Interview with a 4th Grade Debate Coach

Ms. Kenisha Hawthorne, the fierce and energetic 4^th grade teacher at Cole Elementary has been truly gifted with the ability to teach. If asked to describe her in one word, it would be "passionate"! I would say that she has a sixth sense when it comes to teaching. She has the remarkable ability to get her students to not only absorb knowledge, but to also believe in themselves. This young teacher is not just feeding America’s next generation important academic lessons, but she is building leaders in her classroom. Her students absolutely believe they can change their lives, communities and world. Why do they believe this? These students believe because Ms. Hawthorne pours into them, believes in them and pushes them. There is no such thing as a lost cause in Ms. Hawthorne’s class. She, beyond a question, wants her students to not only succeed in the classroom, but in life. That is why I believe she has devoted extra time into helping develop one of the Metro school districts first ever 4^th grade debate teams.

The Debate team has allowed students to gain access to an array of skills for example: healthy study habits, confidence building, public speaking, social development, research skills, and so much more. Thanks to Ms. Hawthorne and her team of debate coaches, the students have without a doubt benefited from this new elementary school debate program.

4th Grade Cole Elementary Debate Team 2012

Stay tuned tomorrow for more specifics about the Cole Elementary debate program and read firsthand what some of the 4th students in the program had to say about it. In the mean time, Ms. Hawthorne was kind enough to take the time for an interview, where she tells us a little about the birth and the expectations of the elementary debate program!

Interview with 4^th Grade Teacher and Debate Coach Ms. Kenisha Hawthorne

Q: Why start a 4^th grade debate team?

A: After watching The Great Debaters, I found myself wondering why I hadn’t had the opportunity to do something like this as a child or teenager.  As a child I remembered being a very inquisitive, as well as somewhat talkative and some might even say I had a “smart mouth”.  I particularly noticed the skills they worked on while training for a debate….critical thinking, note taking, fluency, public speaking, writing, etc. All skills we attempt to teach our students on a daily basis during our 90 minute reading block.  What I noticed is when the debaters were immersed in the thinking, processing, and literature learning and thinking had no other choice but to happen. They found a connection to the topic in their real life rather they agreed on the topic or not. During this time I knew I would start a debate team for 4th graders.  I went to Mr. High and told him I wanted to start a team, however, I wasn’t able to get it up and running in 2010-2011.  I did however teach a lot of the strategies for debate in my own classroom.  That year my students were able to participate in a mock trial, where Goldilocks was put on trial for breaking and entering, property damage, and theft.  During this preparation of this the student were taught persuasive writing, and how to formulate questions to prove your point.  Not only did the students enjoy themselves, my ultimate goal of critical thinking, public speaking, and research was proven to be something 4th graders could do and actually enjoy it. After seeing these students excel in this activity, I knew it was time to attempt my vision of starting a debate team.  Again, in 2011 I presented a proposition to my principal, he gave me the go ahead and today we have 22 4th graders participating in this pilot program.

Q: What do you believe the students take away from the debate program? 

A: I believe each child has walked away with something very different based on their need.  Some of the children were chosen to build confidence, because they were inquisitive, and many other reasons.  However, my goal as a fourth grade teacher was for them to walk away with better writing skills, critical thinking skills, improved public speaking skills, and just more confidence in their abilities.  I truly believe all of them have improved in all these areas.

Q: Do you believe this first year of 4^th grade debate club students have performed or succeed expectations?

A: They have truly exceeded my expectations.  I have seen so many individual miracles that it makes me even more excited to work with the next group of 4^th graders.

Q: Do you think more schools should offer such programs as debate?

A: Absolutely!  I believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience debate.  If not on a debate team, teachers can even use these skills in a classroom setting.

Q: As a teacher was it worth all the extra work?

A:  It was worth every minute.  I got to see my students have fun learning, be challenged, and “get it”.  That’s exactly what I do in my class daily.

Q: Tell us about your team of coaches? 

A: The other two coaches on the team are awesome!  Shewanna Buchanan is also a 4^th grade teacher at Cole.  She has taught over 10 years.  She has not only been a coach on the team, she is a friend and mentor.  She is known as the “nice one”.  Shewanna has been so supportive with this vision that I know I could not have done it without her.  Mykah Stuible is a speech therapist at Cole.  What better person to have as a coach than a speech therapist.  She was very helpful with making the children aware of their voice.  Through her coaching the students learned to use their volume, enunciation, and listening skills.  This was my first year working with “Mrs. S.”, and I sure hope it isn’t the last.  She was truly phenomenal.

