Educational Travel by Mike Siekkinen

I have written in the past about the benefits of educational travel and continue to push this approach for many reasons. For many teachers, the thought of organizing a trip with students sounds scary. There is a certain amount of risk when taking students outside the safety of the school.

To be honest, there have been years, based on the students I had, that I did not do any field trips. There were a few years where I wouldn’t have taken my students across the street, much less to an educational destination due to student behaviors. So I understand why some teachers shy away from doing “trips.”

At the same time, showing students real world applications, actually touching history and visiting historic places, can be magical for students.

For those new to educational travel, I would start small. Perhaps a single destination for a shortened period of time. A museum or public park program is a good start. To be successful you need to plan, and then overplan. Look at how many students you are taking and consider their age. Obviously the younger the student, the more supervision. You may need parent volunteers to help on the trip.

Also consider cost. Where will the funds come from? Will you need to fundraise and if so, what is your school’s policy concerning fundraising? You will have to arrange transportation to and from the event. Also consider contingency plans if this is an outdoor event. Will you be gone during lunch and if so, how and where will students be fed? Student medications will need to be arranged and brought on the trip as well, so coordinate with your school nurse. Additionally, parent permissions for these events need to be received.

This may seem like a lot to do and can be daunting for someone the first time it is done. I still see this as a rewarding experience for students and well worth the extra work to set up. Give it a try!

Have you taken any students on an extended trip? Share your stories and/or photos with us!

Dr. Mike Siekkinen, a retired U.S. Navy submariner, became a teacher as a second career. He teaches history at St Marys Middle School as well as Adult and Career Education at Valdosta State in Georgia.

On Idleness by Andy Jobson

It’s funny how quickly bad habits can set in.  After a few weeks of summer lethargy, I found myself struggling to use my time well in pre-planning this year.  That’s when I recalled Samuel Johnson’s essay “On Idleness,” which I have often shared with seniors.

Johnson presents an amusing assessment of a vice which, though not as widely disparaged as pride, may nonetheless be just as problematic.  He argues that idleness can often be hidden in ways that pride or wrath may not.  My students love the description of the truly idle, who rise from bed merely to find their way to the couch, who exercise just enough to get tired so that they can sleep again, who “exist in a state of unruffled stupidity, forgetting and forgotten… and at whose death the survivors can only say, that they have ceased to breathe.”

The real value of the essay, though, is its analysis of the ways we hide our idleness.  We do this by staying busy on the non-essential things.  Maybe we invest

hours of time in preparing our workplace, sharpening pencils and straightening stacks.  Maybe we fill the day with “petty business,” staying busy but not productive.  Hobbies can be entertaining ways to spend time, but Johnson notes his own tendency to while away the hours on something that truly just prevents him from addressing priorities.  One vice I especially have to fight is the fancy that I am engaged in important business when having conversations with fellow teachers. Of course I can learn a lot from them, and sometimes it is time well spent, but it can also be a way of hiding from the work I really have to do. 

I’m probably in the minority of teachers who waste time this way, but I have found his gentle humor helpful in redirecting me when I am tempted by the trivial.  Have a great (and productive) year!

An educator of 22 years, Andy Jobson has taught government, economics, and U.S. History. Currently teaching English literature at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA, he’s also been an administrator, a STAR teacher twice, and taught elementary school with Teach for America.

Things to Discuss on the First Day of School by Mike Siekkinen

The first day of school is often a busy, scary and sometimes disorganized event, especially for new students (and teachers). Having a list of items to discuss with your students can help keep you organized and in control. Having a list also ensures that students will get the required information about school rules, times and class conduct. Here is my list for the first day. This can be modified to fit your individual circumstances. Hopefully you find this useful.

• Gum/snacks/ food
• Trash (where and when)
• No clock (I don’t use one in my class)
• Entering procedures/ exiting procedures
• Lunch (time and prices)
• Weekly schedule
• Text books
• Upcoming events
• Cell phones
• Field trips
• Buses
• Agendas and hall passes
• Required supplies
• Chromebook use/misuse
• Fire drill procedures/ intruder drills
• My desk/ your supplies
• Classroom temp.
• Substitute teachers (how to act)
• Restroom breaks
• Late work/ due dates
• Class binders
• Homework
• Turning in work (where and how)

Dr. Mike Siekkinen, a retired U.S. Navy submariner, became a teacher as a second career. He teaches history at St Marys Middle School as well as Adult and Career Education at Valdosta State in Georgia.