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11 May 2012

Week 2 Reading: Art of Possibility Pt1

What a book! Not what I expected to have read. Possibilities... We all know that there are many but at times, we allow our situations to cloud our vision and see the possibility. This book provides you with the thought that changing the way something is perceived,
the outcome can be different and even shine a bit brighter. The story by Zander, Bright Futures, was one that stood out the most to me. Within the classroom, students are always thinking, what must I do to get an A in this class. The letter that Zander presents the class to write brings a perspective to the student on what they will learn. It sort of places the responsibility on the student to decide what they will do to obtain the A.

"The secret is not to speak to a person's cynicism, but to speak to her passion"(Zander, p. 39). This story reminds me why I do what I do within education. Passion, what a lot of us forget to embrace and build. Many focus on what is wrong and why one may not be performing. The message in this story is so true. Look beyond the surface of why one may not be performing. Get to the source, you might just find that there is some love an passion but only a discomfort of some sort to a portion. This is something I strive to pull out of the students I encounter on a regular, pull their reason for doing what they do.

So live life as the world can provide you with it all. Always in a brighter light to your benefit.

3 comments:

Nykoli said...

Hey Rosa,

So true- that changing one's perception changes the outcome. If only we can focus on the journey rather than the end. Absolutely right again, it does place the onus on the student which is exactly where it should be.
I really do feel the young people are onto something- YOLO- you only live once. What a terrific approach to life.

Duwaine Jenkins Jr said...

Rosa, speak to her Passion. I feel that once the students become passionate about the subject matter they are learning the grade won't matter. My students have to peel through so many layers before they even start their school day. I've noticed in them that will go through hoops to do something they want to. What will they achieve when they become passionate about learning?

jbb said...

wonderful quote: "don't speak to a person's cynicism but they're passion..." and to do this requires some listening that tends to make all the difference in the world. Great reflection.

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