The daily meanderings of a teacher

Tag: Writing

  • 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…

  • All in words: we find them, how we use them, and perhaps others’ perceptions.

    Bird Droppings January 3, 2025 All in words: we find them, how we use them, and perhaps others’ perceptions. “The farmer channels water to his land. The fletcher whittles his arrows. And the carpenter turns his wood. So, the wise direct their mind.” Dhammapada Many years ago, there was a folk song entitled “If I…

  • LIFE and FINALITY, two words that, as we get older, seem to be a part of our daily process.

    Bird Droppings January 1, 2025LIFE and FINALITY, two words that, as we get older, seem to be a part of our daily process. Morning has been a special time for me each day, a new beginning. Several aspects make it special; the first one is taking pictures of sunrises. Then I ran some errands, started…

  • Pondering and wondering are such powerful tools.

    Bird Droppings December 30, 2025 Pondering and wondering are such powerful tools. Several years back, we started a school-wide vocabulary word of the week. I was reminded of this as I looked through my various files for quotes. About eight years ago, as the day wound down, an email from the head of the English…

  • Teachers need to consult their hearts more

    Bird Droppings December 29, 2025 Teachers need to consult their hearts more I was amazed when I walked out this morning to the car. It was 58 degrees, and a few frogs were still chirping away. I was going through some research material and pulled out a little book. It has been several years since…

  • I do wonder about getting older.

    Bird Droppings December 23, 2025 I do wonder about getting older. “Age is an issue of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Mark Twain I find myself using my age to my advantage when the little girl at the Kroger register asks if I’m a senior citizen. I carry my AARP…

  • 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…

  • It is said dreams do not stand alone.

    Bird Droppings December 20, 2025It is said dreams do not stand alone. “You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.” Richard Bach It has been so many years since I first read and experienced the whimsical book Jonathan Livingston…

  • Why do we WORK?

    Bird Droppings December 18, 2025 Why do we WORK? “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Aristotle How many times do we all hear how difficult the job is or how “I hate my job”? I am always confused when I hear this. I want to ask why you are doing this if…

  • Finding a pathway even when one does not appear

    Bird Droppings December 17, 2025Finding a pathway even when one does not appear The past week has sort of run together, though each day was interesting in its own right. It may have been sitting and watching movies with the family, three hectic days shopping with Pat, our 47th anniversary, chasing sunrises every morning, trying…