Paulo Coelho (the author of 'the Alchemist') posted the following on his website a little while ago. For Catholic teachers, Coelho (who is a practicing Catholic as well), has a website that could be a great source for daily spiritual reflections...
Here's the website: http://paulocoelhoblog.com (He posts a new reflection 5 days a week, but they come and go, you can't find the old ones online, but if you want a bunch of them, I can email them to you.
THE POWER OF THE WORD
Of all the powerful weapons of destruction that man has invented, the most terrible - and the most cowardly - is the word.
Knives and firearms leave traces of blood. Bombs shake whole buildings and streets. Poisons can always be detected.
But a destructive word can provoke Evil without leaving behind it a single clue. Children are subject to years of conditioning by their parents, artists are mercilessly pilloried, women are systematically undermined by remarks made by their husbands, the faithful are kept apart from religion by those who judge themselves capable of interpreting the voice of God.
Check to see if you yourself are using this weapon. Check to see if someone is using this weapon on you. And put a stop to both.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Destroyed by Fire
Please remember to nip subtle racist / prejudice remarks by children in the bud - before they bloom into an ignorance that is difficult to overcome.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Golden Rule?
Which of the two rules is more important: Do onto other what you would have them do onto you? Or, Do not do onto others what you would not have them do onto you?
Despite appearances, both moral rules do not rear the same results.
Despite appearances, both moral rules do not rear the same results.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Mimesis and Modelling
I think that if you want your students to behave a certain way, showing them what you want done is the most effective way. For instance, if you want them to be quiet and whisper, whisper yourself. If you do not want them to say certain words when speaking to a group of boys and girls, then do not say those words yourself. Otherwise, you send mixed messages, and the value of the instruction is confused. The same is true for notions of mutual respect, attentive listening, etc. Everything in life, it seems to me, goes in cycles. Not only is it true that what goes around comes around, but we also mimic each other's behavior and moralities. Therefore, as teachers, we have to set a good example.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Tribes
Being in a Tribes classroom, I've observed the following things I really like:
1) Energizers - simple activities that involve learning and education, but are breaks from the everyday grind. After an energiezer, students are much much much more focused.
2) Appreciation statements - students are asked to share appreciation they had for the classmates (and sometimes teacher!), which I think is a wonderful way to build up a positive attitude and other students self-esteem.
3) Good questions - As teachers, we ask more than just, "do you understand?" In my class, we ask personal questions to conect the content to the lives of the students, questions related to how well they worked together, and extension question, to make them think a little out of the box (such as, how does this art lesson apply to something you've learned in math).
4) Reviewing the Tribes Agreements everyday - Mutual Respect, Right to Pass/Participate, Attentive Listening, No put downs. Discussing these agreements brings them to the surface of the classroom atmosphere, which is different from the typical use classroom rules that were never discussed (except at the start of the year) until somebody broke them!
5) Soon we'll move in to the Tribes formation, where the teacher facilitates from the center of the class and acts as a hub for the groups of three to revolve around. I'm excited for this, and will let ya'll know how it works out!
1) Energizers - simple activities that involve learning and education, but are breaks from the everyday grind. After an energiezer, students are much much much more focused.
2) Appreciation statements - students are asked to share appreciation they had for the classmates (and sometimes teacher!), which I think is a wonderful way to build up a positive attitude and other students self-esteem.
3) Good questions - As teachers, we ask more than just, "do you understand?" In my class, we ask personal questions to conect the content to the lives of the students, questions related to how well they worked together, and extension question, to make them think a little out of the box (such as, how does this art lesson apply to something you've learned in math).
4) Reviewing the Tribes Agreements everyday - Mutual Respect, Right to Pass/Participate, Attentive Listening, No put downs. Discussing these agreements brings them to the surface of the classroom atmosphere, which is different from the typical use classroom rules that were never discussed (except at the start of the year) until somebody broke them!
5) Soon we'll move in to the Tribes formation, where the teacher facilitates from the center of the class and acts as a hub for the groups of three to revolve around. I'm excited for this, and will let ya'll know how it works out!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Excited about teaching art
I just wanted to say that I am excited about teaching art. Since I started at the school I've been doing an on going lesson on how to draw human faces. When the kids are done I'll put all their pictures up on the wall, and I think for part of the assessment, I'll have them do a self assessment.
It's hard to judge "effort" only by means of a final product; therefore, if some are outstanding I'll give them a level 4, and the rest, level 3. The last thing I want to do is discourage anybody.
For the perspective lesson coming up, I'm going to have them draw perspectives and cartoons at the same time... should be interesting...
It's hard to judge "effort" only by means of a final product; therefore, if some are outstanding I'll give them a level 4, and the rest, level 3. The last thing I want to do is discourage anybody.
For the perspective lesson coming up, I'm going to have them draw perspectives and cartoons at the same time... should be interesting...
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