Social Contract – Capturing Kids Hearts

I had another blog post written on websites and apps I use in the classroom, but once again I’m pushing that aside.

This is a rather long post, but it contains very valuable information to help empower all learners.

I have been reading Learn Like a Pirate: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead, and Succeed and participating in the Learn Like a Pirate Book Club on Facebook . I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to transform their classroom into an empowered student-led classroom. Paul Solarz has something amazing to share with all of us.

Furthermore, Elizabeth Chapman,who is in the #Learnlap book club, has written some excellent blog posts about experiences in her class utilizing Learn Like A Pirate and other amazing things happening in her classroom and beyond.

I have had a student-led classroom for quite sometime. I have taught 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade and have been successful with all three grades.

The key is building relationships and building trust with the learners. Building a community of learners is possible if those relationships are established early in the year and maintained throughout the year. We have had a few mottos: Finish Strong, Together We are One Together, We Are Family, and If We Believe- We will Achieve .

Capturing Kids Hearts and the Social Contract are crucial to building a powerful classroom climate and culture. I know there are other things out there like CHAMPS OR Be Kind; however, CKH has been tremendously effective with our learners.

Six or more years ago the Clark County School District here in Las Vegas, NV. sent many schools to a two day training presented by The Flippen group called Capturing Kids Hearts. My first thought “Ugh, another training, another thing to implement, how much more can I take ?” However, the Training is just what I needed to tweak my classroom management skills and to create a student-led classroom.

Unfortunately, most educators don’t use Capturing Kids Hearts anymore or if they do they use it half heartedly which doesn’t work. If you do a social contract it must be done with integrity and consistency.

I highly recommend the two day training, but it’s costly and if you follow these steps and believe in the social contract then you will be able to implement it. I’m not getting paid to endorse CKH, but it works.

A few things we do in our leaning environment that are not mentioned in the Capturing Kids Hearts material.

1. I greet the students at the door everyday. We practice the art of a good handshake and eye contact as we go along. This gives me a feel of where the learners are at and allows for a friendly safe atmosphere to be established. You can tell a lot by how someone is feeling by a simple handshake. We also have a positive message with a hand on it outside the door the learners give the paper hand a high five as they enter as well. It has to do with creating relationships.

2. Each morning we start off our day doing Good Things. We play the song Tell Me Something Good originally by Rufus and Chaka Khan we play the Pjnk version from the movie Happy Feet. The Good Thing person or people for the week either have the random name picker or they pick 3-4 learners to share something good. Some of the intoroverted studnts have a hard time with this at first, so they mostly say things like “I’m here today.” Or “I’m on time.” Nonetheless it creates an atmosphere of positive thinking for the day. The class usually says “It’s going to be a good day!” After each person shares, sometimes there are high fives involved as well.

3. After the Social Contract is created which is about week three of the school year. We create affirmation bags they are paper lunch bags we have time to decorate them and then put their name on the front they are displayed I Netherlands classroom at a reasonable height to deliver the affirmations. . Affirmations are quick positive informal notes to help lift each other up. Students write 4-5 affirmations a week and it’s on ration basis so all students get affirmations. The affirmations must have the student they are writing to on it along with the name of the person who wrote it. Affirmations need to be genuine, so things like you have nice shoes, hair, pencil, or trivial things are not aloud. Before putting affirmations in the bag the affirmation checker which is a job must check the affirmation for questionable content. After the affirmations have been checked the students put the affirmations in the appropriate bag. I have been doing affirmations for 6 years and we have never had anything inappropriate or hurtful end up in an affirmation bag.

On Fridays students check their affirmation bags and read their affirmations. The affirmation bags are hung back up for the next week. This takes time, but I believe it’s powerful in creating a positive and dynamic learning environment where learners feel valued and cared for by all stakeholders.

4. Important Social Contract – The Social Contract shouldn’t be constructed during the first week of school. You have to build rapport before diving into the contract. When you do take at least three days or more on building the Social Contract. I do a question a day usually. Spend at least 20 minutes having groups decide the answers to the questions don’t make it a timed activity if there is dialogue related to the question have them continue. I have groups of 4 with chart paper to write down their responses. I will ask studemts well what does respect look like ? My idea of respect may be different than someone else’s, so it’s important to have them dig deeper into what they mean.

