The daily meanderings of a teacher

Bird Droppings January 7, 2019 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…

Bird Droppings January 6, 2019 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…

Bird Droppings January 5, 2019 Walking and listening among the Cotton Woods   Since starting my breathing treatments for sleep apnea, I awake to vivid dreams on some nights. Today I walked outside briefly as I do listening, observing, trying to understand this reality I am walking about in. The sky was blanketed with clouds…

Bird Droppings January 4, 2019 Caring is a very precious commodity in life And some thoughts from Maxine Greene   As I am pondering my early hours today before getting my day started an article dealing with charter schools and how they exclude many students caught my attention. The air temperature is freezing outside and…

Bird Droppings December 28, 2018 Within the circle of life infinity exists   Resurrection By Susan Thomas Underwood   The universe is energy in constant motion. There are ebbs and flows; Outcomes and income, And change…… Always change.   The physical world reflects this motion In the cycles of life, There is spring and fall,…

Bird Droppings December 27, 2018 Can we find Responsibility?   As I begin my morning of writing and wondering and my almost official eighth year as a grandfather the idea of responsibility sort of hit me. We live in a world of passing responsibility off to another generation be it natural resources, fiscal, educational, philosophical,…

Bird Droppings December 26, 2018 Is there a difference between progressive and traditional teachers? A few years back in a ninth grade literature class that I happened to be co-teaching in, I was introduced to the book Freedom Writers Diary. We also watched the film based on the book. In some ways the story is…

Bird Droppings December 24, 2018 Who would have thought of a buffalo snort in the dark?   “Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for           the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing…

Bird Droppings December 21, 2018 I am just sitting, pondering and thinking wiping away a tear or two   I was outside very early today for a quick run for milk and dishwasher soap. In the rain I could hear a great horned owl it might have been what was irritating our dog keeping him…

Bird Droppings December 19, 2018 We tend to leave children behind?   “I believe that our own experience instructs us that the secret of education lies in respecting the pupil. It is not for you to choose what he shall know, what he shall do. It is chosen and foreordained, and he only holds the…