Working in Education through the Language Lens

  I haven't had to use this expression before with a literal context. However this weekend, we needed all hands on the back decks. This picture was taken on Father's Day, as my husband was including all four boys in completing the hand rail and sides to our newest deck (back door landing). A great learning experience  Yesterday we all helped paint this deck and our pool deck with stain (hopefully for the last time due to our purchase of lifetime deck stain ~yeah, we'll see!). Two very different decks Two very different tasks Two very different parents Six pairs of hands My learning: The assignment of task to helper is critical. At one point I had my youngest son right next to me so that I could keep an eye on him, knowing full well that I probably have to follow up and check on his work. Having him in charge of a small section that was not a very visible section was strategic to having him feel like he was doing as good a job as the rest, but put my min...

We sure do hear that word a lot don't we? Reflect on your practice,                          reflect on your decisions,  reflect on your year. ~REFLECT~ During a district wide training for Project Based Learning I observed a team discuss the definition and meaning of reflection - as related to the essential design elements of PBL. The image they chose to depict for REFLECTION: was a student standing on a box (to elevate to teachers height), with the teacher at their side, looking into a mirror. The student was central to the reflective image, with just a hint of the teacher at the side. I've purposely omitted a photo of the actual drawing so that you can conjure up your own visual. (Forcing you to visualize? - yes I am :) At the time and since that group interaction, I've been thinking more about the process of reflection than it's purpose. I trust t...