Electovers: An Educational Problem

This will be my 12^th school year working a job as an online Physical Education teacher.  Over the last few months, the teachers have been told that we would be provided resources and curriculum to help supplement our courses for the upcoming year.   Specifically, the name of the company that would help design courses is called, Zia.  The teachers at my school have been working this Summer to help get things ready.  A great many preparations are being made.  After all, we were making a giant shift because we are going to a Competency Based Educational model and there was much to prepare for as the start of school is just over a week away. 

In daily meetings, the teacher’s continued to hear from administration how exciting that Zia was, and how it would be an asset to our classrooms and our students.  Yesterday we had a meeting to reveal this long waited gem.  It reminded me of a car show and the unveiling of the new 2016 Ford Mustang which was hiding under a sheet.  It felt like Christmas morning, and you could feel the anticipation.   Everyone in the room was excited. 

So there I was sitting in a room full of 100 or so other educators, while the fiery red-head projected what her company (Zia) had been working so hard on onto two giant white screens.   She went over several courses:  6^th grade Science, High School Math, Elementary Language Arts, Middle School Social Studies, and a couple others. Everything looked great and you could just tell that the teachers in the room were excited to see more.  Questions continued to come in from the crowd about when we could gain access to this seemingly wonderful tool, and how we could implement this in our virtual classrooms.

Truth be told, Zia looks great.  It is fun and interactive.  Engaging and eye pleasing.  I haven’t had a chance yet to play around with it, but you can tell that it took a team of people to pull it off, and that it really should make a difference in the educational process of students and teachers.  Zia seems to be the future of content.  A new way to look at old ideas.  A support curriculum that is full of engaging activities and excitement.  Fun, interactive webpages that students can participate in…all while learning.  After all learning should be fun, right?

As the other teachers were soaking in how exciting everything was, I continued to scan her long list of courses that her team was preparing for.  I looked again.  I was thinking, “There must be some mistake!”  I didn’t see Physical Education on that long list of courses.  I also didn’t see Health, or the other three courses that I was to start teaching in less than two weeks.  I got up from my seat and walked out into the lobby where I ran into the music teacher.  I could tell that she was thinking the same thing that I was.  We felt slighted.  Overlooked.  Undervalued. 

The music teacher stopped the red headed lady and asked her if we were going to be included in this wonderment that is Zia.  Only to get the disappointing news that Zia doesn’t work on electives.  This reminded me as to why one of the previous Spanish teacher’s referred to our classes as “Electovers”.  Foreign language, PE, Health, Business, Music, Art, and a few others definitely were living on the island of misfit toys.  We were the Buzz Lightyear and Woody figures that Andy didn’t want to play with.  We were on the outside looking in.  We were the odd balls.  We didn’t fit in. 

After the red headed lady was done with her presentation, we had lunch and had to sit through an afternoon session watching paint dry.  Seriously though, it was about authentic assessment and how assessment should be purposeful.   Blah, blah, blah.  We have all heard this before.  Tell me something useful and meaningful.  Only a day earlier, a 31 year old from google blew it out of the water with a dozen useful things google can do to help students.  This made this lady’s presentation even more dull.  As I sat through this drudgery, all I could do was think about Zia and how it would have been nice to know that we were not going to be included.  How could the administration not tell the music teacher or myself that we had to work extra hard to get our courses ready.  That the safety net that we were promised did not apply to our “Electover” courses. 

I couldn’t sleep last night.  I kept thinking about a video that I watched about how Physical Education can truly help change Education.  Check it out:

  There have been scientific studies about how daily PE can help improve high stakes test scores.  About how PE can help with student achievement.  About how PE can help with motivation, and alertness, and participation, and engagement, and mood and depression, and health and wellness, and behavioral issues, and excitement, and retention, and grades, and much, much more.   I am certain that the disciplines of music and art have had similar research done, and students reap many of the same benefits. 

So why are we left out?  Why does PE consistently get pushed to the backburner of the educational stove?  In reality, it should be every school’s front line of defense in the war against student under-achievement, poor grades, and lagging test scores.  Administrators need to wake up!  Want higher test scores?  Physical Education.  Want students to have longer attention spans during class?  Physical Education.  Want students engaged and alert?  Physical Education.  Want students to be actively engaged and excited about learning?  Physical Education.  Want your schools statistics to move in an upward and positive trend?  Physical Education. 

