to bring us all together within our walls. We will never be able to combat or lower the amount of screen time students utilize when they’re not with us. If we thought that they had too much screen time before, the 2020/2021 year has now grown insurmountable! Screen time is screen time. It doesn’t matter if it’s video games, movies, Youtube, or remote learning, staring at a screen is screen time. 

Like I said earlier, we can’t control or limit how much screen time a student partakes in when they are on their own time. What we can do is limit how much screen time they utilize when they are with us, whether that is synchronous or asynchronous learning. We already know that during our instruction and class discussions they will be with us via a screen. Educators need to take inventory of how much time there they are requiring. Regardless of the grade level, students, and the educator, must take movement and mindfulness breaks. There’s no perfect formula, but personally, I would need one about every 20 - 30 minutes. 

Now we must look at what we are assigning students to complete for their asynchronous learning. I’m pretty positive that it’s going to include more screen time, especially if we are in a remote learning environment. I’ve talked to many educators and have also seen first hand that much of this asynchronous work is basically a digital worksheet. Let me ask you this, after sitting in a virtual classroom for even an hour, how exciting is it to complete more time on a screen with a worksheet? We knew that when our classrooms were full of students that worksheets weren’t engaging so what makes this time any different? 

Before you assign asynchronous work, or homework as many are calling it, stop and evaluate it yourself. Would it draw you in? Is it engaging? Is it going to assess and enhance what was learned that day or is it simply compliance? Is there any other way this same assessment could be given that wasn’t staring at a screen? Think back to all of the various, out of the box activities you used to use when school was “normal.” Dioramas, poems, songs, artistic paintings or drawings, interpretive dance, podcasting, blogging, and the list goes on and on. Why can’t we still utilize these assessment approaches even during remote learning? The answer is we can, and we must! By having students partake in an activity that is THEIR choice and focuses on THEIR strengths I’m sure we would get more “homework” returned. Plus, it’ll take students away from a screen for a while. Yes, they’ll have to get back on to submit or record what they’re doing, but the focus isn’t simply staring at a screen completing a digital worksheet. 

I don’t know if this is the solution, but I know that I can’t sit around any longer and just complain. I’m willing to try something to see if it will help. If it does, great! If not, then we try another approach. I hope you will too. Now it’s time to get up and take a walk around before I visit a virtual classroom. 

Bedtime Stories - November 4, 2020

Bedtime Stories

By, Michael Earnshaw

@MikeREarnshaw

November 4, 2020

In the Earnshaw household, there are two camps when it comes to sleeping, heavy and light. First, my son and I are in the heavyweight division. Once our heads hit the pillow, eyelids close, we’re in a mini-hibernation until the morning hours appear. We don’t need much sleep, both of us are always the first two up in the house, but that may be because throughout the night we don’t wake. My wife and daughter, on the other hand, they’re in the light division. They fall asleep fast, but any little creak, whisper, or slight breeze electrifies their eyelids open! Unfortunately for me, I endure a lot of shakes, yells, and yes, even punches, to wake me before my natural biorhythm clock would allow. Now I know what you’re thinking, are you really complaining that your poor wife and daughter wake you when they’re scared at night? C’mon, I’m not that bad of a husband and father, so yes, yes I am complaining that I am awoken by their fears. Oh stop it, you know you would be too. Now it’s my time to redeem myself. Many nights I do get up and sleepily stumble throughout our house, checking every door and window to make sure they’re locked. I check the basement, both the finished living area and the spooky unfinished part that still has ceiling lights that come to life via a string. I check closets, underneath beds, and even behind shower curtains. I’ve learned throughout the years that they know, somehow, they just know if I lie and tell them I’ve searched everywhere. Now, I check everything and everywhere. After that, they are back to sleep and all is quiet again. There are some nights though, that instead of rising from my bed like a zombie taking their first steps, I ascend my head a few inches off my pillow, make sure my good ear is facing the doorway, and listen. I then tell them in my best Tom Waits voice that everything is fine, just go back to bed. And I do. The morning after these nights are always a hoot. My wife or daughter, or both, do the shuffle into the kitchen that I should have done a few hours earlier when they were scared. I’ll always ask, “How’d you sleep?” 10/10 times on these mornings I’m told, “Not good. I was scared, you should’ve checked for us!” Now, why am I telling you this? Do you care about what happens during the moonlit hours at our home? My guess is no, but let me explain why, if you’re an educator, you’ll want to. Those nights that I don’t check things out, I’m not helping my wife or daughter. I’m just moving on with my plans of getting 5 to 6 hours of sleep, and I get it sans the 2 minutes I said everything was fine. What about them? Do they get the same quality sleep they deserve? Nope. They are up, tossing and turning, listening for whatever originally awoke them, and many more sounds! Education is the same. Many times we reach all of our kids, checking on them, making sure they have complete comprehension of the material and concepts being taught before moving on. We do this because we know that education builds upon itself. If a student doesn’t have a grasp of the material, they will begin a spiral of being lost in lessons as the class progresses. This is why we have RTI tiered interventions, 504 plans, and IEPs. But do educators always ensure every kid has that understanding every time? Let’s be honest here, no, sometimes the world has turned and left someone there (who doesn’t love a classic Weezer reference?) I’m guilty of it. I’ve done it as a teacher and yes, I’ve done it as a principal. Why? Because it’s easier. It’s easier to move on. It’s easier for us to stay comfortable and get to where we set our plans to go. It’s easier, but it isn’t fair. I became an educator to inspire others to know their strengths, own their weaknesses, not to fear asking others for help, believe in the power of collaboration, and be determined to change our world for the better. I made this my personal mission for every student, teacher, and individual I have the honor of serving. My mission will not be met if I don’t get out of bed for every single one of them. It’s our duty to propel every student along on their educational journey. There will be times it is hard, frustrating, and uncomfortable, many times for us. We can’t make that an excuse. We must help every child, every time. The next time my wife or daughter need me to scan the house while the rest of the world is sleeping, well, I will. I made a promise to protect them long before I joined hands in marriage and brought my beautiful daughter into this world. Oh, my son? He’s sleeping.

