The daily meanderings of a teacher

A journal from a teacher

Why do we fail?

Bird Droppings August 30, 2011 Why do we fail? Many the time, I wonder why people stop learning. I see it in high school students and in college and graduate students. Almost as if a switch is thrown and poof no more learning I have reached my limit. I had a teacher approach before school…

August 30, 2011
Can I get a nickels worth of cheese?

Bird Droppings August 29, 2011 Can I get a nickels worth of cheese “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.” Tecumseh, Shawnee…

August 29, 2011
Can we see new meaning in it

Bird Droppings August 28, 2011 Can we see a new meaning in it “It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.” Albert Einstein A little…

August 28, 2011
A spiritual side to teaching

Bird Droppings August 27, 2011 A spiritual side to teaching “Solitude does not necessarily mean living apart from others; rather, it’s never living apart from one’s self. Not about absence of other people – it is about being fully present to ourselves, whether or not we are with others.” Parker Palmer Dr. Parker Palmer is…

August 27, 2011
A final look at essential Bird Pedagogy for the moment

Bird Droppings August 26, 2011 A final look at essential Bird Pedagogy for the moment “If a university can’t have two out of five of their student-athletes graduate, I don’t know why they’re rewarded with post-season play” Arne Duncan Over the past few days I have been looking at how I see teaching and instruction…

August 26, 2011
Essential Education

Bird Droppings August 25, 2011 Essential Education Last night I was helping my son in his education studies going through various philosophies of education one happened to be essential education which is only a slight step from perennial education which is reading writing and arithmetic period no art or muisic what so ever. As I…

August 25, 2011
A continued look at Learning

Bird Droppings August 24, 2011 A continued look at learning ‎ “We would do away with examinations. They measure the inconsequential type of learning. We would do away with grades and credits for the same reason. We would do away with degrees as a measure of competence partly for the same reason. Another reason is…

August 24, 2011
Essential Bird Pedagogy again

Bird Droppings August 23, 2011 Essential Bird Pedagogy again I am working on some thoughts on raising the bar for students as we tend to do in education. I find it most intriguing that we raise the bar for students mention raising the bar for teachers based on student’s success and all hell breaks loose.…

August 23, 2011
A bit wordy but good

Bird Droppings August 22, 2011 A PS to my daily writings first: PS. I received this note earlier today in an email and thought I would pass it on. The note is written by Dorrie DePedro from Coatesville Pennsylvania who along with husband Greg own Coatesville Flower Shop. My father was a regular and Greg’s…

August 22, 2011
Staring into a starry sky listening to an owl call:

Bird Droppings August 21, 2011 Staring into a starry sky listening to an owl call: LEARNING – KNOWING – FINDING When I went out on my morning excursion this morning or I should say several times as I think my dog and granddaughter plotted against me. I heard my granddaughter and went into check on…

August 21, 2011