Well, I'm beginning to learn why Parker Palmer calls his book, The Courage to Teach:The Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life. I knew some days it took a lot of courage to stay in my class and even more courage to show up the next day. But the 'inner landscape'. What does that mean and what do 'I', 'me' have to do with teaching? Everything. As I explore through critical self-reflection, I'm realizing more and more how intricately woven my 'me-ness' is with my teaching. When I began teaching, we were told not to speak about 'politics, sex and/or religion'. Those conversations were forbidden territory. You put on your 'teacher' when you go to work, keep a distance and don't get emotionally involved. This is a dualistic (at the least, maybe multi-isitc!) notion that doesn't realize the importance of holistic living. Nowadays, within conversations with fellow teachers and now, this September, going back to university for further studies, I'm heartened to hear that new teachers are being encouraged to reflect on themselves as practitioners and the impact of that awareness on their work. It's a much healthier and authentic way of being. May we offer the same to our students.
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You're standing in your way. Sometimes, I recognize this. When I engage in negative self-talk, I'm standing in my way. When I own what's not mine to own, when I try to fix what's not mine to fix. When I talk to myself in ways that I wouldn't appreciate from a friend, I'm standing in my way. Other times, i haven't a clue. I'm blindly working around myself as an obstacle, oblivious to why I'm experiencing roadblocks. My self-reflection this week is to try to see when I'm my own worst enemy, to try to recognize when I'm crossing my own boundaries, when I just need to let go, give myself a break or take responsibilty. Hard to be objective about yourself, so I am listening and collecting the musings of people I respect, but mostly of people who I know love me and I know want the best for me. And I will try to remember that love when I feel defensive, insecure and wanting. We're all in this together.
"The 3 Things All Humans Crave--And How To Motivate Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere ...Safety means creating an environment where we can take risks and stretch and grow. Is it safe to take risks at your company? Belonging means creating an environment where we all feel like a tight-knit tribe, we’re all equal and we’re rowing in the same direction to reach our goals. Think about gangs—where people will literally kill to stay in the tribe. That’s how powerful this stuff is. Mattering means each of us contributes individually in a unique way. We all make a difference. We’re appreciated and publicly acknowledged. Does your company culture work this way?" If Safety + Belonging + Mattering = Trust, how does that impact our teaching, our living, our lives and relationships? It bears some serious thinking. Could it be that if we do not intentionally foster one of these three 'legs', the Table of Trust will topple? Do you feel safe? Do you 'belong'? Do you think you matter? I hope so. as found @ http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2013/03/13/the-3-things-all-humans-crave-and-how-to-motivate-anyone-anytime-anywhere/ Last night, I dreamt that my husband was indifferent..to me. It was more of a nightmare. The irony is that he is FAR from that. Is it a fear of mine? Not that I know of. But it got me thinking. A fellow teacher, standing on the picket line with me, was growing frustrated with people's seeming indifference as they drove by our busy intersection. He decided he would consciously invite 'drive-by's to interact. His thoughts were that, as educators we need to engage consciously with the public at all times, but especially given the opportunity while picketing. Several of us made a conscious decision to stand alongside him, planted close to the traffic as we deemed safe, making eye contact with specific drivers, offering a wave, smile or nod. Soon it became a game of counting the honks, waves and even the thumbs down and slurs. When a response was negative, it was not as disappointing as no response. No response gave us nothing, no feedback, no interaction. When you google indifference, two definition options come up. 1. lack of interest, concern, or sympathy and 2. unimportance. If that's the case, no wonder it was so lonely to receive. We were not just receiving nothing. We were receiving both definitions.
What do you love about this? What works? What doesn't? How do you see yourself working within this framework? Is there one word you will especially target in your classroom? In your life? In you? |
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