Teacher’s Blog

3/1/22
Today was hopefully the last day for masks in the classrooms due to COVID and this is the historical note regarding such a wonderful event!
But it is worth noting, parents seemed to care 10x more than the majority of my students. The amount of politicization over a cloth mask and misinformation so many Americans have dealt with over this is ridiculous. Let it be known I ran well over 200 miles WITH a mask on and always, always, always felt fine. There’s so many more ways we can be “oppressed”… I guess if there’s one positive takeaway from the sadness of Ukraine is that it is a strong reminder to think about perspective more often and appreciate the good things we have in this country.

2/10/22
6 month update. Still alive. That is all.

6/23/2021
Well. Just like that, a year plus some has flown by.
It is only fitting that there should be some sort of COVID related reflection – not that the pandemic is truly over but things are looking better as the state and country is loosening its restrictions.
Without a doubt the last academic year pushed just about every educator I know to a new limit or in a new direction. Speaking for myself, I had to find new ways to do things and be more accommodating than ever while also entering a year where I would have more personal and school related responsibilities so the changes piled up every day.
1) While I could write about so many things I will just tackle the most critical things I experienced and want to reflect on from the past year:
More so now than ever I think the United States witnessed a true glimpse into the teenage mental health crisis that is largely ignored even while a major spotlight has been put on the topic. People talk about it, but as my seniors’ exit slips often asked, what’s truly being done about it? Honestly, it is a hard thing for me to genuinely empathize with as I am blessed with a lot of stability and grit while also having worked hard to strategize many outlets to maintain balance when things do get off target. The ability to quickly adapt is definitely one of my strengths but it is not for everyone especially if overall life balance doesn’t exist or gets thrown off. Everyone needs outlets. Everyone needs help. But not everyone knows where to go or has people they can trust – and trust is huge for teens. Sharing personal information in ways that isn’t systemic or generic is a boundary that needs to be explored and I think our site team can work to develop programs that work within social-emotional learning guidelines and expertise to really positively reconnect and reinforce the relationship kids have with the school and the community. The building blocks at the foundation need to be trust though. The stigma around mental health troubles needs to disappear. It needs to be normalized because after all, it is normal to feel down every once in a while and if it is chronic, everyone should work to lift people up. In college I was an RA (Yea yea yea…) and had a great experience programming (not to brag but I did win programmer of the year!). This entailed money being given out to applicants to host events where students would be invited to an activity, presentation, etc. and many times they’d get to keep or bring home something as their incentive. Most important though was the way it brought freshmen in particular together. Meeting new people, learning new skills, recognizing talents and interests were also major benefits. This same idea should be applied in high schools now.
2) I think 2020-2021 was a year where the gaps between students grew larger than ever. This is a tough thing to admit as a teacher because a large part of what I see my job as is to prevent this as much as possible. Admitting it is tough, really. It makes me feel like I didn’t do enough when in reality I know I have never worked so hard in my life (refer to the mental health statements above!).
It worries me a lot and I tried to emphasize this point as an opportunity with my seniors all year in conjunction with our reading choice, The War on Normal People, by Andrew Yang. The world is becoming more competitive than ever and in a Post-Covid world the workplace is going to be very different. Demand for human labor is going to be interesting and likely changed. Teens need to be more aware of the consequences of their choices in the long term and stronger emphasis on this planning has to happen. While I feel I adequately teach this, I still feel like the next 4-5 years are going to be rough. Something has to change for people to take on so much debt with so many people earning so little… just to survive let alone thrive. The odds are just not in their favor.
However, many, many students did step up. They handled the pandemic and battled through it right until today and I feel like this ability, and that luck, provided these students with a chance to gain two steps on the competition but at the same time this means some students were left further behind and a plan needs to be in place to help them get back on track and possibly even catch up. Disengagement from the classroom is the #1 threat to this. And for many, I totally understand that things outside of this building likely take priority and are experiences that are just stigmatized again so hard that kids won’t discuss them. That internalization makes it hard to move forward and the haves vs. have-nots once again were initially set on opposite directions in an unfair world. Schools can teach ways to face challenges though and need to. This isn’t the last pandemic the country will ever experience and there is always a student who is going through something. Closing the gap here at least is within the realm of possibility but it will certainly take resources. Communities need to ask for it and hopefully utilize what is provided for these means.
3) And lastly, I just want to give credit to so many people in our building for going above and beyond. The crazy requests, communications, demands, and overall response to these from many teachers, staff, aide, and our building administrators was really great looking back. It wasn’t always perfect but the effort never stopped. No one gave up on our students and I think in the end the kids really realized that and understood it was support versus confrontation.
At the end of every year and sometimes in between I always think about what is coming and where I want to be in a few months, a year, or even a few. It’s always nice to feel like you’re just in the right place and not want anything more.