Q: How can parents, schools, and the community better support such programs as debate?

A: We had a great group of parents this year.  Even when they could not come to practice, I could tell through conversation with my students that they openly talked about debate and their topics at home.  This was the best things for the students.  It allowed them to see that their parents and school had a partnership in their learning.  I would love to see other 4^th and 5^th grade classes from other schools get involved in this movement. This can easily be done by simply contacting me at Kenisha.hawthorne@mnps.org.  There are so many people who could assist in the community…lawyers, teachers, news reporters, store owners, parents, grandparents, neighbors, etc.  I’m sure we can find a place for their talents and/or influence to be used to help these students. They can do this through volunteering their time to practice with the students or even debate against them. They can donate funds and snacks for the students.

Q: Have you been impressed by the level of research that 4^th grades have been able achieved on their debate topics this year? 

A: I have been.  The most challenging part has been teaching them how to decipher through information that is not needed and information that would benefit the point they are trying to prove, which is exactly why we are learning to debate.

Q: All in all do you think the students benefit from having a debate team?

A:  I do believe they have.  Most of them have visited their middle schools for next year and one of the first things they asked is “Do you all have a debate team here?”.  The ones that do not should be prepared for them to try and start one because they definitely want one and believe it or not I think they need one.

Q: I just have to say these groups of students on this year’s debate team seem like a close knit group.

A: They look out for each other and help one another. Do you think that is a benefit of being on a team?  That exactly what being a team is all about.  Everyone on this team has a special gift and talent. Even as individuals, they have to know they will always be able to benefit from each other. This is a lifelong lesson, that even I am continuing to learn. 

Q: The final debate was May 10^th what were your expectations that day?

A:  I was expecting my students to walk away from the debate knowing they had done their absolute best…win or lose.  They did exactly that.  Along with 14 Top Speaker Awards and 1 team winner both rounds.  I must say they have encouraged me to do it another year…bigger and better!

To view Ms. Hawthorne's own blog and online resume you may click HERE or on her name anywhere throughout the blog.

Arts and Education

"An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life." ~Author Unknown

Recently we received a note from our elementary school that the distract had changed the grading scale of the special arts classes grades 2-4. The change included two main things that would change for the elementary student body. The first change is that the grading scale will now be A,B,C,D, F scale instead of the scale of the past which was E,S,N scale. The second change is the grades from all the related Arts classes will be a determining factor on the honor roll system. In the past, these class where not included or grouped with the core classes of Math, Science, Reading, etc.... Plus these changes will open up a whole new expectation of parents, arts teachers and students to communicate on a deeper and more clear level. This change I welcome with open arms. I am big on the partnership between teacher, student, and parent for education. All seems simple enough, right?

Upon further investigation, here's what I've found. Students receive an average of 15 recorded grades from their homeroom teacher in their core classes. Also, the homeroom teacher spends everyday getting to know their students and their learning patterns, struggles and strengths. It is much easier for a homeroom teacher to assess her students on a fair level and give them the assistance needed to achieve goals. The Arts teachers see the students on average once or twice a week and as of the last grading period gave the students an average 6-9 recorded grades. So my question and concern with this is, does the time the Arts teachers have with each student lend enough time to teach a new skill, develop and assist said new skill and then take a fair assessment and adequate data to give the student a fair grade over that new skill? In the core subjects, students are given multiple chances to develop and learn new skills through teaching, homework, projects and testing. Related Arts teachers do not have that same playing field, nor do the students in their once or twice a week classes. I am only concerned that this new policy will do more harm than good, while putting even more pressure on our already under paid and overworked teachers.

Don't get me wrong, I support the related Arts program and think it is a very valuable tool within our public school system. Anyone who knows my family personally knows just how important a role music plays in this family. I just believe that the Arts programs have an entirely different function and purpose than that of the core academic programs. I believe the arts should enrich students lives, build confidence, establish thinking patterns outside of the box, encourage healthy living, and all in all expose a world to children that might not get any other chance to be taught the Arts. The Arts should be enjoyable to students. After all, isn't that what the Arts are to us adults? Enrichment for our lives somehow? Isn't that why we listen to music and line our walls with art to make our lives richer and more beautiful? I think the Arts are a very valuable program to our schools. All in all, I am just saying that rather than good and brilliant teachers struggling to figure out what they can get more recordable grades from and how they can put art and such in paper and pencil form, I would like to see those teachers exploring the arts with my sons. Maybe showing them new instruments, exploring new color patterns to make the world a more beautiful place. Perhaps, learning that healthy bodies are happy bodies through fun life changing exercise habits.

