Sunday, November 23, 2008

Out on a limb


Teachers teach students, that's our job. We think about how we teach, reflect on our teaching afterwards, try different approaches and techniques, reflect and evaluate again. We learn as we are doing all this.

What happens when teachers are the learners? I sometimes feel out on a limb as a learner. Tethered by a sometimes-thick, sometimes thin rope to the tree of understanding. Sometimes I'm content with my learning, but more often I'm either exhausted and a bit confused or exhilarated. I don't seem to occupy middle ground often. So, as I swing on my tether, I prefer the exhilarated side. . . but think the confused side leads to understanding. Maybe I need to embrace and trust the whole process as learning. Maybe being so very tired will fly away.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Education is learning new definitions



Who sits in the leadership seat?


I typically thought of leadership as a person or group of people who are in charge of organizations, events, etc. I am learning that leadership can and should be a group event - the space between the people and the action. Leadership is rich, has more than one definition and can exist in the relationship of the group. Group leadership is not dependent on a charismatic leader and can be longer lasting. As I learn more and reflect on leadership, I realize my definition of leadership is changing.

I also realize that education is a whole process of learning new definitions and how they work in real life. When I enter new life situations, I learn new definitions of terms like resilience, thinking for myself, what my faith means to me and how it works in my life, parenting, preparedness, organization, teaching, learning, classroom management, school culture, curriculum, education, leadership.

I wonder what new definitions I'll learn next.

Cross-stitch stars will be made into Christmas ornaments. Design is from an old Norwegian pattern.