I received this from someone yesterday and thought I would share it. Public education is in need of a make over. What does that mean? That is a hard question to answer without a new conversation and a pause to fully understand what our children need. Here is a starter. Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and a source of this quote is George Takei the actor who played Sulu in Star Trek. I am not a Trekkie, but I like this quote. The points that stand out are the purpose of education, the interplay between power and morality, and the need for wisdom. I follow several on-line forums about leadership. Even there, the leadership experts frequently confuse knowledge, information, and wisdom often using those words loosely and interchangeably. Wisdom emerges from values named and held within community–sensus communis or common sense. What passes from generation to generation is its common sense, what it holds and names as values in a society. This takes a compassionate conversation which is rare.
Take care and enjoy those you come in contact with today.
I began blogging in earnest in February, but it really began to take off in April. Today was a milestone with my 200th follower. With that, comes the reverse. I follow. There is a tremendous digital gathering and we are only just beginning to understand its impact.
200,
it isn’t 300,
the movie
or followers.
Thank you
for finding your way to this blog.
On a digital palette
I create
vent
share
reveal
learn
present
about the complex nuances of my life in this world.
My gratitude expressed two ways–
following others
who blaze trails
as pioneers
as companions.
Thank you
grateful
you share
your venture along
on this road less traveled
a humbling
transforming
uplifting space.
I am grateful, indebted.
Thank you
is the second way to express gratitude to 200 + 1 now.
Here is a sampler of blogs I follow. Please visit and add to their following. They inspire, teach, and share each day I prepare to write. I ma sure you will enjoy all or some of the following. Check out my blog roll for others.
Spokane Favs is a colleague of mine at Gonzaga University in Spokane WA.
Mikibong inspires with diverse and great photography
Marie Wetmore is a life coach par excellent
Elke Teaches is an Australian teacher to be and mother
Words/Love is a fantastic and creative writer
Zellie M Quinn is a writer and reflector of life
Edilio Ciclostile is a whimsical artist who wants you help him grow down
Enough of the Cat Talk is a teacher from New York who shares in many ways
Meanwhile Melody Muses is an exceptional writer of great poetry who honours nature and teaches.
Mike’s Look at Life is through poetry and photography of things we normally ignore but are there all the time
Brian Gaynor Photography provides inspiring pictures of and in nature
Rod Posse is a photographer of unusual but interesting things
RC Gale is a writer and creator of space for other writers.
That Dude Eddie is a writer of poetry and prose spreading love and peace.
Simon Marsh is an Anglican Priest in England who shares a passion for the writings of Parker Palmer and Thomas Merton
Elizabeth Rambles from a banana boat up the Clyde
Nonoy Manga is an artist and animator with a little writing thrown in on the side.
Seaman Mom is a mother from Romania who works on a cruise ship.
Colour the Day is an artist who finds beauty in many places and ways.
The Jog is by an Anglican minister in England.
Eleven 11 has gone quiet the last few days, but his is a fun blog to read.
leading and learning: Lets value individual creative teachers..
This is a rather lengthy article written by a New Zealand based educator. I think it fits with a previous reblog of video featuring Sir Ken Robinson called The Educational Revolution: Why Schools Kill Creativity.
Read, watch, and weep. A lack of creativity and resulting innovation is killing public education with sameness. Let us all do it one way is the current creed. What can we do about it? It is high time we invited a new conversation to emerge.
Children do this so well; adults, not so much. Enjoy your day.
I hear conflicting stories about who to attribute this quote. Somewhere I heard or read that Satchel Paige, the Hall of Fame pitcher, said this in response to questions about his phenomenal longevity in the game.
You gotta do what you gotta do to be what you are!
I wanted something a little different for the beginning of the year. We had new students and sometimes new students find it difficult those first few days to introduce themselves and share something about themselves with others who are better established. We are an alternative school environment. Some students have been with us since Grade 1 and are now in junior high. Without realizing it, returnees form groups and new students are slightly intimidated by the tightness that has formed despite everyone’s best efforts. I tried a poetry activity and it worked very well.
1. I used a Kahlil Gibran quote from The Prophet:
“Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”
Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.”
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself like a lotus of countless petals.”
The quote served as a conversational anchor. I read it out loud a couple of times. Students re-read it, highlighted words or questions that emerged, discussed their reflective findings in pairs, and finally we shared with the group. What did this passage mean? What was the theme? We talked about self-knowledge and truths. I refer to Parker Palmer in my classroom so students had discussed the idea of holding one’s own truth while respecting the truths of others.
