On Saturday, May 18, I witnessed a beautiful THANG!!

3rd and 4th graders from Winton Woods Elementary met with 4th Grade Bond hill students and participated in Envision Children's 1st "Academic Jeopardy Bowl".  The questions came from the common core standards for 4th graders.  Vincent Rey, #57 linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals was the moderator.  He was amazing!  He really drew the children out and encouraged them to work together.

4 other Bengal players came to support Envision - Geno Atkins #97,  Tony Dye #44,  Michael Johnson #93, Jeromy Miles #45.   Geno and Tony were judges and Michael and Jeromy each played with a team.  Michael with Winton Woods and Jeromy with Bond Hill.

The beautiful THANG I saw...........was students on a saturday morning getting excited about education.... Which happens to be Envision's mission.

The beautiful THANG I saw was students who had no coach or teacher to help them study, answer questions correctly because they had studied on their own for the competition.

The beautiful THANG I saw was Bengals players coming out on an early saturday morning and encouraging and playing with the children.  The fact that "they" thought and demonstrated that education was important made it even more important to the youth.  It also made the children feel important that these celebreties would come and be with them.

The beautiful THANG I saw were parents cheering their children on. Fun and Education.  That is where Envision stands....right in the middle to bridge the gap. 

On a side note....... I saw the aforesaid Bengals players on television for what they were doing in sports.  Not that I don't care, because I love football, but I/Envision felt more connected to them because of how they showed up for the youth.   

Thank you supporters. Your biggest fans will be Envision and the youth that you serve.

CONGRATS ON SAVING YOUR SON'S LIFE

SO MANY TIMES AS PARENTS, WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE COULD BE DOING FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SOMETIMES, JUST THE BASICS ARE ENOUGH.......AS IN "KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE"
 IT IS GREAT TO HEAR AND SUPPORT WHAT PARENTS ARE POSITIVELY D0ING IN A CHILD'S LIFE.......ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TAKES TIME OUT OF AN ALREADY CRAZY SCHEDULE


What started off as a "normal" day.............

I HAVE A PARENT WHOSE CHILD DID NOT SHOW UP AT TUTORING WITH THE EXCUSE THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ANYMORE IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO. 

BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF EVENTS: (please replace the quoted words with more appropriate anger words)

CONGRATS ON REINTRODUCING YOURSELF AS HIS FATHER ("What the "heck" are you doing at home?")
CONGRATS ON APPROPRIATELY PLACING YOUR ANGER ("why the "heck" are you not at tutoring?")
CONGRATS ON NOT "COMPLAINING" ABOUT IT AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT (He better be home when I get there!!!)
CONGRATS ON GOING TO HIS LOCATION, GETTING HIM AND MAKING HIM DO HIS WORK("Get your "stuff" right now. You are going with me to work and you will do your work")
CONGRATS ON TALKING WITH HIM ABOUT IT AND HIS FUTURE COMMITTMENT (discussion on the agreement of tutoring)
CONGRATS ON TAKING AN ACTIVE INTEREST (bite of pizza afterwards)
CONGRATS ON TAKING THE THE TIME TO SAVE YOUR SON'S LIFE ("Dad, I'll be at tutoring tomorrow.........I promise")

YOU CAN BEST BELIEVE THAT NOT ONLY WILL HIS SON BE AT TUTORING NEXT TIME, BUT WILL HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT HE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY ALL INVOLVED.

NOW.......THAT IS HOW YOU RAISE A CONSCIENTIOUS CHILD. 

A SPECIAL KIND OF PATIENCE

Today in tutoring, I had to exercise a "special kind of patience".  Not only did I have my "regular" group of children, but also the ones who were "put out" of class. I willingly take them on because I own the business and want Envision to stay well represented.  Tutors/Teachers should not have to continuously deal with disrespect, when they themselves are pretty much volunteering to be there.

 I wanted to understand the disconnect.  Believe me.........they didn't behave any better for me than they did for the other teachers, but I believe I got somewhere.

As each child was "cappin'" on one another, I told them that before they got the reward of getting on the computer, they had to write for me.  One assignment was to look up the word "loquacious", write the definition and then give me 10 sentences using the word.

What was interesting is that when I asked them if they knew what the word meant, each student shared that they knew what it meant.

My mom said it means "that I am stupid"
another shared "It means that I am dumb"

there were only 4 extra students that I was dealing with and 50% sharing that they were identified as dumb/stupid.... I was done.

What I appreciated is that they did look up the word and find out that loquacious meant talkative.
I appreciated that they wrote the 10 sentences.
I appreciated that when they left for the day......they wanted to come back.

I'll take it.

WILL YOU WORK WITH ME AGAIN NEXT WEEK

Today, I had to leave a phenomenal event that highlighted the success of the Urban League to tutor 1 student at Bond Hill. I truly felt a bit of conflict.

1. Envision doesn't have the funds to attend an event for 1 hour.....then leave
2. That child will be okay for one day of me not attending.  That student will be okay.  It's just one day.

Now it is 12:40pm (tutoring @ 1pm) and I just couldn't do it.  I made a commitment to these children and if I have to sit there and stare at the walls for an hour, they will know my commitment.

I showed up at 1pm and the sweetie was excited to see me. 

One day does make a difference.  She was successful in her assignment that we worked on and wanted to make sure that I would be there next week.

I wouldn't miss it.  We all make choices.  It's so easy to forget how crucial our presence is when it comes to our youth.  Events.....galas.....networking parties.

Watching one student grow..............

Great Choice.

"I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!!!!"

If that wasn't the mantra the other day, then I don't know what was.  LORD!LORD!LORD!Why do I do what I do? 

It was time to reassess how much my students had gained in knowledge of their fact fluency.  4 "EASY" 3 minute tests.  Addition........Subtraction..........Multiplication.........Division.  Everything being single digit. 

One would THINK that this would be a breeze.  The students get to show off how far they had advanced; I can sit back and reap the personal satisfaction of yet another amazing year of academic achievement. 

HUH!!! HA!!! I should have stayed home.


Apparently Spring was in the air and the only thing the students wanted to be fluent about is "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT".  Are you kidding me?

I try......."this is easy. you will be a huge success"
The Refrain, "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT"
I try......."if you do well, this is the last time you will have to do this for me and we can move on to bigger and better things"
Response, "I already did it" and The Refrain, "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT"
I try...."we will have a big celebration for your achievement when you are finished"
Answered by "I'm tired. I don't have a pencil" and........The Refrain, "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT"

At this point, I am running out of patience.  What do they mean "I don't want to do it".  There are a lot of things I don't want to do, but have to do.......Like argue with 10 year olds about the benefit of knowing 5 times 8.........or putting $3.55/gallon gas in my car in 2degrees temperature.............or go to work after Superbowl Sunday.  But I do it.

I think, why am I trying to convince these students to take 4 easy freakin' tests????
Then I realize, that it's not really about them taking the tests, but that I am really trying to convince them the importance of not only the work they are doing, but in doing what you have to (to the best of your ability).....even if you don't want to.

The tug of war isn't about math, but about 'fighting the fight'.  Our youth not only have to have the tools to fight the fight, but the "fight" in them to engage even when they don't "want to". 

In the end, after spending more time reas oning with the students, the tests were taken and all did very well.  HALLELUAH!!!

When they were on their way home, and giving me my hugs (as though they hadn't just given me grief only an hour ago..........how quickly we forget), one students asked,

"Hey, Ms. Garner.......I don't want tutoring to end.  Can it keep going?"

I gladly said, "I WANT TO !!"