Bird Droppings July 18, 2018 Doing is the best teacher   It has been an interesting week already. Monday I had two of our grandkids over and we swam and played all day. Yesterday sat down and talked with my mother looking at old photos and just remembering. Today is work on paper day and…

Bird Droppings July 9, 2018 In a world of data can we still use intuition?   I mentioned to a fellow teacher I can tell when a child has emotional issues most of the time after observing a few minutes and listening. Granted observations are part of most evaluations but I was referring to an…

Bird Droppings June 20, 2018 Constructivism Montessori, Piaget, Vygotsky, Dewey and others With the bulk of education in the early 1900’s following closely the Industrial Revolution and mass production, a few great thinkers took the concept of the individual child in psychology and education in new directions as to its relationship to children. How children…

Bird Droppings June 17, 2018 Amazing how intertwined the strands of life really are   I was asked at dinner one time when did I start teaching and I responded at age twelve. The group I was with was thinking I was being my typical sarcastic self. Then I explained I started teaching swimming with…

Bird Droppings June 13, 2018 Why is seeking peace so difficult?   Around the world armies are moving as I write. There are missiles are being aimed and tanks rolling. War is a profit driving machine for industry and sadly more so about money than ideology. I have always been against war and always have…

Bird Droppings June 5, 2018 I wonder what my favorite store is; Then again is it even important?   Interesting I had two thoughts earlier in the week as I started the day out. One I heard on the radio going to get some air in my wife’s tire in her car from a satellite…

Bird Droppings June 4, 2018 Teaching and or 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu   I just finished my first year of teaching retirement from high school. Thinking back my last day was rough but not quite as bad, tense and hectic as my first on September 11, 2001. I began my last…

Bird Droppings May 31, 2018 Keeping the teacher energy flowing is crucial   For nearly fourteen years I have been involved as a student, instructor, visiting, taking photos and offering my two cents at the Foxfire Approach to Teaching Course. The program has been put on by Piedmont College for graduate students and teachers already…

Bird Droppings May 25, 2018 Cultivating the soul and or inner self   I started my morning today with a swim. I should say a walk in water. Several years back I was directed by my orthopedic doctor to use water therapy for my back. The only place near was difficult to get an appointment.…

Bird Droppings May 24, 2018 Why not just imagine?   Some days I wonder if adults I know have ever imagined even considered imagination. For example have you ever lain on your back watching clouds trying to determine if this one is a dragon or a whale? I was driving home from Georgia Tech with…