It's very true, life is not fair. As adults, it gets even less fair and I believe we do need to prepare our children for changes, even new policies in their schools and lives. But do we as parents and educators not have the responsibility to new generations to do our very best to make the world a fair and just place? To teach them that 'life is not fair' and the path is not easy, while explaining that to fight for what is right is never a battle to which you surrender, no matter how large or small the cause. And education is no small cause.

I just want to say in closing that the school my children attend is a great school with an amazing, top-notch staff. Despite my concerns with this new district policy, I am very confident that the educators in my children's school will do their very best to help parents and students adjust smoothly to this new policy. I trust their judgment and respect their abilities to prepare my children for the next season of their lives.

The Heart Of A 1st Grade Teacher

I love my middle son's first grade teacher. She is everything I stay awake at night praying for. Her sweet nature, her ability to make learning fun in a bold way, her patient heart and her candid ability to look past everything Wesley is not and see straight to what he is. Mrs. Williams loves all of her students with a golden heart. Looking past the messy, often ickyness, that children so often are. Simply put, she is a beautiful person with a rare passion for what she does. She cares so much more about the joys of teaching, what those kids are learning and just loving on those children to ever think twice about the flaws that so many of them carry in their little lives!

Everyday I look at Wesley, my beautiful, sweet, kind hearted little boy and pray that the world can look past his inability to run fast or the fact he walks with a limp and that his severe allergies make it impossible to keep his nose clean. I also pray for love to shine like a bright beacon in Wesley's life and for protections over him in a cruel and sometimes unkind world. And what do I get? I get Mrs. Williams as his first grade teacher! How beautiful is that answered prayer! I am so grateful that Mrs. Williams is a part of this families lives.

Back To School

Walking to School On The First Day

 Well, the first full week of school is officially under our belts. I would say that this first week was measured only with success for both the Garrett family and Cole Elementary. The boys seem to be adapting to their new teachers and classrooms in a positive way. I personally enjoyed this week's open house meet and greet on Tuesday and Thursday. I left the school both afternoons feeling good about not only the boys amazing teachers, but the whole organization and operation of the school.

Cole Elementary has a student body of 854 students this year and 97 well equipped staff members. The students, faculty, and volunteers are the framework to which the school sets it's high standards. Those standards are what makes this elementary school team celebrated by my family. I appreciate that Cole Elementary believes in every student's ability to achieve big things not only in school, but in their lives, and they are not afraid of holding the children to those standards.

I am expecting a challenging school year for my 1st and 4th grader. However, I feel confident that under Cole Faculty's vision for education and lots of parental involvement both of my students will make first-class gains in their academic achievements, while developing skills they will carry with them for a lifetime. I really do believe in and love this school. I am truly convinced that Cole Elementary's staff, in it's entirety, care about my children's education and dreams almost as much as I do!

Globtrotting Teacher

Looking for a little extra adventure in your life? Wishing you where making a bigger difference in the world? That is exactly what 27 year old, Ms. Jessica Breeding wanted out of her life.

Ms. Breeding had become unsatisfied with her position as a teacher in Middle Tennessee and came to the conclusion to combine her love of traveling and her career path together. Breeding began to apply for teaching positions overseas. Getting a response from several countries, in the end, she chose Korea. Korea had the best benefit package of any of the positions she was offered and would allow her enough time to continue traveling.

Her decision to teach in Korea, while exciting, was still a little upsetting for her family and was exceptionally difficult on her Father. He began to protest many of the countries the seasoned traveler wanted to visit but ultimately was won over when he realized how happy traveling and teaching made his daughter. Eventually, all of her family and friends were on board with the new life style she had chosen for herself. She visits back to the states about every other year for Holidays and has weekly Skype conversations. Technology has made a big difference in commutation. It has also helped battle any feelings of being homesick, a feeling she has battled during her first year on her own in Korea.