4/7/2020
Jeesh, I thought it’d be easier to find some time to write a few posts during the shutdown but in many ways I feel like I am more busy now than ever – and I do miss my comfy office chair versus my dining room seats. I never realized how uncomfortable these are even if they look nice.

3/19/2020
THIS IS WHY NO MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD BE ABLE TO OWN STOCKS
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-richard-burr-sold-stock-stock-market-coronavirus
https://www.newsweek.com/richard-burr-kelly-loeffler-calls-resign-stock-sell-offs-1493368
This guy is a complete scumbag. This isn’t a partisan issue. This is exactly what is wrong with the country.

3/16/2020
COVID-19 Day One: Very busy. There’s definitely a lot of work to be done and many unanswered questions. I can only imagine what it must be like for families who do not have jobs that are secure as me and Sarah have been fortunate enough to be reminded we are ‘safe’.
I definitely feel the drive to help in any way I can and hope people reach out as needed.
This will be an adjustment. But we also must look at it as an opportunity to better ourselves. Not just as individuals or as professionals but as communities and a country.

1/29/2020
For 6 quarters Dan has done a tremendous job in class. He has maintained a near perfect average – and yes, Dan has always shown more interest in the topic of government than the average student but nonetheless he has still continued to grow within the framework of the curriculum. Being open to new ideas and improving upon a comprehensive understanding of the political spectrum beyond the small town politics led me to pick him as the student of the quarter among the senior class.

Raul has been one of the most improved students of the year. While SS may not have always been his strongest he has made a huge impression in class by becoming a sponge of knowledge as I say. He has restructured his learning style, challenged himself to succeed, and found pathways that work to reach goals. Beyond basic information, Raul has demonstrated a great understanding of the broader concepts of the class and regularly communicates them to his peers without fear. Awesome job!

In sports history, Sarah has just done a fantastic job. Arguably, she is the least interested in sports for the athletics purpose but has shown a great understanding of the sociology portions of the topic. Her grasp on the function of sports in American society is clear and I think her understanding brings a neat perspective to the class where lifelong participation in sports may blind us to some of the consequences of them.

12/10/19
A bit late on this but I think it’s still important to write about; many times in class students have made quick comments or asked simple questions regarding how teacher’s might go about picking a “student of the quarter” or “student of the year” even. At ACS we do honor individuals at least on a quarterly basis and in the years I’ve been a Scot I have kind of felt like students may not really appreciate the full value of this recognition.
I have great co-workers so I’d hope the thought processes and efforts are similar and honestly selecting students is really hard! There are so many different factors to consider – GPA, effort, growth, attitude, leadership, character, service in school, and the list goes on. Even though the school is small it is still hard to just pick one person per class per quarter. It might even make it harder as I could say something great about every one of the kids in class. In sum, I just thought I’d use this space to recognize these students formally and note what it was that guided me to choosing them this go round.
In the 12th grade class I selected Jessie – What stood out to me was her effort over the entire summer. Taking advantage of getting ahead in 1984, completing the entire reading packet and staying ahead of the process is such a big step towards preparing for future academic success. I think, even though I’m probably the 3rd youngest teacher at ACS, students still hear some things I have to say as outdated about the ‘next steps’ and I get it, they hear it all the time as seniors. I remember just getting annoyed with the talk about the future as a 17/18 year old and the wisdom to listen to older folks just wasn’t there for me. But Jessie heeded the advice and set herself up for an easier semester and the accountability and responsibility shown was just one factor. Continuing to produce high level work in class and contributing to discussions as a conversation starter earned her my recognition. She is a great student, athlete, and shows genuine care for her classmates and community. The examples of the ‘soft skills’ that start to set people apart were evident and one more reason why I felt Jessie deserved this recognition.
In 11th grade the process was just as difficult. Getting to know so many students for the first time and seeing others I’ve worked with elsewhere in an academic setting makes for an interesting beginning to the year. However, Denasia has gone above and beyond this first quarter in class and as a new member of the yearbook club. Academically, Denasia, is an outspoken student who is willing to share ideas and shows confidence. I believe she has a great work ethic and complacency isn’t part of who she is or ever will be and that in and of itself is a huge component for success. As a yearbook member Denasia has gone above and beyond. And as the advisor, I do not favor these students, but I will be honest and say it adds another dimension to the student/teacher relationship and an angle that allows me to see what kind of leadership, character, and service a student has in them. Denasia has shown a ton of each inside and outside of the classroom and has never turned down the tough assignments or said no to helping another member get their sections done.
There are so many students who deserve recognition and it is really nice to express my gratitude for these efforts here. Everyone who has put in their best effort, I hope you know it is recognized. And for everyone who continues to bring their best even on the toughest days, your work is certainly noticed!