The Social Contract is an agreement of behavior between all parties not rules set forth by the teacher. After having groups discuss the four questions, which are found below, we come together as a group to start constructing the Social Contract. We elect a scribe to do the writing for the whole group. The point is to let the students construct the Social Contract. Correct spelling is not essential and we usually write it on a big poster board, so it can be seen anywhere in the room.

Only a few words is put on the Social Contract not sentences things like Respect, Golden Rule, no hitting, whatever they came up with. Give a chance for all groups to participate and add their thoughts. Ask them to elaborate by asking things well what does Nice mean ? Or what does no bad words mean ? If words are repeated put a check by the word to show that everyone had a say. When it’s complete ask if there is something else that should be added ? Neatness is not the point. When all done have each member of the class sign it.

The Social Contract stays in the room, but it’s enforced throughout the day, lunch, specials, in the hall, and in assemblies. I have a student take the actual social contract to specials , once, to get the specialist to understand the behavioral expectations agreed upon and to have them sign the contract as well.

Also when guests arrive in the class have a greeter established to welcome the guest and ask them to sign the contract. Guest only need to sign the contract once, but the greeter should always greet guest with firm handshake whenever they enter.

I have found this very effective in developing a student-led classroom and it’s extremely effective.

The information below is straight from Capturing Kids Hearts and are not my words. Here is a PowerPoint I did not create, of CKH. (They use the Acronym EXCEL so many acronyms in education I can’t keep up)

The primary focus of Capturing Kids’ Hearts is to develop healthy relationships between
members of a school’s educational community and to teach effective skills that help participants:

* Develop self-managing classrooms and decrease discipline issues through innovative techniques such as a social contract

•Decrease delinquent behaviors such as disruptive outbursts, violent acts, and drug use

•Utilize the EXCEL Teaching Model™ and reinforce the role of emotional intelligence in teaching

•Build classroom rapport and teamwork to create a safe, trusting learning environment

Capturing Kids’ Hearts
Primary Skills
1. The EXCEL Leadership/Relationship/Teaching Model™

2. The Social Contract

3. Four Questions for Misbehavior

4. Four Questions for Disrespect

5. SOLER Listening Skills

The EXCEL Leadership/Relationship/Teaching Model™

The steps outlined in The EXCEL Teaching Model™ prepare teachers to effectively impact their students each time they come together, from the beginning of class to the end.

EXCEL
•E Engage

•X Xplore

•C Communicate

•E Empower

•L Launch

Step 1. Engage

* This first step is essential to the success of the day. It begins when we greet the students at the door with a handshake at the beginning of each class. We draw them into a relationship with us upon which we can build as the class progresses.

•There are several things we accomplish with this step: we start the day with a positive greeting, affirm each student, welcome the students into our class, and give them our full attention, first thing.

•When we start the class with Engage, we are preparing the way for the students to be involved with us in the learning process.

Meeting and Greeting Skills :
•Facial expression: relaxed, smiling, welcoming
•Tone of voice: 38% of what we communicate is through tone of voice
•Posture: lean in, turn slightly sideways to be nonthreatening
•Handshake: firm, yet comfortable; initiate the handshake
•Level of relaxation: be confident, but not stressed or hurried
•Dress/grooming: professionally dressed, with good hygiene
•Energy: positive and energetic, confident
•Eye contact: look other person in the eye and pay attention to the person’s needs

Step 2. Xplore
•This second step lays the foundation for the content of the class which is to follow. We get in touch with where the students are personally, emotionally, and academically.

•Students are our “customers.” We must identify their needs before we can serve them effectively. Do the products/services we deliver meet the needs of our customers?

•The skills we use when we Xplore with our students are much like those of a counselor: listening, attending, conveying empathy, probing, and asking open-ended questions.

•A successful Xploration can take place only in a secure environment. We do not disclose our needs, whether personally or academically, until we feel safe from ridicule and rejection. Learning cannot take place until we are able to discuss what we don’t know.

Step 3. Communicate
•This step is the Communication of the content of the class. The teacher addresses the needs discovered in the previous step.

•A two-way process, it is not simply the passing along of information and material, but instead it is a dialogue between teacher and students. The process is dynamic and experiential, requiring the teacher to be facilitator and resource to the class. Teachers who are powerful Communicators in this model are teambuilders.

•A certain degree of order is necessary, but flexibility and creativity are essential, as well. Teachers must be able to Communicate the content of their course in a way that is captivating, creative, and responsive to their “audience.”

