The daily meanderings of a teacher

Bird Droppings January 19, 2021It be great if we could script great teachers I watched several various movies about teachers over the years. It hit me as I was thinking it would be great if we could somehow provide a package to new Techers on how to do great teaching. If someone could write that…

Bird Droppings January 18, 2021Can we say heroism and humility are spelled the same? “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ashe Even though I am one of the worst spellers in this…

Bird Droppings January 17, 2021How do we know if we are still human? Listening to the news and the recent activities at the Nations capital that many are calling an insurrection I wonder as people are interviewed and ideas are tossed around are, we all human? It seems some in Congress were complicit in the…

Bird Droppings January 16, 2021 Caregiving and or cared for, we need both? “To care and be cared for are fundamental human needs. We all need to be cared for by other human beings. In infancy, illness, or old age, the need is urgent and pervasive; we need caregiving, and we need the special attitude…

Bird Droppings January 15, 2021LIFE and FINALITY Morning has been a special time for me each day, a new beginning. Several aspects make it special, first one of going about taking pictures of sunrises. Then I go to my writing and reading which has become my meditation for the day. On some days I go…

Bird Droppings January 14, 2021Can we define our own success, or does it take another? Recently teachable moments have been rare as I have been semimonastic with the virus and being cautious. Today while grocery shopping, I ran into a former student of sorts. Thinking back, I do think she was in a class with…

Bird Droppings January 13, 2021 Taking and making the most of each moment and learning about moleskin: I think we need to find the moleskin in education along with switchbacks Sometimes I mis waking up to our dog barking because he needs to run outside for a second. Not always the best way to wake…

Bird Droppings January 12, 2021 Who is 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 the process…

Bird Droppings January 9, 2021Passion to learn/teach: Can it be rekindled? Many days I wonder who I write for in the morning. Perhaps no one, maybe a teacher who needs just a thought but occasionally I write for me. I needed an uplift, an adrenaline shot so to say. Starting in a new school with…

Bird Droppings January 8, 2021Quietly listening to Bob Dylan and pondering the word inspiration I woke up a bit earlier than normal although I did have a particularly good night’s sleep. I started thinking back to a day that had been thrown off by an administrator’s discipline talk. The afternoon immediately following, we were dealing…