Do Not Take the Pencil

by   November 8, 2021 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Early in my teaching career, which was decades ago, my class was working on 3 digit x 3 digit multiplication. Yes, back in the day, we only taught the standard algorithm. The school had calculators to check out for use, but they were only for special occasions.

On this day, there was one student who continued to struggle, even though she was putting forth great effort. As I was walking around the classroom helping students, I noticed she was getting confused, because she was having trouble lining the numbers up on the paper. I suggested that she turn her notebook paper sideways, so she could better align the problem by using the blue lines to keep it straight.

She seemed pleased. I felt like a good teacher. I walked away.

She tried it. It was not much help.

She remained confused. She looked at me and smiled as she said,“This is the hardest math we have done.” I tended to agree, and was determined to help take away some of her frustration by staying with her as she continued. Noticing an error, I showed it to her, reached for her pencil, and wrote the correct number.

I felt pretty successful at that point, so I watched as she began the next problem. Seeing continued hesitation, I reached for her pencil again. She kindly patted my hand and pushed it away, as she said, “I think I can do it better if I write the numbers by myself.”

Uh…. I had just been schooled. It reminded me of how it is when we are feeding our babies, and then one day they grab the spoon and feed themselves. Yes, it was messy. No, it was not perfect. But – it needed to happen.

After that, I began to let my students ‘hold the pencil’ as they worked. Some even began to work the problems using a different process. It may not have been the way I had learned to teach it, and at times, it was messy and not perfect, but we were all happier.

It really is the same with any learning.

It may be messy.

It may not be perfect.

But it needs to happen.

The student has probably not had reason to complete a similar multiplication problem on notebook paper in many years, and she probably never will, but I sure did learn something that day:

*Leading someone to learning is rewarding.

*Doing it for them is doing it for them.

*They will make mistakes, but that’s why pencils have erasers.

Aristotle said, “For the things we have to learn before we do them, we learn by doing them.”

ANN-istotle said, “When teaching someone, do not take the pencil.”

By the way, is multiplication in the Bible?

Yes, the Bible says go fourth and multiply.

This column is dedicated to all math lovers.

Retired Again!

by   November 6, 2021 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            I retired from teaching in public schools in 2019, prior to the arrival of the COVID pandemic. I look back and think how wise that timing ended up being in my life. Many of my former colleagues have told me how challenging teaching has become during the pandemic. I admire them for the way they have adapted to the new reality of these difficult times.

            I knew I needed to work once I retired. I pursued several very strong leads that all seemed to evaporate right before they materialized. I couldn’t understand at the time why those doors seemed to be closing, but can look back now and understand how God was leading and protecting me.

            I landed a job teaching English to Chinese students over the internet. The hours were crazy. I had to be online by six o’clock in the morning. Naps became a regular part of my daily life. I absolutely loved teaching my kids in China. It was a fun job.

            In late summer, an announcement came that the Chinese government had decided that all the tutoring was putting a heavy burden on parents. They decided to close down the whole industry, both the private lessons there in China and the public companies like I worked for. The rumor mill went crazy on Facebook about when the end would arrive.

            The end has finally arrived and I am “retired” again. Saying good-bye to those precious little children has been an emotional challenge. They didn’t understand, as most children wouldn’t, why their government had made this decision. Most of my children have avoided tearful good-byes. One of my little favorites decided he wanted to laugh with me until the very last second. It was the only thing that kept me from crying.

            Another door has closed. Another chapter has ended. If we think about it in terms of writing, I now have a blank page with the cursor blinking, waiting for the new chapter to begin. This moment brings about two very different emotions. There is the anxiety as I watch the cursor blink, blink, blink. What will come next? Did I miss an opportunity?

            The other emotion is one of excitement and wonder about the new adventure that awaits me. What has God got up his sleeve now? What has He been planning for me? The opportunities and possibilities seem endless. As I fill out applications and send off resumes, I wonder: could this be my next adventure? Is there something else around the corner waiting for me to discover?

            It depends on the moment which emotion is gripping me. I try my best to keep my mind focused on the positive and believing good things about my future. When I find myself struggling with bad thoughts, I remind myself what God promised in Jeremiah 29:11, that He has made GOOD plans for my future. That gives me hope and strength to carry on.

