January 23, 2008

For me, there is something exciting about the first class every semester as the new courses begin.  Why is this?  Maybe it is because of the new students I meet and the established ones I get to re-meet.  Maybe it is because of the material that we will uncover - I love working with philosophy.  Maybe it is because of that instability that we all feel, even me, especially me, as we take off across the wilderness.  I like new adventures, with the path charted, kind of, AND the unknown element of where we’ll end.  The metaphor of travel comes to mind---no time to explore that further.  Maybe later.

January 24, 2008

There isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done that I need to do: meetings, classes, advising, meetings, more meetings, writing reports, all take more time--I do pack it in!  Here it is, 10:38 p.m., and I still haven’t written any paragraphs or words on my work in progress.  Drats!  Why is there not enough time?  I remember feeling this way as a 1st grade teacher too.  The “stuff” around teaching takes more time than the average citizen knows.  10:42!  Good night!

January 29, 2008

If Socrates were alive today, I wonder if he would get the attention that we give him.  Would he be famous, or simply considered a hippie, or an outcast or even unknown?  Another way to look at this, is to ask are there Socrates types in our society today, and we don’t realize it?  Einstein was not recognized for who he was, until he was older.  Sometimes the questioning person can be bothersome, and barely tolerated.  Why? 

I like the questioner, the one who sees the issue a different way, who questions why we have to do it such and such way.  If I were a principal, and I will NEVER EVER be one, I would want my teachers to question everything.  We would be rebels together, and probably get fired together as well!  Then we could start our own school.  All questions allowed.  Could be called the Socratic School!

For me, questioning produces inquiry and inquiry is dialectical.  (Rereading this, I don’t mean dialectical.  I mean dialogical, as in conversation.) I like the notion of talking it out, and round about.   Kind of like the Aborigines in Australia have the walk-about.  Not always sure where they are going, but they get in a lot of miles. A talk-about could be the same thing - talking around and deeply into an idea.  That’s what Jefferson and all the American patriots did, as they figured out how to have a new nation.  Pretty amazing!

I think I made the INSERT notes too difficult for my class.  There seemed to be lots of anxiety on the readings.  What’s most important is to read and reflect and interact.  That’s what grad work is all about.  I have to remember to say this out loud to my group.  I am already feeling close to these fine people.

February 5, 2008

This semester, I wish Jonathan Kozol could come back to campus for a lecture and dialogue.  I wonder how much he has aged, and wonder if he still smokes as much.  I wonder if he is tired of fighting the battle of school funding.  I think I’ll read Amazing Grace again, because that is the one book that has some hope in it, not because he found rich and upscale schools in tough neighborhoods, but because he found hope in the delightful smiles of little poor children. He becomes a mentor type for a group in the worst area of Boston.  Wow, we could have an entire class that centered around his writings from Death at an Early Age, to Shame of a Nation.  I wonder if he is amazed at his body of work?  He was pretty humble kind of guy when he was here in 1997.  Was that the year?

But, then, we could spend all semester on John Dewey, or Cornell West, or Kieran Egan. 

That is the difficult part of teaching.  First, to not use the Banking Model (Freire), (open heads, pour in facts) yet to “cover” some of these writers kind of adequately.  Second, to analyze and synthesize, and evaluate the philosophies of these dudes, while forming our own philosophies. 

Impossible task!!!

Now I am wondering about the blog format.  I have to uncover how to use a discussion board on this mac.  Time for another lesson.

February 6, 2008

One of my joys is facilitating the Courage to Lead retreats for principal interns.  I have enjoyed getting to know each intern, and learning of their educator paths and development as a school leader.  Yesterday, we began the day with warm weather and warm hearts.  The wind blew in from the north, but we didn’t lose our courage.  I have lots of faith in these interns.  They will lead our schools well.

February 11, 2008

I felt successful as an amateur tracker today...my presentation to the Honors group went well. The only thing I wish had been different is that the projector showed the pictures better. And one more thing is that I wish I had ended with questions that we have about the animals among us.  Always we can do better!

This website problem does not seem to be fixed.  Think I will work on it a bit, and see what is wrong.  Or, since it is midnight maybe I’ll go to sleep instead.

February 26, 2008 or is it the 27th?

I feel buried under a work load that doesn’t seem to get lighter!  Like Sisyphus, who continually pushed the boulder up the hill, just when I think I have finished a task, another piles on board!  I think most teachers feel this way, never caught up.  I should do a research project on the buried feeling!

I am anxious to grade the 6302 Blooms taxonomy quiz, on each of the philosopher and their theories in drawing, chat, or application format.  Should be revealing.  Funny comments today from Karen and Linda.  Linda is preparing to drink the hemlock!  What a delightful group they are.  So are my Children’s Literature class. Tonight we made pop-up books.  Plus we talked about fairy tales, and Hans Christian Anderson.  Good group.