4/30/19
Wow, time certainly gets away from you! What a busy year. A lot has changed since my last post – the coolest thing by far was adding a baby boy to my family! All of a sudden he is almost 1!
While ‘vacationing’ in Boston one of my grad school classmates texted me and told me she had heard my name on the radio because I was chosen as the TCT Teacher of the Week. What a cool honor! I hear this every morning on my way to school so it was neat to find myself having received it. Here is the official write up:

Week of April 23
Mr. Christopher Shinski, U.S. History Teacher at the Argyle High School
Mr. Shinski leads his lesson plans every day with enthusiasm and a great sense of humor. He uses fun methods to teach such as pop culture references to help his students remember history concepts and he always keeps his lessons interesting. Mr. Shinski is also involved with the Argyle High School Yearbook Club, tutoring and coaches Cross Country. Thanks to Mr. Christopher Shinski for all he does at Argyle High School!

After reflecting on this I really was thankful for all of my students over the years. Without them I couldn’t grow into a good teacher. And it was very humbling too. The experience has made me focus on the ideal that ALL of my students can hopefully feel this way about my classroom instruction and extracurricular efforts – not just the ones who nominated me. While it’s tough to realistically be ‘that teacher’ for every student, I can only hope that on a day to day basis my students really know I do care and try my best to help them learn, succeed, and most importantly, grow in positive directions even if it’s tough to see in the moment.

1/22/18
This update is dedicated to Hannah. That is all.

9/9/16
2016 is off to a great start. It’s a much better feeling to be settled into a school with a great community and students that have a lot of character. Blogging on a regular basis certainly did not happen last year but I’m hoping to find some more time this year. Picking up the additional adviser role for yearbook will take a lot of time but I’m confident that this year’s group will do a fantastic job and produce a unique, creative, and very memorable keepsake.
This summer was extremely eventful in the United States – not even just considering the election. Just three days in an many students are already showing a tremendous amount of interest which is surely a good sign for strong discussions, learning, and most importantly, cultivating a generation that can hopefully make positive change exponentially. Most impressive is the willingness to openly consider opposing views and take a fresh look at some of the major issues our country is dealing with.
If any current seniors pop on I also want to take a moment to personally thank you for your hard work throughout the year and the efforts on the Regents exam in June. We had an amazing success rate of not just passing scores, but mastery and upper 90’s as well.
I meant to do a quick write up in June after graduation but life got busy as it always does but that’s ok. If anything it has given me a bit more time to think about the class of 2016 and really appreciate the group as a whole for sticking out the year with a new teacher that was probably a bit different than their previous ones. I actually walked in to my classroom, viewed some curriculum, and had to ask myself how anyone could do better on some tasks than certain students did! I’m hoping everyone has found themselves in a good place and those who continued their education have already found success in their new homes away from home.
I’m sure June will be here before I know it. But for now it’s time to get back to work and hopefully keep building on what I’ve started at ACS.

3/1/16

1/26/16
Halfway through the year!