Breeding is now in love with her position as an English teacher to Korean Kindergartners. She is happy the job provides her with enough funds and time to travel and study. She is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Business. After completing the degree, she hopes to become employed by a larger cooperation in Korea, Hong Kong, or Europe as a spokeswoman for the company.

Right now, Ms. Breeding has a sense of fulfillment with 29 countries visited and many more on the list to be visited. Jessica also feels her job as a Kindergarten English teacher is one of importance and her job is making a difference in the lives of a young Korean generation. The education system differs from that of the American system. For example, the children in Korea go to school for 12-15 hours a day. Parents in Korea pay for their children to attend extra schooling. That being said, the children of Korea are covering more curriculum in each grade level compared to the children in the United States, which has both positive and negative effects. In the classroom with children, Ms. Breeding is accompanied by a co-teacher to help maximize her teaching ability and overcome any language barriers that may be present. Teaching in Korea has given her a whole new outlook on education, child development, and the little things that are involved in childhood.

After three years away from American soil, Breeding feels that her traveling has contributed to the person she has become. She feels she has become much more open minded towards the cultures of other countries, taking into account how they view the American people, both good and bad. Becoming a traveler has taught Ms. Breeding a lot about who she is, who she wants to be, and feels like traveling the world has had a giant impact on her life as a whole. She continues to feed her adventurous nature. She is very happy with her decision to become a globetrotting teacher.

Top: Combodia, Scotland, Hong Kong, Bottom: Italy, Indonesia


Specail Note: this article also appears at Cookevilletimes.com

Education: A Teacher's Perspective

Education: The act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.

Education is an important and necessary part of life. Education is a difficult process that is never completed no matter what age you live to become. In life, there will always be something new to learn. The world is always advancing and growing, so expanding your level of knowledge will always be a possibility. Education is also something that no one can take from you. It is also a choice we make within our own lives. We must all decide for ourselves how teachable we want to be. No one can force you to become educated.

Education is also a great debate in our country with our children rapidly falling behind children of other nations. The pressure keeps mounting for our children to advance their education at a more rapid pace in efforts to play catch up. I figured education is a subject we should all be talking about considering the education of our children will ultimately effect this country’s future.

To get the conversation rolling, I thought we would get personal and honest in a three part interview series on education. In this series I ask a teacher, parent, and student how they felt about what is presently going on within our schools by discussing everything from parent involvement to how the American public educational system spends money.

To kick off the series is today’s interview with an anonymous teacher who has devoted 15+ years teaching in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee. This teacher has taught high school age students of every grade level, all the while observing the changes that have taken place over the years in parents, technology, and the public education system. Here is what one veteran teacher, also the parent of a school age child, had to say when asked to get brutally honest about education.



Interview With A Teacher

Question: Are you for or against School uniforms and Why?
Answer: against - they really don't serve a purpose other than to keep students from expressing their own personalities. Also against school rules against allowing students to color their hair and have piercings. What's wrong with purple high lights or nose rings? As long as the important parts are adequately covered, I see no reason for strict dress codes or uniforms.

Question: Should teachers be expected to have an identical dress code to the ones students are required to follow?
Answer: teachers should dress professionally

Question: How involved do you want parents to be in the educational process?
Answer: involved, but not over involved. helicopter parents don't do anyone any good - students don't learn to do things on their own, and the teachers only get frustrated with the parents

Question: Can a parent be to helpful?
Answer: I wouldn't call it being "too helpful", I'd call it becoming a point of frustration for the teacher.

Question: What are some of the most helpful things parents can assist a teacher with?
Answer: not really an issue in high school

Question: Where do you think the most focus should be when it comes to spending funds for education?
Answer: give teachers the supplies they need to teach with, and the training they need

Question: What are your thoughts on healthier school lunches?
Answer: give students healthy choices and stop frying everything. if pizza and fries are not daily choices, students WILL try other things

Question: How important do you think music/arts in the school system are?
Answer: very, students need creative outlets

Question: What makes you feel the most appreciated as a teacher?
Answer: When my students come back and say thank you, I knew what was going on when I had this class in college because of what you taught me in high school

Question: Do you think students have changed over the years? If yes for better or worse?
Answer: Yes, definitely for worse. Students expect to work much less now than when I first started teaching. I can see a huge change over the last 10 years. I seem to have a larger percentage of students now who are lazier, work less, and really don't seem to care as much as the students I had 6-8-10 years ago. They seem to have a sense of entitlement - if I show up for class at least most days each week, you should pass me, even if I don't do the work. It seems to come from their parents.

