Home

              Let’s try a magic trick. I’m going to try to read your mind. I’m going to guess where you’re at…HOME! Did I guess right? Like many of us, we are (stuck) at home. But how do you define home? Is home a place where people live and gather? Maybe home is a place where one stays at permanently. Home might be a specific address. However you define home is up to you.

            Home is a place that you know the instant you walk into it. Maybe it’s the smell of fresh linens or maybe it’s the smell of dirty laundry. It’s a place you’re going to be greeted with a hug and kiss from mom or papa. It’s where you had your first sleepover at and where you got caught taking a cookie from the cookie jar. Home is where you want to be in times of stress because it feels safe and familiar. Home is where you’re at right now.

   Home is where my students are. Home is where my family is.     Home is where I am.

Since you’re at home reading this, here’s a list of ideas:

• Read
• Write
• Draw
• Color
• Paint
• Journal
• Exercise
• Teach
• Hide & seek
• Take a nap
• Listen to music
• Create something
• Play a board game
• Learn a magic trick
• Spend money (wisely)
• Pay your bills
• Buy a pet tarantula (or puppy)
• Learn a magic trick   
• Tell your family you love them
• Mail a letter
• Finish Monopoly
• Jump on your bed
• Zoom your family & friends
• Get your car washed
•  Spring clean
• Take out the trash
• Go on a virtual trip
• Create an instrument
• Make your bed
• Roast s’mores
• Mow your lawn
• Donate money to a charity
• Buy more toilet paper
• Play with a toy
• Enjoy a bubble bath
• Pay for someone’s meal
• Vacuum your house
• Cook for your family
• Take an online class
• Create a maze out of Legos
• Clean out your cabinets
• Fold the laundry
• Use up gift cards
• Hang up Christmas lights
• Take down Christmas lights
• Watch a Hallmark movie
• Try a new recipe
• Home Science experiment
• Build a fort
• Play “Don’t Touch the Lava”
• Make Lemonade & sell it
• Family Talent Show
• Wash your hands
• Plant a garden
• Create your own TV show
• Dance like your sister isn't watching you
• Create a collage from newspapers & magazines
• STEM challenges
• Chalk your side walk or windows
• Break out the Atari & Nintendo
• Pillow Fight
• Pajama Party
• Do a puzzle
• Water Balloon Fight
• Play a backyard sport
• Fly paper planes/ kites
• Create a Gingerbread House
• Decorate your clothes
• Make slime
• Eat dessert for lunch
• Learn a Tik Tok dance & post it
• Watch The Tiger King

Wherever you’re at, I hope you and yours are happy & healthy!

                                      - Jordan Potrzeba

The Classroom Chef

My February Discomfort Goal is cooking! It’s been a great learning experience. Sometimes my meals are delicious and sometimes the smoke alarm goes off…more than once. The more I cook the more I notice the similarities between cooking and teaching.

Cooking and teaching is about timing.

            In cooking timing can change everything. You can overcook and you can undercook your food. Paying attention to the clock is critical. Today, my pork tenderloin was slightly overcooked. Had I timed it better, it would’ve been perfect. Check on your food periodically. 

            

In teaching it seems like we never have enough time in our day. It’s almost impossible to make copies, go to the bathroom, drink our coffee (for me, Mountain Dew), and teach everything on our lesson plan.  Where does the time go? If you struggle with this, you’re not alone, try pacing. Set a timer for each part of your lesson. You can also video tape yourself or have someone observe you to see where you can improve. Some lessons are going to take longer and some are going to be shorter. Find the right balance. 

Cooking and teaching is hard…at first.

            My dishes never look like the pictures! I just want to be the next Gordon Ramsey! To make certain dishes you need certain pots and pans plus lots of ingredients. I never realized the effort it takes make a simple dish like Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. It was a lot of work for such an easy dish. I still didn't perfect it...but the smoke alarm didn't go off. I'm getting better. 

            

I still remember my first days of teaching. All the confidence I had went out the window after the first parent called me. I thought I was a failure and that I’ll never get the hang of it. Guess what…I still don’t in my fourth year of teaching. My confidence and knowledge has really growth! I’m trying and I am getting better. Keep asking questions and keep doing those engaging lessons because you think it’s what’s best for kids! You got this! 

Pass the salt and pepper.

            Salt and pepper are the two most basic ingredients on the planet, yet they are in every thing. They’re so important in cooking because they can compliment the great flavors in your dishes. If your dish is lacking something, try some salt and pepper, they make everything better…especially fries! 

            In the Essential 55, Ron Clark describes salt as the “negative forces of energy who spread their poison and make our lives difficult.” Don’t spend time with people who are salty. They will drain your energy and deter you from doing great things for kids. Instead, be peppery! Be that spice that pops! Be the teacher that skips around the school happily or dresses in the most ridiculous outfits to teach a lesson. 