•A very important task in this step is the ability to translate that which is being taught into “real world” benefits. The students must be able to see how their studies will assist them in their future efforts at earning a living and finding meaning for their lives. When students object to the need to learn certain material or skills, the teacher, like a good salesman, must be able to overcome their objections and convey the need for learning to take place.

Step 4. Empower
•Empowerment occurs when students gain the ability to “use and do” the things they have been taught. Possessing the same skills as the teacher is the goal of education. When we can do what we have been taught, then we are truly Empowered.

•The students learn information or a technique in the Communication step, and then in this step they practice and apply what they have learned until it becomes a skill. Teachers who operate from an Empowerment perspective desire that their students know all they can about the subject…that the Teachers see their students in terms of what they are becoming. They see themselves as the resource to help their students become.

•A key to this step is to build an atmosphere of trust in which the students feel free to fail while going through the learning process. With the class social contract in place, everyone knows the rules—what is acceptable and what is not, as well as the consequences. This common understanding provides for the students the foundation for positive interaction with the teacher and with each other. In this environment the students are Empowered because they experience encouragement and support.

Step 5. Launch

•In the EXCEL Teaching Model™, Launching has to do with the way we end and send. It is the way teachers end a classroom experience and the way they send their charges forth to face the future. This is vastly different from just having students rush out the door when the bell rings.

•The teacher prepares the class for “liftoff” by summarizing what has occurred in class that day and by getting commitments from students to follow the “flight plan.” Prelaunch questions would include:

•What did we do and discuss today?
•What is its relevance to you, both for now and for your future?
•How are you going to use these skills before our next class?
•What will result if you don’t use these skills?
•What will result if you do use these skills?

Every great speaker and teacher realizes the importance of ending on a powerful note. We must be able to effectively use quotes, anecdotes, poems, stories from our own experiences, and other motivational stories to drive home the points we want our students to remember. Passion is the thrust we use to propel our students toward their destination. In the words of Og Mandino, “My last must be my best.”

•E Engage: Handshake, Welcome, Affirm, Model

•X Xplore: Customer’s Needs, Listening Skills, Safe Environment

•C Communicate: Content, Dialogue, Flexibility, “Real World”

•E Empower: Use and Do, Develop Skills, Becoming, Encouragement

•L Launch: End and Send, Summary, Commitment to Action, Passion

The Social Contract

The Social Contract is designed to let all participants in a classroom or school know what behavior is acceptable and what is not. It is an agreement of behavior to promote a self managing class. The primary questions to consider when developing a social contract are:

1. How do you want me to treat you?

2. How do you want to treat each other?

3. How do you think I want to be treated?

4. How will we handle violations of the contract?

Using the Social Contract, the teacher is able to create more self-managing classrooms as each student takes responsibility for his or her own behavior.

Create BUY-IN
•Remember to sell the contract
•How many of you getting tired of the teacher nagging you etc?
•Well I am not going to do that because you are all mature young adults.
•This is OUR classroom, so we are going to decide how to treat each other and you are going to help each other follow what we decide.
•The best part is if you help each other, and I do not have to get involved, there will be no consequences!
•Work on team work

Building a Social COntract
•Put 4-5 students in a group
•Each member is assigned a role: facilitator, scribe, spokesperson, timekeeper, on-task person or affirmer
•Give each group the 4 questions. After each group answers all 4 questions, reconvene the class, but remain in groups.
•Using chart paper and markers ask for a scribe
•Get responses for each question from each group
•After a group reports out their question responses, teacher picks one to discuss

Signals
•Non-verbal – Time Out – Give me 5
•Thumbs up – leader uses with class
•Sidewards thumb – students use with eachother to check themselves
•A signal for fouls
•If it is called it counts
•Not a joke or toy
•Someone can call a foul for someone else
•If a foul called no explanation needed and must give 3 put ups – once the contract is in place you may implement fouls. If a student feels as if their feeling were hurt they may call foul – if a foul is called then the person who fouled must give 3 put ups – say three nice things the other. You have nice shoes, shirt, or material items doesn’t count. Not to be taken lightheartedly.

In order for the Social Contract to work
•It must be referred to constantly – not just an chart on the wall (visit at least once a week)
•It must be used (expectations, fouls, signals)
•It must be modeled

Four Questions for Misbehavior
1. Excuse me . . . What are you doing?