I am very excited about the research project that we have outlined to do.  Wonder if we will even get an invitation   The idea is to find positive classroom cultures, and assess the classroom discourse, student teacher report,  for twelve classrooms.  Hope we can offer the opportunity to our graduate students for some extra money.  But we will never get it if we don’t try.

The lazy bird stays in bed.  And missed the worm.  Bummer.  Sure would be fun to laze in bed for several days.

Goodnight!

March 20, 2008

Between the trip to Rome and Athens, Spring Break and now Easter break, I have not spent time in the walled classrooms.  Instead, much time on field trips and out of doors learning!  Think that is the best kind of learning, to see the historical places that are in the books.  Pompeii, Roman ruins, the Acropolis all made me want to learn more.  Having Cliff, my son, alongside, with his extreme knowledge of Greek and Roman rulers, was wonderful as well.

We learned about Italian, Greek hotels, airports, metros, foreign exchange, foods, communication styles, and sites, lots more than if we had been in a classroom!  Let’s hear it for Travel!  Let’s hear it for Field Trips!

My field trip for today is the Dallas Arboretum, and the Tulips.

April 8, 2008

Today was our final retreat with the principal interns who are in the weekend classes with Joe Dryden and Debbie Tribble.   I am amazed at their growth into reflective, responsive leaders.  Some are already working as AP’s or specialists in their schools.  It’s an honor to see them doing so well.  Makes me wonder at the way the leadership bud grows.  Someone sees some spark in a person, and mentions it, and then that person heads a committee or a project, and others like to work for and with the person, and before you know it, the bud opens and becomes a blossom.  The spring motif!, as I am surrounded by a street of blooming roses and azaleas. 

I love the blog pieces, about our childhood imaginations.  Wonder where that essence of humanity goes, dies out to a faint whisper.  Is the soul our last hold on imagination and creativity?

My artistic well is itching to do something artsy these days, more than paperwork and pencil details.  Time to let loose!

April 20, 2008

I am working on summer syllabi, advising, consulting with the Wesleyan Press, plus making a new quiz for tomorrow’s Edu 6302 class.  The luxury of being a professor at a teaching university is that we are allowed time to plan, teach and reflect on our teaching, in between hundreds of meetings and reports!  The other concern for professors is that we must research and write, so this week I will have a chance to do just that.   I am flying to NE Pennsylvania to a Nature Writing Retreat workshop, complete with private cabin and writing journal.  Quality time for writing, hiking and seeing the flora and fauna.  I usually write at night, like midnight to 4 a.m.---this will be a whole new experience!

The learner in me is excited about new possible fields of writing.  The editors that will be there are part of Highlights magazine and Boyds Mills Press.  Connections!

The Press editors have made the decision to publish the papers of the University College presenters - which will be very cool for some of my students.  I like showing off the good work of the students.

June 12, 2008

I am teaching 3 courses this summer in  addition to the travel course that the students will do in Peru or Brazil.  I’m wondering why I’m not going to Peru, having planned it all...NUtS!!  Well the truth is that I like for all professors to have this opportunity.  I also like for students to see other professors in action.  To be with Dr. Martinez, and Dr. Curtin for this travel is a win-win situation.

Too late to write more, I promised myself to be asleep by 10.  5:30 comes way too early! 

June 17, 2008

Today I visited the new principal cohort group in Burleson and the group at the main campus as well.  Fun to see them beginning their studies with our professors, Joe Dryden, Bill Newton, Janie Faris.  What would it be like to be a principal, I wonder?  Only once I thought about going that route in education, but I quickly decided it wasn’t for me.  I prefer to teach and not be in charge of details and arrangements and groups of people.  And look at me now, that is what I do - more than I want!  In August, I won’t be the Director of our graduate program any more, and of course, what I will miss is the close interaction that I have with students and seeing their dreams come true.  But I won’t miss all the multi-level decisions and planning that has to happen for programs to succeed. 

My groups of classes are moving along, down the trail of deeper knowledge and understanding.  Here is a summary:

Edu 6360, we’ve finished first language acquisition, and now moving into 2nd language learning.  Is there a difference between learning and acquiring?  Subtle difference?

Edu 6302, we’ve wrestled with Socrates, Plato, Egan, Matthews, Lipman, and now we are finding out what Kozol and Freire think about who is the educated person.  Both of these men could have an entire course just about their work.

Rdg 6320, we are finishing up background chapters on what formal assessment is, what a normed population is, how to find the mean.  We’ll finish tomorrow and begin assessments of young children, OR beginning literacy.   I’m worried about Thebra being a brand new specialist,working a tough school with lots of students who are struggling.

Oops slurring words, time for sleep. 

June 22, 2008

If I were philosophizing about an issue on a daily basis, it would have to be the agony of too much testing in today’s schools. Here are some of my questions:

Are there any benefits?? 

