Symbol of Hope

One of my roles at work is to work with students who have been identified as "Limited English Proficient," their teachers, and their families. These children are often the children or grandchildren of immigrants. Like my great-grandparents, their families came to this country from wherever they had lived before filled with dreams, desire, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to make it as a family. For each family, it's not easy. They come from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They have native languages in Gujarati, Malayalam, Serbian, Spanish, Tamil, and others. Many work two shifts to make ends meet. Sometimes the children understand why their parents or grandparents made this journey and sometimes they don't. In the end, the children and their families simply want to be welcomed, make friends, and lead good lives. As I work with the teachers that support these students and their families, they share stories of the worry and anxiety that this election cycle has had. The vast majority of our families are legal immigrants, however, the broad brushes of politics have stirred feelings that have made these students and families feel unwelcome.

I live in Chicago and for most of a century, the Chicago Cubs have been pretty dreadful. We tell stories of 1969 when a team filled with Hall of Famers, Willams, Jenkins, and Santo, fell out of contention. We remember the ball going through Leon Durhams legs in the '84 playoffs. We share stories of Steve Bartman, a fan who was blamed for the collapse of the '03 Cubs by manager Dusty Baker, and rarely talk about about moments prior shortstop Alex Gonzales error that led to the collapse. Through all of this, Cub fans have been extremely resilient. From the Die-Hards like of previous generations like my Grandfather Rudy, Uncle Al, and Aunt Bea, to the friends that have consistently crowded the bleachers whether they were winning 70 or 90. For Cubs fans, even in the darkest of times, there has always been hope.

This month, my television has turned into a nationwide version of the Jerry Springer show. Debates and political campaigns, regardless of your political ideology, have become more spectacle than policy discussion. Growing up, political dialogue I would expect to see on the MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour or hear from Milton Friedman, now has references from Wikileaks and Access Hollywood.   Like the historic observer of the Cubs, regardless of the side of the aisle you sit, it can feel like we have reached a point where there is no hope. Our families with Limited English Proficient students certainly feel this way. In Field of Dreams, Terrence Mann (James Earl Jones) reminds Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) through the seas of change that have swept our country, one constant remains, Baseball. This is no truer than now. While we watch one of the ugliest elections of our time, the Chicago Cubs seem to have risen from the ashes. With the best infield since Tinkers to Evers to Chance, America is being swept from a northside ray of hope. With a hashtag #nomorenextyears the lovable Cubs are providing some positive all of us need.

In times of darkness, each of us needs a symbol. A reminder of what is good in this world and the difference each of us can make. A silly positive moment, to remind us of what can be, to see the good, and believe in each other. As we work with students and their families that feel the negative swings whether from their own lives or from a national dialogue, sharing symbols of hope and a positive future. Helping them find ways where they, or more appropriately we, can make a difference. That is the guidance all of us need.

Symbol of Hope

The Way We Learn

I was in a first grade class the other day. Children were asked to read independently. Some chose to pick up a book. Others chose to open an app on their iPad. Two individuals, a boy and a girl, walked up to the teacher independently at different times and asked if they could use Brainpop. My first reaction as an observer was that watching videos isn't reading. And, it isn't. However, the experience stuck with me. I've dwelled on it for the last 15 or so hours. Maybe there is more to this.

I have two children. One is a vociferous reader. Hand him a book and two hours later he is done with it. He is constantly reading text, whether in print, on the screen, or on the back of a cereal box. He tends to prefer stories, often towards leaning towards technology such as science fiction. At times he enjoys humorous fantasy or comic strips. My other child is a utilitarian reader. He reads because he has to or because he wants a specific piece of information. He is my non-fiction child. His reading is often how to do something or how something works.

When I needed to figure out how to add freon to my wife's minivan, I read the directions and that only got me so far. When I clicked over to youtube and watched some homemade videos, instantly I understood. I even had the video replay as I did it.

For both of them, and many of their friends, they learn more often through video. My utilitarian learner is constantly watching how to videos. He wants to know why something works or how he can modify something into something else. His video stream reminds me of the scenes from A-Team or MacGuyver, when they build something to solve the problem. However, instead of the montage, he is taking in the step by step analysis of how to do it. My vociferous reader seeks out videos that are either how to get through a video game level, political humor, or SpongeBob.

While we would project my vociferous reader as the one most likely to learn more because he reads more, I think my utilitarian reader is working to learn more often. In our heads, because we grew up in a text-driven society, access to print opened and closed doors. However, if a picture is worth a thousand words, how much value is there in a video? My utilitarian learner has skills at age 9 that I could only dream of. He is the curious one, wondering deeply about how the world works.

I am not sure which child will be better off. I hope for the best for both of them. Either way, I think the way we learn maybe changing. Text may not be the gatekeeper to knowledge anymore. Like those first graders, perhaps some of the time we may access learning more efficiently by clicking the video and checking out Brainpop.

Learning to Dance