High Cholesterol - November 3, 2020

 High Cholesterol
By, Michael Earnshaw
@MikeREarnshaw
November 3, 2020

“I’m sorry man, I know how hard you worked to lower it,” was the text that came through from my brother-in-law. I thought about it for a while before responding. 

I turned 40 in March of 2020. The day before my birthday I visited my doctor. I’m not one to visit regularly, I know, I’ve already heard it from my wife, but this visit was warranted. Something came up I needed to get it checked out (and since this blog isn’t about that situation I’ll let you know everything for the visit came out fine). Being as I hadn’t been to the doctor in about three years he wanted me to get some bloodwork done, especially since I was turning 40. I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary, I’ve always been a healthy guy. 

My watch started vibrating, alerting me that I had a call coming in. A name didn’t pop up, but I knew the number was the doctor’s office. I stealthily exited the class I was hanging out in and made my way to the nearest door to step outside on our playground and take the call. I answered just shy of making it to the door so I didn’t lose it. We went through the formalities and then I heard something I never could have expected. 

“Your cholesterol levels are very high and the doctor wants to speak with you about treatments.” 

A few days later I was back in his office being explained all of the differences between LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and how I had a lot of bad cholesterol but just enough good cholesterol that I wouldn’t drop dead any time soon. That’s good news I guess. 

“You’ve got two options, Michael, one, start medication and we test you in 6 months and see where your levels are at. Or two, you say you’re going to change your diet, limit alcohol, workout more, and then when you come back in six months, if your levels haven’t changed, you’re going on medication. No discussion,” were the choices my doctor handed me. 

I have never been a fan of medication, so I chose option two. 

Six months flew by. I got my labs redone, anxiously awaiting to hear the results. I felt that familiar vibration on my left wrist on a Friday while solving the World’s problems with my assistant principal. 

“So your LDL levels were higher than before. You’re going on 40 mg of Lipitor. We’ll have an order for your labs to be checked again in March.” This was spoken by my doctor’s nurse. My doctor didn’t even give me a call, no opportunity for a conversation, just like he promised. 

Now I’m not going to lie, I was a little upset by this news. I had made some adjustments to my diet, worked out as I usually did, and hoped the levels would lower and I could stay off meds. But as I reflected on the past six months I realized I could have done so much more. Instead of truly making the changes I knew I needed to make I found myself putting blame on “The Pandemic.” It was the pandemic’s fault I snacked on Flaming Hot Munchies each night. It was the pandemics fault I skipped a workout because of staying up later than I should have the night before. It was the pandemic’s fault I couldn’t get my cholesterol lowered by partaking all of the new healthy lifestyle changes I planned out in my head.

Excuses. That’s all it is. Too many times, when goals aren’t reached, I find myself blaming someone or something else. It makes it much easier to live with knowing the undesired result was out of my hands. But now I realize that is no way to live. That is not the message I want to send to my kids, my wife, staff, or students. I want to model that hard work pays off and we need to work towards our goals. And if the result isn’t what we hoped for we own it, make adjustments, and start again. 

I texted my brother-in-law back, “Haha, thanx man, but honestly, I could have done so much better. Luckily, it’s not too late. Time to make those changes now and hopefully get off the meds in 6 months. I’d rather rely on myself.” 

Change Begins with Me - June 3, 2020

Change Begins with Me

June 3, 2020

By, Michael Earnshaw

@EduChefEarnshaw

As an educator and father, I have always believed that I did a good job of teaching my own children about our world, the issues we face, and how to treat others. In the wake of tragic murder of George Floyd, the peaceful protests to bring awareness to the racism that still plagues our country, and the looting and destroying of local businesses, I realize I have not done a good job. Not even close. For this I am ashamed and feel I have let my children down. I need to smash the own distorted window that I have been trying to gaze through these last 40 years.