How many has the average high schooler taken in his/her life?

How do we know that the test has given us an accurate “reading” of that child, teenager’s abilities?

Has there been a research study done which captures kids’ feelings about tests?

What about test designers?  Is there a whole industry and subculture of folks who are supported financially by the testing done in every state?  How many billions of dollars are spent?

I am in favor of an achievement test now and then, some diagnostic tests if needed, some essay tests over material learned, and probably some entrance tests required for various programs (college, doctoral programs, etc), but it seems to me that we give so MANY tests, that no one test has significance anymore.  The tension that a person might reserve for one big test his/her junior year, is now part of everyday life in the classroom....every day has some tension regarding upcoming tests.  Big bummer! 

June 24, 2008

The philosophy students are amazing!  The material is difficult, but each one is digging deep.  Their gardens are certainly blooming.  My regret is that we have so little time to uncover the history and the times.  I am convinced that philosophers reflect the life around them - AND - philosophers try to affect the life around them.  That is a paradox.

Every semester I regret going fast through Kozol and Dewey.  When the Ed.D. program starts, we have a course designed which will be devoted to only one educator and his/her writings.  I hope I get to teach it, and then who would I choose to teach?  Maybe Kozol.  Maybe Dewey.  Maybe Parker Palmer.  Maybe Maxine Green and her “wide-awake” notion of living.

Want to get photos of people in summer classes for this journal.  Tomorrow. Also the travel groups!  Such fun and so glad that they are going!  Yea!!!

My trip to India will open my head and eyes to another way of life.  I am wondering about packing and what size suitcase would be best.  Also taking in Nepal afterwards, and so what is needed there? Lots of questions about the time frame.  We travelers like to know where we’re going to sleep each night!After the India - Nepal trip, I hope to plan a trip to Giverny with Connie Crow, my friend.  And then a trip with my sister Laura and my son Cliff to English gardens and to the spiritual Isle of Iona, northern Scotland.  Then, the next travel will be to Tanzania Pan African Literacy Conference and to Kenya.  I want to see the little Ethi Primary School where I saw the children and the teachers doing the best they could.  I want to share the plight with my students and try to raise some money to help with a salary.  The salary is 6400 kenya schillings each month, which is about $64.00.  In January I sent $500, and Mr. Thangei was able to hire another teacher.  But he is almost out of money to pay the teacher.  I hope to send another $500 July 1.  I just got a letter from him yesterday.  I will share it - very touching.

July 10, 2008

    Ah, a summer break!  There is so much to be said about taking a break from teaching.  For one thing, I finally have time to catch up with home tasks and dentist appointments and all the errands that I’ve not had time to do.  But even more important is the do nothing time that it takes to renew the “well” of mental and heart stuff that are major players when I teach.  I’m speaking from my experiences, yet, I know this is true for almost all the educators that I know.  If we don’t have renewal time, our candles burn out.   

    Today, I am reminded of all the reasons I love summer mornings:  walking 2 miles in the cool of the day; sitting on our front bench outside, reading; padding barefoot on the cool wood floors; using the water hose to spray down the pots of flowers; petting Barney and Lulu, and Gus, who is visiting; closing my eyes without a long list of things to do.

July 12, 2008

I have several books to read this week, a couple to review for the Wesleyan Graduate Review, but I did no reading today.  Instead I worked almost all day making a perennial bed out of on old Nandina bed.  Lots of digging and rock moving and new soil, new borders of rocks.  Anyway, I can barely walk tonight!  It will be a big job just keeping it watered.   Going to bed early.

October 17, 2008

Suddenly the summer flew away on the wind and here is October quickly passing through.  India and Nepal came and went in August and September, only a photo memory now.  Not true - I can still smell the curry and cinamon scents in the Indian airports.  Elsewhere I have a journal about India.

I enjoy my classes so much this semester - children’s literature classes in Burleson and Main Campus and then the graduate reading students who are doing research projects and that is exactly what I want to do as well, research what books gifted and talented kids read.  Working on it - hope to have something written by December and sent off.

Book boxes are really creative and strong plans inside.  Only mostly I need to teach more about detailed planning and evaluation.  The curriculum always takes shape nicely, but why?  Because it flows, am I on the right track?  Who are curriculum designers?  Paid publishers.  Unpaid teachers.  Why do the publishers design curriculum?  For money.  Why do teachers design curriculum?  So that kids will learn.

January 20, 2009

It is actually Jan. 21, 1a.m., as I have just stopped the recorded NBC special on the inaugural.  Almost, I felt I was there.  If Barack Obama wins a second term, I will go to that inaugural for sure!!  Why?  To see history again in the making.  I heard the Irish were claiming him--O’Bama is an Irish name they say!

