The daily meanderings of a teacher

Author: birddroppings

  • How do we know if we are still human?

    Bird Droppings January 19, 2018 How do we know if we are still human?   Perhaps it is from growing up in a situation where we were daily aware of special needs children and adults from the birth of my younger brother till his passing almost nineteen years ago. Those in my family have had…

  • Counting knuckles: or is it No child will be left behind who does what we want and is considered totally normal

    Bird Droppings January 18, 2018 Counting knuckles: or is it No child will be left behind who does what we want and is considered totally normal   One of my students asked a few years back what day of the month the following Friday would be and I responded January 30. Just as quick another…

  • A wondering of the circle for a moment

    Bird Droppings January 17, 2018 A wondering of the circle for a moment   Nearly fourteen years ago I received this email from a dear friend. I met Frances Friedman when I was a new staff member at Loganville High School in 2001. Frances had been teaching English and had worked with our then principal…

  • We are neither wolf nor dog

    Bird Droppings January 16, 2018 We are neither wolf nor dog   It has been some time since I first read a book by this name written by one of my favorite authors Kent Nerburn. In much of his writing Kent Nerburn addresses the spiritual significance and depth of life of our Native Peoples. While…

  • Finding a way to forgive

    Bird Droppings January 15, 2018 Finding a way to forgive   “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi   It was a little over six years ago I spent the morning on a field tip of sorts for a graduate school class. We visited the MLK Jr. Memorial…

  • Are you, at the center of your universe?

    Bird Droppings January 13, 2018 Are you, at the center of your universe?   “Tung-shan was asked, ‘The normal mind is the way; what is the normal mind?’ He replied, ’Not picking things up along the road.’” From Teachings of Zen, edited by Thomas Cleary, © 1998   One aspect of the Zen teachings is…

  • Looking in a direction to start the morning

    Bird Droppings January 12, 2018 Looking in a direction to start the morning   “Beginnings start in the east – from where the sun rises we begin a new dawn. Each day is a good new day with a fresh beginning, a new start. East is the direction of the physical body and newness including…

  • Why should there be no teasing?

    Bird Droppings January 11, 2018 Why should there be no teasing?   “Before you speak, ask yourself, is it kind, is it necessary, and is it true, does it improve on the silence?” Hindu proverb   So often I speak first and clean up afterwards many times simply walking away quiet generally leaving whoever I…

  • Trying to find a way back to normal

    Bird Droppings January 10, 2018 Trying to find a way back to normal   “Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we’re finally on our own. This summer I hear the drumming, four dead in Ohio. Gotta get down to it soldiers are cutting us down should have been done long ago. What if you knew her…

  • Decontextualizing – Learning is a journey strewn with boulders

    Bird Droppings January 9, 2018 Decontextualizing – Learning is a journey strewn with boulders   “In a word, learning is decontextualized. We break ideas down into tiny pieces that bear no relation to the whole. We give students a brick of information, followed by another brick, followed by another brick, until they are graduated, at…