THING #4

My last blogs seemed sterile.  Good review for my classmates.  That is what I tried to create.  I figured I would help them study if the were forced to read my writing.  In an effort to be more interesting, I tried to be more creative. Here it goes…

At the center of any culture is community.  And, around that community is certain tradition, ceremony, activity, rights of passage, and the transfer of history and knowledge.  It seems as though our teaching community seats themselves around the “dining table” of blogging, and constantly exchange the ideas and fundamentals that build our professional family.  The food being served is prepared in the ovens of the classroom; and, the ingredients are the innocents of youth, the passion of learning, the mistakes of history, the dreams of the future, and the transparent love of a mentor and confidant.   Um, Ummm.  These blogs are food for a teacher’s soul.

As a young “up-and-comer”, I went to these blogs and digested some of the bread these teachers were providing.  These “Master Chefs” explained, very well, the need for my feedback as part of the next generation of educators.  Just as important as receiving these “nourishing nuggets of wisdom”, it is equally important to acknowledgement that these delicious treasures are being sought out, appreciated, and successfully prepared by others.  Finding these recipes, experimenting with techniques, and showing my genuine appreciation through thoughtful commenting demonstrates my desire to grow and to carry our mission forward.  All the while, validating those bloggers who are building a group of quality professionals.  By commenting on blogs, us “new-bees” are privileged to be able to acknowledge the work of those who’ve spent decades perfecting these gourmet educational experiences.  I decided to thank the authors for providing these ingredients.  Ingredients which are critical inside the apprentice’s kitchen; “The Classroom.” 

Question: Why eat at McDonald’s if Wolfgang Puck is willing to make you Massaman Curry?  

If we want the food to continue to come, sometimes we have to say; “Ahh, how delicious, may I have another.  And please, tell me how you made these potatoes.”  When the meals being eaten are cooked up in the pots of sound standards, true values and years of experience; the nutrition I’ll prepare for my students will never be more than one or two recipes away. As a young teacher, I’ll have the ability to reach out to countless global experts and solicit the very best advice.  This constant state of discovery is essential to growing into a mature professional.  And, it appears, that blogs can play a healthy role in my growth.

As nourishing as the community is, it’s also important to dissent in a healthy manner.  Blogs are a great way to challenge one another and make sure we are thinking clearly on important matters.  So, as I’m replenishing myself at the family table, it is just as important to ensure I’m sticking to the fundamentals our community is built on.  As well intended as I may be, at times; I can be mislead or confused by complex situations and new relationships.   As a member of this community, my reaction to new recipes on the table (technology/standards/testing/assessment) must remain true to the fundamentals of our profession.  So, as unpalatable as they may be, the healthy debates are completely necessary when cooking up a new meal (classroom method/technique).

Critiquing, very important.  But, just as important; is the manner we critique.  I just don’t spit the food back on my plate, if it’s a little too salty.  How rude!  There is a right way to do it.  And in everyone’s case, this community is expected to do it professionally.

For my dining experience, I chose to sample and comment on the following Chefs from our 5540 class:

Bon Appetite!

·      CJ Howard

·      Anetta Patterson

·      Kasey Howes

·      C. Luke

·      Scott Davis

For the other two established bloggers, I chose to comment on:

·      A Cool Cat Teacher

·      Blogush

I commented to let them know how much I appreciated their efforts to create a community.  I also informed them I was a new blogger and student studying to be a teacher, and I would continue to follow their work.  Being a new blogger, I really enjoyed my classmates’ sentiments.  They had, by far, the greatest effect on me personally.  Thanks! -clint