I can only hope that educators and parents will begin to see how important the arts are to all schools, everywhere.  PE should be the backbone of the school day.  It should be required in all schools across the country daily.   It truly could be an integral part of transforming our educational system. In a world full of educators with advanced degrees and superb credentials, they are all missing the boat.  So is the red-headed lady and her company, Zia.  In an uncertain world, there is little that I am certain of these days.  But I am beyond positive that daily exercise and physical activity can help make students more productive, and it can help to make learning more meaningful for all stakeholders. 

In the meantime, it is the end of July and I only have a week to prepare five courses for the upcoming school year.  I’d better get to work. 

Uncle Pecos...

When you consider, all of the efforts I’ve made.

When you take for instance, all the love that I gave.

How could you say that you wouldn’t?  Do this all over again.

Life’s a monopoly board it never ends, so pick your chance card…

It rolls back through the start…move on up through the charts.

Even if we never reach the stars, at least we know how lucky we are.

When you consider, all of the efforts I’ve made.

And when you take for instance, all the love that you gave.

How could you say that you wouldn’t do this all over again?

The monopoly board that never ends, so pick your chance card.

It rolls back through the start now, we’ll move on up through the charts now…

Even if you never reach the stars…Uncle Pecos keep on strummin’ that Spanish guitar.

Sing it for our cartoon hearts…
sing it for our cartoon hearts…
sing it for our cartoon hearts.

Uncle Pecos keep on strumming that Spanish guitar…

Smile, today could be your last...

Relay for Life Speech...

I was asked to give a speech this past Friday for Relay for Life (Hudson).  Here it is:


Public speaking is hard, and it can make people uncomfortable…so, if you want to picture me naked feel free. You like that don’t you?




Hi. My name is Steven Vincent Fiebig. I wear 100 different hats…PE and Health teacher, husband, father, landlord, restaurant owner (eat at The Rusty Nail).

Well, we are all here because somebody we know has Cancer. And that’s a crazy thing. I don’t remember this disease like this when I was a kid. What the hell happened? I’m not a huge conspiracy guy, but is it the food? Water? Air? Are we being poisoned somehow? You can’t help but ask these questions…Hopefully the money that is raised all across the country at Relay will help to determine what the hell is causing this, and how to cure it. Big kudos to those of you who pull these events off and make them happen!

When I was 27, my twin brother Brian was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was 2005…he was diagnosed in February…he had what we all thought was a spider bite. So, after a couple of days in the hospital he got the news that he had Leukemia. I can remember a volunteer wheeling him off for a transplant and him giving a thumbs up and a smile... He was so positive. I could tell you stories all night long about all the funny and crazy things that he did, but what I hope that you’ll remember is the lesson in life.

Brian passed away in October of that year. This was really the person that taught me about life. That was really when I starting thinking about mortality and how to try to really live.

Thinking back, his message was clear. Material things don’t matter. Money doesn’t really matter (yeah right ). You can’t take it with you. People matter.

I never saw anybody treat people more fairly, accept everybody regardless, and live an honest life of humor, and music, and content.

You see when he passed away, I never felt anything so numbing in my life. When I held his hand as he passed away, and I remember thinking “it’s ok to die”. The stars were never brighter to me than that night I got home.

I didn’t even know that it was possible to feel the way I did. Just nothing. Just numb.

I have a friend named Matt who lost his brother in Afghanistan. When his brother was killed by an IED, I told him that the gift that his brother gave him was invincibility. And you think of that in terms of superheros, and immortals, but I am invincible, and Matt is invincible. And perhaps you are too? Because when something like that happens to you, it does make you invincible. And so if you can cope, and remember with a smile, and embrace their lives, you can deal with anything.





Heads or Tails? Heads…right.

Heads or Tails? Nope…wrong.

Heads or Tails? Yep…correct.

Heads or Tails? Nope…incorrect.

That was my life in 2006. I had just gotten married (making my wife the luckiest lady on Earth) and we were on our honeymoon in Vegas. I was constipated. What the hell did I eat? Too much cheese at the Paris buffet?… So I came home, had a colonoscopy and my doctor told me I was the youngest person that he ever diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer. Oh boy…lucky me! Do I get a trophy or a medal or something.  My doctor told me that I was a coin flip to survive five years.

Flip coin and put on ground under foot.

