The #2016Election - It's Been a Tough One For Many

I will let my tweets speak for me:

https://twitter.com/mrsamychaney

The Dash

from my post in May 2012:

Last night while watching "The Middle" I was struck by a profound statement made by one of the characters, Mike. He was speaking to a group after his brother's wedding about family. He mentioned that on our tombstones, we will all have a birth date listed below our names.What was so striking though is that he said it is the dash that comes after that birth date and before the second date (death) that means so much. 

The dash represents life and what we do with it...

Today:

My students and I are studying Thomas Gray's "An Elegy in a Country Churchyard." Upon first glance, it seems like a morbid poem, yet, once you read the masterpiece and dig down to its roots, you will see that the poem gives the reader some great advice: Live the life that you want others to remember you by. In an effort to encourage my students, who think they are invincible, to think about the legacy they will want to leave behind when their times come, I had them write their own epitaphs. At first, they, understandably, thought that I had lost my mind! Once I explained to them that writing your epitaph is an excellent way to plan your future, they got on board. I have seen them create some amazing epitaphs - some were clever, others hilarious, and several were tear-jerkers. This exercise helps me remember what kind of life I need to live today so that I know I will be able to leave the legacy that I desire tomorrow.

Small Acorns

"From small acorns mighty oaks grow." 

My 2017 seniors have not quite caught on yet as to why I call them Mighty Oaks. They will, though! Two days ago, one of my 2016 Mighty Oaks stopped by to visit. Isaiah told me that he had just returned from basic training - oh, how proud I am of him and how grateful I am for his service to our country. Isaiah is looking forward to the next journey in his life which will take him to Kuwait. In two weeks, he will be joining his father, who is also a marine, at Camp Hellraiser. When I asked him about his mother and how she is handling all of these changes, he told me the following: "When I left for basic training, I gave my mom the acorn that you gave me last school year. Interestingly, my acorn had a hole in it. While I was away, my mom planted that acorn. It is now growing! Mom calls it her Miracle Tree." After I shed a few tears, heard some some of his stories, admired Isaiah's marine ring, and hugged my mighty oak before seeing him off, I was humbled thinking about how lucky I am to be a teacher. #mightyoaks

Mythology in the Halls

My students have been studying mythology. They were charged with the task of creating body biographies for their assigned mythological characters. Here is a small sampling of the amazing work they did! I am proud of my #mightyoaks.

Late Friday Afternoon Thoughts When The Halls Are Quiet

This is my philosophy. I hope that I am getting it right...

#17yearsexperience #Still Learning

9/11 Memorial Lesson: Additional Footage

If you are interested in learning more about the 9/11 tragedy, here are some links to get you started. These links include graphic material and language, so caution is urged.

Inside the Twin Towers

"Inside 9/11"

9/11 Phone Calls

"United 93" Hijacking Scene

What Happened to the Missing?

National Geographic: The Secret History of 9/11

Scenes from 9/11

9/11 Timeline

The Man Who Predicted 9/11

Ground Zero
Remembering the Jumpers

 #NeverForget

My Mighty Oaks of 2016-2017

There is a proverb that I refer to quite often in my classroom: Mighty oaks from small acorns grow. You will hear me refer to it often. You will hear me address my students as Mighty Oaks often, too. You see, my "kiddos" are acorns preparing to grow and let their branches spread. One day, we will all become mighty oaks who are wise, strong, decisive, confident, and honorable. I cannot wait to meet my newest crop of #mightyoaks. Come on in, kiddos, and let's plant some roots! Watch the video, please: The Giving Tree.

My Mighty Oaks

What a fabulous year we've had, my senior kiddos! I have enjoyed getting to know you all. I hope that graduation is not the end for us. My hope is that each one of you will stay in contact with me because I want to know about all of the amazing things that you guys will do in the future. It has been a privilege and an honor to spend the last thirty-six weeks with you. May God bless you on your journey...and, remember, "Great oaks from little acorns grow." YOU WILL BE MIGHTY! #goaldiggers #chaneyland

Testing. Testing. Testing...

On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, thousands of freshman souls will take the English I Texas state end-of-course assessment. These fifty-two goodie-bags represent my hopes, my prayers, and my personal encouragements for each one of my precious ninth grade students who will complete the arduous task of satisfying the state's ideals of what it believes a fifteen-year-old should know and be able to do in an ELA classroom, no matter what his/her background is: abused, neglected, homeless, hungry, sick, dyslexic, anxious, depressed, autistic, three reading grade-levels behind, unable to read and write in the English language, etc. Please keep in mind that those who regulate the state's assessments, those who create the assessments, and those who grade the assessments have likely never been a teacher, nor set foot in a classroom as an adult. The pressure on many of our students is insurmountable. My students know that this test does not define who they are as individuals, nor does the test have any eternal significance, yet the stakes are so high for them at an age where they are not mature enough to grasp its importance and, in many cases, unable to successfully satisfy the test objectives. They need reassurance and comfort - a little prayer wouldn't hurt either! Would you please join me in praying for all of the state's students who will be testing over the next two months? Thank you.