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Showing posts from October, 2014

Continuing the Revolution. #edchat

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It's been two and a half months since my birthday and i'm still enjoying the delight of #edchatnz. The connecting via #CEM has been partially successful for me and the reflecting, sharing and growing that really exploded at Edchat has, for me, continued. I have read every meme and blog that has "fed" into my Twitter and have finally finished and shared my own. What a great sense of delight and need i say satisfaction. I loved the challenge from Tania Roxborogh on English Listserve "be the student-take the exam yourself." I did. And am so pleased i did. Twitter is my best and at the moment my only PLN. It works for me.I do not use or need Twitter as an escape to troll or stalk or hangout with celebrities or bizarre organisations...it is easy and thanks to great advice i access incredible educational and inspirational material. To carry on the momentum this is what i've done/am doing: 1.Watch every video of Karen Melhuish Spencer- who encouraged me

Inspiration

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Many things inspire me...  my Saviour, trees, wind, water, aromatic smells, fabric, smiles on teenage faces, my husband, my girl friends, my generous colleagues, my wonderful sons, Olive trees and pineapples! From time to time an impacting article on lasting leadership and influence- this one is a keeper for sure: http://zite.to/1txF3MD    As a TeachNZ 2014 sabbatical recipient i have been inspired by the sights and sounds of working hour routines- and the delight to be able to break out of the "physical zone" and go places. I've been reading, visiting, evaluating,running and thinking. Creativity happens. Last week i took my son to his Uni lectures, felt inspired to write about a particular tree while waiting for his two classes to finish. My tribute to the majestic tree that screens the Coffee Club on Mission Bay. Mission Bay Maiden Tired, tall, troubled but flourishing... Shadows, shelters, screens massive, old, bulging ro

Trash and Triumphs

Soaking up the sun and on a regular run i noticed two ladies picking up books from the curbside collection. "Ni Hao" i thought politely wanting to ask in mandarin what was so special about the books. I was approaching the famous Eastern Beach stairs and needed to stop before the ascent .  The younger lady offered "these are too precious for my boys not to read, they don't  belong here..." I noticed a range of popular children s titles. Even i was surprised at the amount of books "donated" to the curb. That image stayed with me as i pondered the timeless message " one man's trash is another man's cash.." How often in teaching have you and i encountered situations that were "trash" and later, months, years... something triumphant emerged? There are so many terrific  Trash to Triumph  teaching stories. I plan on documenting a few- another blog. Perhaps it is just me that often hears of other people who talk about their suc

Tributes

Best thing i did after breakfast was go for a quick run. The last lines of two poems I've been crafting finally took root.Here they are...my tributes to the Wind and Clouds... elements in nature i LOVE . CLOUDS Some domineering maestros oft known as nimbus or stratus cloaked in many shades but never simple white, sets or single- sometimes sheets or layers evidence of Nature's finest crafting clustered, stacked they crash,glide,race to be above the land of the long white cloud Aotearoa. WIND His presence manifested it comforts and cools things move-squalls on the sea- breeze blows shadows on the water, from a distance its presence is seen and is soon felt oft IT is spoken of in fear as the cooling gentle relief here can be a terrifying tyrant of destruction there. Wind, evidence of His creative power exhilarating and exciting never one directional always welcomed. My companion!