January 10: Morning Routine #KidsDeserveIt

Today was a typical morning. I got to school, put on my earphones and started jamming out as I galloped out of my Mustang into my Spaceship (formerly known as my classroom). I flipped on all the Christmas lights and lamps and watched my room come to life in the darkness of the morning hours. I grabbed copies for a substitute folder that literally I ran the length of a football field to a teacher’s portable classroom. Next, I studied my Math lesson plan for the day. Visualizing what would happen, and what questions would be asked, as I walked on the student tables (because that’s how I teach).

 I few minutes I’m gave out FREE high fives to students getting off the buses. NO charge necessary. Today I noticed a few frowns so I did my best Donald Duck voice to lightened their mood as I complimented their hair, book-bags, and clothing style. One older student asked me about where Tornado Alley was and if I had ever survived a Tornado. It was an amazing conversation that ended too soon. (Fun fact: One of my top five lessons to teach is about Natural Disasters involving Tornados).

Shortly after, I received a staff text message asking if anyone had any hairnets. My face dropped because this text message involved me. My favorite assistant principal of all time forgot the bring the hairnets for me…WHAT?! No worries, the show would go on…literally. I few minutes later I picked up my students and told them I was going to be on the morning show so we’d be having part of our class in the library. As they sat working on their bell work, I put on a trash bag and a microphone for the big surprise. Mr. Wessels (wearing a running outfit) was promoting his third graders to come to game night with an AMAZING RACE theme. I went on the show to promote FAMILY GAME NIGHT…except Jimmy Fallon and Wade King Style. I explained the game to the audience: EGG RUSSIAN ROULETTE is where you randomly pick an egg: it might be hard boiled or raw. I guessed wrong, and splattered a raw egg in my hair to the delight of every student.

Tomorrow I’ll be wearing my Pac-Man suit to promote family game night during the day. Fourth grade will be playing giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, Pie in the Face, and Egg Russian Roulette. It’s a going to be EGG-celent!

-Mr. P 

January 8: Overheard Conversation #KidsDeserveIt

             Today I overheard a conversation about “the student” I’ve previous mentioned in a blog. It was a positive conversation. She was shocked. She couldn’t believe how he’s starting to behave. I just sat there and smiled with my, “I told you all so” face on. Not too long ago I sat in front my fellow educators, tears in my eyes and gave compelling reason after reason why I genuinely believed in my heart this student could make a learning gain. My words are coming true day after day.

 It’s not been easy. I remember when he tested me the first month with his foul words and aggressiveness. At first I struggled; venting like many teachers have about the young man, and then it clicked: I dug into my bag of tools and discovered how to work with him to make him successful. What many people don’t know about me is that I have a double endorsement in Special Education and my specialty is Behavior Disorders. I’ve worked in the worst of the worst, and my current friend is a fruitcake compared to other friends I’ve worked with.

The biggest thing that’s been working is keeping my cool and patience. I learned this the hard way and figured out getting on his level wasn’t working and understanding because of who he isn’t he can’t control what he’s doing without help. I remember the first day I didn’t get mad. My student was as loud as he could be in the room refusing to do any work. You could hear the students saying, “Oh no! Here it comes! Mr. Potrzeba is going to lose it. He won’t get away with this.” I didn’t lose it. I just let the situation be and moved on with my teaching. You could see the students shocked more at my reason than his. The truth is, I was shocked at myself; but I’ve never looked back.

I try to check on my friend when I have the chance in my free time during the day. It doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. Tomorrow he’s in a for real test: all substitutes in 4^th grade. No worries, we’ll be in the school library planning. You bet I’ll be checking on him for five minutes here and there; it’ll be more so for myself than his. Shhhhhh! 

-Mr. P

January 4: What Do You See? #KidsDeserveIt

Congratulations you are now taking a pop quiz. Please get out one pencil and one piece of lined paper in 5….4….3….2….1…0. Now you have 1 minute to write down the answers to the two following questions; What do you notice? What do you wonder? On your mark….get set….GO! 

