The daily meanderings of a teacher

September 17, 2019 Do we need a bit more soul?   “Soul is different from spirit; the deep soul is the way we live every day, our longings and our fears.” Thomas Moore   It has been nearly twenty five years since I first read The Care of the Soul, by Thomas Moore. I picked…

Bird Droppings September 16, 2019 Can we find real learning in the Kalahari Desert?   Yesterday afternoon I was considering riding my scooter about the yard and along the side of our nearby dirt road taking pictures of wildflowers and grasshoppers among other things that I find as ponder. It only took a moment or…

Bird Droppings September 15, 2019 Who else would have thought of a buffalo snort in the dark?   I measure my days in profound moments, or I should say it feels that way sometimes. I recall last year about this time a couple texts back and forth from someone I had not talked to in…

Bird Droppings September 14, 2019 How do we as teachers/educators help students continue the Journey?   “So, I’d much rather get across the concept of freedom. It’s what’s important to Indian children. The only way you can be free is to know is that you are worthwhile as a distinct human being. Otherwise you become…

Bird Droppings September 13, 2019 Hearing and listening are critical   “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Epictetus   A simple analogy yet we far too often do not understand that statement and perhaps it is because we have more jaw muscle than…

Birddroppings September 12, 2019 Answers tend to be on the opposite end of questions   “In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge were with the animals, for Tarawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell men that he showed himself through the beast and that from…

Bird Droppings September 10, 2019 It takes more than one strand to make a rope, in life and in education.   “You cannot contribute anything to the ideal condition of mind and heart known as Brotherhood, however much you preach, posture, or agree, unless you live it.” Faith Baldwin   Every day as I talk…

Bird Droppings September 9, 20189 Overcoming learning difficulties   “There are two ways of meeting difficulties. You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them.” Phyllis Bottome   I had been working on an IEP or should say finalizing one before a meeting a few years back. The student has a reading comprehension…

Bird Droppings September 6, 2019 Can we see a gray world in color?   Almost eighteen years ago, I went back to teaching only to go into lock down. Quite a day and experience for someone who hadn’t been in the class room since 1977. Sharing the fears and anxieties of those kids with me…

Bird Droppings September 5, 2019 Grandparenting/Teaching is telling our students and grandchildren the stories   I have been lazy lately. I have been reading and documenting notes for my dissertation but had not pulled up in a few days. I am finishing up my preprospectus. My title has changed over the years and days. Engaging…