Spirit of Generosity

In addition to our teaching duties at St. Dominic's, teachers are expected to "cover" classes for missing teachers. Last week it was my turn! I covered 1 period for a nursery school teacher who was "out sick". It was a hoot! The children were 3 and 4 years old. Very cute. Wearing miniature Catholic school uniforms. The tables at which they worked and played looked like toys they were so small. There were only 2 native English speaking children so the other teacher (there are 2 classroom teachers in Nursery School - good idea!) was multilingual and could speak Portuguese and Spanish and she could meet any linguistic emergencies that arose. (But, honestly, it was like being in a cage full of guinea pigs - all very cute but darting this way and that. You had to be careful where you stepped because one might be underfoot.) I was sitting next to a tiny Portuguese girl and she was busy cutting bits of paper (with child friendly scissors of course) and she was giving them to me - one by one. You should have seen the expression on her face - she was so focused and proud of the job she was doing. I spoke to her in English but she didn't really understand much. But I understood!!!!!!!! With each bit of paper she gave to me, she was offering me a gift. Her spirit of generosity was amazing. She made my day. She won't remember this moment that we shared, but I will. It's moments (gifts) like this that give hope to mankind. . .

Houston, we've got contact!

I'm back online after an 11-day absence. I hope that my connection through my internet provider continues. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. . .

Units of Inquiry . . .

Tomorrow I start my new job. (Hooray!) As a 4th grade teacher (if you can believe that). It's just a temporary position (3 months - the classroom teacher is on sick leave) but it should prove very interesting.

This isn't a "normal" school with a "normal" curriculum. That would be too easy (normal). This is an international school on the outskirts of Lisbon that follows an IB (International Baccalaureate)program. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) fosters a student-centered, inquiry based learning community. The school year consists of 3 terms. During each term the students cover 2 separate "Units of Inquiry". The students don't have "proper" books but are encouraged to explore an array of books (either in the classroom or in the library) on each "unit of inquiry". The teacher functions as a facilitator as students are put in a position to be "responsible" for their own learning.

Although I only begin my post tomorrow, I was invited by the classroom teacher to spend the day with the class before Christmas break (to help prepare the class for upcoming change) and was struck by how respectful and well-behaved these kids are. They are by no means "Stepford" kids but they are respectful of each other and thoughtful. If one of them displays any antisocial behavior (eg, saying something careless), the class comes to a screeching halt. Only after the ill-gotten behavior is brought to the attention of the guilty party and apologies have been given and received does the class continue. It's the most amazing behavior. It's like it should be.

While the kids will be studying "forces and structures" as their unit of inquiry, I shall be experiencing a "Unit of Inquiry" of my own in this new environment.

Please check out our class blog: http://forcesandstructures.blogspot.com

Leave us a comment, we'd love to hear from you.

"Go with your gut (feelings)."

As you may (or may not) know, we don't have 400 cable channels to entertain us (24/7) here in Lisbon. In addition, we often get American TV programs only after they have gone into reruns. No problem! Long after the first "The Apprentice" shows appeared in the US, they were televised here. It was only by chance that I happened upon one episode - and was instantly hooked. I've never been a fan of Donald Trump (I've had no reason to be) and only noticed that he seems to marry the same woman over and over again (what's that all about?). But I became fascinated with "The Apprentice". I've seen the series (the 1st series - yes, that's right - only the first series has been shown here) at least 4 times and am excited that it will be repeating - once again - beginning sometime in January. Hooray! I've already got the popcorn!

A writer friend of mine recently wrote an article after her husband attended a lecture given by Donald Trump. She sent me a copy of the column and it was full of "Trumpisms". They seem to make sense. They seem reminiscent of all the other things we learned in the schoolyard and left behind. . . I thought that I would include some of them in my blog this year to remind you(amuse you) of what each of us needs to do to be successful in business (in life and on the playground).

Trumpism # 1 - Go with your gut (feelings).

Good advice in all situations. We spend most of our adult life ignoring this basic instinct. But the bottom line is if you think someone is scammin' you, they probably are!

Well pop my cork . . .

Welcome to my blog . . .

2007! Another year is starting and I intend to take my own advice. Stick around and see what happens.

Happy 2007 to all!