Bucket List Wish

When I was a little boy sleeping in my upstairs bedroom in Aberdeen, ID: I had a dream I was riding on the back of an elephant. I was far off in a distant country with tall mountains around me. I have always wanted that dream to come true. That is on my bucket list and I pray it happens in my lifetime.

Remember to teach with respect and dignity

I have a math mapping class that was billed as being lots of fun.  I was told that I would be getting so much information and that it would be helpful.   I was lost with the new math book: the excessive amount of teacher manuals and the online teacher helps.  I felt this class was just what I need.

I MADE sure to sign up for the class.  I also knew that I was going to do the ESL endorsement.  My closest friend and team member told me that I would regret doing so much but I ignored her. I wanted the information.

The teacher is young...I mean young!  She has been teaching for 6 years and I estimate that she may be 27 or 28. She has an arrogance that consumes the room.  Literally we go into her sterile classroom at 4:30 sharp and are held captive until 7:30 PM.  We sit in the same desks as her second grade students.  Each time we go to class we turn in our reflection papers and then sit as she overloads us with tons of paperwork.  She reads to us for three hours straight. She reads and we turn pages. 

Sadly the room is filled with wonderful teachers that would be a bevy of experience and knowledge.  She does not allow any sharing, co-mingling of ideas, any movement, or group discussions. This instructor has used the word “retarded” in referring to blunders of students, she has put down men (my own personal ax to grind), she has shushed me directly and will stand and stare at the professional teachers attending this class and say “my turn” when some one does talk to a neighbor.

   The #1 thing that I HAVE learned is to teach any and all people of any age with respect and dignity.  I pray that I may always remember do so.

Weigh in Numbers

12-31-2010  304
1-7-2011      296
1-21-2011     292
3-18-2011      286

My Second Grader and Me.

Bruce Hager

REFLECTION #2

I was walking into the mortuary and wondered if I had made the proper wardrobe choice.  Everyone was dressed in dark grays and blacks.  The women were dressed in blacks as well.  There I was dressed in a red v-necked sweater and khaki slacks.  Of course I have several suits to choose from but my choice was to wear what I had on. Upon entering all I saw were grown-ups everywhere. I felt awkward and uncomfortable but proceeded into the gigantic room.  Then there she was my 2nd grade student in a pretty ruffled white dress.  We saw each other at the same instant.  She ran and embraced me as I bent over to receive her outstretched arms.  She smiled amid her tear stained cheeks and exclaimed her joy in seeing me.  She took me by the hand and never left my side.  We did not stay in the formal line.  Sasha pulled me in and out of people as she introduced me as her teacher: Mr. Hager.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles and concerned grown ups smiled and warmly shook my hand. I was greeted and welcomed by all I encountered.  Then we walked by the coffin where Sasha’s father’s young body lay in the casket. Not a word was said by Sasha or myself. I knew that this man had not seen Sierra in two years, had not sent a Christmas present, no birthday cards nor had even made a phone call.  

A tragic accident had taken his life but for me there was a greater tragedy that had taken place while he was alive. I put that aside and stayed in the present.  We sat in big chairs in the foyer. It was just my student and me.  My second grader and me. The role of a teacher is not well defined but for me on that evening my role as a teacher was very clear and precious to me. I had never felt more valued, cherished and loved.  I was important to one 7 year old student. That means everything to me.

Did you change or was it me?

Bruce Hager

Reflection #1

2-13-2011

Did you change or was it me?  I hate to say it but this happened with one of my two Angels I have in my class.  Angel Martinez is a bright and wonderful student.  Angel M.  does all of his work, he in fact is always the first one done with his work.  Angel M. excels in all he does. 

Now then there is my Angel Gutierrez.  I never said the words bump on a log but am woefully ashamed to have thought them. The simplest conversations have been so difficult.  Everything has been a struggle.  I think it was me that gave up on him first.  Oh yes, I have been polite and kind and made an effort to smile but my expectations of Angel G. dwindled quickly.  I surrendered and just prayed that if he could survive so could I.

In class we had a fun discussion on rocks. I pulled out a “wishing stone.”  A rock with a circle completely around it.  It is said to take your finger and trace around the stone to make a wish. The very next day Angel G. thrust his journal into my hand and told me to read. Half heartedly I read.  I picked out meaningful words and could see he writing about the wishing rock. He was communicating and I was enjoying his success.  He was changing and so was I.

I read and posted this quote on my Facebook page yesterday: Holidays are enticing only for the first week or so. After that, it is no longer such a novelty to rise late and have little to do. ~Margaret Laurence

I came to school all excited and ready to be back to school.  By noon I had already had five students who cried about something, my sweet high functioning autistic boy had a major meltdown and another student had wet her pants and had to go to the office.  I knew I was back to school! The vacation was over!  The afternoon went much better until one of my students handed out birthday doughnuts and my annual New Year's resolution came to the test on the first day. 

Then after school as I was cleaning up my room a parent poked her nose in my room to retrieve a forgotten back pack and lunch box wondered if she could take a moment. She proceeded to tell me how her son with some special needs really likes me and was so excited to come back to school.  He told her that he had to come back to school 'cause Mr. Hager was missing him over the break. I did get a little piece of gold on a crazy day of getting back to routine. Yes, i admit it in my new teacher phase of my life, I do miss my students over the breaks. I know that I will get over it but right now I am just fine with it.  I do look forward to coming to school BUT I could  do without the crying the wet pants thing has got to stop!!!!! The joy of second graders!

A new year full of Hopes and Dreams

Here it is 2011!  I have always wanted to start a blog but had no clue how to do it.  I still don't know what to do but I want to try and do my best.
This year I hope to have an exceptional year.  I hope this will be the year that I get fit...I don't want to have a major transformation I just want to improve and do better than I have been doing.
Some of my goals this year are:

To finish my ESL Endorsement (English as a Second Language) ACCOMPLISHED JUNE/2011
Do a Pioneer Trek DID NOT GET SELECTED TO GO
Staff two MKP weekends
Go to Ben's birthday party in Idaho ACCOMPLISHED JULY 2011
Work on my DTM in Toastmasters
Improve on my computer skills DOING GREAT!  LEARNED TO UPLOAD PICTURES FROM MY CAMERA PHONE
Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover.
Plant a new lawn
Paint the two sheds in my back yard. ONE SHED DONE
Plant a garden ACCOMPLISHED
Knit a Christmas sweater
Attend the temple weekly