(Feel free to try this before strolling below)

I see a student who attempted to wrap this gift. I notice my last name is capitalized correctly.  I’m wondering if he wanted to put more bows on the gift. I’m also wondering why he crossed out “the” when to me looks great! I notice a student who showed up to school on time (which is starting to happen a lot!) I see a student who stayed on his flexible all class. I also see a student who earned many tickets for his amazing effort in class today. I wonder if we can keep this streak going forever. I see a student who cares about me.

The truth is the story is so much deeper than just a picture. The backstory is a familiar for many veteran teachers: a student who is known around the school is put into your classroom, you stay positive but start pulling your hair out when the rumors become reality, and then…slowly but surely something happens and the student changes.

It’s a lovely story and I wish I could say that this change will stay like this everyday and that it will always work out this way. The truth is it might not. (I didn’t say won’t because I’m a optimist about everything). I’ve only taught for one and half years, but many co-workers will say there are some students that might never change no matter how hard a teacher tries. If that’s the case, then at least don’t stop trying.

            This gift (that I haven’t even opened) doesn’t happen without a relationship. Relationships have to come first to build trust, comfort, and safety. It wasn’t built on day one and it’s still far finished. This relationship is mainly built on a belief. For this student I had to dig deep to believe in him until when I finally saw him writing capitals and low case letters in the lines when asked to do so. I acknowledged it to him, bought into his capabilities and haven’t stopped since. So much that in a meeting with tears in my eyes defending in why I believe this kid can make a learning gain. When I met with his mom for the first time (weeks after the meeting), she said “I already know what you’re going to say. He…” I stopped her mid sentence and said, “has potential! He can write. He can think. He’s hearing what I’m teaching. He can do this with baby steps to independence.”

 The saddest part was no one has ever told him the things his mom told me. It blew my mind. It’s my belief that every person has good in them. People just make bad decisions. If you’re constantly hearing how bad you are you’re going to start believing it as a child because they’re still cognitive developing so much. Did you notice I didn’t mention any negative comments in my description about the package? I didn’t because the gift looked great the way it was given to me. The words “it’s the thought that costs” has never been truer when he gave me that gift this morning.

-Mr. P 

January 3: Are You Ready? #KidsDeserveIt

My apologizes, I've been sick since New Years Eve! I'm feeling better, but still not at 100%. With that said the message below is what I posted on my social media to my students and their families tonight since tomorrow is our final semester together. It's no secret that this year has been the craziest year my school in its history (more to come in the later blog). I try to send positive messages because I do believe in all my students. I honestly do. Below is exactly what I typed:

Ask yourself everyday: Are you ready...

to eat breakfast before school

to have a great night sleep daily

to work on multiplication facts nightly

to work hard

to ATTEND SCHOOL ALL DAY EVERY DAY! 

to give your best effort every day 

to give your best effort in every class

to give your best effort for every teacher

to respect yourself, classmates, custodians, teachers

to make mistakes then learn from them

to raise my FSA score

to get smarter

to be focused

to be prepared

to try my best when I don't feel like it

to spread kindness

for perfect attendance

for more learning

for crazy lessons

for crazy socks

for unpredictability 

for costumes

for awkward accents

for success

for Mr. Potrzeba

for math class

We have ONE MORE SEMESTER. That's it. We have have until April before FSA math arrives before we show the district, the state, and all the other grade levels just how much we've grown in the most diverse year Caldwell has arguably ever had. No matter what has happened this year, tomorrow it's in the past and we will keep moving forward. The work has already started and it's going to get deeper from here on out, but I believe. I really do, everyone. I believe in every single one of you, parents, friends, extended families included. I believe we can make these learning gains...but I just have one requirement...attendance. Give me the opportunity to do my favorite thing in the world! We know that no day in our classroom is ordinary! WE GOT THIS!

I... am... ready! Are you ready?

Let's have the most mind-blowing, head-turning semester,

-Mr. Potrzeba