            Today I find myself writing this to myself as much as I am writing it for you. God is watching over our lives, every moment of every day. Nothing has escaped His attention. He knows that we have our physical needs that must be met. He knows that I need a new job.

            He knows everything. He knows if we are sick. He knows if we are having relationship problems. He knows if we are dealing with the loss of a loved one. He knows if our boss is working against us. He knows if we have been treated unfairly. He knows!

            We have to remind ourselves that God is our provider. We have to believe that God is our healer and deliverer. We have to trust that God will take care of injustice. He is the God who sees all and will defend the weak, rescue the downtrodden, and free the captive. He is our safe haven from the storms of life. There is nothing too difficult for Him. He is the God of the impossible. He loves when we feel surrounded, so He can show Himself strong in our defense.

            I want to encourage you (and me) to remember that God is our provider, our strong tower, our ever present help in time of need. There is nothing beyond His ability to repair, restore, or make totally new. He is the God of the impossible. He is on our side. He will see us through whatever challenge we face. His eye is keenly upon us. He loves us and He will carry us. He is always and will always be there for us.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

David Whisenant on 40 Years of Running

by   November 2, 2021 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Everybody around Salisbury knows David Whisenant. I can’t remember when we met, but it was a long time ago and probably at a race. David is a good runner who often attends the local races. Here are the facts about how he got started and what keeps him running today, more than 40 years after he started.

David began running as a sophomore at Salisbury High. He said, “I really wanted a letter jacket and figured the only sport I had a chance to earn a letter in was track. I ran the 880 and mile and did get my letter with the winged foot symbol in the middle of the S.”

He continued, “I now run 3-4 times a week, 4-5 miles each time. I have a route that goes through my neighborhood, the Salisbury Greenway, the Crescent, Catawba College near the softball field and Newman Park, and back home. I also run the occasional 5K. I run because it’s a nice way to shake off the stresses of the work week, it’s a time to be alone with God, and it gives me a good feeling of accomplishment. I feel guilty if I miss a run, so I’m pretty dedicated to it. I’m not fast, but I’m consistent.”

David’s most memorable race was the International Widow’s Day 5K in June 2013 in London. The race wound through Hyde Park, the largest of four royal parks in London. He said, “I ran by the Diana Memorial, the Serpentine, and other points of history. That was a thrill. When the race was over, I got to speak with Cherie Blair, the wife of the former Prime Minister Tony Blair. It was a charity race, and she was there in support of The Loomba Foundation that sponsored the race. We were in London on vacation, and I just thought it would be fun to try to get a race there. That was one of the highlights of that vacation. I’d love to run another race or two in a foreign country, but no trips are planned right now.”

David’s wife is Jtan, after they met at ASU. They have a son, Kyle, and his wife, Anna. David said, “We’ve been blessed with two granddaughters, Ava, 8, and Maisie, 5. I have a sister, Pam, who lives in Maui with her family.”

Anna runs occasionally, and she joined David for a 5K at the Salisbury VA. He added, “I’ve tried on many occasions to get my wife Jtan to take up running with me, but she always says that the only time anyone will see her running is if she’s being chased!”

David graduated from Salisbury High School in 1979 and from Appalachian State in 1983. Salisbury has always been his home. He said, “I’m a news reporter with WBTV in Charlotte and in my 30th year on the job. I cover local news in Rowan, Cabarrus, Iredell and Mecklenburg counties. My job can be difficult and stressful, but also fun and rewarding. I feel like it’s where God wanted me, and I’m blessed to be able to do it.”

When asked about other interests, David said, “I spend a lot of time at church. I teach Sunday school and am the deacon chairman at First Baptist Church. I also read quite a bit, mainly British history. I follow sports like NASCAR and Formula 1 racing, the Washington Football Team, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Premier League soccer and of course, App State.”

As for running in the future, David said, “My only running goal is to keep running. I do try to improve my times but I’m realistic enough to know that can only go so far. I just want to be able to keep putting one foot in front of the other at a pace that’s faster than walking.”

Next Sunday is the Rotary’s Spooky Sprint 5K at Catawba College at 2 p.m. Look for it and plenty of other upcoming races at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org. You Might Like

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