Imagination in a Time of Chaos
As an educator and professional development specialist that spends hours looking for ways to make the teaching and learning experience real, I periodically come across a quote that lingers in my mind until it explodes. These spirited moments are the backbone of my job as any educator will tell you. We are the alchemists of […]
The Crossroads
We are at a crossroads in thought. In practice, I think we are still far behind. But in thought, in the realm of contemplation I guarantee you we are at a virtual crossroads. We are standing at the intersection of commitment and competition. Imagine two street signs, each one pointing in a different direction. There […]
What I Think About When I See Trash in My Neighborhood Park
Every other early morning, weather permitting, I walk to Van Cortlandt Park to jog. Like clockwork, I’m greeted at the entrance with a field of garbage thrown about like wild dogs ravaging the grass surrounding the pool and BBQ area. Small and large piles of plastic containers, aluminum trays, soda cans, left-over food falling out […]
Yes, I Do Take Offense
Yes, I do take offense when I have to defend “teaching and learning” as a field that requires scholarship and research, separate from content and just as important as the study of human development or say, a scientist who studies the brain. Yes, I do take offense when everyone has the answer on how to […]
In Response
Forgive me for intruding here, but I find this dialogue particularly interesting. It’s one like others, perhaps—but that I’ve been missing? Are there true educators for “social justice” who do not believe teachers are doing enough—that the ed reform movement is good in that it’s an effort to hold teachers accountable for the first time..and […]
Curtain Call
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. ~William Shakespeare Notes. Ceremonies like photographs keep truth at bay. No one wants to put on a bad face for a […]
Education for Enlightenment
Several articles litter my desk, downloaded from cyber space. Educators all over the country rant and rage over what’s going on in schools; modern day bull sessions. Everyone’s an expert. It’s hard to tease out fact from fiction. Funny how life works. Several years ago when I was working on my dissertation, I read an […]
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child
My experiments with truth in education. I thought I’d swim, float, back stroke even. Then, tread water with the doggy paddle. But I’m drowning. It’s temporary, I know, but as I look out over the horizon I see the next high tide pouring in to wipe out the rest of the little folks like […]
Voice, rather Teacher’s Voice
Lesson today on voice in 6th grade reminds me of the lesson in writer’s workshop where non-stop writing happening and that was supposed to be a lesson on voice. Child named Nylah exclaims, what is the purpose of this activity and I ask her (ever so politely) what do you think? Another child chuckles and […]
Going Blind
My words have become tiny. They are scribbled down between loose leaf paper lines, a tiny cursive reminiscent of a young boy and a felt tipped pen. Little scrappy words huddled together in the crack above my bed, the jagged yellowish claw the rain brought in, the one that I called ‘cousin’ because I knew […]