My window was finally shattered on Sunday, May 30, 2020. My wife and I were watching the 5:00 pm news. We sat close on the couch, phone screens locked and focused all of our attention to the scenes being reported. Some were peaceful protests full of chants, signs, and a message that America must come together to bring an end to racism. These scenes were scarce in the big picture. Many of what was being shown were storefront windows being shattered, vehicles pulling up right to the now open space created by a pipe dancing with the glass window, only to be filled with goods and products that were not paid for. We also saw buildings being set on fire, local family owned businesses being destroyed and ransacked. Many of these scenes were not even three miles from where we were sitting. “Dad, why are they doing that? Why are they breaking into stores and stealing and destroying?” my daughter whispered. I knew that she was not only curious, but overcome with fear. We’ve always kept our children away from many of the scenes the news plays. We don’t hide them from the truth, but there are many images and stories we feel they can be taught about from us and not how the media displays it for adult eyes. I looked at, grabbed her hand, and told her, “Babe, there’s just something going on in the world and people are upset. They are letting our government know that changes need to be made.” This wasn’t the time for me to go into details with my 8 year old daughter on why there was a mix of peaceful protests and looting. Why we needed justice for not only George Floyd, but all of the African Americans being subjected to racism still in 2020 solely because of the color of their skin. For those that lost their lives at the hands of a racist clothed in blue and a badge. Without hesitation my daughter responded. “Is it because that white police officer kneeled on George Floyd’s neck and killed him? Because George Floyd said he couldn’t breathe and the white police just kept doing it? That’s what people are saying on Tik Tok. I know it’s not right, why would he do that?” My heart was shattered. My innocent 8 year old daughter knew more about the horrific situation from her social media platforms than I thought. This was her news. These were her questions. And it is time that I follow the mission I lead by.

I knew in that moment that it was time to no longer hide the true realities of our world from my children. They already know what is going on, whether I share the information with them or not. As an educator, as a father, it is my responsibility to inform them, teach them, and empower them. This all begins with me. I have finally opened my eyes. I have self-reflected on these issues and I must learn, alongside my country, my neighbor, my children, how to be a force, a voice, to bring an end to racism in our country. It is my responsibility, as a white male, to be honest about my faults, my mistakes, my wrongs not only with those I serve but my children and most importantly, myself. I truly believe in my heart that my children, your children, OUR children, are the catalyst that will bring about true change in our world. There is no way this is going to happen if we are not honest with them about the racism that still infects so much of our country. It is our duty to learn ourselves first and then teach them so they are that force empowered and determined to change this world. That is never going to happen if we don’t begin with ourselves.

Prison Break Pie - April 29, 2020

Prison Break Pie

From the upcoming book: The EduCulture Cookbook: Recipes to Transform School & Classroom Culture

By, Michael Earnshaw

@EduChefEarnshaw

Prison sentences are never that bad at first. Like any new situation we’re thrown into, whether it’s of our own accord or not, there’s that awkwardness that permeates throughout our air. The glares from every set of eyes as you enter your new “home” for whatever period of time you’ve been sentenced, heckles from others who have already taken up residence, believing that you don’t have what it takes to make it in the “joint”, taunts and threats shouted and echoed as you slumber through the bland, cold, gray halls for the first time to remind you that no matter what status you believe you hold, you’re at the bottom of the food chain. Others have been residents long before you, and many will remain after you make it out, if you make it out. After you make it through this initiation though, it’s actually kind of pleasant.

Many school administrators would fare well, and actually enjoy time in the “clink”. It is a very structured facility, where your daily routines run like clockwork. Every morning your cell door, as well as every other in the prison, unlock and open at the same time in unison. You step out, greet everyone within your vicinity with a smile and nod, and then head to breakfast. Here, you get your coffee, spend some time socializing with the same individuals you do every morning. Each day the conversation is different, but it’s the same. Basically, you’re just biding time until you’re back in your small four walls.

After your coffee break you make it back to your cell. The door is open, but you don’t have the freedom to just leave, or at least that’s what you believe. You spend the next few hours reading, writing, and doing what you have convinced yourself that you are supposed to be doing during these morning hours. You’re spending time with yourself “catching up” on what you think needs to get done.

Before lunch hits is when you get to make your rounds. A brief stroll to get another cup of watered down Joe, a step outside in the courtyard to get a little bit of sunshine. Maybe a quick workout or pickup game of basketball. Within the blink of an eye, you’re back in your cell, acting as if the reading and writing has built up to catastrophic proportions while you were out.

You get in another hour or so, thinking you’ve made some headway, and then return to the Mess Hall. Lunch is quick, bland, and unsatisfying. Some days you’ll completely skip the meals because they not only look, but smell worse than any meme you could find on public school meals served to kids from the 80’s.

After lunch there’s more down time reading and writing. It never seems to end. No matter how many hours you dedicate to these time consuming tasks there’s always more. In all honesty, it’s been self-created. This is what you feel you need to do with your new role. It’s what we’ve seen portrayed in television shows and movies. You’ll share some of your pieces with others, but many times they don’t want to take the time, or they feel as if they are drowning in work themselves. You’ll get a reply from some, others you need to hunt down and ask a few times face to face. At the end of the day you can put away your journal and books and relax a little.

During the later hours of the day you have some dinner with friends, watch some meaningless shows on television, and wind down for the night. Before “Light’s Out” you may read a little bit for pleasure, dreaming of better days. Then you’ll close your eyes just to wake up and do it all over again tomorrow. Like clockwork.

____________________________________________________________________________

I lost three years doing this after I was sentenced. Like everyone inside, it wasn’t my fault. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end for me. Each day that passed I began to get inside of my own head. That was the worst part, knowing that this would be my life for the next 20 or so years...unless I broke out. I told myself that was my only option for clarity, for sanity.

