Ordering Your Private World
“If my private world is in order, it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity” – Gordon Macdonald - Ordering Your Private World I’ve been doing a lot of rich, deep reading lately. A lot of soul-searching, deep thinking, gut-level discussions [...]
We Teach Who We Are Pt 4 – Ourselves
The third reason for the complexities of teaching, an often overlooked factor is the fact that: we teach who we are. “Teaching emerges from one’s inwardness. As I teach, I project the condition of my soul onto my students, my subject and our day together.” Parker Palmer Days when I am stressed, distracted by other job demands, [...]
We Teach Who We Are Pt 3 – Students
“The students we teach are larger than life and even more complex. To see them clearly and see them whole, and respond to them wisely in the moment, requires a fusion of Freud and Solomon that few of us achieve.” Daunting tasks, so it seems. Caring for kids is synonymous with being a teacher. If [...]
We Teach Who We Are Pt 2 – Subjects
The first complexity that leads to the roller coaster of highest highs and the plummets of the lowest lows is the fact that our subject matters are incredibly difficult to get a handle on. For most teachers, they are required to be a generalist – something pretty hard to accomplish, as it is difficult to [...]
We Teach Who We Are Pt One – The Roller Coaster
I really, really love the writings of Parker Palmer. He has a way with words, drawing me into a deeper understanding and awareness of the inner dialogue, battles, joys and successes that I face daily as a teacher. His article entitled “We Teach Who We Are” demonstrates this incredible skill so well. In discussing the [...]
Never Mistake Enthusiasm for Priority
When you are passionate about what you do, enthusiasm comes along with the territory. That is a good thing, a necessary thing. When enthusiasm becomes problematic is when it is allowed to determine your list of priorities, and as a educator I know this all too well. I can get excited about the latest book, [...]
Good Feedback Causes Thinking
I loved this prezi that recaptured again what Assessment for Learning truly means. Within it is a video on giving feedback from Dylan Williams and in it he says something that was quite profound for me this afternoon… “Good feedback causes thinking.” As a Social Studies and Language Arts teacher, I struggle – as oftentimes offering feedback [...]
Report Cards: Autopsy or Physical?
This is definitely an on-going debate at my school. Report cards – how to we best report achievement? While many of you are in the throes of writing report cards, you may not quite have the time at the moment to venture into the “what ifs” of assessment. For many of you, report card theories [...]
What Makes a Truly Great Teacher?
This question has continued to come up again in conversation so I thought I would re-post it. Great discussion starter amongst colleagues! This question was posed at my table last week at an Alberta Education Curriculum Coordinator meeting, and the ensuing discussion was inspiring. What is it that makes truly great teachers? One brought up [...]
Five Words to Live By…
I follow a few different blogs, and this one by Jim Rohn really had me thinking about the words that I believe make a life worthwhile. I have to echo a few of Jim’s words. First and foremost I would agree – LEARN is a powerful word in my profession, in my life. “You have [...]
