Month: May 2023

The “R Word”

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Bruce

For those unaware in a few weeks I will bring a close to my teaching career after serving for 35 years in a variety of roles.  I will retire at the end of the month.  Since I suffer from being an introvert, and having low self-esteem. This being the result of a confusing childhood as the second child- retained in third grade (I was “immature”) but later put in the gifted and talented program.  Later on being the black sheep of the family… lots and lots of baggage, most of it just needs to be put back in the attic.  I joked with my parents about the painful mess of being “held back” (something my peers at the time referred to as “flunking”) by reminding them that at over 50- I carry around a stuffed monkey, read comic books and play with LEGO bricks.  Maturity and I don’t get along.  That said, I decided it might help me to go through some of my highlights.  I’m sharing those here because… why not?

I started working with kids when I was in elementary school and hung out with the kindergartner next door doing my homework and teaching him what I was learning.  Then came my little brothers and formally when I turned 18- I became “Mr. Bruce.” I worked in a preschool in Southern California my senior year and during breaks throughout college.  I was that person who would get off the plane from college then get dropped off at school and work until close.  I loved what I was doing and really found joy in working with some amazing teachers who influenced my later teaching- where else would I have learned to say the alphabet backwards?

When I came back to Indiana (against the wishes of my parents) I wasn’t hired until after the start of school.  I had been working for a week as a substitute and had been offered an assistant position, then offered my own classroom.  I felt that I may not have deserved the opportunity, so as with all of my future jobs I felt I needed to prove that my principal had not made a mistake in taking a chance on me.

At my first school I (1988-1994):

  • Started the school’s Young Astronauts program
  • Initiated Movie Nights – watched old 1950’s Science Fiction movies to raise money for the Young Astronauts.
  • Arranged an annual Huntsville US Space & Rocket Center Trip which later became the highlight of fifth grade.
  • Did multiple Graphic Design projects including Brochures & Shirts
  • Was Math Pentathlon coach for Division 1
  • Instituted a Video Portfolio grade 1 of highlights from the year.
  • Weekly poetry recitations with first graders (My favorite was Shel Silverstein’s “It’s Dark in Here” recited while wearing a bag with a lion’s head drawn on it.
  • Help create the School Wide Aerospace Theme
  • Was invited to be a part of the NASA Educational Workshop for Elementary School Teachers
  • Attended the Space Orientation for Professional Educators through the University of Huntsville
  • Presented at a few conferences
  • Worked on a planning team at the Children’s Museum on their redesign of their Science Gallery.
  • Trained teachers in using the StarLab portable planetarium

I left when a new school opened up… I applied as a way to get a friend of mine to apply (she was really into International Education and thought it would be a great fit) I was asked to join the staff, she wasn’t.  There is part of me that still wishes I had stayed at my first school, but I did what I thought was expected.  Time to make sure my new principal thinks they made the right decision, especially since I think they were told to take me by central office administration.  

At my second school I (1994-2005):

  • Enrolled at Butler University’s EPPSP (Group XIV was in the top five of my school law class)
  • Started a short lived Young Astronauts program and took those kids to Huntsville
  • Started a classroom theme: “World Wide Studios” in which the class created video portfolios of their year.  Running around with a VHS camcorder on field trips, editing tape
  • One year my 3rd grade class created a Film Adaptation of the opera Turnadot (no singing- although Nessun Dorma by a children’s choir might have been interesting)
  • Set up the format for daily video morning announcements that the students were in charge of everything-  I only served as Executive Producer
  • Assumed the role of Technology Coordinator for the building which morphed into computer lab teacher and building technology support and professional development
  • Coordinated a curriculum highlighting the works of Alexander Calder
  • Received a Calderfest Creativity Award
  • Helped create the initial District Website and served as the webmaster for multiple schools doing web design and graphic design
  • Started a Comic book club
  • Received my first Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship where I studied animation at Disney and brought back what I had learned to incorporate it in my classroom
  • Started a Heroclix Club
  • Helped develop an astronomy curriculum for third grade culminating in Starry Story Night and overnight filled with activities for students and parents
  • Worked with a group of students to create a short film: The Great Brain Robbery for the National Children’s Film Festival that took second place and was later aired on HBO 
  • Served in a variety of roles for the Indiana Computer Educators on the board and conference committee
  • Received a District Above & Beyond Award

After years of being told I should go to the district’s Science & Technology Magnet school and multiple failed attempts, I fell into a teaching position there.  Once again, especially in this case after so many failed attempts & the reason for moving schools, I felt the need to prove that I deserved to be at this school.