A pile of plates and papers

            I’m just finishing my tasty Chicken Parmesan dish only to see mountain of pots, pans, dishes, and trash all in my sink. My jaw hits the floor in disbelief. It’s the nature of the cooking. Dinner is finished so it's time to wash all the dishes. To create these wonderful meals you have to get messy. That's okay, the taste is worth it! 

         

           It’s our Annual Reading Superbowl. There’s turf in the middle our room, students are wearing jerseys, and two field goal posts stand tall. Students are going to compete in teams for the trophy. It’s going to be a  loud day. Afterward…It was a great Superbowl! The students knew some much and had fun! Now it’s going to take me 90 minutes to take all the décor down. I love doing classroom transformations. Sometimes the decor is up for a week, and sometimes it's only up for a day. The engagement and enthusiasm from the students makes it worth it!  

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Cooking and teaching are so alike in so many ways. Some days both are easy and some days it’s better just to go through the drive thru. Don’t forget the key ingredients to success. Keep trying your best! After all, you are the chef! 

One Word 2020: Discomfort

“Are you sure you want to do that?” My dad asked. “Yeah, I’m sure. It’s time.” I said. CLICK! My fate was officially sealed. 

I’ve been told I’m a lot of things; from being different to too working too much. I have to agree I do work a lot, about 80 hours a week to be exact. What do I do? I’m a teacher and for myself (and any others) the 8am-3pm work day just isn’t enough. Oftentimes I get to school when it’s dark and leave when it’s dark. But I love it! The opportunity to better the lives of kids through creative lessons and books fuels me everyday! 

I challenge my students everyday with various activities that push my students outside their comfort zones. They know no two days in our classroom are ever the same. If I expect my students to grow and embrace the unexpected I believe I should too. That’s why this year my #OneWord is …Discomfort!

            When I think of discomfort I think of abnormal, extraordinary, painful, and thrilling! For years I’ve watched others balance their work and social life, while I’ve watched on the sidelines waving in the distance. They seem so happy and able to keep up the demands of family and work. Do you feel the same way? No more! It’s time to get up and be brave!  It’s time to feel discomfort.

This year I’ve planned twelve activities (one each month) that are going to push me to my ultimate discomfort! I’m going to do things I’ve been dreaming of; from seeing my beloved Seattle Seahawks to running in the longest race of my life and many more. I’m excited and ready for the discomfort. It’s going to physically, mentally, and financially challenge me, but it’s time! 

What have you been dreaming about doing? What’s holding you back? This is the year! If you want it bad enough, find a way, go do it! Stop wishing and start chasing the discomfort! Be brave! Dare to be different! I’ll support you J

Here’s a list of just some of the things you can do!

·      Eat healthy

·      Visit a museum 

·      Tour the country

·      Eat at new restaurant 

·      Go to the lake or beach

·      Buy a pet

·      Bungee jump

·      Go exercise 

·      Read a book

·      Run a 5k 

·      Say hi to a stranger 

·      Meet a new friend

·      Turn off all devices for a day

·      Drive your dream car

·      Go skiing

·      Plant a tree

·      Climb a mountain (or hill) 

·      Watch a play, movie, or sporting event

·      Skydive

·      Go on a date

·      Watch a sunrise/ sunset

·      Set a goal and accomplish it

·      Feed the homeless

·      Ride a donkey in Greece

·      Leave $1 in a Bible

·      Forgive someone

·      Paint, draw, color

·      Buy a house

·      Fast for a day

·      Write a story

·      Get a tattoo

·      Start a new job

·      Stand up for what you believe in

·      Scuba dive

·      Give a high five 

·      Ride in a Hot Air Balloon

·      Run for Mayor

·      Pay for someone’s meal

·      Try a new food

…and list keeps going! There’s millions of things you can do! What’s one thing you want to do this year? Go chase discomfort! 

The Gift #KidsDeserveIt

“Hello. I am ROZZUM unit 7134, but you may call me Roz.”

I love The Wild Robot by Peter Brown! The concept of a robot befriending wild animals on a deserted island and mothering a gosling seems mind-boggling at first, even for Roz. But it worked! Every year my students vote to read The Wild Robot and every year it does not disappoint. This year however, Roz and Brightbill captured the hearts of my students so much that they were moved to tears before the end of the book. By the time I knew it, I was crying with them too! (I’ve read the book countless times.) 

Every day I read aloud to my classes. When I stop reading for the day, the class typically does one of two things: they collectively moan, “No!” or my favorite, “Mr. Potrzeba, read us just one more page!” Although I turn them down, I secretly love how invested they are. So, when we were nearing the end of The Wild Robot, I knew I had to be ready to show them the sequel, “The Wild Robot Escapes.” But I couldn’t find it. (A book loving student from a previous class probably has it.) I was crushed and the students could sense it.

