Wow! Some great discussion so far! I have been thinking about some of my own "intellectual history" and I really can think of only two episodes before my college days. I had a young, male (a real novelty in my elementary school) student teacher who was experimenting, I think, with writer's workshop. For the first time in my schooling, I had a choice about what to write about and I can remember being very frustrated as Mr. Colbert kept sending my back to rewrite and rewrite again. It was a struggle to understand what was wrong with my work. I realize, now, that Mr. Colbert was trying to get me to make decisions about my writing...not tell me what to write. I can remember the satisfaction I felt when I turned in my final piece, even before Mr. Colbert told me I could be a writer someday. I didn't need the complement...I already KNEW I had done well. In college, I had a freshman seminar with a classics professor, Dr. Sider. We were to develop our own philosophy of education and then design our college education (what courses to take) based on our own philosophy. I can remember loving and yet being very frustrated by Dr. Sider. He was always questioning, taking things deeper by asking me always to justify and explain myself. He would send us away with a writing assignment and then we'd always come back to discuss and take our ideas deeper. I always left that class feeling both elated and exhausted. Recently, I have a professional colleague who, I realize now, does the same thing for me...gentle nudges to think more deeply about things I am passionate about...things I thought I understood. Emails fly back and forth and this colleague very patiently reads them all and answers, sometimes extensively...other times with an article to think about or a question or two...a nudge that keeps me thinking. There are some commonalities in these experiences for me... I realize that writing figures heavily in my most memorable learning experiences. There is struggle...but it is supported struggle. There is/was quiet time to think, reflect and write and then someone to talk to about my thoughts. And yes...there is joy....after the struggle...a feeling of accomplishment that I finally do, at last, understand at least a little better than I did before. I think we, as teachers, need to think about these times in our own lives and the conditions our teachers set up for us when we felt that joy which comes from deep understanding. Armed with this information, I think we have a great chance for really improving our schools in a meaningful way. Keep the posts coming! Jennifer
**************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001) _______________________________________________ Understand mailing list [email protected] http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/understand_literacyworkshop.org
