What's Up, Doc? Well, Here's Some Teaching Resources

By Randall Freeman, PhD

Right about now, parents and caregivers are wondering how to successfully help their children with their learning in school. You may feel a bit out of sorts, especially with some new terms and phrases being bandied about. Like Common Core, Extended Learning, etc.

A few years ago, I created a website to help everybody – teachers, parents/caregivers, students – to access the enormous number of educational resources that are available on the Internet. There are so many resources; you may not know where to even begin looking for them.

My website, titled Dr. Freeman’s Educational Site (I know, not much creative thought here), is located at http://drfreeman.webs.com/. I have regularly updated it in order to simplify helping you with your child’s learning. There are sections for teacher, parents, and students.

Hopefully, this column will help you to begin easily navigating your way through my website.
On the main page, there is a yellow pull-down menu at the top. Parents, click on MORE and you will see 4 STUDENTS and TEACHERS & PARENTS. These are the most critical sections for you to assist your child and you with easing learning. There are numerous links to assist you in simplifying your life. Think of these links as your Yellow Pages® to online educational resources.

I have divided the links by subject area and – hopefully – by age groups. These links should assist you in your search for learning and practice.

There are also links to special needs issues, including autism and the like. These links will enlighten you on what families of special needs children deal with on a daily basis. They will increase awareness for us all.

There is a section on the Common Core State Standards. I am not here to attempt to convince anybody to accept or reject these standards. I believe that the majority of us have already made up our minds about CCSS. The fact is that the Common Core State Standards are now required in all public school districts in California, so I am providing (objective) information about CCSS. Check out the links for the benefit of your child and yourself in understanding what they are and are not.

In teaching the CCSS, a particular link is very useful for understanding by both teachers and parents/caregivers. The link is www.teachingchannel.com. It is located under the heading TOP WEBSITES 4 TEACHERS and is the second link from the top. The Teaching Channel provides short tutorial videos for each CCSS standard and is clearly marked as such.

My intention for this column and my website is to make everybody’s job just a little easier. Regarding Common Core, I am refraining from an opinion piece on it, simply providing you with the resources to understand it and how to make your child’s learning somewhat simpler. Even if you vehemently disagree with Common Core, it is good to know your enemy. It is the law for public schools as of now.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the parents of four daughters: Daniela, 17, and 13-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. As he explains it, this makes him Karen's boss for the first and only time in the marriage. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.

What's Up, Doc? Lessons Learned from 'Star Trek' Series

By Randall Freeman, PhD

“Space, the final frontier…”

I was barely 11 years old when Star Trek first came to television. In the original three-year run, the starship Enterprise and her crew encountered many new life forms and met dozens of new civilizations. She also addressed many of the serious social and political issues of the 1960s.

William Shatner’s Captain Kirk and Nichelle Nichols’ Lieutenant Uhura shared TV’s first interracial kiss in the 1968 episode “Plato’s Stepchildren”. It followed by mere months the murders of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. It ironically appeared on the fifth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Nov. 22, 1968.

Star Trek did not shy away from important issues of any kind. The Vulcan philosophy of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) was also introduced in 1968’s “Is There in Truth No Beauty?” The idea that people gathered together to accomplish a goal was greater than whatever goals could possibly be achieved on an individual basis was another breakthrough for television of the time. We Terrans can learn a lot from other civilizations if we allow ourselves to listen and observe with an open mind. We are greater together than apart.

As an impressionable 11-year-old boy, I became engrossed in Star Trek. I thought at the time that I was simply watching an outer space show. Upon reflection, I realized that it was much more than that.

Star Trek helped me to realize that prejudice was ridiculous. The episode “Let This Be Your Last Battlefield” showed me the insanity of judging people on appearance only. The entire planet of Cheron destroyed itself because the people who were white on the left side of their face and the people who were white on the right side of their face could not or would not accept these tiny differences in appearance.

There were many more such examples. I learned to realize what my own strengths and weaknesses were and to build upon my strengths while striving to strengthen my weaknesses. I came to realize that guiding young people into realizing their own potential was what my life needed to be directed toward. It took some time, but I came to accept and embrace that I was meant to be a teacher.

