The daily meanderings of a teacher

Tag: Learning

  • Passion for learning: Can it be rekindled?

    Bird Droppings January 5, 2025Passion for learning: Can it be rekindled? April 4, 1968, I was a freshman at West Chester State, now University. I was not seriously politically active, and I would say naïve. I do recall the news stories and the tension that followed. I grew up in a town where the people…

  • Quietly listening to Hot Tuna and pondering the word inspiration.

    Bird Droppings July 15, 2025 Quietly listening to Hot Tuna and pondering the word inspiration. Over twenty years ago, at a county-wide teacher kick-off meeting, it was traditionally a packaged inspirational meeting and welcome before state and federal budget cuts. This was the startup for the new school year led by a brought-in speaker. They…

  • Walking along the way in my journey

    Bird Droppings December 2, 2025Walking along the way in my journey I am building up my endurance by walking as much as I can each day. Pat and I are heading to see our North Carolina grandkids in the morning, and I hope to take some serious steps. As I think back on who I…

  • A morning meandering while the rain keeps coming down, and no sunrise

    Bird Droppings November 30, 2025 A morning meandering while the rain keeps coming down, and no sunrise Almost ten years ago, after tutoring in an after-school program with a student who needed constant repetition of material to remember, I read through several old emails from my doctoral and graduate cohort friends, as some are defending…

  • I was listening to the stillness of a morning, the sunrise, and sometimes we need a window and not a mirror.

    Bird Droppings November 21, 2025 I was listening to the stillness of a morning, the sunrise, and sometimes we need a window and not a mirror.  I was sitting alone this morning, as I often do, after running, trying to get a few photos of the sunrise. Today, it was mostly foggy and cloudy and…

  • I firmly believe that there is a spiritual aspect to teaching.

    Bird Droppings November 17, 2025I firmly believe that there is a spiritual aspect to teaching. I just arrived after an hour of driving around, chasing the sunrise. I got home, had some breakfast, and went outside to sit, listen, and photograph birds in my backyard. I periodically checked my Apple watch to see my heart…

  • Amazing how intertwined the strands of life really are

    Bird Droppings November 11, 2025Amazing how intertwined the strands of life really are I was asked at dinner one evening when I started teaching, and I responded that I was twelve. The group I was with was thinking I was being my typical sarcastic self. Then I explained that I started teaching swimming to beginners…

  • Often, we find ourselves in a fog of education.

    Bird Droppings November 7, 2025Often, we find ourselves in a fog of education. I was heading to my friend’s Rosary memorial service about seven years ago. I got up a bit later that day and walked a mile in the pool. I tend to meditate and wander in my thoughts, pondering as I might. I…

  • A morning meander while the beaver moon is glowing orange.

    Bird Droppings November 6, 2025A morning meander while the beaver moon is glowing orange. Last night, as I looked out at the night sky, I honestly was not sure if the moon was glowing or not. I drove over to the reservoir, and the beaver moon was bright orange. However, I started thinking back to…

  • Watching a hawk fly by as I drove to Athens and the UGA library

    Bird Droppings November 2, 2025 Watching a hawk fly by as I drove to Athens and the UGA library I recall a favorite memory of mine: from five years ago, for the first time in my teaching in public school, nearly twenty years, I was not required to teach to the test, which got me…