2. Students prepared a small poster. I asked them to include two poems, some pictures of activities they enjoyed, some quotes they thought helped describe who they were, and their name proudly displayed in the centre of the poster.
3. Initially, I wanted a free verse poem and a cinquain poem. The former was too abstract for some students so changed allowing some flexibility with another formula poem i.e cinquain, diamond, or acrostic. This helped considerably. Even though I teach in a multi-grade setting, with three junior high grades, this struggle with abstraction was not based on grade level only. There were some older children who struggle with the free verse and younger children who did not.
4. Each child put their poster about who they were on the bulletin board and it has remained there all year. An interesting note is, when corners of posters have come loose on the bulletin board, students take time to tack them back up carefully even if it is not their poster.
For those unfamiliar with the pattern poems I referenced above, here are some instructions and examples.
How to Write a Cinquain
There are two methods:
Line 1 – a one word title
Line 2 – a 2 word phrase that describes your title or you can just use two words
Line 3 – a 3 word phrase that describes an action about your title or just actions words
Line 4 – a 4 word phrase that describes a feeling about your topic or just feeling words
Line 5 – one word that refers back to your title
Line 1 – two syllables
Line 2 – four syllables
Line 3 – six syllables
Line 4 – eight syllables
Line 5 – two syllables
Example
Ivon
Mr. P
teach, learn, enjoy
It is my calling
Teacher
How to Write a Diamond Poem
Method
Line 1 – a one word noun
Line 2 – 2 adjectives that describe the noun
Line 3 – 3 verbs that the noun does
Line 4 – 4 things (nouns) that the top noun and the bottom noun has
Line 5 – 3 verbs that the bottom noun does
Line 6 – 2 adjectives that the describes the bottom noun
Line 7 – a one word noun that is opposite the top noun
Example
cat furry, silky sleeping, purring, meowing tail, fur, tongue, collar barking, playing, licking friendly, big dog
How to Write Acrostic Poems?
Acrostic is an easy poetry formats to use with young writers.
It can be about any subject, written in different ways, but the simplest form is to put the letters that spell your subject down the side of your page. When you have done this then you go back to each letter and think of a word , phrase or sentence that starts with that letter and describes your subject, and give out your hidden message that’s contained in this format, that can run forwards, or backwards.
Example
I ngenious
V irtue
O mniscient (or so students think)
N octurnal
This is an interesting, albeit American-based view of the charter system and the overall fragmentation issue of public education. I am not an advocate of reform. That tends to tinker at the edges. I advocate transformation. This requires new conversations at the grassroots. What does public education mean to you, your family, and the community you live in?
This fell into my world yesterday and I thought it might be a good share. It is certainly something to reflect on as we begin each day in our various roles of learning and teaching.
I often wonder about the language of the workplace. We refer to students as clients and staff in schools as human resources. Reminded me of a song from my youth, The Five Man Electrical Band. They wondered about the increased proliferation of signs and wrote a short note to Jesus about it while stopping in at a church along the way. Enjoy!
A human resources expert appeared
out of a shroud
mist-like.
I recoiled
What’s wrong?
Pleasantly enough asked
seemed off somehow
May be a sinister tone?
Did I say the wrong thing?
Or things?
I wonder
didn’t get the job
not even interviewed for that matter, plus
I got a security escort
wasn’t the first time
Human resources, you say.
Humph
I have questions
to hell with yours
I’ll ask mine
Are we compatible?
Can we date?
Where are humans mined?
do they mind?
What are they worth?
Raw and finished versions
Where is the human factory?
Are they reliable?
Can I get a warranty?
Can you exploit them?
or do they have a mind of their own?
do they mind?
Can we drill for them?
Do they fit in a pipe
To ship them, not smoke them
Do they depreciate?
Like a car, factory, or another normal asset?
a write-off?
or right off?
She seemed confused
perplexed perhaps
That must not have been in the book
I guess?
Tough to get a job
As a human being,
Not a human resource.
No offense intended to human resources people. You have a job to do. I guess.
Here is a nice thought for the evening and beyond. I am sure we can relate to this many days. What do we remember about someone or something long past? Personally, I give it a lot of thought. It is so interesting what quiet time conjures up and who it conjures up.
Teacher as Transformer 