I graduated from the university of New Hampshire in 2005, with a degree in English Teaching. I spent my subsequent years thoroughly enjoying World of Warcraft, where I squandered three years of my early to mid 20’s. I moved to California out of boredom where I applied to be a substitute teacher. I met my wife there and eventually we … Read More
Learning how to crack the code on Algebra
In 8th grade, I was enrolled in Algebra 1 at Coronado Middle School in Kansas City, KS without progressing through the standard channels. The adverse experience of working under the tutelage of a horrible teacher, yet, working with my mother on math problems until 3:00 am, extracted a level of resilience that had never surfaced prior to that school year. … Read More
Art, designs and friendship!!!
I used to draw really interesting designs around words, like really amazing paintings! This was about 20 years ago in high school and middle school. Recently, in the last four years, I began drawing again. In the same fashion!!! In the same way! I had many art shows using these designs. All my friends love my designs for about 20 … Read More
My New School
The most recent and perhaps most powerful learning community experience has to be the movement to my new school. Change is always hard but who should know that better than a teacher of 18 years. I was starting all over again. My new school was a totally new experience with new staff and students. I have never worked in a … Read More
Mr. Halvorson
My most powerful personal experience in a learning community did not take place inside of classroom walls. In fact, I was in bed, missing my sixth-grade Christmas party due to the dreaded chicken pox. What timing! I had been looking forward to the event for weeks. Everyone was bringing in treats, and our teacher had a number of games and … Read More
My Most Inspiring and Connected Learning Community
I grew up in a middle class Catholic family. Even though both my parents worked in the field of public education me and my siblings attended various Catholic schools while growing up. I entered Holy Rosary in 3rd grade. My family had moved to the small town I grew up in when I was 5 years old. I did not … Read More
Sometimes when you fall, you fly.
I’ve always profited from taking risks with my education. Not to say that my most insightful papers were written in a batting cage, or that I had a moment of enlightenment whilst reading poetry on a 10 story ledge, but my experience has been that when you ignore that little doubtful voice in the back of your mind and jump … Read More
Suzuki violin
I think I learned more about teaching and learning from my training as a Suzuki violin teacher than from anything else I have studied. I first encountered this method as a traditional teacher who took a pair of students who had just moved to town from a big established Suzuki program elsewhere. It astounded me that the mother came to … Read More
With a Song in my Heart
As a junior high school student I began to have a special interest in singing. I was encouraged by my music teacher and then in high school I participated in as many singing groups as I could. One of the groups was our high school select choir which sang some spectacularly wonderful and challenging music. There was such a sense … Read More
Your Goal
The map is the ideal analogy for goals.
