Insights from a SUBset of classroom eyes -lending perspective for Secondary Educators.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sub·caste Envy vs Thanks
There is perhaps no better environment to observe what ungratefulness produces when left unattended then in the arena of public education in America today. When thankfulness does appear (and it does, but not nearly enough), it is like the most pleasant aroma emanating from the blossom of a rare and exotic flower. The roots of such envy run deep in public education today and can strangle the forethought potential of students by burying an attitude of gratitude. Envy begets entitlement, but gratitude fosters productivity and vision. Clinical Psychiatrist, Dr. Henry Cloud describes clearly just how the infestation of ungratefulness entangles itself like thorns and thistles within the human psyche -choking potential out of a child's future:
"Children envy what another has, and what they have becomes no good at all. And then they protest if they can't have that other thing. They feel entitled to it.
The opposite of envy and entitlement is gratitude. Gratitude comes from the feeling of freely receiving things, not because we deserve them, but because someone has graced us with them. We feel a thankfulness grounded in love, and we cherish what we have received. There are not many things worse then being around an envious and entitled person; there are few things better than being around thankful and grateful people.
The two states -envious and grateful -have little to do with what a person actually receives. They have more to do with the character of the person. If you give something to entitled, envious people, it profits your debt to them. If you give to grateful people they feel overwhelmed with how fortunate they are and how good you are. Parents [..and teachers :-)] need to help children work through their feelings of entitlement and envy and move to a position of gratitude." -Boundaries with Kids, Cloud/Townsend
http://www.cloudtownsend.com/about/cloud.php
"Children envy what another has, and what they have becomes no good at all. And then they protest if they can't have that other thing. They feel entitled to it.
The opposite of envy and entitlement is gratitude. Gratitude comes from the feeling of freely receiving things, not because we deserve them, but because someone has graced us with them. We feel a thankfulness grounded in love, and we cherish what we have received. There are not many things worse then being around an envious and entitled person; there are few things better than being around thankful and grateful people.
The two states -envious and grateful -have little to do with what a person actually receives. They have more to do with the character of the person. If you give something to entitled, envious people, it profits your debt to them. If you give to grateful people they feel overwhelmed with how fortunate they are and how good you are. Parents [..and teachers :-)] need to help children work through their feelings of entitlement and envy and move to a position of gratitude." -Boundaries with Kids, Cloud/Townsend
http://www.cloudtownsend.com/about/cloud.php
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sub·stance Knowledge is NOT power .... but it is POTENTIAL!
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
The father of empiricism is misrepresented when his words, "knowledge is power", is overused as a motivational rally tool in twenty-first century classrooms. Sir Francis Bacon understood, perhaps better than anyone, that knowledge alone is never the "end game" of life-long learning. Indeed the application of knowledge, with an emphasis on "method", was and is at the core of Bacon's philosophy.
Some of the most successful people I've ever met were not necessarily the most knowledgeable and I'm sure we've all known walking encyclopedia egg-head types who manage to accomplish absolutely nothing with all that knowledge! Yet we hear and see this modern day mantra echoed throughout the halls of public education today -ad nauseam! Educational sages of history warned of the dangers (and futility) of such pedantic quests for knowledge (e.g., "illusion of knowledge" by Kant or the refrain, "a chasing of the wind" by King Solomon, Ecclesiastes, considered by biblical scholars to be the wisest man who ever lived outside the person of Christ). Learning should ideally take place with the expectant vision (with an eye to the future) of wisdom's bounty in view -that vision should capture the imagination of students and inspire them to become not only what they are capable of becoming, but attaining more then they could dream. Knowledge is the foundation or the starting point -that, we know, is essential. One can have knowledge without wisdom, but one cannot possess wisdom without knowledge. Wisdom is the skillful, productive and perhaps even artistic application of knowledge to everyday life. Despite it's alluring seduction of "power" many of us can attest to the pains of life that the empty promises of "knowing" can bring (e.g., having a graduate degree will not, ensure success). However, the promise that knowledge often does deliver on is the pay-off of increased probability for potential and hence greater opportunities for the future.
The father of empiricism is misrepresented when his words, "knowledge is power", is overused as a motivational rally tool in twenty-first century classrooms. Sir Francis Bacon understood, perhaps better than anyone, that knowledge alone is never the "end game" of life-long learning. Indeed the application of knowledge, with an emphasis on "method", was and is at the core of Bacon's philosophy.
