In many ways, our teaching/learning program focuses on life's journey. Via fiction and fact, students journey with individuals past and present via books, films, expert visitors, research, and project work.
It is the story of life's journeys that also serve to teach me as an educator. For example, last night I watched the biopic, 'The Music of Silence,' an inspiring story of Andrea Bocelli's early life. For educators, the biographical movie brings so many incredible lessons of what it means to nurture young children and to teach well. Imagine if everyone had given up on Bocelli--the world would have missed his amazing brilliance and inspiration.
I am also immersed in Anne with an E, a modern version of the Anne of Green Gables story, and again, a great teacher for educators who want to teach the diversity of their students with sensitivity and care. Anne's courageous optimism, intelligence, and unique character is an inspiration for educators who reach out to advocate to teach their students well and change schools for the better.
Further, I just began Bryan Stevenson's book, Just Mercy, which I can't wait to get back to. I know that Stevenson's story will change me forever.
As I consider these lives, both real and fictional, I am keenly aware of the great opportunity life holds for brilliance, love, courage, and contribution. This opportunity stands in stark contrast to the war, violence, and conflict so many in the world are focused on. I wonder why don't we focus on betterment and building opportunity instead--instead of war, why don't we we work together the world over to grow as much brilliance, art, contribution, and care as we can. The violence and war we see is outdated, unnecessary, and beneath our dignity as human beings. We must do all we can to wage a battle of good work, inspiration, depth, and understanding to better our world, not destroy it or the people in it.
Soon I'll be back at school thankful for the lives I've learned from during this vacation--journeys that will inspire me and my students too. Onward.
It is the story of life's journeys that also serve to teach me as an educator. For example, last night I watched the biopic, 'The Music of Silence,' an inspiring story of Andrea Bocelli's early life. For educators, the biographical movie brings so many incredible lessons of what it means to nurture young children and to teach well. Imagine if everyone had given up on Bocelli--the world would have missed his amazing brilliance and inspiration.
I am also immersed in Anne with an E, a modern version of the Anne of Green Gables story, and again, a great teacher for educators who want to teach the diversity of their students with sensitivity and care. Anne's courageous optimism, intelligence, and unique character is an inspiration for educators who reach out to advocate to teach their students well and change schools for the better.Further, I just began Bryan Stevenson's book, Just Mercy, which I can't wait to get back to. I know that Stevenson's story will change me forever.
As I consider these lives, both real and fictional, I am keenly aware of the great opportunity life holds for brilliance, love, courage, and contribution. This opportunity stands in stark contrast to the war, violence, and conflict so many in the world are focused on. I wonder why don't we focus on betterment and building opportunity instead--instead of war, why don't we we work together the world over to grow as much brilliance, art, contribution, and care as we can. The violence and war we see is outdated, unnecessary, and beneath our dignity as human beings. We must do all we can to wage a battle of good work, inspiration, depth, and understanding to better our world, not destroy it or the people in it.
Soon I'll be back at school thankful for the lives I've learned from during this vacation--journeys that will inspire me and my students too. Onward.