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marathon metaphors

in my ideal world, it would be the journey, not the time splits and kids would have a crowd cheering them on and they'd be embraced and encouraged At one time "curriculum" meant "journey" or "course." We still use the term "map," but now it's precise. Read More...
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2009 10 2

John Spencer

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the Pandora Generation

A student sang, "Looks like we made it. Look how far we've come now baby." It was awkward, in one of those silent lulls in group work. Oddly enough, the class didn't laugh. I later asked him what type of music he enjoyed and he responded, "techno, classical, Read More...
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2009 09 25

John Spencer

3 Comments

Philisophical Friday: Which approach is right?

My favorite history book of all time is Modris Eksteins' Walking Since Daybreak. It is sharp in its analysis, but creative in its style. Ekestins uses metaphor and poetic flair while analyzing statistics and deconstructing popular myths. It is a narrative Read More...
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2009 04 10

John Spencer

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Philisophical Friday: What is meaningful?

"I knew school was bogus when they introduced imaginary numbers. For my entire school career. I say it as if it were something I was paid for. For my entire school prison term they drilled into me the idea that negative numbers cannot have square roots. Read More...
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2009 04 3

John Spencer

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Philisophical Friday: Saber and Conocer

Yesterday I attempted to create a class motto that would carry on as a legacy from this year to the next. It's not a vision or mission and I hope it doesn't become a slogan. However, I want something that begins with the students. I suggested my favorite Read More...
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2009 03 6

John Spencer

1 Comments

Philosophical Friday: Service

Students aren't wearing uniforms today. For me this is a refreshing change from the usual drab blue and white, but I am bothered by our staff's motive in choosing a non-uniform day. Students can wear red today if they donate a dollar to help raise money Read More...
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2009 02 13

John Spencer

2 Comments

Philosophical Friday: A Necessary Dialogue

I've been tutoring Johnny since he was in fifth grade and now he's in college. The adjustment has been challenging, with a constant sense that he's an alien in a sea of suburbia. I watch him attempt to navigate the massive library, make sense out of online Read More...
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2009 01 30

John Spencer

2 Comments

Philosophical Friday: Complete the Sentence

Every year I have the students do an excercise to see what they believe about school and learning. Often, students view school as a prison, but learning as a journey. On a good day, I feel like I'm Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption and I get to Read More...
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2009 01 23

John Spencer

4 Comments

Philosophical Friday: The Ever-Changing Online Identity

I'm standing in front of the mirror with a glob of gel in my hand. As I begin to spike my hair, I don't ask, "How will I look at this party?" Instead, I wonder, "Is it time for a new profile picture? I look pretty good today. I like this color of blue. Read More...
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2008 12 26

John Spencer

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Philosophical Friday: A Metaphor of Teaching

Students are detectives in search of the truth. A good detective will see things from multiple viewpoints, ask hard questions, listen and engage in dialogue. There is both a logical and intuitive aspect. It's more than that. The goal is not a simple acquisition Read More...
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2008 12 19

John Spencer

2 Comments

Techno-Tuesday: No More Keyboards?

According to an article I read this morning in Yahoo (yes, there are still those of us who use Yahoo on occasion), keyboards will be a thing of the future. Instead, small handheld devices will replace the need for traditional keyboarding skills. In addition, Read More...
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2008 12 16

John Spencer

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Philosophical Friday: A Better Living or a Better Life?

Socrates takes a bite of the apple, spewing juice on the staff lounge poster that advertizes the latest professional development opportunity. "Why do you teach here?" he asks the group, sitting huddled over their instant soup (the kind that you can microwave Read More...
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2008 12 12

John Spencer

3 Comments

Monday Metaphor: Ice Cream

by John Spencer In the late nineteenth century, companies demanded compliant, dutiful workers. In an assembly line method of manufacturing, the goal was absolute uniformity. Similarly, society began to shift toward militarism, with the emphasis on dutiful Read More...
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2008 12 1

John Spencer

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a book all teachers should read

I'm almost finished with my master's degree. The Capstone Project sounds impressive on paper, but it's actually not all that innovative. All the ideas are from somebody else (research journals). Even if it is documented, it somehow feels like cheating. Read More...
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2008 10 22

John Spencer

5 Comments

reinventing the pretzel

My friend Dan points out that there are over thirteen varieties of the same pretzel. This doesn't even include stadium soft pretzels. Rather, he is referring to the ways that manufactures create pretzels - mini twists, large (thin) twists, fat twists Read More...
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2008 07 20

John Spencer

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