So at my most recent school I 2005-2023:

  • Using my certification from NEWEST brought Moon Rocks for fifth graders to examine 
  • Even though I had been nominated a couple times and never received the award I served as an IPL Golden Apple Judge
  • Served as Magnet integration Specialist at two schools- developing the vision for the STEM program and creating an online hub of resources an and lessons for each grade
  • Created the Social Media presence for the elementary schools and provided professional development to the other Magnet Specialists on all things technology
  • Served as a Technology Integration Specialist for a year providing PD and just in time troubleshooting
  • As Magnet Specialist, I created a VEX robotics team through a grant from Bloomington Robotics Club-  One team won the Rookie Team award – since there was no elementary school program, they competed with High School teams
  • Started a VEX IQ team funded by a grant from TechPoint Foundation for Youth and served as coach – in my time six teams went to State, one to the World Championship 
  • Served as a REC Foundation Event Partner 
  • Served on the inaugural REC Foundation Coach Advisory Board 
  • Was named a LEGO Education US LEGO Master Educator 
  • Was named a LEGO Education Ambassador
  • Served as a FIRST LEGO League tournament director
  • Helped create and coordinate the District VEX IQ League serving over 11 schools and 33ish teams.
  • Received a second Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship this time to visit the UK and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper through a webcomic
  • Curated a graphic novel/comic book library in my classroom
  • School Teacher of the Year
  • District Teacher of the Year
  • Article: Technology & Learning on the importance of failure in learning & teaching
  • Served as a VEX IQ Worlds Judge
  • Served as a VEX IQ Worlds Scorekeeper
  • Received an Above & Beyond Award from the district 

For the most part the stuff I have listed are outside of just teaching… You see to me kids (and teachers) are different after school and sometimes the best way to get to know a student is to not be in the role of teacher. Here’s the thing… it looks like I did a lot.  Maybe I did, but I have to ask myself… was it enough?  Every time I received recognition I wondered if it’s because I did something, I was in the right place at the right time, or if there was more I should have done.  My identity has always revolved around my career.  Many people know that if it has to do with school, it is my priority & has been pretty much since I was 18. My kids and their needs have always been the most important thing.  I don’t have my own kids- I borrow some for 180 days and try to do my best for them.

I’m asked – do I have a favorite class? I have memories from every year. I wish I could remember every student- I do. I actually can, if you give me enough time, but pouncing on me with a “Do you remember me?” in the middle of a store will make me run away in terror and then remembering the highlights of your antics while driving home, depressed that I couldn’t pull it all up that instant.

So why stop now?  Lots of reasons- a story for another day when I decide to unpack some of the more recent baggage. Now I head into that “Undiscovered Country” I wonder what will happen.  Part of me feels like David Tennant at the end of his run as the Doctor*… “I don’t want to go.”  Then I think… He regenerated into Matt Smith… and bow ties ARE cool.  Here’s to my regeneration at the end of the month- GERONIMO!

*Yes, I know he’s coming back for a brief time but still – he did regenerate.

Uncle Bruce’s Guide to Dungeons and Dragons Or like it was known in the late 70’s and 80’s: Satanism 101

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Bruce

Role playing games are basically choose your own adventure stories in which everyone gets to decide the path the story goes. They range in complexity and are usually set in a Fantasy, or Science Fiction world. Think about it, being a level 14 elementary school teacher might be adventurous, but after a while grading papers for nights on end can get a bit boring.