The funny thing about prisons is not that you are locked inside with a strict structure and routine. That’s fine. The true prison is your own mind, your own thoughts. That’s where the agony and anguish lies. Thinking how tomorrow, and the tomorrow after that will be the same as today. Our minds are the prisons that we cannot escape. I needed to break out, it was the only solution if I was going to make it where my actions had brought me.

____________________________________________________________________________

The prison I described above was one which I had chosen for myself. It was my goal to become a building principal. Since I had begun coursework for my Master’s in Educational Administration I fell in love with leading and inspiring a staff. When I began the program I was only doing it for the credentials and to get a bump on the teaching salary schedule. Quickly I realized the much larger impact I could have in education and touch many more lives of students by leading a building.

I was fortunate to earn the title of Assistant Principal for a two year run. This wasn’t much different than my time as a classroom teacher. I was in classrooms daily, building relationships with staff and students. I was able to work hand in hand with others and positively change the lives of over 300 students, which was much more than the 90 I had as a middle-school ELA teacher.

____________________________________________________________________________

The principalship is a different monster. Nothing could have prepared me for all of the behind the scenes paperwork and minutiae that accompanies the leader of a school. At first I did my best to get out and build relationships. Since I was a child I have always known the key to changing the world is meaningful, trusting, and sincere relationships. But as my first year as an elementary building principal began to unfold into the later months I was finding myself spending more time in my prison cell.

The paperwork was overwhelming. There always seemed to be something else that needed to be completed and submitted to my supervisors. I also saw the amount of emails that my fellow principals were sending to their staff on a daily basis. They were all much more seasoned than I was, and I believed that to be effective I needed to follow their suit.

I felt like I was Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Three years had passed, three years I would never get back. Three years that I don’t feel I was the best leader for my staff, or more importantly, our students. I was miserable. I was depressed. I began contemplating my choices and if there was any other career field I could enter with the credentials and skill sets I had. This was not why I had entered education. This was not why I had worked so hard to become a building principal. I told myself that I could not spend any more years trapped inside my cell, making phone calls, replying to emails, and creating and submitting meaningless documents. I declared I had two choices:

End it all and leave the field of education.
Break out of my cell and lead how I had always believed in my heart.

Year three ended and I had taken a lot of vacation days during the months of June and July to self-reflect, find myself, and plan my escape. My heart was telling me that I was destined to change the lives of many, and that serving as a principal was what I needed to do. I wasn’t done yet.

____________________________________________________________________________

I realized that many of the paperwork tasks I thought I needed to complete daily were just enemies I created in my mind. I knew that in order for me to be free and live out my vision of changing the world I needed to get back to forming relationships. I needed to get out of my front office and spend as much time as I could in the hallways and classrooms amongst our amazing staff and inspiring students. Many ideas were formulated in my brain, but there was only one that I knew would be the perfect solution. Once she entered my mind I knew there was no other path to take to break out of my prison. Adina would be my savior!

____________________________________________________________________________

Close your eyes and imagine being the only one in your school. It’s silent, no noise is polluting the clean air of the hallways. Then, with the snap of your fingers, you hear plastic wheels rolling over the tiles of the hallway. It’s loud, the “thud, thud, thud” takes over and pushes out whatever peaceful thoughts were dancing in your head.

“Uuummm...what is that? It’s so loud!” was what everyone had asked the first time they met Adina.

A smile always grew across my face before I answered. “This is Adina, my mobile desk!”

“That’s cool, but what about your office?” questioned many.

“The school is my office,” was the only explanation they needed.

____________________________________________________________________________

I know I may sound like a broken Rancid record, but to me, relationships are everything. To truly make a difference in the lives of others, and the bigger picture of changing the world, we must have relationships. I’ve spent my entire career, sans the first three years as a principal, putting relationships first. It served me well and many lives were transformed. It’s time to do that again.

After many plans and ideas, it hit me that the best way to get back into the hallways and classrooms, and still get all of my work done, was to get a mobile desk. She’s nothing fancy, a section to place my laptop, a little cabinet for pens and pencils, #KINDNESS bands to pass out to students, and jeans passes for staff. There’s also a section to place my skateboard and display what books I’m currently reading for all to see.

____________________________________________________________________________

The first few weeks that Adina was with me was a learning curve for some. Classes would exit their room for a bathroom break or a Special’s class and there we were, working at an intersection of hallways. When I needed to satisfy that hunger of the excitement that fills a classroom we could easily roll into any of our choosing and spend time working and being visible and part of the learning.

“I need to talk to you...uuummm...are you in your office? asked a teacher as I was in the middle of the hallway.

“Yeah, this is my office. What’s up?” was my response.

She then took a step forward, breaking through the invisible threshold to have a conversation.

As time went on staff and students understood my new concept and became comfortable talking and working together with me anywhere in the school. Of course if there was a confidential conversation that needed to be had we would step inside a closed door room, but these were few and far between.

____________________________________________________________________________

Besides connecting with others and building relationships, I noticed many positive changes that came with the addition of Adina, many that I hadn’t even imagined when we began our dance together.

My inbox had significantly  less emails. I was no longer receiving small fires that were requesting my extinguishing. Being available and visible I was able to take care of these flames well before they erupted into a full blown blaze.
Student behavior improved. With being nearby at all times I could hear if there was a disruption brewing inside of a classroom. A student walking out of a classroom in anger or frustration, no problem. I was right there.
I knew what was happening in our classrooms. I knew the lessons and content being taught, and I was invited to be a participant of these lessons much more frequently. If something amazing was taking place and I wasn’t invited, I just crashed it!

