The daily meanderings of a teacher

Bird Droppings September 18, 2018 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 what…

Bird Droppings September 17, 2018 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 16, 2018 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 14, 2018 Why we are not succeeding?   Very early this morning I walked out into the pre-hurricane warmth, a few crickets and tree frogs greeted me as I took our dog for her morning reverie. The sky was clear as a bell stars blazing away over my head. Orion was the…

Bird Droppings September 15, 2018 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 talked…

Bird Droppings September 12, 2018  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 deficit. …

Bird Droppings September 11, 2018 Can we see a gray world in color?   Seventeen 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 taught…

Bird Droppings September 10, 2018 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. Today I am finishing up my preprospectus. My title has changed over the years and days.…

Bird Droppings September 8, 2018 Ponderingerest is that even a word?   Coming up some interesting days. One is an interesting and yet solemn day; a day marked by memories, seventeen years ago I started teaching again after a twenty three year layoff, thirty years ago we brought a new baby home. So many memories…

Bird Droppings September 7, 2018 It is about understanding     I read a psychological report of a student who could decode most any word put in front of them. The confusion comes when trying to tell you what was read. The two components of reading, decoding and comprehension are both needed in order to…