Sharon, as it turns out, I am heading for the Lilly conference on teaching
where I'll be giving an all day pre-conference workshop on forging
classroom community. Crunched on time getting ready for the workshop, but
let me say this.
I am struck that such a simple idea as "community," of sharing, seems to
have such a powerful impact and a dramatic effect for so many. I find
that students who feel isolated, or isolate themselves, perform at lower
levels. I find that anything which promotes isolation and perpetuates
loneliness is debilitating. Anything that promotes a sense of intimacy,
connectedness, community can be releasing, exhilarating, and in some cases
healing. I have found that to the extent barriers are broken, bridges are built,
and community created learning is enhanced.
Community creates a powerful, supportive, encouraging sense of classroom
support and encouragementwhere the students feel better about coming out
from behind their "walls of lonliness," share who they really are and not
be socially isolated, and risk discovering the extent of their native
learning potential.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of History www.therandomthoughts.com
Valdosta State University www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
912-333-5947 /^\ / \ / /~\ \ /~\__/\
/ \__/ \/ / /\ /~\/ \
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-_~ / "If you want to climb mountains, \ /^\
_ _ / don't practice on mole hills" - \____
