MAC_Wk2_Post2_Response1

Boston, MA  taken by S. Noack

Jason P.,

I agree with you, the reading has lots of ideas we can put into practice.  And that is the problem!  To go for it!  But as I shared in my blog, I think that you can start with something simple in your weekly routine of your classes.  I do not think you have to wait until next year.  I encourage you to try now while we are reading the book. As B. Zander says, “we might invent something that brighten our life and the lives of the people around us.”  With my little try I could see the shinning eyes!  It was worthy.

Original: http://mrpeglow.blogspot.com/2011/04/edm613-wk2-post-1-reading-art-of.html by Jason Peglow.

I really do love books like this although I always have such a hard time applying any of it to my actual life practice. For example, in the chapter on giving an A to others and to your self, all I could think about here was how could I give an A to my students? Every time the idea came into my mind while reading this chapter I thought of so many reasons why it wouldn't work, or the negatives that could result. It is funny how quick one's mind admonishes the self into thinking something new or risky is impossible. But, I have made it my goal that all summer long I am going to try to make this happen in my classes for next year. I mean...who am I to tell a student they are only a C? I will simply do my best to chip away at the marble to reveal the statue. My classes are enjoyable and the kids always seem to show growth in their writing while they are with me, but I always come away at the end of the year feeling like I wasted so much time doing things that were unnecessary or irrelevant for them. I am hoping I can find a way to change that for next year. I guess I am chipping way at my own block of marble as well.