Lesson in Education: Default Nostalgia

My memory has a default. Coldwell
Its a routine. I look at the sky and depending on the deepness of the El Paso blue sky, I can remember one of the grade levels I was in. Bright blue and sunny was dreadful at times for the ever popular class of P.E. The infamous “mile” was something I hated but not because I was afraid of running. It was running up against the fastest and prettiest girls. That was cred in our book. I loved running, but I always felt like something was tied around my legs holding me back from going full blast! I hated it. I was not the fastest. But, I wasn’t the slowest. I was ok. There were times it felt like a let down in my family.
Its hard for me to hear that P.E. has been taken out of Texas schools. At a time when human beings have digital access pretty much everywhere in their life, WHY TAKE AWAY PHYSICAL EDUCATION? This is a huge mistake. Look at the person to your left then your right. Do they have a cell phone, tablet, headphones/air buds, smart watch, or laptop? More than likely. The responsible adults have cars with wi-fi to view apps or watch something. And of course, those little humans follow along. They don’t get that technology on their own payment plan, do they?
This didn’t happen overnight. This was planned by design by people who have not been in the classroom to teach. There’s been a hug push for technology since the early 2000s. Several entire rooms were cleared out and filled with computer labs. The curriculum to teach handwriting was also cut out. There were several teachers that were specifically told to stop teaching hand writing or get written up. The new thing was students were going to learn how to use computers. That huge push hasn’t stopped. The year is 2025 and students are issued laptops. Parents/guardians buy the cell phones/smart watches/ tablets/ and head gear. What a perfect world for today’s kid?
Flashback to the 1970s and 1980s. Maybe the 90s. Things had to be earned. Yes, there were some kids we knew that got everything they wanted. I am talking about the rest of us that had to work in the house, the yard, babysitting, or whatever else to “earn” Atari, a bike, cassette player, or skate board. My brother had a paper route. That was to help the family. My other brothers had their jobs as well. The majority of our friends had to work. New tennis shoes that I wanted? That meant cleaning a lot and taking up my brothers’ chores to work at those shoes. I had a cassette headphone player because it was a hand me down from my brothers. That is how we got stuff. The technology was not needed for communication. Now, it is.
I also was part of the parents group that bought a cell phone for my young Green Day era son. Those days were “Nobody talks til after 9 pm!” Minutes took on a way of currency in some cases. I did stick to the hand me down route with my other kids. Years later my youngest daughter also got a hand me down cell phone. Here is the difference, I limited the time on it. Trips to Barnes and Nobles and the public library were high on our list of weekly to-do things. It was a struggle to find a way to buy books, but we did it. The phone was a status thing for my kids as the latest VANS or Nike shoes were in my youth. I haven’t missed how a cell phone is a status icon.

The cell phone was a communication device. I remember a young second grader who had a smartwatch and her mom worked at the school. She would communicate with her mom where she was and what she was doing. That was a sign that the days of calling the classroom or teacher were over.


