I know I've complained about how hard the rating position was, but wow. What a learning experience. I'm glad I was able to rate, even though it meant long hours and a little less sleep.
I've been thinking about getting my Master's for awhile, but I've not been happy with the choices available. I want to study something I'm passionate about, not just a degree that means more pay. Enter the Master's of Education with an emphasis in mind, brain and education! It's a mixture of neuroscience and education and has got me so excited I can hardly stand it!
Apparently this is a new field, and this degree looks at the way the brain learns and matches it with educational strategies so that those in this field can design better curriculum that meets the needs of kids' learning styles whether they have learning disabilities or not. It's the path I've been on since teaching at the international school in Taiwan.
So...GRE, here I come!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Healing the Blind Spots
Have you ever been in a situation for a prolonged period of time, then come out of it only to be left with residual effects?
Well, I've had the realization this week that that is what I'm dealing with, and I'm finally able to let go. It also tells me just how unhealthy things were for me for so long.
My husband and I worked in an environment overseas that was very competitive, and not in a healthy way. Sad, because there was no reason for it to be, but there it is. I'm not sure why it was, but there was a need for those we worked with in our region to compete and vie for positions. T and I didn't think like that, so it was disheartening to have it happen. We just wanted to put our heads down and do our work. We didn't want to be part of the politics. In my opinion, people who do their work from the standpoint of personal agendas are not people I want to work with. There is always a questioning of motives, or an inability to speak freely because of others who want to discredit or take credit for the work.
It wasn't the recognition that we wanted. T and I both are background people. We don't like the spotlight, and would rather someone else take it. It was more about stealing. The stealing of ideas to present as their own, the stealing of words (hearing your own words coming out of someone else's mouth), or even the stealing of joy. I was glad to be rid of it all when the time came. I figured those people, the ones who behaved in this way, deserved each other. I'm not sure what goes on now, but I can imagine things eventually get very lonely, because you can only undermine those close to you for so long before people get sick of it. I imagine there are many serial friendships rather than long-lasting deep friendships.
But I realized lately that the actions of those few had a great impact on me. I became hypersensitive to making sure credit was given where credit was due. And I was probably a bit too harsh with folks who tried to steal the spotlight from someone else, instead of letting them enjoy their moment. (Harsh in my mind and my opinion of them, not openly)
I've had the privilege the last few years of working with people who are selfless, who don't care about the spotlight. Their "Do Whatever It Takes" attitudes have no egos. They may get accolades, they may not. It doesn't matter. It's the kind of attitude I had when I first went overseas...before I became jaded. It's sad that I found that in secular work.
But now, I'm OK with those needing to take credit that isn't theirs. I realize they must need it, and it really doesn't matter to me. It's a little sad to me, but I'm at a healthier point in my life and can truthfully say that if someone needs the spotlight, I'm OK if they take it. I'll still give credit where credit is due, because that's fair.
And in the end, as I'm coming to realize, it's all fair. The good and the bad of it. Because eventually each person gets the credit they deserve. For the right reasons.
Well, I've had the realization this week that that is what I'm dealing with, and I'm finally able to let go. It also tells me just how unhealthy things were for me for so long.
My husband and I worked in an environment overseas that was very competitive, and not in a healthy way. Sad, because there was no reason for it to be, but there it is. I'm not sure why it was, but there was a need for those we worked with in our region to compete and vie for positions. T and I didn't think like that, so it was disheartening to have it happen. We just wanted to put our heads down and do our work. We didn't want to be part of the politics. In my opinion, people who do their work from the standpoint of personal agendas are not people I want to work with. There is always a questioning of motives, or an inability to speak freely because of others who want to discredit or take credit for the work.
It wasn't the recognition that we wanted. T and I both are background people. We don't like the spotlight, and would rather someone else take it. It was more about stealing. The stealing of ideas to present as their own, the stealing of words (hearing your own words coming out of someone else's mouth), or even the stealing of joy. I was glad to be rid of it all when the time came. I figured those people, the ones who behaved in this way, deserved each other. I'm not sure what goes on now, but I can imagine things eventually get very lonely, because you can only undermine those close to you for so long before people get sick of it. I imagine there are many serial friendships rather than long-lasting deep friendships.
But I realized lately that the actions of those few had a great impact on me. I became hypersensitive to making sure credit was given where credit was due. And I was probably a bit too harsh with folks who tried to steal the spotlight from someone else, instead of letting them enjoy their moment. (Harsh in my mind and my opinion of them, not openly)
I've had the privilege the last few years of working with people who are selfless, who don't care about the spotlight. Their "Do Whatever It Takes" attitudes have no egos. They may get accolades, they may not. It doesn't matter. It's the kind of attitude I had when I first went overseas...before I became jaded. It's sad that I found that in secular work.
But now, I'm OK with those needing to take credit that isn't theirs. I realize they must need it, and it really doesn't matter to me. It's a little sad to me, but I'm at a healthier point in my life and can truthfully say that if someone needs the spotlight, I'm OK if they take it. I'll still give credit where credit is due, because that's fair.
And in the end, as I'm coming to realize, it's all fair. The good and the bad of it. Because eventually each person gets the credit they deserve. For the right reasons.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Oh no, I'm not busy enough...
