Bird Droppings December 10, 2014 Can you give it one more try? “You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all.” Satchel Paige often attributed to J. Askenberg Sitting here this morning after walking the dog out into one of the coldest nights and mornings…

Bird Droppings December 9, 2014 Possibilities “Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.” Les Brown I was sitting talking with one of my sons yesterday remembering when I was their age. I should say trying to remember when I was their age that would be more appropriate. It has been a few years…

Bird Droppings December 8, 2014 Why do we even have public education? For teachers today is the National Day of Action. Standup for what you believe in. I shared an article that references children as others yesterday. Our children to corporate entities are simply others, consumers and I have seen the world capital used in…

Bird Droppings December 7, 2014 Go up another rung! A week or so of testing is coming up and the mountain is nearly climbed as we approach the holidays. I even with my aversion to shopping will be going out with my wife to brave the masses of the malls and finish up the majority…

Bird Droppings December 5, 2014 What is the Holy Grail solution/answer in education? “Obsessive search for the holy grail through only that which can be measured and documented effectively diminishes the sacred and leaves us standing empty without souls.” Dr. Grant Bennett A day or two ago I got a bit carried away and wandered…

Bird Droppings December 4, 2014 What is this aspect you cannot teach teachers? “Studies suggest that instructional and management processes are key to effectiveness, but many interview and survey responses about effective teaching emphasize the teacher’s affective characteristics, or social and emotional behaviors, more than pedagogical practice.” James H. Stronge, Qualities of Effective Teachers I…

Bird Droppings December 3, 2014 Can we find answers outside our windows? As I read and pondered a world engrossed with money and how we can spend money. I wonder if perhaps some of the thinking that is bringing so many American Indians back to their more traditional world views has merit. I was trying…

Bird Droppings December 2, 2014 Within the circle of life a new life coming 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, winter…

Bird Droppings December 1, 2014 Can we find Responsibility? As I begin my morning of writing and wondering and my almost official fourth 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, judicial,…