____________________________________________________________________________

It’s been nearly two years and Adina and I are still together. Students love her and have given us personalized decorations to clothe her in. If it wasn’t for her I’d either be miserable, locked inside of my prison of an office or have left education completely. Had that happened I would  still be miserable and just  contained in a cubicle.

You don’t have to serve a life sentence stuck inside of your office. Find someone, or something, that will break you out and show you the beauty of the landscape freedom that lays before you. For me, that was Adina, and I am forever grateful.

When Pigs Fly. The Time is Now! - March 31, 2020

When Pigs Fly. The Time is Now!

By, Michael Earnshaw

March 31, 2020

@EduChefEarnshaw

I think it’s safe to say that the World has been thrown out of their comfort zone. It’s been weeks now where what we considered our “daily lives” is long gone, and there doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the graffiti decorated tunnel. Many are working from home. Those that are still working have extremely different conditions, or even roles and tasks than what they were expecting when hired on. Schools are closed across our country and teachers, students, and parents and guardians are tasked with delivering instruction and keeping a loving relationship going. Streets are empty, store shelves barren, and many of us have not had any face to face contact with anyone else than those we reside with. Many of us can’t even see the border of our comfort zone anymore.

This blog is not going to focus on the dreary world many of us are now stuck in. Instead, I want us to look at the gift that this pandemic has granted almost all of us with. Yes, you read that right. There is a silver lining in all of this and we have much to be grateful for. Too many times have I heard individuals utter the phrase, “I don’t have the time.” This phrase usually comes after a discussion about taking care of or doing something for ourselves or learning a new skill.

Guess what, we now can no longer say, “I don’t have the time.”

With “Social Distancing” in effect for what seems like an ever moving target, we have more time than ever imaginable. 

Yes, many of us have our own kids at home that we need to assist and guide through “ELearning” or “Remote Learning”. We are holding “Office Hours” while we work from home. Let’s be honest and realistic. Do you still only have the same amount of time for yourself as you did back in February? I’m going to bet that the answer is “No.”

We’re already out of our comfort zone. We now have that time that we always claimed was missing. Now is the perfect time to do those things that you’ve always wanted to do. Those passion projects, the skill, a new habit or hobby, connecting with that loved one you haven’t spoken to in months or years, Hell, putting down the phone and connecting with those in your own home! Now is the time to do what we have not been doing but knew we should be.

Been wanting to get in better shape, be healthier? You’re more than likely cooking at home a lot more than before. Prepare healthy meals for you and the family. Need fresh air after being locked in the home for hours on end? Set aside time to go for a walk every day. Set a time goal, 30 minutes, or a mile goal. You’ve wanted to run that 5K or Half-Marathon? Dust off those running shoes and start training. You don’t need a race scheduled, you’re doing it for yourself anyways! Those dumbbells that are currently used as door stoppers when you open the windows on a beautiful Spring day, take them in the garage and follow one of the FREE workouts being offered by almost every fitness organization out there. Don’t know where to start? Ask me, I’m more than happy to help guide you.

Have some thoughts or ideas you’ve wanted to share with the world? Start blogging, podcasting, vlogging, or all of them! The tools are out there and they cost literally nothing. I have not once paid for any of my blogs to be posted or our podcasts shared. You have the time to learn and guess what, the world, your audience, has the time to read and listen. Speak your mind, share your thoughts. I guarantee that there are others that are thinking it but like you, are afraid to speak it. What is there to lose? Things are different, do something different that you’ve wanted to.

Do you feel your lessons for students have gotten boring and stale, lost their luster? Get connected on social media. There’s Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, where you can see the amazing lessons others around the world have provided for their students. These are the lessons you’ve been dreaming of doing. While you’re checking out their page don’t just take your own notes and assumptions, send them a DM, ask a question. I guarantee they are dying to connect with others and have conversations about their passions and bring a little normalcy to their lives. They would love to reminisce and share the story of how the smiles and laughter their students brought to fill the classroom during that activity you dream of doing with your students.

The time is now. Don’t look at this shelter in place period as a time to seclude yourself off from the world. Better yourself, expand your mind, spirit and soul. Work towards those secret goals you’ve kept putting off but always knew you needed to do. There is literally an app for EVERYTHING! Search what you want, it’s out there. If it isn’t, search a hashtag on social media and you’ll find someone. Ask. Now’s the time to learn, expand, and connect.

Imagine our world, when all of this is lifted, and we return to our “normal” the difference this world will be if we take advantage of this gift of time we’ve been given and improve our lives. Imagine how much better this world will be when we return to it and have bettered ourselves.

It’s only when we take care of ourselves that we’re any benefit to those we serve. The time is now! 

What's So Funny?

What’s So Funny? 

By, Michael Earnshaw

March 23, 2020

@EduChefEarnshaw

“Can you just pause it? No one can even hear what is going on. You’re laughing too loud!” my wife said with some irritation infecting her voice.

I tried to respond, but I couldn’t even get tangible words out.

My daughter chimed in. “Dad, you’re crying.”

