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Stop Blaming Teachers
Is retaining qualified teachers a thing of the past? Sustaining work that valued head and heart used to be important; the foundation of our teaching. We took care to wrap the gifts of our classroom families with love and attention. We used our creative vision to engage students’ souls. We endeavored to give students and families a place to feel welcome. In return, we felt our gifts of teaching mattered—not just to the students in our classrooms, but to the community. It is not this that was wrong. This love wasn’t enough to make every student a successful reader, granted. But no learning happens without it. Not in a…
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Finding Peace Through the Retreating Path
This past weekend I enjoyed a very moving and restorative retreat with a group of individuals—no longer strangers. Often, people, my husband included, ask me, “What do you do on retreat?” The time is best described as exploring the many paths life presents, with others, knowing this is your one journey. Like the snow in Minnesota, that’s pretty deep! I usually discover something profound about myself and my situation. It was a time of contemplation within a time of contemplation for me as I currently deviate from the teacher path. This Courage and Renewal retreat brought me back to Parker Palmer’s words about a teacher’s “inner landscape”. I came home…
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Warren Buffet does not keep a full calendar and other time-management tidbits
Warren Buffet told Charlie Rose and Bill Gates that sitting and thinking may be of much greater priority than filling every moment in your schedule. The clip, labeled Busy is the New Stupid, came across my feed with obvious interest. I don’t know if I agree with the stupid part, but busy is an idea that is far overused often, in my opinion, creating a victim mentality. To have time is the most precious thing. Even WB can’t buy more. Most, including me, think more time would somehow alleviate some suffering and stress. There is a constant need to get things done and feelings of always falling short. Surely more…