As a teacher of young children, teaching the curriculum is only a part of my job. Assisting the children to work toward what they aspired to be was another critically important part of my job. I should make it clear that it is not what I think they should be or what the family believes they should do, but what THEY want for their lives.

Individuals need to decide for themselves what they will do with their future. For those who love and support them, our job is to guide them along their path. Every person has a different path.

This is for me the essence of Star Trek’s message: Boldly Go Where You are Meant to Go. There is no Final Frontier.

Beam me up, Scotty.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the parents of four daughters: Daniela, 17, and 13-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. As he explains it, this makes him Karen's boss for the first and only time in the marriage. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.

What's Up, Doc? Another Crazy, Lazy Summer Gone By

By Randall Freeman, PhD

The summer of 2014 has been a typical summer for the Freeman Family. Dad Randy is dealing with a shoulder injury suffered at work last November, when he was run over by a tricycle (insert giggle here). Sarah was installed as Honored Queen for the local Job’s Daughters Bethel, while Megan and Holly were installed as Senior and Junior Princesses, respectively.

Big sister Daniela turned 17 years old (going on 32), Mom Karen also celebrated her birthday (age not disclosed in order to live another year). For Father’s Day, I received the DVD player I requested. Now I’m watching Prime Amazon Stream Videos on my computer because the TV is taken.

For our 21st Wedding Anniversary, I attended a morning Riverside County School Board meeting, took Holly and Megan to the Lodge so they could serve the Masons as part of the Bethel fundraising efforts, and attended a water polo fundraising meeting. My lovely bride attended water polo games and took Daniela and Sarah to club water polo practice in Corona.

Happy Anniversary, Honey.

I was finally notified that I qualified for shoulder surgery. (It only took eight months for worker’s compensation to agree to what everyone else knew months ago. I understand that eight months is very quick for WC.) I was blessed to learn that surgery could go forward on Aug. 7. Nice early 59th birthday present (birthday was the 11th).

I was supposed to return to work on Aug. 8, but I didn’t quite make it. The idea of teaching kindergarten a month or more after substitute teachers trained them for me warms my soul.

Our Chinese and Spanish visitors arrived on July 17. We very much enjoy these opportunities to share our home with students from other countries. Last year, we hosted two boys and and one girl. This year it was easy -- only two girls.

Daniela was in the Junior Olympics for water polo in San Jose. Mom Karen escaped – er, went with her -- as parental support. Everybody else stayed home with Dad.

No getaway trip to Phoenix this year. I missed the 118-degree temperatures. I missed turning the AC in the suite down to 63 degrees to take a nap while Karen and the girls enjoyed the eight swimming pools. Maybe next year.

All in all, it was a typical Freeman Family summer – six teenage girls (including our visitors from China and Spain for three weeks), three dogs, a 16-year-old cat who believes she owns me (she does -- 15 years of training worked wonders), and a turtle.

The summer has included the occasional school board meeting, trying not to kill the lawn, and watching all five seasons of "Eureka" in one month. Now when do I get to go back to teaching kindergarten?

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the parents of four daughters: Daniela, 17, and 13-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. As he explains it, this makes him Karen's boss for the first and only time in the marriage. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.

What's Up, Doc? Remember the Role of a Teacher

By Randall Freeman, PhD

What is a teacher?

A teacher is a caregiver for all students, not just those in his/her classroom. A teacher is a counselor, listening to the desires and concerns of his or her students. A teacher is a custodian, responsible for the cleanliness and constant care of his or her classroom.

A teacher is an interior decorator, assigned to regularly set up, arrange, and rearrange the classroom for 180 days. A teacher is an accountant, required to daily grade and post student grades to the online gradebook. A teacher is a listener, listening to parents and guardians express concerns and anguish over their children’s’ behavior and work. Sometimes teachers even receive praise.