____________________________________________________________________________

I have numerous blogs that I have started over the past week and a half. Some of them contain material I may eventually share, but most of them are just rants from someone trying to make sense of everything going on in our world right now with the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these blogs that are quarantined in a “Drafts” folder started off with hope but all quickly turned to fear, anger, and frustration within the blink of an eye. Sound familiar?

It’s frustrating. I have all of this “extra” time on my hands, as do the rest of the world. I’m getting projects done around the house that I have been putting off. I’ve proven to my son that I still am the king at Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Aces Tennis. My daughter has taught me how to make homemade Squishees. But the one goal I had for myself has been escaping me and it’s more frustrating than being stuck inside my home for what seems like an always moving target.

I would have thought that during this time I would have numerous blogs posted and chapter after chapter of my book written. I’ve got many of those B-side blogs, maybe one day to see the light of day in a boxed set collection years down the road. My book. It’s at the same spot as it was before our new “normal” began, like waiting for a pot of water to boil without turning on the flame.

____________________________________________________________________________

“Alright everyone, we loved the first one, let’s check out the new ‘Jumanji’ movie,” was what I declared to my family.

My son, who is a perfectionist for numbers and order replied, “Dad, you know it’s actually not the second ‘Jumanji’, it’s the third. The first one was from when you were a kid. Wasn’t that a board game?”

“You’re right! Babe, remember that one, with Robin Williams?” I asked.

“Here we go. Everyone ready?” I asked to save myself a trip in fifteen minutes when someone requested popcorn or water.

____________________________________________________________________________

“Mike, seriously, what is so funny? Just stop!” my wife was now demanding with authority.

After 180 seconds of the movie being paused I was finally able to get out some words. “I don’t know, it’s just that seeing The Rock act like he’s Danny DeVito, and Kevin Hart acting like he’s Danny Glover, it’s just hilarious! I can’t help it, it’s so funny.”

And then I began laughing again. Uncontrollably. Eyes shut, hands gripping my bloated stomach from too many quarantine snacks, and tears escaping my eyes again.

“Well guys, this is break time. Refill your water and take a bathroom break,” my wife stated with defeat in her voice.

____________________________________________________________________________

We finished the movie as a family. There were more laughs, and they were not only mine filling our living room space. We tucked our kids into bed, said our ritualistic goodnights, and my wife and I sat back on the couch.

We put on the news for more of the same of what we’ve seen. This time the only difference was that the numbers of cases and deaths in Illinois due to COVID-19 kept growing at an exponential rate.

For the first time in almost two weeks, I wasn’t upset, depressed, or confused by the news. I wasn’t even focusing on the numbers and reports they were sharing. Instead, I had ideas for blogs, chapters, and podcast episodes surfing through my mind.

____________________________________________________________________________

This is a very weird time for all of us. None of us has ever experienced a pandemic of this magnitude in our lifetime, or will we ever again. It’s important to share with our students and own children that we don’t know the answers either, that we are experiencing this for the first time as well, and that we will still do all we can to keep them safe and protected and reminded they’re loved.

We also must remember to laugh. There was something that changed in me when I laughed in a way I haven’t in months. It was an escape, a release. It was a way for me to enjoy life again, enjoy the company of my family. I was able to be in the moment with them, enjoying a movie, no phones, no news, no warnings and “Shelters in Place” being directed. I was able to enjoy a moment with those closest to me, an escape that I needed more than I knew.

____________________________________________________________________________

This is an unsettling time for us all. None of us know what to expect or what is going to happen. It’s ok to be afraid, unsure, and upset. What is not ok is to let those feelings consume you and take you away from the beauty that is still around us.

You have family with you. Put down the phone, turn off the tv, and play a game together. Do household chores together. Be together in the moment.

We have family, staff, and students going through the same as us. Call, Facetime, Zoom, and connect with them. Share stories, tell jokes, reminisce about great memories you’ve had.

This COVID-19 pandemic may have us feeling isolated and shut off from the rest of the world. What it will not do is keep us from uniting, connecting, and loving.

And laughing. We must continue to laugh.

Coffee Break in the Midst of a Hurricane - 3/5/20

Coffee Break in the Midst of a Hurricane

By, Michael Earnshaw

March 5, 2020

@EduChefEarnshaw

We’ve resorted to screaming at this point. 

“Mike! What do you think you’re doing?”

I stated in a calm tone, “I’m going to put my feet up, take a long sip of this freshly brewed coffee, close my eyes and relax.” 

The anger and frustration was brewing, I could tell in the heavy breathing and red overtaking her face. 

“A coffee break? Are you freakin’ kidding me? Right now? A time out? How in the world do you deserve a time out? Have you seen your ‘To Do’ list? There’s over 20 items on it! Whatever happened to ‘I’m Mike, I only cover three tasks a day?’ And don’t even get me started on your inbox! Over 123 unread messages. UNREAD FROM THE ENTIRE WEEK!”

I could feel the warmth of the fire coming out with every word she uttered. She knew that no matter how much she screamed, yelled, and belittled me it wouldn’t do anything. 

“Fine, it’s your choice. I tried. Good luck,” and as that last sound escaped her lips she was gone. 

I muttered out loud to myself, “Finally some peace,” placed my hands behind my head, closed my eyes, and shut my mind down for seven minutes. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Was she right? Of course she was. I had not been taking my own advice the past week and some days. My “To Do” list had multiplied like Gremlins eating in the tub after midnight. There were numerous emails I hadn’t even glanced at from the past 4 days. I didn’t even know where to start with everything I needed to do workwise, let alone writing for my book, keeping current with blogging, and promoting various projects on social media. 

