I knew the already from taking classes with you, but what a gifted, creative, generous teacher you are! Your students are so lucky.
I love this idea of windows and mirrors. And I’m thinking about it now in terms of writing my own book. Been thinking A LOT in the past year about what life is like for younger parents—listening, reading taking notes—so I have something worthwhile and relevant to offer. And to learn from them too, as you do with your students.
I’m thinking that the way we learned with our own kids set us up to make this windows/mirrors approach attractive. My kids definitely taught me to pay attention and learn from them!
Patricia - yes! homeschooling/unschooling was pivotal in my development as a curious thinker. My current students like this metaphor bc it is clear and makes sense. and we refer back to it all semester. And the thing I like is that we don't attach judgment to it. There are times when we read/watch more windows than mirrors and vice versa. The key is just to pay attention. If something makes you feel weird or if you immediately don't want to engage, we just just say, "oh! A window!" and get curious.
I wonder what it would be like to homeschool today? I wonder what young parents know that we did not know (they certainly have more resources). And I wonder what we can offer as veterans. I know your writing workshop model and book were a huge part of our journey. As much as I love technology, I try to create classes or spaces where we have an analog vibe, which I think is missing from most of our lives.
I knew the already from taking classes with you, but what a gifted, creative, generous teacher you are! Your students are so lucky.
I love this idea of windows and mirrors. And I’m thinking about it now in terms of writing my own book. Been thinking A LOT in the past year about what life is like for younger parents—listening, reading taking notes—so I have something worthwhile and relevant to offer. And to learn from them too, as you do with your students.
I’m thinking that the way we learned with our own kids set us up to make this windows/mirrors approach attractive. My kids definitely taught me to pay attention and learn from them!
I loved this, Amy!
Patricia - yes! homeschooling/unschooling was pivotal in my development as a curious thinker. My current students like this metaphor bc it is clear and makes sense. and we refer back to it all semester. And the thing I like is that we don't attach judgment to it. There are times when we read/watch more windows than mirrors and vice versa. The key is just to pay attention. If something makes you feel weird or if you immediately don't want to engage, we just just say, "oh! A window!" and get curious.
I wonder what it would be like to homeschool today? I wonder what young parents know that we did not know (they certainly have more resources). And I wonder what we can offer as veterans. I know your writing workshop model and book were a huge part of our journey. As much as I love technology, I try to create classes or spaces where we have an analog vibe, which I think is missing from most of our lives.
Love the ideas of mirrors and windows. It was an important principle in the Multicultural Education class I taught last semester.