See Part Three for the previous reflections... I guess the subtitle could be: "How the heck do I make this more concise and still keep the passion I feel about it?" So, I started the new semester on January 5th, 2022... dove into teaching my high school classes online with the help of my amazing … Continue reading Building a Teaching Philosophy – Part Four – Open to criticism & feedback.
Building a Teaching Philosophy – Part 2
I posted the initial draft that answered my mentor's guiding questions in yesterday's post: Building a Teaching Philosophy - Part 1. Following some very constructive feedback from here, this is a two page summary of the original information. Note: I'm still working on this and will incorporate other feedback as well. I also asked my … Continue reading Building a Teaching Philosophy – Part 2
Building a Teaching Philosophy – Part 1
My teaching mentor has us going through the process of creating a Teaching Philosophy Statement. She asked a series of guiding questions and this is what I came up with... it's a work in progress and there will be a 2-page summary of it tomorrow. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. _________________________________________________________________ Preamble My teaching philosophy … Continue reading Building a Teaching Philosophy – Part 1
Butterfly Garden – Adapting as we go
Butterfly Garden - Adapting as we go. The seeds were planted a couple of weeks ago and a little growth has sprouted. Granted I'm impatient, but I think some stuff just won't grow, so I'm adapting as I go. Little flowers have been sprouting up all over my property, so I'm transplanting them as gently … Continue reading Butterfly Garden – Adapting as we go
Defining beneficial inconsistencies in pursuit of art for the masses
The history and legacy of the New Deal arts program is intertwined with the Mexican muralist movement. Its role in the evolution of public art helped define the Americana voice and opened the possibility for an ever-evolving American art scene. The practice of painting murals was present in the USA before FDRs New Deal. The … Continue reading Defining beneficial inconsistencies in pursuit of art for the masses
Butterfly Garden – Re-arranging the land
II had several odd cedar trees around my property that I wanted to use and tons of rocks uncovered by the plumbers' digging, so I decided to use these to cover a few eyesores next to my house: the air-conditioning unit; a compost bin / leaf dump; and some storage items for the winter garden. … Continue reading Butterfly Garden – Re-arranging the land
Butterfly Garden – Transforming damage done by plumbers into something beautiful
In November 2020, I had to make an emergency call to the plumbers to solve a drain back-up issue in my basement. They used their camera and discovered that the old cedar hedge on the side of my house had finally grown roots deep and strong. They broke the sewer pipe taking our waste water … Continue reading Butterfly Garden – Transforming damage done by plumbers into something beautiful
Why a Certification as a Home Educator?
Part of how I've been describing myself as a teacher is being an educator with a teaching philosophy based on STEM / STEAM curricula, Universal Design for Learning, Emergent Curricula, and Maker-oriented education systems. If I had to say what theories/methods I use the most, I would be taking about aspects of Reggio-Emilia, Montessori, Waldorf, … Continue reading Why a Certification as a Home Educator?
How to build an exemplary learning environment using Dynamic Classroom Management & Universal Design for Learning
Note: This is the term paper I submitted for EDUC 450 (Summer 2020), a class about inclusion and the exceptional child. I am making every effort to properly include all references for any further study you. might wish to pursue. Please feel free to engage with this paper and continue the discussion in our community … Continue reading How to build an exemplary learning environment using Dynamic Classroom Management & Universal Design for Learning
Acknowledging the principle of “nkali” and embracing its warnings to build a better classroom
TedTalk Review: The Danger of a single story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I came across this TedTalk about four years ago while doing research on identity and purpose for this blog. It then came up again as recommendations from the Ted curation managers for topics ranging from powerful marketing practices to ethical branding messages, and … Continue reading Acknowledging the principle of “nkali” and embracing its warnings to build a better classroom
The New Renaissance Mindset 