We're talking baseball...

For the life of me, I can't believe that I missed this connection, and for so long too!

Baseball. Baseball!!!

My entire life, baseball has been there. One of my favorite memories as a child, was walking down the stairs, through a tunnel, and having the huge major league field open up to me. Granted, it was turf, but the green of the Metrodome turf was awesome. There my heros, Kirby, Hrby, Bruno & TK all came to life. It was awesome. This was the reason why people came over  to watch baseball during the playoffs in the fall at what we affectionately called, The Mini Dome. Well that and beer.

But for me at that age, it was baseball. Throughout my life, baseball was there. I was called to play it through grade school and middle school, and then I got all high and mighty and decided I wanted to play golf instead, moron. However, I was there with my dad and brothers in St. Cloud in 1995, when our high school won the state tournament, and it was phenomenal. Less on that later.

As I grew up, baseball was always pulling at me to have it be a part of my life. I worked in baseball as an umpire for a long time, and even went to "school" to be a professional. I worked a couple summers in a collegiate wooden bat league that used professional rules, but was still a bunch of college kids playing baseball over the summer. All in all, it was fun, but not meant to be.

But let's get back to the point here...baseball and education.

One thing I remember from umpire school was Bruce Fremming telling us that if a player gets a hit one out of three at bats, they will be in the hall of fame. But, if one of you guys gets one in three calls right here, you'll never work above rec league! And BOOM there it is: Failure!

Baseball is a game of failure. You're going to fail waaaaaaay more than you succeed. It's so funny, every single stat that I can think of, it is a battle of your successes against your failures. And every single time, failure dominates! Pitchers give up runs & runs, they walk people and those two together equals their WHIP and ERAs (Just a note for non baseball geeks, the closer to zero that you are the better there. Just for reference, Cory Kluber led both categories in 2017 with an ERA of 2.25 & WHIP of .869, which directly is linked to him winning the Cy Young. Obviously.)

In education, we like to look at our successes, and glow and brag on them all day long. But how did you get there? The first time you got on a bike, you couldn't ride it without falling, or training wheels. It took some failures. It took some finding your footing, finding your style and discovering what worked and what absolutely crashed and burned. But you had to go through the process. If any of you are doubting what you're doing in education, stop right there. Because I guarantee two things; one you're expanding your profession by reaching out for new/different ideas and voices, simply by reading this blog. And two, by reaching out, outside of your own world, I can tell that you love your students, "Your Kids", and because of that failure will not be the end point for you, but a spring board that will carry you and your kids beyond whatever y'all thought possible.

Just know that you are going to fail, but at the same time, you are going to be just fine. You've got a whole lot of people that are here for you as a support, and you are the greatest support system any one of your students will ever have or need. This idea that failure is ok is nothing new, but it is something that we must embrace in our classrooms and schools to see its true effects and fruits. If you do not look the failure in the eye and tell it that you will not be beaten down by it, then it will do just that and there is where your doubt creeps in and starts to destroy your spirit. Choose to stand up to fear and failure, choose to take on the challenge and make great things happen for you and your kids. Choose the culture you wish to have in your school or classroom. 

A post from Madi Melbye

I love everyone in this world that is kind. Kids all over the world are sweet and kind. Please let your true talent shine, thank you.

Thank you, I am finished.
Madi

Something profound...

Over the years, I have tried to write. I've written papers for school, I have written newspaper articles as a teacher, coach and administrator, and tried blogging as a hobby to give me something to do. Heck one time I wrote an online article previewing an upcoming season for the Twins. Today, I can't imagine needing to find something to "fill my time". I wanted to write, but couldn't find my platform.

In my last couple years in the classroom, I tried to start a classroom blog, but the lack of internet and smartphones being in their infancy meant that not many of my students would be able to access and I wouldn't be able to fully utilize the blog. Oh and it was blocked at school for the kids. Nonetheless, the itch to write and get ideas "out there" and "find my voice" was persistent over the years. My wife Susan and I are both administrators, both elementary principals and obviously married parents of three very active little girls. We started blogging together earlier this school year, but she did a fantastic job and has found her voice as "Not Your Typical Principal". She is more active on Twitter & Voxer, but you will find her thoughts online too: https://notyourtypicalprincipal.blogspot.com/

My problem was I always thought I needed my message to be something profound and transcendent for the masses. In the past year, my interactions and conversations on Twitter, Voxer & Facebook have convinced me otherwise. I started to understand that small thoughts, really could have a profound effect. Even if that effect was for one person, that may just have been the moment they needed that one idea/thought/feeling/affirmation. I could be the one that provided what was needed for that person for that day.

Which brings me to one of the coolest/best connections that I've made on Twitter & Voxer. Ryan Sheehy from California has his book "Be the One for Kids" coming out today and I am ecstatic for him and his family. Ryan and I have had a handful of conversations, but we just get it with each other, and he has been a great confidant. Ryan was the one that nudged me again to start blogging, and helping me understand that along the way, I would find my voice and find a way to connect. So Ryan, thank you sir!

So there's post #1, and I hope that it will be the first of many to come.