Contrary to what we usually believe, moments like these, the best moments in our lives, are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times — although such experiences can also be enjoyable, if we have worked hard to attain them. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in … Continue reading Bringing FLOW To Our Students
Category: Education
The Beautiful Art of Boredom
Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: both depend on being outside rather than inside a situation, and one leads to the other. ~Arthur Schopenhauer "Daaaaaaaaaad...I'm bored." Yep. With the winter holidays finally seeing its end, this has been audible a few times over the past two days. It is, of course, a very … Continue reading The Beautiful Art of Boredom
This Is Us (with Grade 9, baby)
Middle school is exactly what it sounds like. A mixed-up mess of nothing, and yet everything at the same time. ~Julia Remillard I couldn't help myself. Cue the music... https://youtu.be/IOLl-8ZqMZw All That Is Old Is...Still Old In my twenty-two plus years in British Columbia public education as both teacher and administrator one thing has become … Continue reading This Is Us (with Grade 9, baby)
A Healthy Professional Balance
Any political agenda and organization which doesn't begin with personal responsibility is just half the argument. It's just not going to succeed. ~Peter Coyote I have an admission... For years I complained publicly and privately that our school district was not doing enough to support its teachers. Past professional learning opportunities included sponsoring a $10 … Continue reading A Healthy Professional Balance
Talking Porn With Our Teens Benefits Everyone
Sex education has to do with what's in people's head. ~Donna Shalala I recently came across this TEDxTalk by public health researcher and advocate, Emily Rothman. I watched it a couple of times while fully digesting the power of what she was advocating: use porn as a pretext/context to have discussions with teens about healthy … Continue reading Talking Porn With Our Teens Benefits Everyone
Cynefin: Learning to Live with/in Complicated/Complexity
We are glorious accidents of an unpredictable process with no drive to complexity, not the expected results of evolutionary principles that yearn to produce a creature capable of understanding the mode of its own necessary construction. ~ Stephen Jay Gould A respected colleague recently introduced me David Snowden's Cynefin (ku-nev-in) model. The framework itself appears holds … Continue reading Cynefin: Learning to Live with/in Complicated/Complexity
Off And Running: Random Thoughts To Start Another Year
You. Got. This. Three important words that I bring back into my consciousness each and every September. My mantra, of sorts. As a begin the second year in a new assignment I am committed showing up open, clear, and curious for myself, my students, and our learning journey together. A New Adventure! Speaking of a … Continue reading Off And Running: Random Thoughts To Start Another Year