2. What are you supposed to be doing?

3. Are you doing it?

4. What are you going to do about it?

•These questions help the student focus on the behavior, demonstrate that he/she knows what behavior is expected, own up to the fact that he/she is not doing what is expected, and determine what he/she should be doing instead.

Four Questions for Disrespect
1. Excuse me . . . whom are you talking to?

2. How are you supposed to be talking to me?

3. Were you doing it?

4. So, how are you going to talk to me?

SOLER Listening Skills
•The Chinese symbol for the word “listen” involves characters for “ears, eyes, heart, you, and undivided attention”. To listen effectively to another person, you must “listen with your ears, eyes, and heart with your undivided attention”. Sometimes we want to convey that we are listening, but we may not know how to show the other person that we are doing that.

SOLER
S= Square up to the person you are listening to

O= Open posture

L= Lean in

E= Eye contact

R= Relax and Respond

Design Thinking In Progress

Thanks for asking the question about how to end the year strong Heidi Carr. Here’s how we did design thinking this year. We plan do at least one or two more Design Thinking Projects before the end of the year in order to finish strong.

First of all this I have to credit John Spencer and A.J. Juliani authors of The book Launch. This is where I got the idea. The fifth graders have used other ideas from them and it’s been pretty amazing. They have designated May 2nd as Global Day of Design. I think it would be great if all schools participated.

This particular project took a few weeks to complete we started before Spring to break up the monotony of SBAC testing. We still need to do one last rotation this week.

We gave them the topic this one was Invent a New Sport. The students formed teams of 4-5, sometimes we let them pick their teams, other times we pick, and other times we leave it to chance by having Smartboard pick random names. First they had to brainstorm ideas we used Classkick because it allows us to see what they are writing in real time. Classkick is an interactive whiteboard we are 1:1 iPads. After brainstorming they created a Google Doc of the rules and steps for the game written in a easily understood document.

Next they gathered their materials PE equipment mostly , thankfully we have an amazing PE instructor who supports what we do (Yohann Godard). The groups went outside and practiced their new sport and they would “tweak” things to make it better adjusting their Google Doc along the way. The groups then created a video how to with a demonstration of their sport along with an audio commentary. The groups then create a visual anchor chart of their sport to further emphasize their sport beside it gives them time to add more details if need be.

Finally, each 5th Grade class during different days set up stations of their sport and teach the other fifth graders their sport. The classes rotated to the different sport and after about 10 minutes they rotate to the next station. (It Looked like a mini field day)

We used a rubric to help them stay on track and “grade” them. We incorporate a reflection piece in most of what we do in order for the learners to reflect on the why, how, and the what of the whole process. It has been working out great because it incorporates all content areas, involves kinesthetic learning, uses cooperative working techniques, and helps build a community of learners. Furthermore it help promote physical activity in a positive manner.
Design Thinking is a way to finish the year strong. Our next project is to create an underground civilization.

Global Day of Design May 2nd

Unlock Your Potential

Unlock Your Potential

I had another blog post nearly written. I was going to share my journey of how I became an educator ; however, something hit me today ( I was inspired), as I was looking at my learners passion projects. I reflected on the idea of unlocking students potential by building relationships and allowing my students to choose their own academic path. Granted I guide or nudge them towards the path at times; yet, I do allow them freedom of choice in many instances.

Learners need to feel valued and to feel as if their voice matters. I’m not the expert in the room at all times, sometimes the experts are the learners. It takes a change in attitude to allow for potential to be unlocked. As educators we have to be willing to allow creativity to happen and to relinquish control of all aspects of the classroom.  I make mistakes and my learners see those mistakes, but they also see the human side of me. I model to not give up  and to learn from mistakes. That life and learning is not about the destination, but the journey and adventure. Learning is not a linear process, but an amazing adventure filled with endless possibilities.

I’m trying to look beyond data driving instruction, buzzwords,  and teaching to the “Big” test. The skills my learners will need in the future are well beyond any SBAC question. If I’m going to truly help my learners Unlock Their Potential I must take an active interest in them individually and collectively. I aim to build those relationships and to help them have high expectations and to feel empowered. I owe it to them to keep evolving and to treat them with the respect they deserve.