I meant to say something about this tonight in our class, to mention how incredible our nation is, and how honored we feel at the peaceful transaction of presidential power - without guns, without force.

Hmm.  I meant to move a different direction tonight, rather than overwhelm my new group of philosophers.  Philosophy grows on you best if it happens gradually but tonight was a BOOM, BOOM, not a gradual moving into the why questions.  I’m sorry that our little room was warm, that we were crowded and that we went over ALL the material of our syllabus.  THAT makes students so nervous, I know.  If I weren’t gone next week on Operation Ruby Throat, then I wouldn’t have marched us thru the syllabus.  Bad move.  Good trip, but unfortunate timing.

So much of teaching is in the timing.  Being very aware of all that is needed to be known and yet having patience for knowledge to unfold and directions to unfold and time to go by for absorption, is my intuitive knowledge as a teacher.   I KNOW this-- it is my philosophy to conduct slooowwww classes, so what was going on?  Pressure about next week, I guess.

Here’s what went right:   introductions, good manners to know each other’s names and schools (Locke); having direction and explanations on the syllabus (Wong?  would he be pro such?); finally having dialogue (Socrates, Freire) about education and what it means to be educated...that was where I thought we should be. 

I feel strongly that graduate ed classes should hold a tension between challenging material AND enjoyment of topic.  (Same is true for 7th grade and 1st grade as well - challenging fun.)  So would any of my students tonight see some challenge? - oh yes.  Fun?  Afraid not.  To be true to my philosophy, I’ll ask Dr. Surprise to pay us a visit.

January 31, 2009

I’m here in Costa Rica, studying hummingbird migration with a master scientist who happens to be a master teacher.  VERY incredible discovery learning, which fits so much into my philosophy.  I believe we learn best with scaffolding - meaning I explain, I show, we practice, we discuss, we all question then explore, then practice, until we are ready to move on.  It has been a pleasure to watch Bill Hilton teach this week.  Hope I can get a grant or research study together, so that students can come here for the hummingbird experiences as well.  More later, internet is leaving.

February 1, 2009

Wonderful to be home, after a week in Costa Rica, without TV and continual emails.  Not much hot water either, so a shower will feel great!  In the meantime, I keep thinking about how to best design a travel course that allows MEd and EdD to be able to come to Costa Rica and learn from a master teacher, Bill Hilton.  I have two notions - one will center around philosophy of education, the socratic, dialogic way of teaching.  The other idea is to have a course that explores making a plan for a research study - how to collect data.  We’ll use Bill’s work with hummers as a primary example of both.  Should be powerful!

February 11, 2009

Our class did a wonderful job on their book reviews last night and I was struck at the way the readers picked up on the writers’ philosophies.  Most interesting is how a thinker changes over time.  I hope we can explore that further next week.  Divid time into 1/3s.  1)  Citing correctly.   2)  Who are we as philosophers?  3)  Dewey and his philosophy of education.  Wish we had more time each evening only I think we might have to stretch out for naps.  This is why I hope the Costa Rica class happens  - lots of time in the shade of the trees to talk about philosophers.

Travel and Teach meeting tomorrow.  What a way to see the sights. 

March 9, 2009

Tomorrow I need to help my young class of beginners in Edu 2300 understand education prior to 1600’s.  Many wish our schools would go back to that day and age.  Hmm.  Think their religousness is in the way of clear thinking.

With the graduate group, I want to spend time on rubric for comps, on doctoral work, on CV growing, and lots of time on Philosophy for Children.  I will try out the work I have ready for Oxford.  Maybe.  They would be a good audience, because they are quick and sharp.

Will be good to travel with Cliff to Scotland and England.  He is a history buff and so he’ll know more than me about lots of castles.  Time for bed.

April 28, 2009

First, the Oxford Round Table on Allusions to Religion in Children’s Literature gave me new material to think about.  Most of the presenters shared another side of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien or other writers, and then later in the day I walked to Tolkien’s favorite tree, for example, in the Botanic Gardens.  Having the conference at Pembroke College made the presentations come alive.  Cliff enjoyed every minute of his adventures in London and Scotland.  So glad he traveled along with me.  Travel is the great teacher. 

Then, there have been retreats and meetings and a great workshop on nature writing in NE Pennsylvania.  I have been so busy writing and preparing for classes and travel and traveling that my public reflection time has been slim.  I do say that I have kept my writing journals going, and they are full of observations and lists and 2 notable reflections:  1)  Learn to pack less (many hints and rules to follow are written in my journal) and 2) Travel less.  This year I have been in India, Nepal, Colorado, Costa Rica, Scotland, England, NE Pennsylvania, will go to Peru, Dubai and Tanzania this summer.  Which means that some wonderful experiences are blending together and are fuzzy.  I’m on “learning by experience”overload.  Wonder what Dewey would say?