This is also a sign of how students do not know how to read or write at their grade level. Students on every level from middle school thru high-school complain they have to write more than three sentences or beyond a couple of paragraphs. I have known students that have said they don’t need to know how to read or write because the computer or AI will fix it. As a teacher that’s concerning and a red flag. For most parents, it’s not their problem. That is the teachers responsibility and fault. They don’t say that if their kid can’t run or play ball, though.
Flashback to nostalgia: I remember looking out the windows and seeing the clouds. Great reading weather. We read books. We knew how to use a dictionary and encyclopedias. Parents were “Go find the answer.” Yes, this was a problem for us. How can I find a word I can’t spell?
“Figure it out.” <—Most parents. People had phone books. Most of us knew phone numbers. Not today. Students have cell phones, but do not know their own parents contact information. Educators have two thoughts in their heads when they hear this: “That’s your mom? You don’t know her number?” And then, the other question that comes up, “Why didn’t your parents make you memorize their number?” Students can remember lyrics to inappropriate lyrics, tic-toks, Instagram posts, and the current way to spell the creative content creators name(s). Parents hold the majority of the cards for what teachers have to work with. How can a parent get mad and demand the teacher be responsible because their kid can’t read and at the same time not feel responsible for not teaching their kid to memorize their info? In 40 years parents don’t want to be held responsible for their child’s education, but will give all the technology needed to avoid a solid education.
I look outside and I see clouds in a deep blue sky. I feel the wind getting colder as I listen to Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends”. I can go outside and walk and enjoy the change in seasons at this time of year in my hometown. As your reading this, do you know what this time of year is? Does your kid? Maybe ask them. Talk about how this time of year its not just viral pumpkin drinks or sweater posts. Its your time. Your time to walk and listen to each other’s music. Talk about what is crucial in this time of year. Your time with each other. And, if you must, take your electronics. Take pictures of the sky, the sunset, the birds, and your neighborhood. What does it smell like? Autumn has a variety of smells. The colors of autumn will vary. The song playing on the way home. I have those songs in my head a lot at this time of year. I remember my family and my friends. I especially have that default. I don’t know if if will ever be a default in your life, but give it a shot.

Physical education may be out of the curriculum for schools, but don’t let electronics compound that. Walking, running, riding a bike, riding a skateboard, playing soccer, tennis, football, and ping pong are great things to do.

The day to day walk in every weather

I remember the way the rocks felt under my shoes. Sometimes they were wet. Most days they were dry. The days that it snowed, they were quiet. Walking to and from school were the moments I usually walked to alone. My five senses were alive in my neighborhood. There was inspiration from the birds tweeting, ants crawling, taste of dirt as a car drove by, sun on my skin, and best of all the smell of real food that was coming from the school cafeteria. Walking to school day to day in every weather was my lesson in “You will get to school and be on time…or else.”

Labor Day, Halloween, New Year’s day, May 5th

The school year started after Labor Day. The weather was warm on the way there and HOT on the way back. Halloween the weather started to get cooler in the mornings and warm in the afternoon. New Year’s day was cold both ways. May 5th marked cool mornings and warm weather on the way back. Walking to school was expected and completed by myself. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had an understanding of being responsible. I was responsible for getting to school on time. I had learned to set a schedule. I knew what time to leave out the front door to get to my class before the tardy bell. Being tardy was 100% unacceptable with my parents. Being tardy meant getting yelled at and sometimes getting the belt as punishment. I have seen students walk to school during all my milestones. My classroom is a safe place to come into from all the elements. I do set the expectations that every student is on time. That expectation sets the tone for students to practice responsibility, dependability, and discipline of their own actions. They don’t know it, but this practice will be one of their expert skills in life.

The lesson of dealing with DREAD

Walking to school sometimes was filled with dread. On the way to school, didn’t finish my math homework; didn’t bring my meal ticket; didn’t know if my one best friend was going to be at school; didn’t want to run the mile in P.E. These major issues were with me every step. Today as I drive to work, I see some students walking to school. What dread thoughts are they dealing with? The lesson of dealing with dread as a kid has the teacher in me contemplate that dread is going to come into my classroom. To counter the dread, I greet each student with either a high five or knuckles. Some students do not want to be touched. So every student is given a smile and friendly eye contact. I say their name as they walk in. I affirm they presence is welcomed and dread is not.