How do you make heads or tails of someone telling you that?

Should I pick heads or tails? Which one would you pick?

I like to gamble but this was a bet I didn’t want to make. So what do you do…

You do what anyone who is diagnosed with Cancer does…

You go to google.  Then you start reading and filling your head with statistics and survival rates. And the computer screen becomes blurred as you try to read these horror stories though your tears.

You realize at the time that these rates don’t really mean a whole lot, and most of these charts and stats are prefaced with “everyone is different”. But you do it anyways.

The hardest thing about Cancer is that it tries to steal your dignity and strength and determination, and motivation, and fascination.

Been through 4 major surgeries…16 inches of my intestines out…three lung operations, two ribs taken out, surgical mesh in my back, my body is a roadmap of scars, But you can’t hurt me Cancer…I’m invincible.

You can’t hurt me anymore than I’ve already been hurt. It’s impossible. So I started laughing in the face of Cancer. And it’s scary and it’s a big ugly monster, but I laugh at it. I’ll combat it with a healthy diet, and exercise, and a positive attitude. And that’s what I’ve tried to do. Not always easy…

That’s the lessons that I’ve learned through all of this…keep smiling. Stay positive, because that is what my brother would want me to do. That’s what my kids would want me to do.

What do you think this coin under my foot is…heads? Tails? Doesn’t matter. A coin flip is something that decides kickoffs and close elections and who gets to ride shotgun in the car. Not a life. Not my life.

So…keep smiling, and believing and stay positive.

Thanks for having me.

Smile, today could be your last.

Calling the radio about min. wage...

Uh Oh.  Obama's at it again...If they get their way, min. wage is going up to $9 an hour.  This is not logical thinking, so I called the radio station about it and talked to Triv. 





My call starts around 10:40
http://www.wtam.com/player/?mid=22932991

Best thing I've read in a long time...
17 Habits of Mind

1. Be Persistent

2. Manage your impulses, think before acting, remain calm, thoughtful and deliberate (Emotional Maturity)

3. Listen with understanding and empathy

4. Be mentally flexible

5. Think about your thoughts. Be aware of your own thoughts.

6. Strive for accuracy and precision

7. Have a questioning attitude. Know what data you are looking for, develop questioning strategies. Always ask: How do you know?

8. Apply past knowledge to new situations

9. Think and communicate with clarity and precision

10. Gather data through all your senses

11. Imagine and innovate, think in a different way, generate new and novel ideas.

12. Respond to the world with wonderment. Have fun figuring it out.

13. Take responsible risks. Live on the edge of your competence

14. Laugh! Find the humor in life

15. Work together, we are not isolated creatures; use your peers to help you solve problems. Think interdependently

16. Be open to continuous learning. Know what you know, and know what you don’t know.

17. Remember that 99% of the world is grey. There usually isn’t just one answer, and there is more than one side to every story.

Smile, today could be your last...

The pics are finally in from the rafting trip that I went on this summer with Tom and some old friends...

We rafted The Youghiogheny, also known as "The Yock". It is a damn released stretch of 10 miles of river that is mostly all class IV and V rapids. Our river guide was a rookie, and the last picture shows how the river will chew you up if you don't know what you are doing.

It was a fun weekend of golf, rafting, drinking, gambling, over-eating, and overall debauchery.



Smile, today could be your last.

Coop and Knox,

Yesterday Mommy took me to the doctor's. They put me on this big machine where I had to lay real still. Then they injected me full of this dye that makes me glow. Then the doctor looks at the pictures that the machine takes. He said everything looks good.

That means that we were given a gift. That gift is that we get the chance to spend more time together.

And that, makes me the happiest person in the world.



I love you with all that I am.

-Dad

Smile, today could be your last.

Pics with the mustaches are from the JG wedding. Go Mustaches. Go Trees.




This is from Fun N' Stuff in Macedonia.

Smile, today could be your last.

A couple of random pics...





The "T-Rex" that we saw at the bike show at Quaker Steak and Lube. Went with Sammy and Amelia, and had a great time.




The snake I found while mulching.



Smile...today could be your last.

This one's for you Mom...

Sold the "Chiquita" yesterday. Got $2200 for it. Lot's of good memories within the 125,000 miles that it had on it. It will be missed.




Had a surprise 40th Anniversary party for Tom and Virginia on Sunday. I think they were pretty surprised. Wendy did an outstanding job of organizing and planning-definately one of her strengths.