A teacher spends more time with his or her students while they’re awake than anybody else in the students’ lives. That's an average of six hours a day. The parents may spend 3-4 hours with the children while they’re awake. Most people don’t think about this fact and the resulting importance in each child’s life.

As a teacher of very young children, I am regularly identified with the primary caregiver. I have been called mom, grandpa, - even grandma! The importance of a teacher in a child’s life cannot be overstated. A teacher is a primary role model for 30-180 students on a daily basis.

In high school, teachers play very important roles in the lives of their students. Teachers lend an ear to the unique issues and concerns of teenage students when the students feel uncomfortable in speaking with their parents. Teachers guide them toward helpful resources. They do not judge their students.

A teacher is a nurse. A teacher provides immediate basic first aid – usually a Band-Aid – and secures the health technician when the need is greater. A teacher provides comfort when feelings are hurt and counsel when a student strays from the path of righteousness.

A teacher is a lawgiver, guiding his or her students in creating a code of conduct for the class to follow. The rewards and consequences are also created and discussed so that all might understand behavioral expectations. The teacher models the proper behavior.

A teacher always demonstrates respect and caring toward and in front of his or her students. Parents, administrators, and other students come into daily contact with the teacher. The teacher is always "on". Students watch what the teacher does more than what he or she says.

Mostly, a teacher is human. Humans make and learn from making mistakes. Demands are made of teachers from students, parents, and administrators that do not allow for mistakes. Teachers are held to a higher standard, one that is impossible to maintain indefinitely.

Keep the above on your refrigerator and reread it occasionally. Remember what your child’s teacher is responsible for and appreciate the job they do. To a teacher, teaching is not just a job, it is a way of life.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the parents of four daughters: Daniela, 17, and 13-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. As he explains it, this makes him Karen's boss for the first and only time in the marriage. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.

What's Up, Doc? The Road to Kindergarten Class

By Randall Freeman, PhD

I didn't set out to become a teacher. As a 9-year-old altar boy, I was determined to become a priest. At the age of 10, I discovered girls. Scratch that idea.

By the age of 12, I decided that I was going to be the next Perry Mason. Grades and reality set in. By this time, I was in the middle of my senior year of college. It would have been foolish to change my political science major at that point, so I completed my undergraduate degree.

Having completed college, I now had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. It took another decade to realize that some Supreme Being was directing me to becoming a teacher. So, after 11 years of drifting, I went back to school and earned my teaching credential at UC Riverside.

By now, I had decided that I would teach fifth grade until I died. Within a few short years, I realized something – girls were entering puberty in fourth grade. I did not want to deal with this situation -- ever. (Reread my previous column to see how that turned out.)

About this time, another teacher wanted to loop to first grade with her kindergarten students. She talked me into taking her kindergarten spot so she could do so. (You see how well I was being trained to deal with females; say OK and keep my mouth shut.)

So I became a kindergarten teacher. Well, technically, I became a teacher who was assigned to kindergarten. It took me a long time before I felt I could call myself a kindergarten teacher. The first month, I caught the stomach flu from one of my students. The experience taught me a valuable experience – keep a certain discreet distance from the little ones to maintain good physical health.

I slept some 10 hours a night until I learned to pace myself. Fortunately, I was single at the time. Didn't last very long, though.

My second year as a kindergarten teacher, I met Karen. Karen was a real kindergarten teacher while I was still very much a novice. I must explain that it was not because we were kindergarten teachers that I met the love of my life. Our district teachers’ unions were holding a combined training for building reps. This was Karen’s first experience as a rep; in fact, it was the first thing she ever did as a site rep. It was kismet.

Over the years, I have bounced back and forth between kindergarten and first grade. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up earning my doctorate in Early Childhood Education. I would never have imagined any of this when I was a kid or even in school the first time around.

If not for becoming a teacher, I would never have met Karen. I never would have become the father of four beautiful daughters (thank God they take after their mother in that respect). I likely would never have ended up in a place called Menifee. Strange how life turns out.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the parents of four daughters: Daniela, 17, and 13-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. As he explains it, this makes him Karen's boss for the first and only time in the marriage. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.