Tag Archives: conversational journey

Illuminating Blog Award

Posted on August 28, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I received an award while we were on the road and took time to consider this one, as there were few rules, but it arrived at an opportune time. The blog recently surpassed 350 followers and has 1400+ likes which is remarkable as most growth occurred over the past 2 months while I rehabbed a weary body and spirit. I rediscovered some creativity and things that feed the spirit through the process. That is attributable to those who follow the blog, like it, and comment on it.

I received the award from Carolyn at ABC of Spirit Talk.

Carolyn has a diverse and award-winning blog with poetry, photographs, her love of nature, and reflects on many aspects of life. I enjoy her posts and look forward to the her surprises each day.

Carolyn indicated there was only one rule and that was to thank the person who nominated me.

THANK YOU Carolyn

She did pass the award on to me so I am passing it to two people. Melody at Meanwhile, Melody Muses is a daily respite for me. I look forward to her poetry and fantastic photography. The subtitle of her blog is:

“God’s not finished with me yet. Until then, I muse.”

and

The second blog is Mike at Mike’s Look at Life. Mike photographs the ordinary things I often pass daily and reveals their extraordinary nature for me. He shares a wicked sense of humour and his creativity through prose and poetry. The subtitle of his blog is:

“communicating issues around life including horrific loss and overwhelming joy, and many things in between.”

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Posted in Awards, Blogging, Community and tagged awards, blogging, community, conversational journey, creativity, photography, poetry, prose and poetry, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

One Lovely Blog Award

Posted on August 16, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

David nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award.

Thank you to David at Lead. Learn. Live for acknowledging my blog. I enjoy his sense of humour and advice he shares.

This morning, when I got in the car The Sound of Sunshine was playing (Michael Franti is a wonderful singer/songwriter) and I felt energized. Just like a good song, I receive a gift each day from blogs I follow.

Here are seven facts about me.

(1) I’m a terrible swimmer (I stole this from David. Swimming is an alternative to drowning for me).

(2) My favourite breakfast as a hockey player was warm beer and cold pizza.

(3) I am a goalie in hockey which explains some of my quirky behaviour.

(4) I watch Simpson reruns and learn something new each time.

(5) Teaching is my second career.

(6) I was a banker in my first career.

(7) Kathy and I met in Prince George BC, but were born in Alberta. We moved to find each other.

I mentioned I struggle with this rule on an earlier post. I follow amazing blogs and feel I am leaving someone out. I nominate the following for One Lovely Blog Award.

Gary at Gary Runn (spirituality and leadership)
Matilda at Arts of Matilda (crazy artist)
Monikah at The Life of Photos (photographer who lives life fully)
Sean at Sometimes Nothing (a writer rekindling passion for writing)
Justin at Walk and Talk (young student sharing a world of pictures)
Susan at Writing Glimmers (writer, student, parent)
Kolby at Kolby Skidmore/Photography (innovative young photographer)
William at Stadler Style (writer sharing ideas)
Ms. Hyland at Ordinary Days (teacher, student sharing her journey)
Merlin atMerlin Spielen (poetry and photography)

To accept the award, the rules are:

Link back to the person who nominated you
Post the award image to your page. (Here’s the Link)
Tell seven facts about yourself
Nominate 10 other blogs
Let them know they are nominated

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Posted in Awards, Blogging, Community and tagged awards, blogging, community, conversational journey, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Posted on August 6, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I received a nomination for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award from Ricardo at Film Photography is not Dead.

I am learning about virtual communities and their formation. It is about learning and not predetermined outcomes.

Virtual communities emphasize reciprocal practices which include a sense of trust that someone views and validates our contributions. We measure practices with followers, likes, and regular comments which resemble conversations. Since July 14, 2012, this blog went from 500 to 1000 likes, gained 75 followers, and has daily, running commentary.

We are involved and remained in virtual communities as a result of an ethic of relationship and this makes returning a conscious choice and mindful. Active participation is receiving and giving gifts thus has emotional and personal components.

An aspect of my gratitude is the face-to-face conversations Kathy and I have. She contributes to all the posts in many ways: takes pictures, edits, and questions purpose in a post. I am grateful to her and others who valorize what I am doing each day.

The rules are:

Link back to the person who nominated you
Post the award image to your page
Tell seven facts about yourself
Nominate 15 other blogs
Let them know they are nominated

1. Thank you Ricardo for nominating me, it’s an honour and privilege. Check out his blog called Film Photography is not Dead for insightful ideas about photography and great pictures.

3. 7 facts about me

I love nature.
I am a collector of many things.
I am a very nervous flyer.
I am completing a PhD in Leadership Studies.
I love brewed ice tea.
I listen to the Old Radio Shows.
My favourite fictional genre is westerns.

4. This section is challenging. I follow many blogs and feel guilty each time I do this, because I know I miss some great blogs.

My nominated blogs:

19 Comments

Posted in Awards, Blogging, Community, Reflective Moments and tagged awards, blogging, community, conversational journey, Mindful Practice, teacher as transformer, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

Leadership Is a Conversation – Harvard Business Review

Posted on June 6, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Leadership Is a Conversation – Harvard Business Review. Here is an excellent article form Harvard Business Review. Leading is about a conversation. Leaders need to recognize the importance of listening mindfully and attentively otherwise their role is one of management.

Are educators ready for this? Conversations are much harder work than using glib commentary.

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Posted in Leadership, Learning Organizations, Progressive Education and tagged conversational journey, Educational Leadership, eloquent questions, Harvard Business Review, Leadership. Servant-Leadership, Progressive Education. Bookmark the permalink.

Posted on May 10, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I think this is a thought-provoking question. It is possible conversation, like community, is in the midst of being redefined, but we should take care and retain the intimacy each brings into our lives. I felt a kinship as I read this posting. Kathy and I, after almost 40 years, try to find time for each other. We always made time, and continue to do so, for each other. It is what makes a relationship healthy.

Broadside

This recent think-piece in The New York Times argues that we have:

At home, families sit together, texting and reading e-mail. At work executives text during board meetings. We text (and shop and go on Facebook) during classes and when we’re on dates…
We’ve become accustomed to a new way of being “alone together.” Technology-enabled, we are able to be with one another, and also elsewhere, connected to wherever we want to be. We want to customize our lives. We want to move in and out of where we are because the thing we value most is control over where we focus our attention. We have gotten used to the idea of being in a tribe of one, loyal to our own party.

One of the rituals my husband and I enjoy is my driving him to the commuter train station in the morning. It’s only about 10 minutes door…

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21st Century Renaissance in Education

Posted on April 29, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Will we be 21st Century Renaissance people? This question emerged from a recent conversation with a Grade 8 Social Studies class. We discussed a broad, nuanced, and emergent worldview.

Specialization and expertise are not the calling cards of success. Adaptation and transformation are at the heart of contemporary education. Transformation is not just a synonym for change and is reflective of dramatic and systemic change. I understand transformation as a mindful, incremental process producing real change over time framed around evolving eloquent questions. What change do we need? New conversations about reimagining education producing compassionate leaders for a 21st Century Renaissance. What role will education play in helping young people become the leaders of this Renaissance? Is public education capable of transformation? Are there leaders capable of bringing forth tomorrow’s leadership? What will education of this nature look like?

Renaissance is rebirth and a time of metamorphosis and transformation. What emerges from the chrysalis stage? Ideas mature and become capable of further adaptation. Human endeavour requires rich, inclusive conversations for profound change to occur instead of superficial patching what the outdated models that exist. We need to prepare the soil for transformative conversations focused on eloquent questions where answers are not assumed before the conversation and invite diverse views during the course of the conversational journey.