Cherylee Gruber,
you are so talented, invested in your students, and creative. You go so far
beyond what is necessary because you really enjoy doing this and you inspire me
to do my best.
I can relate to
having to teach something that you don’t connect to and having to do a total
mind-shift. You took Animal Farm to a
wonderful creative level. I wish I could conjure up quick ideas like you do in
the moment; it would have made this year much easier to live with.
You state, “I
also think it is important to allow other to ignite yours, (the spark), and
that we tend to shutout the “sparkers” because of the flames that they might
ignite. Ignition means work.” I know that with my students, if I ignite them,
the room bursts with energy and it gets loud which in my current school wasn’t
allowed or understood.
You have
certainly not only ignited my spark, but you have helped me continue to let it
spark when at times, I really wanted to snuff it out. To rise above the system
also requires much work and gets tiring. Thank you.
Image Source; Microsoft Office Clipart, MP900437381
Chapter 9 -
Lighting the Spark
In Chapter Nine,
Lighting the Spark and Enrollment are the key points. Zander’s theory is
that the universe is alive with sparks. Passion rather than fear is the
abundant force. Once you realize the spark exists it is like playing catch in a
field of light. Offer others the spark you carry. I appreciate the
analogies especially being a teacher. I have observed several other
teachers in action, and it is always very obvious who is carrying a spark, who
is smoldering, and whose fire has long ago died.
I have always
tried to convey my passion for English Literature. I show excitement
about what we are about to read. My one area that always concerned me
was Animal Farm. I don’t like it, yet it was district
required. My outlook however, was trying to make it exciting for the
students. I never walked in and said, “We have to read this book.”
Instead I have tried several projects to “spark” the book for my students and
myself. Once I held a “meet-and-great” where all students pulled the “Hi
my name is” tag out of a bag with a historical figure or party member on the
tag. They had time to research their roles and then attended the
party. It was quite funny to see how they would interact with one another
based on research.
The point is
lighting the spark. I also think it is important to allow others to
ignite yours. Sometimes in a hectic and chaotic life, we tend to shutout
“sparkers” because of the flames that they might ignite. Ignition means
work.
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