Our 5th grade are blogging check  it out at Edublogs  or follow them on Twitter @parsonlasvegas

 

If I Blog and no one reads it, do I still make a sound ? (Thank You For Making the Education World A Better Place)

As an educator trying to adjust and make difference I sometimes get frustrated with the negative noise that surrounds the education profession. Fortunately, because of Twitter, I discovered I am not alone in the quest to make a difference. Thankfully educators like Dave Burgess, John Spencer, AJ Juliani, George Couros, Matt Miller, Kasey Bell, and Jo Boaler have inspired me to continue to improve as an educator. There are many more and I could fill my blog space with many other great educators making a difference.

Locally, I appreciate people like the PE educator I work with Yohann Goddard. The CCSD GAFE Guru Lucas Leavitt and the CUE NV crew Heidi Carr and Kyle Anderson. There are many other educators in Nevada and in the world doing wonderful things. One of my goals in 2017 is to highlight the great and interesting events and people in education instead of getting sucked into the vortex that I consider to be the Dark Side of the Force. Yes, I went there.
I want to share two articles I read lately which focus on sending a positive message to educators and learners alike.

The first blog/article is called  Teaching — It’s about Inspiration, Not Information by Tina Seelig. This article was given to me by administrator and it highlights that teaching is about building relationships. Tina says, “Teaching is really about inspiration, not information.” As educators we need to look beyond delivery of content, “light the fuse” and watch what happens.

A prime example is my learners did a passion project and they were able to research and discover any topic they wanted. One of my learners who was reluctant and unmotivated academically jumped at the chance and “dove” into her topic. Here is a link to her project on Tigers, I am very proud of her for reaching high expectations and doing such a great job.

The other blog I read was given to me by my wonderful partner in life and fellow educator Debby. It’s called What Students Really Need to Hear by CHASEMIELKE. The post is about letting students understand that school is really about preparing them to never quit and to always keep trying not matter what they are faced with in life. The sheer honesty of the post is what inspires me to keep trying. The author states, “It is your resilience in conquering the main event — adversity — that truly prepares you for life after school.” The point is that as educators our job is to help prepare our learners to never quit and to always forge ahead no matter what the challenges are.
Finally, I want to highlight a few things I accomplished in 2016 there are many. I was the 2016 PBS Digital Learning Innovator for Nevada and my learners were part of a PBS commercial (Thanks Craig Cuddihy you are an amazing person and quality educator), I wrote my first article and it was published By Edsurge, my class was part of a published study by K-12 Blueprint, I married the best person in the world Debby Korder, and we have a beautiful addition to our family Raelyn Gene Korder who was born in May.

Empowered Readers

Article on EdSurge 

Change !

If you haven’t read the Innovator’s Mindset I highly recommend you do so. The book is inspiring and will change the way you view education.

Furthermore, I had the honor and privilege to attend ISTE in Denver last weekend. If you get the opportunity I highly recommend it, the conference will help reinforce why you became an educator. I truly believe that we are at a crossroads in regards to education. Michio Kaku, one of the keynote speakers at ISTE 2016,  said it best “Our educational system is excellent in terms of preparing students to live in the world of 1950. The only problem is we don’t live in 1950 anymore, that’s why we have to undergo a revolution in how we view education.”

Lastly, the only reason I could afford to attend ISTE was because I am one of the 2016 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators. I had the pleasure of attending a two day summit with PBS and some amazing educators from around the country. It was a great experience which I will never forget. If you have a chance check out PBS LearningMedia it has some valuable resources which every educator should be utilizing.

No more desks, no more rows

Ever since I embraced the Flipped Classroom the need for student desks in perfect rows seemed unimportant. I used to like have desks in my class because it made giving daily quizzes and tests easie…

Source: No more desks, no more rows

In Memory of Ruth Korder

There isn’t a day I haven’t thought of Ruth Korder or the impact she has on my life. I know it may sound cliché but she was the worlds greatest mom and I miss her. I had no idea when Debby and I went to visit Minnesota last summer that it would be the last time we would see her alive. Yes,  she had terminal cancer,  but we thought we had more time and in a mere week she was gone. The day we took her to the hospital she was humorous and full of life. We had no idea that the grilled cheese sandwich she ate that day would be her last meal in her house. We had no idea we were saying goodbye forever. She came to visit Las Vegas with her sisters, brother, friend, and other relatives last Spring she saw where I worked and lived. I am grateful she could see the life I live. Hopefully she had peace of mind that I had finally overcome some enormous mountains and finally had some stability in life. Below is her obituary which was written by my brother Dean. Also included is the eulogy I presented during her funeral.

