Tag: Education

Citizen Kid

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead. — Nelson Mandela “How’s my little buddy doing?” says Butcher Keith as my son giggles and hides behind my legs. …

Weapon Play and Villains

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. – Francis Bacon Truly wonderful the mind of a child is. –          YODA, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones “I want to be Darth Vader when I grow up,” said E with grandeur as he strutted through the house with …

The Fear of Failure

It may be that the most important mastery we achieve early on is not the mastery of a particular skill or particular piece of knowledge, but rather the mastery of the patience and persistence that learning requires, along with the ability to expect and accept mistakes and the feelings of disappointment they may bring. –          …

Making New Friends

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one. – C.S. Lewis Whether your child is starting the year in a brand new school or returning to a school community, there is an opportunity to make connections with new friends. Friendships at …

Junior Teacher

The teacher is no longer merely the-one-who-teaches, but one who is him/herself taught in dialogue with the students, who in turn while being taught also teach. They become jointly responsible for a process in which all grow. – Paulo Freire The beginning of the school year presents an opportunity to get a fresh start with …

In Appreciation of Teachers

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.  —Henry Brooks Adams Sending out my appreciation to all teachers today on Teacher Appreciation Day. If you as teachers do not hear each and every day that you are appreciated, it is not enough. We entrust nothing less than our children’s learning to …

In-between Here and There

Long ago, but not so very long ago The world was different, oh yes it was Time goes by, time brings changes, you change, too Nothing comes that you can’t handle, so on you go –       Our Town from the Cars movie, by James Taylor[i] These words were sung in my house yesterday by my …

Working It Out

Try to see it my way, only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong While you see it your way, there’s a chance that we may fall apart before too long. We can work it out. We can work it out. –          We Can Work It Out, The Beatles[i] If you …

Expanding the Circle: Teaching Children Inclusion

If it is his privilege to be independent, it is equally his duty to be inter-dependent. ― Mahatma Gandhi All children have to deal with and understand the paradox of separateness and connection, of individuality and belonging. In utero, babies have no sense of separation. They are physically connected to Mom through the very liquid …

Parent-Teacher Conversations

          Productive collaborations between family and school, therefore, will demand that parents and teachers recognize the critical importance               of each other’s participation in the life of the child.  –          Sara Lawrence Lightfoot Teachers gain plenty of experience over time having difficult conversations about students with parents. However if you are parent, you may only experience …

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