tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post8837645687777963839..comments2024-02-06T04:26:33.866-06:00Comments on To Keep Things Whole: 2011 NAIS TakeawaysMark Crottyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17099567332113135358noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-58029452867813207002011-03-03T10:39:58.468-06:002011-03-03T10:39:58.468-06:00Diversity:
We must celebrate and illuminate the di...Diversity:<br />We must celebrate and illuminate the diversity we have around us daily instead of spending time denigrating our school environment because we perceive a lack of diversity in our surroundings. Diversity is always present; we just have to make ourselves be aware enough to recognize it and help our students do the same.<br /> <br />The elephant and the rider: <br />I especially appreciate this metaphor because I think we can use it with children to help them understand how the rational and the emotional are inextricably intertwined. Children must understand this in order to be successful learners; teachers must understand this in order to be effective teachers. As we work with children, we have to help them move toward more balance and control while continuing to understand the value of both parts of their psyche.Ann Binfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338655263693592358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-30171834659118178882011-03-03T10:38:06.048-06:002011-03-03T10:38:06.048-06:00Diversity:
We must celebrate and illuminate the di...Diversity:<br />We must celebrate and illuminate the diversity we have around us daily instead of spending time denigrating our school environment because we perceive a lack of diversity in our surroundings. Diversity is always present; we just have to make ourselves be aware enough to recognize it and help our students do the same. <br /><br />The elephant and the rider: <br />I especially appreciate this metaphor because I think we can use it with children to help them understand how the rational and the emotional are inextricably intertwined. Children must understand this in order to be successful learners; teachers must understand this in order to be effective teachers. As we work with children, we have to help them move toward more balance and control while continuing to understand the value of both parts of their psyche.Ann Binfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338655263693592358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-26563060989070518612011-03-03T00:04:37.652-06:002011-03-03T00:04:37.652-06:00"The key is that we always have a choice, alt..."The key is that we always have a choice, although we may not like the alternatives or consequences." This comment resonates with me and is so much of what I, as an educator and a mother, try to teach "my children." For every action and decision we make, there is always a consequence. Sometimes it is positive and welcomed, and sometimes it is less desirable. What is important is that we truly understand that we affect one another each and every day through the decisions that we make. For every choice that we make, we should be prepared to take responsibility for whatever the consequence. This, I find, is definitely a learned behavior that needs to be practiced and modeled in a safe environment. Kids need to learn that if we mess up, we should own up to that failure,learn from it, and move on. Let's face it...learning to fail is hard to do! <br /><br />During a sermon on failure a couple of weeks ago, our pastor said he walked into a business, and immediately noticed a sign on the wall that read, "Failure is not an option." He remarked on how much pressure that must put on the employees. He then went on to say that we all fail and to pretend that we never mess up is only lying to ourselves. It is what we do with our failures that makes the difference.Sheri B.noreply@blogger.com