9/9/15
Well, the last month preparing for my new position has been exhausting and refreshing at the same time. Although I built a curriculum some 6 years ago for the classes I am teaching, so much has changed in education and pedagogical thinking that I’ve just felt compelled to redo much of it – and that is a GOOD thing. I can’t imagine using the same things over and over and over each year. Even if it’s new for students it would get old for me and it’s a great challenge plus an efficient way to learn more about the content.
Today I had the privilege of listening to Eric Sheninger, author of Digital Leadership, a work I was introduced to during graduate school. Listening to Eric speak about technology and integrating it into education with a purpose was reinvigorating right before students arrive tomorrow and it also made me feel like I am doing pretty good along the lines of 21st century tools.
Now the fun really begins!

7/24/15
Wow! It’s been a while I guess. This summer has been full of ups and downs but if I had to summarize it in one word I’d say its been… productive. Aside from trout fishing, bass fishing, catfishing (ok ok ok), and spending some quality time with my three pups, I’ve been spending time working on new curriculum based on books I’ve put off for way too long. The lessons and ancillary items should be up relatively soon but you’ll have to look for them – they’re for several courses! It’s crazy to think about the amount someone can grow professionally in one summer. I owe a lot of thanks to several school districts that offered me a lot of great opportunities this summer to come in and speak with them. Lastly, I was thinking how important it is to continue to have goals as a professional. I think it’s a great idea to have a “bucket list” for my career as soon as it gets off the ground and running… These are some ideas – comment to share yours!
1-Become dual certified in ELA, literacy, and/or Special Education within a year.
2-Become nationally board certified within 5 years
3-Win a league championship in varsity boys soccer
4-Have 90% mastery on any state exam I am responsible for 3+ years straight
5-Take on at least 3 student teachers in my career and make sure each and every one of them finds a job in a great district
6-Keep in touch with my colleagues
7-Publish educational research
8-Stay up to date on technology and pedagogy in my classroom
9-Make my students proud, not only of myself but of their accomplishments and efforts
10-Keep an open door policy

5/30/15
Just wanted to take a minute here and say thank you to all of those that visit this site. I know it’s been a while since I updated some pages but it does take a lot of time. Blame the trout for being so active!
Also, a huge thank you to all of the teachers and staff I’ve met this year around the area who have been really supportive. I enjoy sharing my lesson plans and ideas with you as well as talking about each school system. It really develops a well rounded sense of education since every school is different and operates under its own culture. There are many great things I will bring into the classroom from all of the school’s I’ve been in and I am sure a combination will work great once I finally get in there!

5/11/15
I just read a great article on www.tweentribune.com titled “Proms become platform for good deeds, social change” and since it is prom season throughout high schools I figured it was worth mentioning. The article highlights several personal stories from the United States where teens are using the event to draw attention to important issues or rise about social “expectations” to make a positive statement. One girl from New York stated “People who worry so much about what dress to wear or who to go with, that’s not what prom is about. Prom is about having a good time. You should just be surrounded by people who make you happy.” I think that’s a great message and she really went above and beyond to invite a young man diagnosed with autism to prom – not out of pity, but because she genuinely wanted to due to his great character and kindness. I’ve never been one to pay much attention to proms and the social aspects of it but over the past few years I’ve come to know a few of the prom kings and queens from my local area and one thing I can confidently say is that I believe each of them was voted by their peers for the right reasons. Kindness, generosity, and a willingness to be a good role model in this day and age is tough for some teens so having them recognized in this matter can really help younger students see the benefits of being that type of person. If you haven’t read it, I’d suggest the Tweentribune article and it’s a nice break from mainstream media’s obsession with sad news!

5/6/15
Well, there’s roughly a month left to the school year aside from state testing and unlike many people, I’m actually kind of sad to see it end. It’s certainly been one of those “long” years for me; finishing graduate school, earning my certification, and subbing. On the other hands every day seems to fly by in the classrooms I am in. It’s truly been fun to meet so many students and staff members from the districts I’ve been in over the past few months. In an area that’s often considered to be less diverse because of it’s demographics there is still a tremendous amount of differences between the small school districts in the radius I substitute in. Each community has it’s own histories and values that show through every day and it has made substituting a much richer experience. Because of state testing and computer training sessions I am often able to speak with the teachers I am subbing for because they are in the building. This has been really great for me because I get to share my ideas and hear theirs – I’ve already had several experiences where I get to employ my own plans or have given them to a teacher to use in their classroom.