On the last day before winter break, students brought in gifts. Their faces were lit up with excitement for what they had bought me. They were especially excited for Irene’s gift. There was a rumor going around about it! The kids must have known, because despite their own gift, they too agreed, Irene’s was THE BEST GIFT! They insisted that I open hers immediately. I listened and yes reader as you guessed it was The Wild Robot Escapes! Before I could say ‘thank you’, they voted for it to be our next read aloud. 

No matter how busy we are we do three negotiable things in our classroom. 1. Every day I read to my kids. 2. They get class time to read themselves. 3. Our Class Chant. I encourage you to read to kids. Give them time to read. Know your classroom library. Know what kids like to read. Most importantly, share your love for reading. You never know what reader is waiting to emerge! 

Smile #KidsDeserveIt

 “I haven’t had my coffee yet.”

“My alarm didn’t go off.”

“Ugh! I hate Mondays.”

            

             Whether you’re a first year teacher or just the average joe at your job, you’ve probably heard someone say one of the phrases above. Maybe it was…yourself?

Would you believe me if I told you there was a magical pill to stop all those phrases from creeping in your head? Neither would I. I haven’t invented one yet. However, I do have a way that works for me. Yep, you guessed it, Mountain Dew! Okay…Mountain Dew AND smiling.

Try smiling! It’s so powerful and releases a chemical called endorphins! Every day, no matter how difficult the day was before or how stressful the day is going to be, I find time to smile. Take that selfie. Smile with that suit on. Buy a donut or two! But smile when you do it. You deserve it! Then continue about your day!

 My favorite place to smile in is stores; especially Wal-Mart (since I live a block away.) Watch how the person reacts to your smile. I guarantee if they make eye contact with you, they’ll smile back. It works 100% of the time. The payoff, it puts you in an even better mood! If they don’t smile, shake it off and keep smiling!

Smile, give a high-five, say words of affirmation. After all, Newton’s third law states: for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. I bet you’ll receive an positive reaction back! Smile! 

Breathe #KidsDeserveIt

There are many things I struggle with. I can list off more things I struggle with than I’m successful at. Oftentimes I struggle with sleep. Other times I struggle with eating my vegetables. In all, the ‘thing’ I struggle with most is finding time for myself.

If you look up the definition of workaholic, you will find my name and probably many others right beside it. We have our own reasons: not enough time, nothing better do, workload, etc. My reasons include: perfectionism, determination, and loneliness.

Being raised catholic I know that I’m not perfect, and despite all this my God will love me just as much. If I sit back and ponder those words it’s a powerful feeling that makes me feel as if what I’m doing (well, trying to), is good enough. Despite my mistakes and failures, I am good enough.

That’s why despite my perfectionism, I’m a risk-taker. That phrase, ‘ask for forgiveness later’ is all me. The other day I wore a jean jacket, jeans with HOLES, and my blasted my guitar as I greeted kids getting off the bus. Just today, I taped kindness phrases on the outside of my portable. Both times, my principal has no idea…shhh!  Be brave!

My determination to be better than I was yesterday is my motto. It’s been my mindset since I was young. I’m a competitor. (Today I swatted a basketball from a 4^th grader’s shot.) I’m not out to be the greatest teacher who ever lived; just better than the person I was yesterday. I have the most amazing twenty young individuals and our school grade that are relying on me.

I live alone. I teach alone. I work out alone. I have a few friends. Most reside in my home-state, Nebraska. Others are scattered throughout the United States, so I don’t get to visit them often, or at all. . Learning to be okay with being alone all-the-time is something I’ve gotten better at. I value the peaceful moments. However, having adult conversations and going places with people my age would be be a fun change. Tag and Fornite get old. Sorry, 4^th graders!

When people ask me how I’m doing I typically say, “just breathing”. People tend to respond back with a worried look. Have no fear! I’m saying those words because I’m not: teaching on tables, being chased by 20 sugar-craved kids, and creating my next classroom transformation.  Understanding that every second we’re breathing is powerful because it means we still have an opportunity.

If you have struggles like mine, don’t forget to breathe. Try reaching out. Keep being who you are. Most importantly, find time for yourself and accept you are okay the way you are. Take those risks you’ve been so hesitant to take. …Today is an opportunity. Breathe. YOU GOT THIS!  

What I Wish You Knew #KidsDeserveIt

I wish you knew...

