teacher research

Some of our new teachers have joined our school's teacher research group. I'm impressed with how they are already taking responsibility for their own professional learning and growth on top of all they are managing as a new teacher. I'm even more impressed they know an activity like this will help their teaching and ultimately help their students. As a young teacher, this sort of self-exploration wasn't even on my radar. I mean what sort of capable teacher would still have questions about teaching once they were awarded a teaching credential licensed by a state's department of education? Who would want to expose their practices, their instructional strategies and their professional vulnerabilities for all to see?

Teaching is a living, breathing process. Our research is already such a part of our day. We are always making adjustment for things that work and don't work with students. We know we are lucky. Lucky we are in a county and a school that acknowledges the value of this work. We are allotted time during our work day to work on our project, space in a nice conference room and experts at our beck and call for the sole purpose of asking and exploring questions we have about our practices. Thinking about our teachers embracing this... maybe we've made our luck.

five random things

My friend at Snippety Gibbet has tagged me for a meme to share five random things. I'm honored because I just think she's so boss. (I am determined to revive "boss" as a cool superlative.) Jan is one of our art teachers whose good work with kids goes way, way beyond her job description. Her own art is incredible. I love paper anything and her artistic cutting is serious whimsy. She also just got back from a 270 mile, four day ride from Pittsburgh toward DC. Did I mention it was on two wheels? With only pedal power? So of course, I will answer her tag.

Anyway, my five random things:
1. I spoke Japanese til I started kindergarten when my mom decided it would prevent me from speaking English and doing well in school. We just didn't know. Can hardly say ko nichi wa now.

2. I've had thirty different jobs in my life not counting mom, and including "cook" on a llama ranch in Gilroy, CA (town named for my family).

3. Two foods always in my refrigerator- lemon and cilantro.

4. I owned a dirt bike in the desert as a teenager til I had a bad crash.

5. I love violin music.