Tag Archives: Mindful Practice

Life’s Mission

Posted on October 6, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Today was professional development day. The inconsistencies revealed in these exercises fascinate me. They are uninspiring, exhausting, and annoying. Frequently, I find these events are counterproductive. What they lack is personal choice. Yet, on my way home, I thought, “Am I seeing this the right way? What can I do to further the process of learning as a role model for students and other adults?” Learning is relational process between people and subject. We live in the world we learn. The world we create is lived out in and through these relationships.

My mission in life seems to have been one of a life-long learner. We sacrificed, as a family, and I obtained a B. Ed. When I felt that was insufficient, we doubled-down and I completed a Master of Education. Today, we have tripled-down and I am completing a PhD. I love learning and, when I am given choice, I believe, like many others in the profession, I make good choices. My learning is not mine. It belongs, in some ways, to those who contributed in many ways to keep the dream alive.

Live fully

Share fully

Learn one’s voice

Sing life’s song.

Whet my curiosity

Recognize gaps in wisdom

Attempt to fill

Best I can.

In each sense

Plant seeds of wonder

Water and feed

Grow rich with the wisdom.

Learn truths

Each moment contains

Be in relationship with the world

With others.

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Posted in Community, Education, Poetry and tagged community, creativity, life-long learning, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

From Earth, Fire and Water by William Butler Yeats

Posted on October 5, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Today, an interesting thing happened. All three grades are at key points in Science. The Grade 8 class was learning and applying the equation for density. They were completing a worksheet, but got bogged down with the equation when it was not straightforward and had to think algebraically. I was moving between the Grade 7 and 9 tables and looked up. There was a colleague who had stopped by on her day off helping the Grade 8 students and the parent helper. I had not asked for help; it arrived in the quiet and I thought of this poem.

We can make our own minds so like still water

that beings gather about us that they may see,

it may be, their own images,

and so live for a moment with a clearer,

perhaps even with a fiercer life

because of our quiet.

Two Toasts by Parker Palmer

Posted on October 4, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I find it interesting how when we need something to help us it falls into our laps or our Facebook folder. Parker Palmer is one of my favourite authors and thinkers. He is also a very good poet. I needed this poem today. It was not busy, but I sensed I needed quiet and space to let the words form. I began a 24 hour run with three meetings scheduled and spent most of my day in front of the computer completing ‘necessary paperwork’. I felt fried at the end of the day and, as I drove home, I thought of this wonderful poem that Parker Palmer shared on Facebook. It calmed me and I found myself at peace at the various lights and stops on the way home.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Synchronicity and tagged Mindful Practice, Parker Palmer, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

The Soul’s Choice

Posted on October 3, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

It was cool, rainy, and windy at times today. We are going to go through a couple of days of below seasonal and bounce back on the weekend. Today, a new parent was the parent-helper. She did a wonderful job and told me how much her child was enjoying our little corner of paradise. It warmed the heart on a dreary day.

The day broke

Cool and wet

Grey.

Able to dampen one’s spirit;

If allowed–

And let the dull prevail.

A glow emerged

Warmth radiates

Revealed in community.

In communal spirit

Discover my world

Leads me forward.

6 Comments

Posted in Community, Education, Mindful Life, Photography, Poetry, Uncategorized and tagged community, education, Mindful Practice, nature, poetry, school, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

October

Posted on October 2, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I am sitting and looking out the window at a hard rain coming down. I am really uncertain how I will make it to my car in my shorts and t-shirt. Despite that it is still 18 C⁰in Edmonton, but it is October and there is a risk of wet snow tonight. Early today, it was quite pleasant, sunny, and, as one student put it, it changed quite suddenly.

October arrives

Softly whispers reminders

Thank and share.

Harvest gathered

Bounty stored

The hearth calls.

Gather as one

Hands joined; heads bowed

Pray as one.

I out waited the rain. It has stopped momentarily

9 Comments

Posted in Community, Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry and tagged community, Mindful Practice, nature, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Fall’s Sabbath Song

Posted on September 30, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Snow flurries and seasonal temperatures could arrive next week. Even today, we are about 5⁰C above seasonal. Fall is a wonderful time with colours changing and signaling nature’s dormancy, a time of rest.

As I walked the river valley, I noticed the smell of decay. It was rich and hastened in the unusual warmth of September, but with shortened days the dampness of dew stayed as well.

I walk slowly

Absorb the valley

It touches me in many ways.

Swaths of colour

Deftly applied

By unseen master artist.

Pungent decay

Fills the air

Feeds the soil.

Leaves gently descend

Listen close

A mere whisper.

Nature’s dormancy too quietly descends

A rest time

Prepare for the next planting.

19 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Sabbath and tagged creativity, Mindful Practice, nature, photography, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

The Root of Extraordinary

Posted on September 29, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Friday I spend without students, at least for now. There are rumours teaching four core junior high subjects is not enough. Apparently, I don’t need time to plan, mark, complete report cards, and other sundry tasks which keep the classroom humming.

I work hard to stay positive. Sometimes the tendency is to create negative narratives rather than let each moment live itself fully. I find this is hard work, but it grows easier to set aside the dis-ease.

Alone is different

Not loneliness.

In solitude

Gifts of deep silence

The presence of presents

I grow whole

Energize the spirit

Recollect the ordinary in extraordinary–

Not just a root word;

It is the root.

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Posted in Community, Education, Mindful Life, Poetry and tagged community, education, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

The Unplanned, yet Orchestrated

Posted on September 28, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I promised as I approached the school year:”I would experience the year and live it to the fullest with the students.” Today, this resolve was tested. Due to illnesses and other situations, the number of students dwindled to a handful. I decided to set lesson plans aside and just went with the flow this afternoon. It was an excellent choice. We enjoyed ourselves.

I used Kerpoof Studio, a site for reluctant writers. Students created stories as short animated films. At times, we were silent; while other times we shared and laughed. They helped each other with new technology and I learned right along with them. We had fun.

As I walked the river valley today, I reflected on the unplanned and the rewards offered in and by those moments.

Life–

What is it?

Moments separate;

Yet connected

Unplanned;

Yet orchestrated somehow

Beyond understanding.

Life–

An unmarked journey

Occasional missteps.

Hope against hope