Question: Do you think the bad economy has an effect on a students learning abilities?
Answer: I don't think the economy affects students learning abilities.

Question: If you had it to do all over would you become a teacher knowing everything you know now?
Answer: My college roommate begged me to go to pharmacy school with her. Sometimes when I am grading papers late at night or sitting in yet another meeting about test scores, I wonder if I made the right decision. Most days I like what I do, but there are those days....

Question: What is the single most important thing you try to teach your students?
Answer: Responsibility

Question: How has technology changed teaching?
Answer: It is easier to find examples of what I want to show them - pictures, video clips etc, than when I first started teaching - google, youtube, etc have changed all that.

Question: What do you expect out of your students?
Answer: I expect them to respect each other and me, pay attention in class, and do their work. But as the Rolling Stones say, you can't always get what you want. I guess I'm getting more cynical as I get older.


This article also appears in the Cookevilletimes.com

Thankfulness in November{Teachers}

Today I am thankful for the teachers in my children's lives. I appreciate all the time, and attention you spend with my children! I hope you know that you are making a difference with the work that you do.





"What is a teacher? I'll tell you: it isn't someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows."
— Paulo Coelho

She Is Head of Her Class

April Baird a guiding light in the lives of the young. Her frank, and sometimes funny style is only part of what defines her. She is a fighter, and a master at rising above life's unexpected moments. She has not let the tough, and sometimes heartbreaking circumstances stand in her way to find happiness in her own life, and in so many of the lives she touches. I dare you to spend 5 minutes with this woman and try not to love her. It's just not possible. She possesses some sort of magical ability to draw you toward her and you just can't help but love her. She has always been the kind of friend I wished I was. So a few years back when she told me she was going to be a teacher I wasn't completely surprised. I mean way shouldn't she pass on her enduring strength, intelligence, and hope to America's youth. Teachers are so under valued in a culture that values education so much. It is why I choose to spot light Mrs. Baird and teachers with a heart like hers. A heart for others. On a little side note to my dear teacher friend, and her charming husband congratulations you two amazing, talented, beautiful people. You are going to have so many wonderful things to teach your own little bundle of joy when he/she arrives!

INTERVIEW WITH A TEACHER

Q: Have you always want to be a teacher?

A: No, not really. I was a sophomore in college before I switched majors.

Q: Now your teaching job is a little different than most can you tell us why that is?

A: This is my 3rd year teaching at an Alternative school. Our students struggle in the typical school setting. They're usually sent to us for zero tolerance; drugs, fighting, etc.

Q: How do you feel about school attire in the public school system, and should teachers be required to wear the same attire as students?

A: Teachers are typically required to wear the same attire unless it's a standard uniform. I think school uniforms are a great idea.

Q: Describe your classrooms physical appearance?

A: 12 carrels, lots of posters, my desk, my assistants desk, and a few computers.

Q: How would your describe a successful principal?

A: One that hasn't lost touch of what's it's like to be in a classroom. I understand they want to ameliorate the learning environment but they also have to realize that NCLB is not practical or reachable and Japan will continue to pass us if we don't stop trying to utilize NCLB.

Q: What is your greatest strengths as a teacher? Yes I am giving you permission to toot your own horn!

A: Probably how approachable I am and how stern I am. I make sure they understand that taking ownership of their actions is very important along with making better decisions.

Q: What is your biggest weakness?

A: Probably buying too much stuff for my room or kids out of my own pocket.

Q: How do you think your students view you? Have they given you any nicknames that you know of?

A: I think they view me as a valuable teacher. I've had quite a few come back and talk to me and tell me how I influenced them. It makes me feel good to reach a few. I'm not aware of any nicknames.

Q: What the most ask question from your students?

A: Well, considering I have 11th and 12th graders, I get asked "How many credits do I have? How many do I need to graduate?" the most often.

Q: Do you believe you are making a difference in these young lives?

A: I think I make a difference in some. However, contrary to some parents beliefs, I am there to guide and teach children...not teach them all the values and ethics that one should have. Parents still need to do some things. It would amaze one to hear some of the comments I've gotten about their own children.