Ruth Ann Korder (Putz), 77

Ruth A. Korder of Winona, Minnesota passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 3, 2014, surrounded by family, at Gunderson Health Systems in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

She was born in Owatonna, Minnesota to the late Raymond Putz and Bernice Malles (Putz, Busch) on March 20, 1937. She was so small she could fit in a shoe box and almost did not survive the harsh March weather. Her father died in a tragic fire early in her life and her mother then married the late Alfred Engel.
The family moved to a farm outside of Cochrane, Wisconsin. Ruth learned to bake in her mother’s kitchen, played the organ at church, and loved to sing. As she grew older, Ruth became a farm girl that wanted to escape the farm and see the world.

Ruth Putz married Eugene F. Korder on July 30, 1955. That began their fifty-nine year love affair and the start of their family of five. Sherri (Millner) came along in 1956. Dean followed in 1959. Vance in 1960. Kristi (Beeman) in 1964. And Casey in 1965. Their large family in tow, Ruth and Eugene moved where the Air Force took them, including stops in Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Plattsburg Air Force base in New York. The travel and the constant relocating instilled Ruth with an appetite for travel which, in her later years, she would share with her family and siblings. When Eugene’s father died, the family made the decision to move closer to home and this landed the family in Winona, Minnesota where they have lived for over four decades.

Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Ruth was always working to help support her family while Eugene was in the Air Force and after he retired. She worked at St. Mary’s University, Hal Leonard Publishing, and then as business manager and financial planner for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. She coordinated volunteers and brought the parish into the modern age with her knowledge of computers. Ruth loved the pursuit of knowledge and continually challenged herself to learn. One of her proudest moments was in 1996 when she earned her Bachelors Degree as a Certified Public Accountant from Winona State University at the young age of 59.

Ruth was a vivacious woman whose life of love and happiness was spread in part to all who crossed her path. Family and friends were Ruth’s life and inspiration. She was the calendar grandma at Christmas and the homemade birthday card great grandma who always seemed to remember everyone’s special day.

Halloween was one of her favorite holidays. In 2002, her great grandchildren cajoled her into having a haunted house. She couldn’t refuse. That was the start of a new tradition that still carries on. Ruth always involved any and all children that wanted to help and participate. It has always been a special event for all involved.

Ruth’s artistic vision was articulated in many ways. Once running a small ceramic studio in the basement of her home and, after she retired, working at the local scrapbook store, Scrapper’s Haven, teaching classes and spending most of her earnings on supplies. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, trying new recipes, quilting, knitting, puzzles, games, crossword puzzles, cooking shows, and reading every and any book she could get her hands on; even the electronic variety with her Ipad.

She continually sought new creative outlets and there was nothing she couldn’t tackle. From building bookcases, insulating garages, wallpapering, and painting, she was an avid home decorator and remodeler.

She had a fondness for the New York Yankees and the Green Bay Packers. As a die-hard Packer fan she took many trips with her husband and family to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. When the Packers offered public stock options she had to buy a piece of her favorite team. She proudly displayed her share in her “Packer Room,” She loved Brett Farve, even when he spent two years in a purple jersey!

But above all, Ruth loved her family. She loved having a houseful of people for Easter and Christmas dinners. Amid the chaos her warm personality, her sense of humor, and her touch of sarcasm came through. She was not afraid to speak her mind, but also was the first to offer encouragement and support when needed. She was quiet and thoughtful and protective of her family. Ruth will be dearly missed because she was the glue that has held us all together for so many years.

In the past few years, Ruth has dedicated herself to her husband, Eugene, after he suffered a stroke. If you wanted to know what true love was, all you had to do was see the two of them interact. She cared for him with a warm heart, a gentle touch, absolute love, and tucked him into bed every night with a song.