Dungeon & Dragons is the grandfather of them all (I’m sure someone will argue the point, but for me it was a great starting place, and still is).  Based on a fantasy world in which magic is in the air and mythical creatures exist.  Just watch the beginning of Disney’s “Onward” from 2020- just watch out for gelatinous cubes. 2023 will bring a new live action film which looks rather good – “Honor Among Thieves”  as of this writing all we have are trailers, so- Caveat Emptor.

Starting out:

What do you want to be?  You pick your character, the person running the game “The Dungeon Master” also known as “Game Master” also known as “Jeff” or in your case ‘Uncle Bruce” is more of a narrator and rules arbitrator.  They set the world before you and adjust to what the group decides, guiding them through the story to hopefully a happy ending.

Do you want to be an elf or a dwarf?  Do you want to swing a sword or throw lightning bolts?  When you create a character there are pros and cons to every choice.

Character Creation Basics:

Attributes:

Strength- How strong you are

Dexterity- How fast you are, how accurate you are when hitting something

Intelligence- How smart you is

Wisdom- How wise you are- can you be fooled?

Constitution- Health, How much damage can you take?

Charisma- How people see you- Are you a pretty boy? Are you someone people fear? Do people naturally trust you?

Races/Species:

Each race/species has their own pros & cons.  One thing to always consider is what are the disadvantages and how big are they.  For example:  I have learned that for me having a character that has “darkvision” is better than carrying a torch around.  Torches tend to be like bright targets to dungeon dwelling monsters.

The basics are:

Humans-  Just your average “Joe” or “Josephine” +1 to all ability scores, no darkvision

Halflings (Hobbits) – Short, furry feet no darkvision +2 Dexterity, Lucky (reroll 1’s

Lightfoot – +1 Charisma, Stealthy

Stout – +1 Constitution, advantage vs. Poison

Dwarves – Like mining and beards. Darkvision advantage against poison

Hill Dwarf- +1 Wisdom

Mountain Dwarf +2 Strength

Elves – can be rather full of themselves  Darkvision, +2 Dexterity

High Elf- +1 Intelligence, Wizard Cantrip

Wood Elf- +1 Wisdom

Drow- +1 Charisma, Superior Darkvision, disadvantages to sunlight usually seen as evil- c’mon they worship a giant spider goddess

Lesser known: which means the DM can say “no” or make it really weird every time you need to go into a town. “The townspeople shutter their windows as the Dragonborn walks by…”  “The priest at the local temple gathers a mob to drive the Tiefling out of town before evil descends and destroys this season’s harvest”  “There’s something weird about the way people look at you.”

Gnomes – +2 Intelligence, Darkvision, advantage on INT WIS & CHA saves vs. magic

Forest Gnome +1 Dexterity, minor illusion cantrip, talk to animals

Rock Gnome- +1 Constitution Tinker

Dragonborn – Don’t ask me how, but half dragon half human +2 strength, +1 Charisma

Draconic Ancestry breath weapon varies

Tieflings – demons get around =1 intelligence, +2 Charisma, darkvision, Thaumaturgy cantrip Hellish rebuke spell, darkness spell at 5th level

Half Elf – Elves slumming it +2 Charisma, +1 two other scores, darkvision, advantage vs. charmed and sleep magic

Half Orc – Orcs meet up with humans who are into bad boys & girls- you know the ones trying to rebel against their parent’s authority  +2 Strength, +1 Constitution, darkvision, extra damage on a critical hit

Character Classes:

What is you job/profession?  What are you doing adventuring around?

The basic character classes are:

Fighter – hits things with a sword

Magic-User – when in doubt, cast a fireball at things.

Cleric – OMG! Help me!  Usually uses the divine to help and support characters.

Rogue – Where’s my wallet?  Hides, and picks locks.

