As an educator, I’m a big fan of writing–journaling in particular. I really can’t say enough about it. Journal writing does wonders for both personal and academic growth. From creative and critical thinking, to problem solving, to communication skills, journaling is indeed the bomb. And I’m not the only one that thinks so.Consider the following from a recent article at parentmap.com by Sara Kahne,

 

These pictures came to me via email this morning from, ironically enough, my mother.

I think that was her way of reminding me that Mothers day is fast approaching.

My mom–queen of subtlety.

This winter I was introduced to TED talks a collection of speeches by today’s most intelligent people. The range of topics are fascinating so I strongly encourage anyone to check it out.

Anyway, one of the first speeches I heard/saw (because you can, if you choose, just download the sound without the video as a podcast) was given in 2006 by Sir Ken Robinson. As soon as I saw it I was hooked. He’s brilliant.

Before I go any further, I should also say that in order to be brilliant in my book, you also have to be funny. For me, Robinson clicked on all cylinders.

So when I saw his speech at TED talks plugged on Spurgeonblog, one of my favorites, I conked myself on the noggin and thought, “Why didn’t I do that?”

And since I don’t think I can say it any better, Chris Spurgeon puts it this way:

For more than a year I’ve been forcing friends to watch this 20-minute presentation by creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson on what’s wrong with our educational system. Now it’s your turn. His talk (filmed at the 2006 TED Conference) is funny, profound, inspirational, inflammatory, and paradigm shifting Watch it and see if you don’t also want to throw out our K-12 and college curricula and start over.

Anyway, I was inspired enough by this speech to write this column titled “Why Stupidity is a Good Thing,”  for a local paper. I should have linked to Robinson’s talk back then.

Oh well.  Better late than never.

Teasing: The stress

I came home from my second job tonight to learn that my eight-year-old daughter has been keeping something from us.

She’s getting teased.

Thankfully it only started yesterday. But that’s two days now she’s had to endure it. I feel bad for the kid–kind of. Because tonight, after some discussion and role-playing, I think we gave her some tools that should help.

Now I kind of feel sorry for those who are going to tease her.

I found this recently. The context is pre-vacation for a couple of my students. I’m not sure where they were going together but I remember it being far enough that they needed a plane ride.

I think this list was written by a girl that was staying behind to the girl or girls that were going–if you catch my drift. It’s a list of things to do on the plane and upon arrival, so the title’s a little off.

So here goes. Enjoy it. And then if you like, I couldn’t help but yammer on at the end because, for some reason, the last item triggered the reflective, pseudo-philosophical idiot in me.