You would think I'd learned my lesson last year in terms of being busy during the school year. But no. I didn't. Teaching at two schools isn't enough. Neither is testing at both of those schools. And never mind the fact that this is Timo's senior year and all that that implies. I had to add rater to my list of duties.
It's a good deal, mind you. And it will look good on a resume should I ever need it again. But still. Adding additional hours to these weeks is....not well thought out?
But for now, I'm enjoying the experience. I really am glad I did it.
Really.
It's a good deal, mind you. And it will look good on a resume should I ever need it again. But still. Adding additional hours to these weeks is....not well thought out?
But for now, I'm enjoying the experience. I really am glad I did it.
Really.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
TAGT and me - YIKES!
I've had this passion in my educational life the past few years. It started in Taiwan, when I was teaching at the international school there. I was trying to figure out how to reach a handful of students within that community. They struggled in the classroom, but they were obviously smart and talented. Teachers were beginning to give up on them.
I noticed that these students were mainly students who were ADD, ADHD or ultra-creative in the way they expressed themselves. They HATED to be told the steps to do things. Rather, they liked to figure out steps on their own. They loved problem solving, and in fact, that's where they got their energy from. Telling these students how to do things sucked the life right out of them. However, if I put a problem on the board with the answer, and asked them how I got the answer, their eyes immediately lit up, and they were involved. I had them hook, line and sinker. Once they learned the steps in this way, they had them forever. No skill and practice was needed at all.
I didn't come up with these initial ideas on my own. I found a website constructed by a woman named Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman. She had been studying these types of students since the 70's, and had even coined the term that we use to describe them to this day: the Visual Spatial learner. I studied just about everything Dr. Silverman published on this type of student, and I've become a huge advocate for this type of learner at my schools. I've found that these students are huge assets in any classroom, and have amazing learning abilities, even though they learn quite differently from the way we teach in a regular classroom. They struggle desperately in the early years, and if not caught early, these learners can become so beaten down that they lose all interest in school and eventually drop out.
I happen to be married to a visual spatial learner, and I'm one myself. As a result, two of my children also learn in this manner. So you can see the amount of personal interest I have in the topic, and why, after no thought whatsoever, I submitted this topic as one I would be willing to present at the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented conference, held in Austin this year. It's a state conference, and GT teachers from all over the state attend to learn more about the students we hope to inspire. I never thought my topic would be accepted. It was.
So now I'm presenting about visual spatial learners to teachers from all over the state this November. And to make it even more nerve wrecking, Dr. Linda Kruger Silverman is one of the keynote speakers.
What was I thinking???? Better get my game on!
I noticed that these students were mainly students who were ADD, ADHD or ultra-creative in the way they expressed themselves. They HATED to be told the steps to do things. Rather, they liked to figure out steps on their own. They loved problem solving, and in fact, that's where they got their energy from. Telling these students how to do things sucked the life right out of them. However, if I put a problem on the board with the answer, and asked them how I got the answer, their eyes immediately lit up, and they were involved. I had them hook, line and sinker. Once they learned the steps in this way, they had them forever. No skill and practice was needed at all.
I didn't come up with these initial ideas on my own. I found a website constructed by a woman named Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman. She had been studying these types of students since the 70's, and had even coined the term that we use to describe them to this day: the Visual Spatial learner. I studied just about everything Dr. Silverman published on this type of student, and I've become a huge advocate for this type of learner at my schools. I've found that these students are huge assets in any classroom, and have amazing learning abilities, even though they learn quite differently from the way we teach in a regular classroom. They struggle desperately in the early years, and if not caught early, these learners can become so beaten down that they lose all interest in school and eventually drop out.
I happen to be married to a visual spatial learner, and I'm one myself. As a result, two of my children also learn in this manner. So you can see the amount of personal interest I have in the topic, and why, after no thought whatsoever, I submitted this topic as one I would be willing to present at the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented conference, held in Austin this year. It's a state conference, and GT teachers from all over the state attend to learn more about the students we hope to inspire. I never thought my topic would be accepted. It was.
So now I'm presenting about visual spatial learners to teachers from all over the state this November. And to make it even more nerve wrecking, Dr. Linda Kruger Silverman is one of the keynote speakers.
What was I thinking???? Better get my game on!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Almost here
So we officially have 6 more days of Summer. I'm not sad to see this one go. Earlier this week we had our 80th day of 100-plus degree weather. At least it broke a record! If I'm going to go through something like that, I want a record to show for it.
I remember a similar Summer back in the 80's. But back then I spent a lot of time in the community pool, and ate a lot of peaches. :) It seemed easier then. Plus, our air conditioners never went out.
That said, Fall is coming in quite nicely. Yesterday was 84, and we even had a little rain. The shadows are starting to change, and that love for all things Fall is waking back up. I'm ready for everything this season brings.
Happy Fall, Ya'll!
I remember a similar Summer back in the 80's. But back then I spent a lot of time in the community pool, and ate a lot of peaches. :) It seemed easier then. Plus, our air conditioners never went out.
That said, Fall is coming in quite nicely. Yesterday was 84, and we even had a little rain. The shadows are starting to change, and that love for all things Fall is waking back up. I'm ready for everything this season brings.
Happy Fall, Ya'll!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
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