This weeks reading asks the reader to reflect on three interrelated topics. The way things are, finding a starting point. Giving way to passion, what are you doing to make a difference, and Lighting a spark, the universe of possibility?
A Down Hill Challenge, an analogy that I have experienced first hand, as I am an experienced down hill skier and racer. I learned to ski in the powder snow in the West, Colorado and California. I became an accomplished down hill skier and racer. When I moved to the East Cost, I had to learn how to ski all over again. It is called boilerplate skiing, skiing on ice. Not an easy accomplishment to return to the same skill level that I had reached out West. I learned that in order to succeed one must push one self with in an inch of losing total control (yard sail). To succeed one must fail. Get up and try again or you will not succeed. The challenge in education is too push the students an inch out side their comfort zone, and help them to learn from the experience and expand their comfort zone.
To use the same analogy from A Down Hill Challenge, I moved to a ski town in Vermont for other reasons, with out ever having skied in Vermont, but with my passion for skiing I was not going to experience Vermont skiing with out a “no hit, no run and no errors” game! I studied with the best skiers; I skied with the fastest skiers and for a number of years was the last one down the hill (had to buy the first round). I was presented with an obstacle (Vermont Skiing) but with my passion for skiing I over came that obstacle. I have carried that sprit of passion thought my entire life both business and pleasure. I have taken that passion for life in to the classroom, infected my students and turned them lose down the hill (let us just hope they do not break as many bones) because the last one down byes.
The universe of possibility, the life force for an educator is perhaps nothing more than the passionate energy of the educator, to connect, express, and communicate with the student, the conscription of student in the passion of that educator. The flame, that passes from one student to another, and spreading that flame in all directions. Although, at times it would seem the use of a blowtorch might be necessary.
Hey Tom!You are so right that students need to be challenged and pushed outside of there comfort zones. If teachers didn't push students they would never learn to push themselves. I like how you said you push students an inch at a time to expand their comfort zone. Pushing too much can sometimes backfire causing students to shut down. So keep pushing and challenging your students. Oh, and can I borrow your blowtorch?Cherie Park
Sources: MAC_Wk_3_Reading
URL:http://web.me.com/tomcoleman863/MAC_Blog/Blog/Blog.html
Retrieved: December 8, 2010
A Down Hill Challenge, an analogy that I have experienced first hand, as I am an experienced down hill skier and racer. I learned to ski in the powder snow in the West, Colorado and California. I became an accomplished down hill skier and racer. When I moved to the East Cost, I had to learn how to ski all over again. It is called boilerplate skiing, skiing on ice. Not an easy accomplishment to return to the same skill level that I had reached out West. I learned that in order to succeed one must push one self with in an inch of losing total control (yard sail). To succeed one must fail. Get up and try again or you will not succeed. The challenge in education is too push the students an inch out side their comfort zone, and help them to learn from the experience and expand their comfort zone.
To use the same analogy from A Down Hill Challenge, I moved to a ski town in Vermont for other reasons, with out ever having skied in Vermont, but with my passion for skiing I was not going to experience Vermont skiing with out a “no hit, no run and no errors” game! I studied with the best skiers; I skied with the fastest skiers and for a number of years was the last one down the hill (had to buy the first round). I was presented with an obstacle (Vermont Skiing) but with my passion for skiing I over came that obstacle. I have carried that sprit of passion thought my entire life both business and pleasure. I have taken that passion for life in to the classroom, infected my students and turned them lose down the hill (let us just hope they do not break as many bones) because the last one down byes.
The universe of possibility, the life force for an educator is perhaps nothing more than the passionate energy of the educator, to connect, express, and communicate with the student, the conscription of student in the passion of that educator. The flame, that passes from one student to another, and spreading that flame in all directions. Although, at times it would seem the use of a blowtorch might be necessary.
Hey Tom!You are so right that students need to be challenged and pushed outside of there comfort zones. If teachers didn't push students they would never learn to push themselves. I like how you said you push students an inch at a time to expand their comfort zone. Pushing too much can sometimes backfire causing students to shut down. So keep pushing and challenging your students. Oh, and can I borrow your blowtorch?Cherie Park
Sources: MAC_Wk_3_Reading
URL:http://web.me.com/tomcoleman863/MAC_Blog/Blog/Blog.html
Retrieved: December 8, 2010
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