I’ve begun feeling like a failure, a loser. How did I let myself get so behind? What have I been choosing to do with my time to have not accomplished anything lately? 

I didn’t have the answers. I wasn’t spending time playing video games or vegging out in front of the television. I was going to bed early, waking early for workouts, which usually makes me more productive, but I still wasn’t getting anything done.

What did I need to do while this storm was dancing all around me in every direction?

____________________________________________________________________________

I’m taking a break. 

I’m taking a break when the “To Do” list mountain begins climbing into the clouds. 

I’m taking a break when my inbox has multiplied to a number comparable to pi. 

I’m taking a break when I’ve fallen behind on writing recipes for my upcoming book. 

I’m taking a break when I haven’t promoted our podcast or educational change agent. 

I’m taking a break when I haven’t posted a new blog in over three weeks. 

I’m taking a break. 

I deserve it. 

____________________________________________________________________________

She’s back. 

“How in the **** do you deserve a break? You just listed everything you need to do! Let’s go!” 

I finally had my response for her, one that would end this badgering and constant headache. 

“Yes, I need a break. It’s too much. I have too much to do. I need a minute to focus, take it in, and then divide up everything so I can tackle them all over the next few days with precision, focus, and dedication. If I don’t, if I just stare at this insurmountable list in every aspect of my life, I won’t do anything and this anxiety, YOU, will never go away. Let me enjoy this coffee and then I will get going.” 

And then she was gone, for now. 

I planned out what I would get done task wise over the next six days. 

I cleaned out my email. 

I’m writing this blog and planning for at least one per week going forward. 

My next few recipes are scripted as to what dish I will be sharing out. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Balance is a tricky thing. I share with others all of the time the strategies that I implement to keep myself on track. But life isn’t perfect or predictable. There are times, no matter how balanced we may think our lives are, where one side of the scale becomes overloaded, throwing everything off. 

There’s a few options we can take when our scales are tipped: 

Just start attacking everything, quickly chipping away at each task. 

Freak out, cry, and complain to everyone how overwhelmed we are, never truly making an attempt at getting out of our hole. 

Take a break, refocus, and with a positive mindset plan our attack. 

I’ve tried all three approaches, and for me, #3 is the only one that has ever served me well. 

____________________________________________________________________________

As for her, she’ll be back once life begins to pour. 

As for me, I’ll brew a fresh cup of coffee. 

Gym Shorts - February 11, 2020

Gym Shorts

By, Michael Earnshaw

February 11, 2020

@mearnshaw158

I took a “Brain Break” today and allowed a few minutes to tick by as I scrolled through Instagram. Yes, I know, we wouldn’t want our students to take a “Brain Break” by checking social media, but I consider it a little mid-day PD. I stumbled across a quote that got the wheels in my mind spinning. It’s actually attached itself to my mind and keeps reappearing, making me think more and more about its message. Here’s the quote:

sometimes it’s better to just let things be, let ppl go, don’t fight for closure, don’t ask for explanations, don’t chase answers, and don’t expect ppl to understand where you’re coming from. you got to keep fighting for you bc no one got you like you got yourself

Deep, right? I know. Now I can write about 17 blogs based off of this quote, and I just may. Like I said, it keeps nagging me like that mosquito bite in the summer that you thought was finally done itching, until you subconsciously began scratching again like a rare non-de-clawed house cat.

Tonight I’d like to share with you about a pair of running shorts of mine. They’re black and gray, Under Armour. I’ve had them since 2013, the year of my first marathon. They cost about $50, which was more than I’d ever like to pay for a pair of running shorts, but because I was planning on running for 26.2 miles for the first time I wanted to have a quality pair of shorts on my wheels.

The marathon training plan I followed was 18 weeks long. These shorts were purchased about 4 weeks into my training. I wore them for at least one mid-week run, every long run of the training plan, and finally the marathon. They held up and were definitely one of the nicest, most comfortable pairs of running shorts I ever donned on my legs.

Since that marathon in October of 2013 I have run four more full marathons and numerous half-marathons. Training plans have differed. Nutrition plans have differed. Running routes and playlists have differed. There was always one constant...my black and gray Under Armour shorts.

These shorts have been with me for every long run, every official race, and hundreds of lower mileage runs over the years. Until September of 2019.

“I got you something today when I was shopping,” was what my wife said as I helped to unpack the groceries she had just brought home, praying to find some tasty plant based junk food.

I gazed up at her. I was intrigued. “Oh yeah Babe, what’d you get me?”

“These!” and she pulled a solid black pair of running shorts out of a plastic bag.

My lips refused to part, yet a million letter combinations I can’t share in an educational blog were slam dancing in my mind. After a lifetime of 24 seconds passed, I had an inquiry.

“What are those for?”

My wife gave me the look like I’m an idiot. “Uuummm...to run in. Have you seen the shorts you run in, they look like Shredder from Ninja Turtles did your laundry. I just don’t get why you don’t wear the other pairs you have.”

“Because they aren’t the same. I’ve had mine forever. Fine. Alright. I’ll try them out. I guess I could use a new pair. Thanks, I do appreciate it,” and I gave her a kiss.