Here is the speech I gave to honor my parents...

I would first like to thank you all for accepting our invitation and coming out to celebrate with us on this special day. It is our honor and pleasure to have you here with us. You are here today because you have been a part of Tom and Virginia’s journey.

For forty years now Tom and Virginia you have been married. Virginia what were you thinking? You are an absolute saint…

There comes a time in a woman’s life where she meets someone and she instantly knows that she is going to be with them for the rest of her life. That moment happened for my Mom, when I was born.

Mom…Thanks for providing your two boys with everything that they ever needed. Thanks Mom for always washing our dirty clothes and making sure we had lunch money. For countless hours of teaching us right and wrong. For driving us to and from concerts and games. For always making sure we were well fed. For making that houses we grew up in homes. And for the solid discipline and parenting which made me this wonderful man you see before you.
Dad…Thank you for all that you have provided. Thanks for taking me to car shows and explaining that the car we are looking at has an original big block with Hooker Headers dual overhead cams and a modified rear end.. One day I’ll get it.
I never needed to find someone to throw the ball with growing up. When our soccer team needed a coach you stepped up. When an umpire didn’t show up for our softball game, you filled in. When I needed a best man for my wedding, you graciously accepted. You have left me big shoes to fill. I will do my best, and I hope that I am as good a father to Coop and Knox as you were to Bubba and I.
Thank you to both of you for setting an example for what a strong marriage should be.
It is because of the wonderful friends and family in your lives, and the love and passion that you’ve kept after all these years, that you have been able to maintain your youthful appearance.
You sacrificed for us without complaining (that much), and you always found time for us. You did all of this while still making each other a priority.
I can only hope that I have the honor of giving a similar speech 10 years from today, on your 50th wedding anniversary.
So please raise your glasses in celebration of Tom and Virginia…Congratulations!



I will try to get pics posted soon.

Smile today could be your last.

Just some random pictures over the last couple of weeks...

The picture of Coop sleeping on the floor was at about 4:00 AM. He snuck into our room, and decided to crash on the floor.

The Pink Floyd the wall picture was about the coolest thing that I saw at the Rock Hall. I can't believe that the Hall has been opened for over 15 years already, and that was my first time there. We went with Chuck and Jess to Chef Jam. Had a great time sampling food and drinking Great Lakes beer.

The picture of Wendy with the Naked Cowboy is from the Chef Jam event as well.














Today is the last day of school for 3 weeks! Can I get a hells yeah!

Time to spend time with my boys.

Smile, today could be your last.

Wow...

Happy Father's Day to me. I am sooo lucky to be able to experience the day with my kids. I can't even begin to say how lucky I am to be alive. 3 major surgeries, 2 bouts of cancer, I appreciate every day that I have.

We woke up this morning, I cut the grass...did a bit of weed-wacking, and Tom, and the boys and I went to the Stan Hewitt car show. It was a great time. Coop wouldn't walk, so I had to carry him on my shoulders the entire day, but I figure it is a good work out...lol.

Came home and had a cookout with the usual gang. It was also a nice time.

Knox went right to sleep. I always make sure to tell you that I love you.

Coop, you are not so easy, and I imagine that your brother will follow suit in the months to come.

Anyway, when I put you to bed tonight, you almost made me cry. I told you to say goodnight to Uncle Bubba. And you did. "Goodnight Uncle Bubba", you said.

Then I asked, "What does Uncle Bubba do for you?" You said, "He watches over me."

That will bring a grown man to his knees for sure.

Yes he does Coop. Always and forever.

I don't know how long I have in this world. My guess is not as long as the average bear. But that's what makes life special. That's what makes life interesting. If we knew what to expect, or when we were going to die, we would perhaps live life differently. So instead, don't wait. On whatever "IT" is...do it now. What do you have to lose? You might regret it, but that is what makes life the best teaching tool of them all.



I love you boys. My heart melts when I look at you. When I hold you. When I talk to you.

I used to hum this to you Coop as I rocked you to sleep...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_6ducd2UOQ




It actually hums out rather nicely at 3:00 AM.

I can remember rocking you in Aunt Kristen's basement and falling asleep with you on my chest. That makes me smile.

Knox, you took a shower with me tonight. That makes me smile as well. You have such a great demeanor about you. Everyone tells me all the time...and I agree. You are beautiful in every way. Literally and figuratively.



