Remembering that story matters

I stole an hour this morning; stumbled out of bed early, found a wonderfully dark cup of coffee and a good book the solitude of my backyard deck.

Let me admit formally- I'm a morning person. There is often nothing better for this soul than an early hour to read and think alone (unless you count the birds and the squirrels and my dear old cat who still believes he's going catch of the former)out in the warming morning's waking air.

This morning, cozied under one of my wife's hand sewn quilts, I began with a book I have been reading strictly for pleasure. It's something I picked up for Spring Break, but that I hadn't quite finished. I got a whole chapter in without interruption- glorious. With a little extra time I opened an e-book I had just downloaded on my phone- something more "professional" or so I thought and began to scroll. This was supposed to me teach writing better, a topic I'm keenly interested in, but not necessarily "joyful" about. To my surprise the author caught my attention in a way I was completely unprepared for. She started by telling a story. From get go, I was completely sucked in.

The rest of the book worked between story and reminder. It wasn't long, but the tale had such meaning that I couldn't help but be compelled to think about my own journey with story as a teacher of middle school history. This "professional" book quickly became "fun" and meaningful and I think it's because that's what great stories do.

Telling stories isn't something we talk much about professionally anymore in Social Studies. We talk about making kids better readers and writers, but we don't spend much time on "story"... or at least it doesn't feel like we are supposed to. I can't remember a recent time when this was part of the professional development we get from time to time. Outside of conversations with a good friend and professional storyteller, Brian "Fox" Ellis and my co- teacher story just doesn't seem to manifest itself as a major skill we teach or practice.

Story is what brings history to life. Right? The best history teachers I've had, known and or currently know are great story tellers. It's fun to tell stories. It's part of who we are as humans and frankly has been going on in the oral tradition for a very long time.

Story is entertaining. We make connections from ourselves to all manner of tales. So why isn't it ever discussed? Why don't we make time for it much? If we want to help kids engage we have to tell great stories, I think. Rudyard Kipling, famed British writer once said, "If history were told in the form of story, it would never be forgotten". Yet,sadly I think some of it's importance has been forgotten under the weight of standards, mandates, and testing in a less- traditional looking Social Studies class.

So, I wasn't prepared for Ruth Ayers little reminder this morning, but it was well- timed. As we wind down an old school year and start to look ahead, I'm feeling affirmed in my desire to work with colleagues to continue making time for good stories. We have to be intentional about the way we weave them between the tests and standards. After reading my e-book, I'm even more convinced than ever that these stories will help my students find their own voice both orally and on papers as passionate writers.

While it isn't talked about much- there is no doubt story matters! It truly is the heart of my discipline. So let's hold onto it. Let's keep it alive in our hearts and our classrooms.

Forsake not your passion-

 “For there is always a sanctuary more, a door that can never be forced, a last inviolable stronghold that can never be taken, whatever the attack; your vote can be taken, you name, you innards, or even your life, but that last stonghold can only be surrendered. And to surrender it for any reason other than love is to surrender love.”

                                        Ken Kesey, Sometimes a Great Notion

How do you stronghold? 

The idea of strong-holding has become of great importance to me as an educator in an ever changing, fast paced landscape where reform and progress often happen without my consent and or comfort. In my uneasiness I keep "moving forward". I change. Again and again I change. I collect data and I change. (and I'm not sure that change is right or wrong; just sure that it regularly feels fast and continuous)

For me and for multitudes of colleagues I am privileged to work with change is sometimes necessary, but often times hard. Making shifts and holding fast to the gladness in my vocation is even more difficult. To succeed at maintaining my spirit and making needed shifts requires real work. I have learned through the years that to stay anchored to my true values and strong sense of what I believe research says is best for students is also challenging work. To accept the pace of that change is even more challenging for me. So I make time for other necessary work. I make time for reading and writing from texts and encounters that inspire affirm what I hold deep inside. This is my strong-holding.  Time invested in searching for words and works that sustain my teacher heart has become an important part of my journey; my stronghold.

The few minutes I more or less daily spend reading and writing holds me true to myself and my vocation. In creating this blog, I hope to share some of what keeps me strong that in turn we may begin a dialogue that keeps our dwindling community of educators refreshed, dedicated, and filled with passion for the life we breathe to the children and communities we serve.

You'll find I love poetry and quotes. I enjoy drawing and metaphor. All of those things will find their way into this blog. Perhaps you'll share some of what daily keeps you inspired as well. Consider this a public place working people to find some quiet minutes in "splendid isolation"- sharing strength, gathering strength. Let's stronghold together. Yes? Join me then. 

Welcome to our stronghold- a place where we need not surrender what we love, our vocation, our passion, to the pace at which the world often requires us to think and work. Here we can build that which is life- giving and powerful enough to withstand all the uneasiness that comes with required and necessary change.