Wk3 Reading: Blog 1 - Art of Possibility Ch 7-9

Crossing bridges

Chapter 7. The Way Things Are: Sometimes settling for the way things are is a lowering of expectations, sometimes it’s finding a starting point so that one can make things better. Where are you in this continuum?

Response:
For me, each day is a new starting point. In life and in the classroom, I take a look at where I am presently; compare that with where I was yesterday, and where I want to be tomorrow. Then I zoom out and apply that same perspective on a large continuum of 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, and farther out. In each instance, I think about the time, knowledge, and other resources that I presently have and what I my need on the journey to tomorrow.

Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion: Control says that the only way to avoid disappointment and frustration is to not care at all. No hits, no runs, but most importantly, no errors. What are you doing in your daily life that expresses your passion or the things you are passionate about?

Response:
As I consider my passions, I find myself to be very simplistic. My desires revolve around my family and the students in my classroom. In both situations, I want to provide a caring, memorable, and safe environment, create connections, provide positive and purposeful guidance, and lead both toward a fulfilling life.

Chapter 9. Lighting a Spark. It’s not about us. It’s about them. What are you doing to pay-forward from your universe of possibility?

In my classroom, lighting the spark is all about creating tangible connections. These connections form bridges between myself, my students, the curriculum I teach, and the potential successes within each student. Each lesson I teach in the classroom is flexible and considerate of the talents and needs of my students. I encourage them to offer alternative ways to achieve our goals. One of my favorite expressions to hear is "what if." This phrase tells me students are considering other possibilities.