You know, when they told me that I had cancer again, I posted here like a man on mission. And lately, harldy at all. I know I shouldn't but I kind of beat myself up over that. I need to get here more. When I get called home, I want to be sure to leave Coop and Knox something, even if it is imperfect.

Thank you for the Father's Day present Wendy...I love you.

To my Dad,

You are the best. Everytime I have a conversation with you I take away a piece of wisdom. That is a lot for you to live up to. But, somehow I am always learning from you. I can hear you when you are not around...and that what makes a Father a Dad. Anyone can be a Father, but it takes a man to be a Dad. Thank you Tom.

I lose myself in you boys...everyday.

I love you Coop. Shake and Bake.

I love you Knox. Sky's the limit.

Dad.

Smile, today could be your last.

Had a great time at your birthday party Coop...Happy Birthday! I hope that being 3 is the best year yet.

Your Mom does such a nice job with your party's.

We got you a new bike. It has training wheels, but you jumped right on and starting riding. You are an amazing little boy.

Knox, you are an eater. Everything that you see goes right into your mouth. You are also starting to identify things, and are learning new words everyday.

We also went to Thomas the Train last week. That was a fun day in the sun.

Memorial Day came and went...yard work this past weekend...new swingset.

Over to Aunt Kristen's for a cookout and a swim in the pool.

Lost a member of the Kent Community. Adam Hamilton was killed in Afghanistan. Brings a new meaning to Memorial Day for many around here.

Thanks for our Freedom Adam.


Pictures to follow...

Smile, today could be your last.

The White Boy From St. Croix...



This video was a pain in my ass. I struggled with the audio. Not the initial songs that I chose, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

It was a fun trip...too much rain for a week in the Carribean, but again, that's the way it goes. I was stunned by how much poverty exists on St. Croix. A lot of the locals said that when Hurricane Hugo hit, that much of the businesses and people left and never came back. So, what you are left with is a bunch of boarded up buildings, and houses that look like they are coming down with the next big storm. Sad, really.

What inspires you, should entire you. Live how you want to be loved.

Smile, today could be your last.

We finally made it to St. Croix. That was a long grueling trip which would test the endurance of even Lance Armstrong. A 2:00 AM drive to Columbus, three flights, and layovers...and crappy, overpriced airport food. Traveling sucks. Would have helped if I would have tried to get some sleep instead of playing poker until 2:00. Nah, life is too short.


The view from the condo this morning. It is a bit overcast, but it's only 8:30. Supposed to rain the next couple of days, but the locals keep telling us not to worry about it.

Went last night to the H20 bar, to get a bite to eat, but they were closing...So, we headed down the road over the the Palms. Got a sandwich and a couple of beers. Island Hopping Ale, which is made over on St. John's. Pretty tasty. I love a beer that has bite and kicks you in the teeth.

I'll try to keep the vacation pics coming.

I certainly miss my kids, but not Ohio.

I wonder if Tractor Traylor lived everyday like it was his last. I hope he did. They found him dead in Puerto Rico (funny cause we were just there yesterday). He apparently died of a heart attack. He was 34.

Smile, today could be your last.

Life, and love are fragile.

Smile, today could be your last.

I love you Knox.

I love you Coop.

No matter how hard life gets sometimes, you have each other.

You will always be looked after.

You will always be loved.

Always.

Smile, today could be your last.

I've got a lot to say, but I'm tired. I've had a couple of beers with the old man, and I'm just burned out.

We went to a fundraiser for fragile X syndrome. Here Wendy and Knox walk the kids track.



Happy birthday Bubba...

You have done a fantastic job looking over your nephews.

Smile, today could be your last.

Long weeks lately. School work. Kids. Rentals. Restaurant.

At least I am on spring break this week, so I should be able to get some things done. Although, I have a CT scan tomorrow, and am supposed to get the port out of my chest on Tues. which I am looking forward to.

We took Coop and Knox and Ky and Kade to the zoo today. It was a nice day, but really cold. We did the aquatic and cat building for a long while which is indoors.


Coop waiting for the shuttle.


Knox and Dad.


Knox- Slidin'.


Coop and Dad- Fixin' it.


Coop and "Weinstein".


Knox, you couldn't be any cuter.

I love you boys.

Smile, today could be your last.