There are others, but these are pretty much the root of all characters each has their pros and cons and in the old school D&D subclasses:

Fighter: Strength or Dexterity, Constitution or Intelligence (if you want to cast spells)

Barbarian: Fighter with anger management issues  Strength, Constitution

Paladin: Fighter + Cleric  (Holier than thou attitude) Strength, Charisma

Monk: “everybody was Kung-Fu fighting”  Dexterity, Wisdom

Ranger: Fighter + Druid  Dexterity, Wisdom  Think Robin Hood

Magic-User:

Wizard:  Knowledge is POWER  Intelligence, Constitution or Dexterity

Sorcerer:  I was just born this way Charisma, Constitution

Warlock:  Power from a devil or Demon. Charisma, Constitution

Cleric: Wisdom, Strength or Constitution

Druid: Wisdom, Constitution

Rogue: Thief, spy, con artist Dexterity, Intelligence or Charisma

Bard: A little bit from column a and a bit from column b.  Charisma, Dexterity

Check to see when things happen for each class- When do you get certain powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men?  Each class will have a point where you can increase an ability score- this would be when (if you wanted to) exchange this for adding a feat.  

“I think your Alignment might be off.”

Every fandom has their version of Alignments. I agree with one of my old DM’s who had one rule- we do not play evil characters because that is who we are fighting against. To put it simply these are the Alignments. I have found that while it is fun to play something that isn’t “you” it is harder than you think, since your own morals tend to get mixed up in how to react to situations. For this I tend to play either Lawful Good or Chaotic Good which is determined by my characters background.

The Naming of Names

The last thing you should do after rolling everything out and figuring out who your character is would be to give it a name. I have found that this can be the window into the player’s soul. If you are serious you create some fanciful name that fits within the world. You may just name it after a character from a story. How many fighters are named after Arthurian knights, or Conan the Barbarian? How many wizards are named “Gandalf” or something similar? How many elves are named “Elrond” or Halflings named “Frodo”? The name should be meaningful for you and who cares what other people think? As you will see, I’m a little silly when it comes to my naming of characters, because that’s the way I play. I don’t take the game or my character too seriously.

Over complicating things at the start…

There are a few things that are listed as optional or at the “DM’s discretion” sometimes these are little things that aren’t a big deal, just understand that while your character can be used in another game, another DM may not have the same open-mindedness that another one has. Also keep in mind that everyone has a different level of experience or even access to materials. When I am playing with a new group, I always start with a simple straightforward character out of the Player’s Handbook. I don’t add anything outside of the basic rules. I figure until I know the group, this is the best. I chuckle when a new player who has just finished rolling out their character sits next to someone who starts off with, “My character is a Warforged.” Which is from a book that the DM and the player might have access to, but no one else. Then they announce that they are an Artificer, that class is from a different book, so now instead of a world inhabited by elves, dwarves and humans, we now have droids with blasters…

What happens after your first adventure?

Good question. For a lot of people that is the time where they need to decide if they like the character they have and want to continue or if they want to try something else. Sometimes, after one adventure, a player will realize that they like what another player’s character was doing and will want to start new. Sometimes, one adventure automatically leads into another – hence the chance to have an EPIC campaign rivaling the Odyssey or Le Mort D’Arthur or Game of Thrones or Toy Story.

The Awesomeness of Third Level-

Most character classes require you to make some choice at third level.  The idea is that you have a basic knowledge of how the game functions so now you can customize your character to better meet whatever your vision may be.  By this time if you have not come up with a backstory, you may want to since it helps in roleplaying.  You should look at what those options are and maybe start steering your character that way from the beginning.

Uncle Bruce’s Role Playing Evolution:

I started off playing a Lawful Evil assassin (Thief subclass) and basically did everything that in real life I would never do.  The Marquis de Iblis served me well through many adventures throughout high school.

In college I played a magic user who carried a katana.  We used the Middle Earth Role Playing System based on ICE. He was pretty much a bait and switch character.  You saw this vagabond on the road, thinking he was a down and out fighter and then from out of nowhere you got hit with a lightning bolt.  Greyf was actually used by my DM at home to confuse his hone group during one of their adventures.

I returned to D&D playing a rogue in a few games (Cecil), a Wizard in a few games (Bibbiti Bobbiti Boo) a Barbarian in one game (Oogachucka) finally settling on a series of Bards (Lennon McCartney, Simon Garnetfunkel, Peter Paulenmary, and now Arlo) to me the bard is the most versatile of the classes allowing you to heal, cast spells, and fight. The Bard College you choose at third level helps to refine what direction you want your character to go.