Ruth is survived by her brothers: Jerry (Jan) Putz, Robert Engel, William (Betty) Engel, her sisters: Rose Mary (John) Staige, Susan (Michael) Ellis, and Lucy (Anthony) Wolfe, her daughters: Sherri (Jerry) Millner, Kristi (Bob) Beeman, her sons: Casey Korder, Dean Korder. And her loving husband Eugene. She also leaves a legacy of six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.. She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Putz, her mother, Bernice Malles/Putz/Engel/Busch, her brother, Ron Putz, and her son, Vance Korder.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 7, at 9:30 a.m. at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 360 Main Street Winona, Minnesota. A Memorial Prayer service, officiated by Father Tom Neihaus of Mankato, will follow in the church at 10:30 a.m.. A luncheon will be served in the church basement immediately following the service. Come and help us celebrate Ruth’s lush life. As Ruth would have wanted it, all are welcome.

Ruth’s final interment will be held at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, please consider food and household gift cards to ensure the continued support of her husband, Eugene.

Funeral Services provided by Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service, Winona, MN. Visit, their website, http://www.hofffuneral.com , to view Ruth’s memorial video and share any stories or comments you may have of Ruth.

Written by Dean Korder

Eulogy

I’m Casey Korder son of Ruth Korder and Eugene Korder I am one of five children Ruth Korder had. We are here today mourning the loss but mostly importantly celebrating the life of Ruth Korder. You cannot sum up in five minutes how much she touched us all. I am supposed to keep this simple but mom never did anything simple despite saying she would. Ruth Korder was not a simple human being by any means.

Ruth Korder was a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt , friend and overall wonderful person. Ruth Korder liked to celebrate life and bring family and friends together. She was the glue in our family the one who held it all together.

I have asked others to describe her or share a story about her … I cannot read them all so I will share a few things of what others have said about Ruth Korder at the end we will take a moment of silence for all to share in their own way.

Incredible is the verb my sister Sherri used to describe mom. She excelled at everything she attempted small and large.

Vivacious is the word My brother Dean used to describe mom he says she was a vivacious woman whose love of life and happiness was spread in part to all who crossed her path. Family and friends were Ruth’s life and inspiration. She was the calendar grandma at Christmas and the homemade birthday card great grandma who always seemed to remember everyone’s special day.

Accepting was how Kristi and Bob described Ruth. They said She would always invite new people into her home that relatives and friends brought for family dinners. Kristi said, “My husband, Bob, and I would attend Easter or Christmas dinner and say…who is that? We tried to get the names down because we knew they would possibly show up again because they were always invited.”

Creative is how Tony Korder described his Grandma. Ruth was always creating things whether it was a scrapbook, afghan, , quilt or any number of projects she had going on. Some say she was an extreme multitasker and always seemed to be working on something.

Unique is how Josh described his grandma he said grandma never adhered to any one style she never let anything influence her she seemed to always blaze her own trail.

Diligent and happy was how Her grandson Buck described her. He said he she was always on top of her game and she was all the way up to the moment her heart gave out. He also said she was always happy and he often thought “Why is she so friggin happy?”

Kindhearted was how Samantha her great granddaughter described her because Ruth would go out of her way to help people.

Knowledgable is what many people said.
She was an avid reader and loved the pursuit of knowledge she was always reading and often had more than one book she was engrossed in.

Business minded was how some people described Ruth despite being retired from Cathedral for many years our mom never truly retired.

Passionate traveler – Ruth spent many summer’s weeks at a time traveling with her daughter, Kristi, and granddaughters Kristal and Haley exploring the United States and Canada. Since retiring she has taken time to travel with her sisters and brother. She truly enjoyed those trips and it was something she always spoke fondly of.

Stubborn – Ruth Korder never gave up even as she lay dying she never gave up and knew that there was still so much more to do. Rosemary her sister told a story the other day about when she was born she wasn’t expected to survive and she was fed from, an eyedropper, kept in box, and set by the stove to keep warm. This was 1937 around the time of the Great Depression and the doctor came around to check up on Bernice my grandma and was amazed little Ruthie was still alive.

Persistent – Our mom was a fighter from beginning to end. She resisted death but knew it was coming however her wit, charm and sarcasm remained intact until the end. The last time I saw her she was telling a doctor that she didn’t understand what she was saying because the lady kept repeating herself five times over and she grew tired of hearing her repeat herself so my mom said in a sarcastic tone, “I don’t know what you’re saying!” The doctor finally figured out that my mom truly knew what she was saying and the doctor said, “My you’re a feisty one”. Yes Ruth Korder the feisty one who even on her death bed never lost a beat she was coherent and had her wits about her until 10 am on August 3rd.