Time to Think

Walking to and from school was the time to think. The only person there hearing the way the rocks sounded was me. But, my neighborhood was a stage where I practiced my craft of writing, drawing, going over what I could of said in the argument with some of the kids at school. If I was going to be able to watch one of my shows in the living room that night. How I could of done better on my test. How I could be a better athlete like my brothers. How I wish I was pretty and popular like Monica Chavez, Debbie Papa, Irene Loy, Laura Marcial, and Yvonne Ramos. Why was my mom always so tough when I wanted to open up to her. Who shot JR? What are students thinking about as they walk to school? Most students I see in the morning are walking alone. But, in the afternoon, I see most students walking in groups. I am able to use this information for background knowledge of students. Students come in to the classroom with thoughts all over the place. My classroom has to have a focus. I frame the lesson and what activities are best for that class. The classroom management is to keep student actively engaged with chief bucks to keep that focus throughout the class time. Each class can be the same, but this is middle school. Each class is going to be different. Getting to know how students have relationships outside my classroom, gives insight to how my philosophy in teaching will proceed each class.

Being responsible, dealing with dread, and time to think by walking to and from school were vital to me as a kid. Now as a teacher, students have the same things to go through but not from my past. I have developed this parallel in writing. It is extremely important to understand students are dealing with today’s technology, current events, family dynamics, and school culture for being responsible, dealing with dread, and time to think.

Officially Elizabeth Abilez

Most teachers can relate to a time in their childhood that presented itself that they were destined to be a teacher. My childhood was that presentation. I attended Coldwell Elementary. It was Kindergarten through the 8th grade. I was fortunate to have attended Coldwell from Kindergarten through 8th grade. I don’t remember the exact day I knew I wanted to be a teacher. Maybe, it was on a rainy day inside a quiet classroom where I could smell the wonderful handmade food from the cafeteria. Maybe it was the warm sunny mornings walking to school and seeing my school getting closer. I could hear kids on the playground. I could see teachers walking into the school. It was my school. It was my life for 9 consecutive years. Here is where education became the foundation of my life. This was the first lesson in teaching.

I am a certified professional teacher in social studies middle school. I recently passed the edTpa alternative certification process with my alma mater University of Texas at El Paso. I have completed my one-year residency for the alternative certification program which was from January 2021 to December 2021. The program pairs up with a mentor teacher. This program provided me with support, experts, and quality courses to zero in on my focus to teach history to all students.

I come from a strong willed family. It was my parents that set the bar for all us to graduate from college. It is in our DNA to teach. My father was from a small little town of Junction, Texas. My mother is a native of El Paso aka Chuco town. They were first generation college students. They set the tone for my five brothers and I to “get a college education!”. My parents grew up and were not middle class. They were not rich. They grew up very poor. But that was just the economics. My parents were taught to be first class in their academic achievements. Dedication to honest work. And the virtue of faith was the cornerstone of their childhood. The lesson that your education is something that cannot be taken from you was taught over and over day by day, year by year by my parent’s central focus that my siblings and I were going to have a college education because they knew were capable of achieving it. But, most importantly, it was our right to have an education. That cannot be taken away.

The mission of this blog is to introduce many lessons for teaching from my experience in my teacher residency and my first-year teaching. I had the best mentor teacher anyone could ask for. One important lesson I can pass on is that we as professionals need to help each other. I was welcomed into my assigned school by the faculty and staff. It was the first time that I was aware that I was seen as a professional teacher. I wasn’t a substitute on a long-term assignment. I was a teacher!

Why do this?

  • I would like to assist future teachers with edTpa.
  • I would like to share lesson plans which will show differentiation strategies, ELL strategies, and small group modifications.
  • I would also like to share the struggles of teaching students, having empathy for parents, and collaborating with teachers.
  • I will be writing how my education led the way to my professional teacher status.
  • I will be sharing inspirational and motivational self-care ideas because teachers need to know that our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health is a priority.

Lastly, I am dedicated to being a professional teacher in social studies. I am a dedicated woman who persevered over roadblocks, tragedies, and pain to attain my certification to teach. One important thing I remember when I step into a classrooms is the saying “Walk like you have 3000 ancestors behind you”. I intend to have you along for the journey.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

  • Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
  • Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

  • Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
  • What topics do you think you’ll write about?
  • Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
  • If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

  • Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
  • Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

  • Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
  • What topics do you think you’ll write about?
  • Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
  • If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.