This teacher didn’t have breakfast

This teacher gets to school at 6:00am

This teacher leaves school at 5:30pm

This teacher gave up coaching his favorite sport, just to keep up

This teacher has no friends or family he can hang out with within 1500 miles

This teacher has created 2 walls devoted to data at his apartment

This teacher’s mother’s health is continuing to fail

This teacher will be celebrating Thanksgiving alone

This teacher works at school on Saturdays and Sundays

This teacher wishes you liked him

This teacher wishes you included him in on ideas

This teacher wishes you wouldn’t go back on your word

This teacher wishes you listened to his ideas

This teacher eats lunch with kids everyday

This teacher works when he gets home until he walls asleep on the coach

This teacher lives in a flooded apartment

This teacher spends too much time on social media

This teacher never feels good enough

This teacher has a fractured ankle

This teacher is lonely

This teacher was diagnosed with depression years ago

This teacher battles depression daily

This teacher fakes his happiness in front of his peers

This teacher desperately wants to give up…

This teacher has stopped going on Twitter chats

This teacher was bullied and harassed in school

This teacher was told he’s different and doesn’t fit in

This teacher was told to stop sharing books with students at lunch

This teacher wishes people hung out with him

This teacher wishes people invited him places

This teacher doesn’t feel like himself

This teacher wants to have his old friends back

This teacher wishes people accepted his invitations

This teacher wishes he knew who you were

This teacher has stopped running

This teacher wishes you view his emotions

This teacher wishes his ideas mattered

This teacher knows his ideas work

This teacher has stopped writing

This teacher had teachers laugh at him in school because of his grades

This teacher had a teacher threaten to fail him if he didn’t get AR points

This teacher gave his family & friends to teach at his current school

This teacher is sad

This teacher wants to be a leader

This teacher wishes you talked to him face to face

This  teacher lives in an apartment where people were killed

This teacher drives 30 minutes to work

This teacher has many regrets

This teacher eats the same meals every day and night

This teacher has been made fun for being too skinny

This teacher desires to be included

This teacher makes lots of mistakes

This teacher wants to enjoy teaching

This teacher has been doubted because of his age, experience, personality 

This teacher never knew how much he’d miss his family

This teacher cries

This teacher wants his school to succeed

This teacher is far from perfect

This teacher wants to lead events

This teacher is a catholic

This teacher attends church weekly

This teacher doesn’t feel like himself

This teacher listens and follows through on the direction of the school

This teacher gave up higher paying jobs with less work to stay here

This teacher didn’t know the workload when change this much

This teacher was a finalist for teacher of the year in city as a first year

This teacher wishes you had confidence in him

This teacher is exhausted

This teacher worries about dying

This teacher wishes you saw how hard he’s trying

This teacher taught in China, Ghana, and in Maryland while in college

This teacher survived an attempted kidnapping on a run in high school

This teacher used Crayfish to teach a science lesson, then kept them as class pets

This teacher has started a gentlemen’s and women’s group during lunch

This teacher wants feedback

This teacher wants friendship

This teacher wants to be better everyday

This teacher thought of suicide years ago

This teacher wrote a 170 page book in 4 months as a fifth grader

This teacher has written seven 170 page books

This teacher likes to eat chicken and pizza

This teacher loves driving his mustang

This teacher wants to be a better friend

This teacher has lost of his confidence

This teacher wants to get into a rhythm

This teacher has skipped meals

This teacher thinks he won’t be rehired after this school year

This teacher never had friends in school

This teacher hears gossip about him

This teacher loves elephants and cheetahs

This teacher puts on a happy face

This teacher loves cooking meals from scratch

This teacher doesn’t want to get in trouble

This teacher fears we won’t wake up in the morning

This teacher only saw his family for 2 weeks in the summer

This teacher wants to be liked

This teacher feels like an outcast

This teacher wishes he had a voice

This teacher wishes his voice mattered

This teacher never feels good enough

This teacher taught in a school house

This teacher has an older brother

This teacher wants to do the right thing

This teacher has an older sister, who’s married

This teacher desperately wants to be happy

This teacher is ignored a lot

This teacher has visited 37 states

This teacher knew about his father cheating on his mom, before his mother did

This teacher wants to enjoy his job

This teacher rode a roller coaster for the first time this summer…and loved it

This teacher wishes we had a strong professional relationships

This teacher tries to keep his mouth closed

This teacher survived a tornado while it decimated 23 of his cornfields

This teacher wants to eat healthier

This teacher had never been to Florida…until he moved here

This teacher wishes Floridians knew 50 degrees isn’t cold

This teacher has a double endorsement in special education

This teacher wants to work with special students in the future

This teacher convinced a group of kids that crayons were alive

This teacher puts the students first

This teacher convinced a group of kids that crayons were writing postcards to them

This teacher ran collegiate in cross country and track

This teacher has a cat at his parents house

This teacher wishes students weren’t treated like a number in education

This teacher misses the leaves falling

This teacher doesn’t miss driving in the snow

This teacher likes the color green

This teacher doesn’t feel like he’s succeeding

This teacher was never good at school

This teacher wants to please you

This teacher is grateful you’re here

This teacher is thankful you read this

...This teacher wishes you knew him