She was a fighter, survivor, and lived her life to the fullest. She was compassionate, caring, stern, and an all-around good person.

Loving wife – is what my dad would say. she was a Loving wife for 59 years she was devoted to our dad Eugene in sickness and in health. My brother Dean said if you wanted to know what true love was, all you had to do was see the two of them interact. She cared for him with a warm heart, a gentle touch, and absolute love, and tucked him into bed every night with a song.

Most importantly she loved people and would do anything for anyone, however, she wasn’t easily swindled. I know each of you have your own relationship with Ruth and I hope she will live on in spirit despite her body giving out. It is hard to believe she has left because she has been such an integral part of each person here. She wouldn’t want us to stop living because she is gone she would want us to live and be happy.

Growing up she often gave advice sometimes in a very nonlinear way but the most important thing she would say to me was, “As long as you’re happy”. For many years I wasn’t happy and she knew that but she never stopped loving me and she would always come back to those words of advice “As long as you’re happy”.. She wouldn’t want any of us to stop being happy I think if she was here she would say don’t take too much time mourning and grieving for me because I want you to keep living and being happy. She would want to be remembered in life.

Ruth Korder had many traditions and hopefully some of those traditions will be kept alive. She put together many photo albums and this is what she said in one of her notebooks in regards to her scrapbooks I want to leave the stories of what we did and where we went for the future generations of my family I want them to know their ancestors. She was archiving for future generations we live in a world of great change but we can make the world a better place to live if we just learn how to live like Ruth Korder did.

Her favorite quote was by James dean which states, “Dream as if you live forever live as if you’ll die today”. I truly believed she had no regrets and didn’t live in the past she made every day count. Ruth Korder did not want to die on August 3rd her projects were not complete but she has left us to work on new projects and have other travels. I truly feel she found her peace and truly believe she wants us to be happy and to continue living life. She wants us to continue to dream as if you live forever and to live as if you’ll die today.

There are some many words to describe Ruth, mom, sister, grandma, friend and more… Please take a moment to share silently your word for her and the reason behind this or any other thoughts you may have for her.

My mom would sing a song to my dad every night after he had his stroke it was her way of saying even though we aren’t sleeping side by side we are never truly apart and that she loved him dearly. I would like to play the song so we can send Ruthie off on her journey.

Before I do that I have few more things to say please if you can stop by the house once in awhile to visit my dad and brother Ruth was worried that if she left first that they would be left alone. Finally My family would like to Thank you all for coming to celebrate the wonderful life of Ruth Korder.

Tablets for our Classroom

Tablets for our Classroom

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Blame Game

“You can blame it on your teachers. You can blame it on the weather. You can blame it on how your mother and father didn’t stick together.”

Langhorne Slim

   The African proverb says, “It Takes A Village to Raise a Child.” Yet, we often lose sight of this and it perpetuates a growing problem in this country. I am not sure if it is human nature or not, but we tend to become blame throwers when things go wrong or fall apart. This is definitely happening with the education problem in the United States. Lately teachers have been taking the brunt of the blame for the dismal state of education. The big education news has been the release of school data and performance by teachers as a way to correct the issues in education. I don’t think more standardized test are a solution and blaming schools solely is not going to solve the education issues. As an educator I just want the time to help my students grow and be educated without all the red tape associated with it.

     The pressure on teachers and students to pass tests is enormous and truly takes away from the educational experience because we are too worried about the “test” or “data” to truly immerse ourselves in the learning process. We are also inundated in the blame game that we then to lose touch with what it takes to truly be an effective educator for the benefit and well being of all our students. 

     I continually battle within my own self whether to just wave the white flag and give up because the politics of teaching interferes with the actual teaching and educational experience of my students. I truly belief we are doing a disservice to our future generations and something radical needs to occur in order to truly fix an education problem which is spiraling out of control. 

This article in the New York Times is an excellent example of how we should end the blame game in education and really focuses on the students. Furthermore, this blog on Standardized test elaborates on how these test hinder the educational experience for students. It is time to end the blame game and start educating and helping our students become the best citizens they can be. We can no longer turn our back on the future. We owe it to the children to do our part and stop being a blame thrower. 

We should reflect and really look inward, We need to start focusing on the children of today and the adults of tomorrow before it’s too late. It is time for adults to stop arguing and join together as educators in order to help all students succeed. It truly takes a village.