Response to cd, assignment #4

I am responding to cd's comment about question #6, labyrinths. I agree with her wondering what would be in it and how it would help our schools. I think this section of Pink's writing where he talks about the importance of labyrinths was hard to understand and I was not able to grasp the importance of it either. Perhaps because I have never done one, it is hard for me to understand how this can be almost a "spiritual experience" in which creates meaning in one's life. I guess I will just have to try one to see the effects it really has on the brain and see how much it "engages my left brain in the logical progression of walking the path, the right brain is gree to think creatively."

Re: Final Entry and Evaluation

1) I really liked the convienice of taking part in an online blog study! I also really liked how we were able to read and then respond in more than one sitting, making it it a much more flexable way to do a study. Perhaps the only things I didn't like about it were that I found the format of the blog to be somewhat confusing, especially never having done a blog before. In the beginning of our assignments, I couldn't figure out how to post or read questions.

2) Changes I would recommend for other online blogs would be to have a page you could go to to explain how everything would be set up and the exact steps for posting and responding to other's comments!

3) Yes, I would participate in another book study! I found it a fun and convienent way to read a book with others and see what they thought about the reading. I enjoyed reading others' comments and sharing my thoughts with others!

4) No one responded to any of my posts, so I guess my only comment would be that I wish I would have had more of a conversation with other bloggers, I feel more like I just read others and responded to them with no "conversation". Oh well, it was still fun!

Response to Assignment #4 (questions #5, #10)

In response to question #5 , teaching has added great meaning to my life. Infact, the reason I chose to go into teaching was to have a job that I not only enjoy but to have a meaningful career that impacts others. Teaching is not only teaching valuable tools for students lifelong learning sucess, but for me I find it a place where I am able to impact a students emotions, self-confidence and much more. I look at it as an oppurtunity to embrace each student's uniqueness and celebrate them for who they are, whether they are the smartest kid in the class, or the one who struggles beyond belief. I so enjoy loving on them, encouraging them and being a person they can trust and depend on in their lives. It adds to my happiness because doing good for others is a very fufilling thing in life!

In response to question #10, if I were to dedicate my work to someone, it would be my Jesus! Everything I do is for him! I not only feel that teaching is my work, but my oppurtunity to please God with the way I treat others at work, encourage and inspire the students and strive for excellence in what I do. I dedicate my work to Him because he is the reason why I am here and I want to serve him to the best of my abilities in all that I do, especially my work!

Re: Response to Amanda Question #3

I really agree with what Amanda says about the importance of Empathy in society. It is so true that it is really what sets us apart and is an important trait for this whole new conceptual era. Computers may try to replace many automatic left-brain type jobs and activities, but they cannot replace areas where empathy is a vital role (i.e. teaching, design, etc). I am glad that this area can't be replaced because it ensures jobs and roles where human contact and emotion will be guaranteed to continue it's vitality and importance in our world.

Re: Assignment #3

In response to question 2, this is one thing I really disagree with pink about! I do not feel that video games are important for developing skills like problem solving and visual perception. I think that video games cause a lot more harm than good in a child and the "good old days" when children spent most of their time making up games and figuring out puzzles, they were able to problem solve and be a lot more creative.

In response to question 7 about Men, Women and Empathy, I think that the classroom is a place where this is easily seen. Although it is politically incorrect to say that women are more empathetic, I have noticed that truly my female students tend to empathize with emotions in the classroom much more. Also, I have taught 2 classes that were single gender and I noticed a big difference in the dynamics of the classroom. The all boys classroom was a lot harder behavior wise and when I would try to talk with them about behavior, punishment, etc, it was a lot harder for them to empathize with my dilemma/frustration. The class seemed to never quite understand the concept I was trying to convey or make any efforts to change.

FINAL ENTRY AND EVALUATION

Thank you for participating in this book study blog. Blogs I have facilitated in the past have been completed over a longer period of time, so this one felt rushed to me(as evidenced in my falling behind on posting assignments). I hope you have enjoyed the experience and that you will participate in another blogging opportunity. To help me improve future book study blogs, please answer the following questions:

1) Identify your likes and dislikes about completing a book study online.

2) What changes do you recommend to improve online book studies for others?

3) Would you participate in another book study blog? Why or why not?

4) Other comments you would like to share....

Assignment #4 Reflections on Chapters 8 and 9

Greetings, Bloggers! Thanks for your thoughtful reflections on the assignments. I love reading your ideas and responses from so many different perspectives. Select at least two questions/activities below to complete for this week's assignment. Be sure to comment on at least one other participant's response.

1) On page 210, Pink give us directions for a "Cartoons Captions Game". Try this activity with friends or family to determine if this is something you'd like to try with your students. If you don't subscribe to "New Yorker", I encourage you to check out Hendersonville's library collection or sip some coffee at Barnes and Noble while you browse through a copy of the journal there.

2) We have another opportunity to test ourselves with the Humor Scale (p. 211). Check it out and post your findings.

3) Explore the various game sites listed on pages 212 and 213. What's good? Unimpressive? Worth sharing?

4) How is Pink's notion of "meaning" a part of your teaching? Should we even broach this subject in a secular classroom? If so, how?

5) How does teaching add meaning to your life? How does it add to your happiness?
What is the importance of your response to these two questions to your students?

6) Can you envision a labyrinth somewhere on your school's site? If so, what words might be attached to your school's labyrinth for students, staff, and other stakeholders to ponder as they walk through it? Why are these words significant to your school--how do they connect to your school's purpose?

7) Reflect on the 20-10 test in your life circumstances. Share what you can.

8) Complete the "But Out" exercise on on pages 238 and 239. Impressions?

9) Have you read any of the suggested readings on pages 240-241? If so, give us your critique (ever so briefly).

10) If you were to dedicate your work to someone, who it would be? Why?

Happy Blogging!