I did try these shorts out for a run. In fact, our first run together was 15 miles, so we had a good 150 minutes or so to get to know each other. We didn’t need that much time, after about 10 minutes I knew I had made a new friend for many miles to come.

So how does that quote I read on IG, my old worn out running shorts, and education go together? Simple.

Educators need to throw away what doesn’t work. 

Teachers that have been in the game for years have lessons that they have taught to every class they have ever had. They are comfortable with this lesson, they believe it’s their “Go To”. It was a hit, a success, an Oscar winner years ago and every student should be oh so blessed to get to experience it.

I’m sorry to say, not every movie that has won an Oscar still holds up, or ever did. Times change, audiences change, interests change, and the world changes.

My old running shorts were a security blanket, something that I had emotional ties to. I didn’t want to let them go. I thought they were the only pair of shorts that could get me through a multi-digit mile run or race. They aren’t. They’ve had their fair share of runs and it was time to put them away in my dresser and enjoy the comfort of a run with a new pair.

I’ve accepted that it’s alright to get new running shorts frequently. I don’t have to keep wearing the same pair over and over, mile after sweaty mile. I’ve learned to let go of what I was so comfortable with, figuratively and literally, and upgrade with the times. I didn’t realize how ineffective my original pair was until I tried on a new pair. My lower body is so thankful for the switch.

Educators, try new lessons, take new approaches, create new experiences that are out of your comfort zone for your students. Times have changed, students have changed, and now it’s time your lessons change.

All of my new(ish) shorts were dirty the other night I went for a 5 mile run. I grabbed that original pair out of my dresser, excited to relive some memories. Only the memories quickly faded as I realized these shorts were not the same after so many miles. They’ve run their race, past their expiration date. After I got home and ripped them off I vowed that was our last run together. I’m at peace with that. I’m letting go and not questioning why.

Educators, is there a lesson that it’s time to say goodbye to? 

Record Store Day - January 27, 2020

Record Store Day

By, Michael Earnshaw

January 27, 2020

Tuesday was always my favorite day of the week. Once I hit my college career I did everything in my power to ensure that if any of my courses had to be taken on a Tuesday I chose the ones that were in the later morning, afternoon, or evening. This wasn’t because many of the local establishments ran Monday evening specials where we could get pitchers of Killian’s for $3 and hang out throwing darts until the “Loser Lights” came on. No. Tuesdays were always the day I would set an alarm to be up no later than 8:30 regardless of what nightly hour my foggy head soldered with my bag of feathers. When you’re in your early 20’s, celebrating late summer nights with friends, early wake-ups would typically be around noon. Not on Tuesdays. 

Tuesday had something special that no other day of the week could ever touch. Tuesday was record release day! Music has always been a major part of my life, getting me through good times and bad. Music is the glue that has held so many strong friendships and memories together all these years.

Ever since I graduated high school in ‘98, there wasn’t a Tuesday that I wasn’t eagerly waiting at the stickered up door of my local independent record store minutes before they unlocked. I couldn’t wait to cross through their majestic threshold and get my hands, and ears, on all of the newest releases that would transcend me to a much better place. Music was my drug and I was picking up new soundtracks for my life that contained tunes that would serve as the backdrop for many memories with dear friends that I still treasure today. 

The days following Tuesday were special as well. These were the days I spent learning and studying all of the lyrics to the newest CD’s blaring through my Pioneer CD player in my Pontiac Grand Am. I analyzed the stories and messages my favorite punk bands were screaming about, drawing connections to earlier lessons they delivered on previous records, and tying it to the current state of our world. I admired the passion and love of what they had put out for me as much as the memories I made with my friends discussing the beauty of the music. 

Why am I sharing my love of picking up new music on a Tuesday and then spending the remaining days of the week studying and analyzing these messages? Because this is exactly what we should strive to have our classrooms resemble. My love for picking up new music weekly, and then understanding everything I could behind it, is how our lessons should be designed for our students. 

There’s so much talk of creating experiences in our classrooms, engaging our students in a love of learning, bringing our passions to them through our lessons. This is exactly how my weeks were structured with my love of music. Some weeks only one great record was dropped, others I was picking up three to four. Our classrooms are the same. We can’t expect teachers to have out of the box lessons every day of the week. But they can bring at least one every week. One lesson so strong, so different, so engaging, rigorous, and out of the box that will have their students salivating for the next gem the following week. 

Once we become comfortable creating these experiences for our students, the juices are flowing. Like anything, the more we practice the better we become. That’s when you’ll seem to be dropping more than one record a week for your students. Some will be bigger, like a full length LP, while others may just be a short little burst, like when a band releases an EP of 4 or so songs to build anticipation before their next proper release. 

We’ve now come to a day and age where CD sales have dropped significantly. Many of the independent record stores I loved have closed their doors for the last time. Music is still a huge part of my life, and I still look forward to new releases every week. Instead of getting in my car and driving to those stores I long for, I now pick up my phone first thing every Friday morning and go to my Spotify app to see what is new and start studying. 

Times have changed, the process has changed, but my excitement for new music, which is now Friday, and my love for studying the lessons and messages hasn’t. 

How often are you releasing new records for our students? The day of the week doesn’t matter anymore, but new releases must drop regularly.