Category Archives: Uncategorized

Posted on October 11, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

In a day and age where we think the latest fad, technological or otherwise, this is refreshing food for thought. Real differentiation operates child by child.

elketeaches

C’est vrai: French president promises to ban homework
French call for boycott of homework

I believe homework is evil in the primary years, especially for students that are NOT struggling with the fundamentals. The quality of homework that my son has been coming home with has been decreasing and becoming less imaginative and non creative (currently Grade 3). It does nothing for him except make him HATE school. It’s boring! He gets little reading books that are on topics that do NOT interest him. I’d rather see him totally engrossed in a good book (like Harry Potter, Wimpy kid or The Hobbit) than see him unhappy doing his homework….which by the way he feels he must do so that 1) his teachers are “happy” & he doesn’t get in trouble and 2) so he can get the “fake dollars” to buy stuff!

Differentiation – I would be less anti-homework if…

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Insight

Posted on October 11, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

The picture below was not taken today. Winter arrived. In some parts of our fair province 10-15 cm (3-5 inches) of snow fell. The insight is that it will be back up about 15 C on the weekend. Behind each cloud lays blue sky. I only have to wait.

Behind sullen clouds;

Insight awaits

In spaciousness.

Effortlessly

Be present

Hear silence.

In refuge

Rest heart and mind

Drift with the current.

Behind clouds;

Blue sky

Be patient.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Photography, Poetry, Uncategorized and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Posted on October 10, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

This is tomorrow. In many parts of the world, it is a lack of education that holds back girls. What can we do to help?

Reality Blog Award

Posted on October 10, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Tiny, from Tiny Lessons Blog nominated my blog for an award called the Reality Blog Award. I am grateful to Tiny. You can decide what you would like to do based on time and other considerations. There are no rules per se. I followed the template that Tiny provided, but each of us can follow our path on this award.

Here is the image for this award:

These are five questions that Tiny passed on and I will answer:

1) If you could change something what would you change?

I would have become a teacher sooner in life.

2) If you could repeat an age, what age would it be?

This is two answers: 20 and 22. The first year was the year Kathy and I met and the second was the year we married.

3) What one thing really scares you?

I handle the loss of those close to me well, but still it is the thing I think that scares me the most.

4) What one dream have you not completed yet and do you think you will be able to complete it.

I would finish my PhD, start a school, and write.

5) If you could be someone else for the day, who would you be?

I would be interested in being Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed for a day.

I nominated 20 different blogs I visit regularly. They include photography, poetry, prose, opinions, spirituality, etc. They are not the only blogs I visit, but I wanted to acknowledge a new group. I visit them and gain insight from their reality.

This award does not go with any specific “rules”. Instead each nominee can do whatever feels good to them, but I hope they will take the nomination as a sign of appreciation and encouragement.

Dancing on Frozen Beaver Ponds

Real Manure

Francine in Retirement

Lizzie Joy’s Photo Suite