Some of the most successful people I've ever met were not necessarily the most knowledgeable and I'm sure we've all known walking encyclopedia egg-head types who manage to accomplish absolutely nothing with all that knowledge! Yet we hear and see this modern day mantra echoed throughout the halls of public education today -ad nauseam! Educational sages of history warned of the dangers (and futility) of such pedantic quests for knowledge (e.g., "illusion of knowledge" by Kant or the refrain, "a chasing of the wind" by King Solomon, Ecclesiastes, considered by biblical scholars to be the wisest man who ever lived outside the person of Christ). Learning should ideally take place with the expectant vision (with an eye to the future) of wisdom's bounty in view -that vision should capture the imagination of students and inspire them to become not only what they are capable of becoming, but attaining more then they could dream. Knowledge is the foundation or the starting point -that, we know, is essential. One can have knowledge without wisdom, but one cannot possess wisdom without knowledge. Wisdom is the skillful, productive and perhaps even artistic application of knowledge to everyday life. Despite it's alluring seduction of "power" many of us can attest to the pains of life that the empty promises of "knowing" can bring (e.g., having a graduate degree will not, ensure success). However, the promise that knowledge often does deliver on is the pay-off of increased probability for potential and hence greater opportunities for the future.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sub·lim·i·ty Extra Credit Linked to Behavior
I've been subbing public high schools on-and-off about eight years. I can honestly say that the best experiences I've had as a substitute has been in classrooms where teachers welded a strong link between extra credit and behavior with guest teachers. Conversely, the worst tour of duties have been in classrooms where substitute teachers are an "afterthought" and convenient "scapegoat" when shortsighted lesson plans invariably fall disasterously short of desired outcomes -not to mention the behavioral mayhem that predictably ensues! Teachers who practice the discipline of advance, strategic planning enjoy their days off -guilt free! They employ a little forethought by frequently blow-tourching the value of civility and manners with students by padding their gpa as a performance reward. Students are challenged with a reputation to live up to. Nowhere is the value of relational health better measured, then how students behave when their classroom leader is absent and a stranger,in the form of a substitute, is charged with advancing the learning process. You show me a class that respects and works with a substitute and I'll show you a class that is led by a great teacher who understands the wisdom of proactive thinking -and linking! :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sub·fix TOP TEN ADVANTAGES OF PROCURING A TRUSTED SUB
1. AFFORDS YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECHARGE EMOTIONALLY
2. INJECTS TIME MARGINS YEILDING GREATER PHYSICAL STAMINA
3. HELPS HONOR THE PRIORITY OF HOME / FAMILY
4. RETURN GRADED PAPERS BEFORE UNRETURNED PILES REACH CEILING
5. MODELS TO STUDENTS YOUR BELIEF IN TEAMWORK
6. A TRUSTED SUB CAN BE A CLASSROOM MOLE PROVIDING VALUABLE INSIGHT
7. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR REINFORCE WHILE VERIFYING NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR
8. STUDENTS OCCASIONALLY NEED A BREAK - EVEN FROM THE BEST TEACHERS
9. STRATEGIC USE OF THE SUB-SYSTEM HELPS AVOID A NEED OF THE SUB-SYSTEM
10. EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM YOUR ADVANCED, PROACTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING
THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR STUDENTS IS A HEALTHY, FULLY ENERGIZED YOU!
2. INJECTS TIME MARGINS YEILDING GREATER PHYSICAL STAMINA
3. HELPS HONOR THE PRIORITY OF HOME / FAMILY
4. RETURN GRADED PAPERS BEFORE UNRETURNED PILES REACH CEILING
5. MODELS TO STUDENTS YOUR BELIEF IN TEAMWORK
6. A TRUSTED SUB CAN BE A CLASSROOM MOLE PROVIDING VALUABLE INSIGHT
7. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR REINFORCE WHILE VERIFYING NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR
8. STUDENTS OCCASIONALLY NEED A BREAK - EVEN FROM THE BEST TEACHERS
9. STRATEGIC USE OF THE SUB-SYSTEM HELPS AVOID A NEED OF THE SUB-SYSTEM
10. EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM YOUR ADVANCED, PROACTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING
THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR STUDENTS IS A HEALTHY, FULLY ENERGIZED YOU!
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