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A time of reflection

9/30/2011

1 Comment

 
As Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year) draws to a close the start of a time of reflection begins in earnest. Over the next week (culminating with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement) Jews across the world will be analyzing their deeds, thinking of wrongs they have caused, and working to repair damage that they have done. I usually use this time to critically reflect on my practices as a human being and decide on actions I want to take in the future that will make the world better. It may sound like a harsh proposition but much like the weekend allows us to take a break from the "daily grind," these days provide some with a chance to really wonder if our path in life is what we want it to be.

Obviously a part of my reflection relates to what I do and see on a daily basis in my school. It relates to what I read in the newspaper about education policy. It relates to what I hear about new evaluation systems that might deem me an unsatisfactory teacher if I cannot get my students to increase their test scores by certain percentages. All these ideas swirl in my head until I get dizzy with them.

One aspect of life I always return my thoughts to is that human beings are inherently flawed creatures and that we need to remember that when interacting with each other. If we demand so highly of one another and get completely disappointed to the point of isolation when we don't measure up, we will not survive the way I think we want to. On the other hand, if we don't demand highly enough, we will slowly lose ourselves to the entropy of the universe.

The picture I am painting may seem bleek but I choose to think of it as an opportunity to repair what needs fixing; to collaborate on projects that make a difference; and to remind myself that if I don't enjoy what I am doing, chances are the people I am working with (be they fellow staff, students, parents, and others) probably aren't either. If more people had that perspective I truly believe fewer problems would exist.

Shana tova u'metukah (have a sweet and happy new year)
1 Comment
Suzanne Alejandre link
9/30/2011 11:09:35 pm

Instead of using the idea that "human beings are inherently flawed creatures" I like to think that human beings are complex creatures and it's not always apparent when one's perceived flaw might be another's special trait.

My first experiences at the Math Forum were when I was a classroom teacher feeling the pressure of having my performance measured by the combined test scores of my students. I wasn't being listened "to" but instead the administrators were looking "for" something and to make matters worse, they were only looking for ONE thing -- that increase in the scores. At the Math Forum Summer Institutes that I attended I always felt that what I said and what I did was valued. They were listening "to" me and they weren't necessarily satisfied to let me stay at the point that I was but they valued it and then encouraged me (actually expected me) to move forward or think more deeply but overall to reflect and make revisions.

Valuing each individual and expecting each individual to move forward on their own journey is our mantra at the Math Forum. If we each facilitate each other's journeys, we move forward to make positive progress and leave all of those bad feelings behind.

I encourage you to spend some time on our blogs!
http://mathforum.org/blogs/pows/
http://mathforum.org/blogs/suzanne/
And, perhaps watch the Ignite 5-minute videos that Annie, Max and Steve have linked from this page:
http://mathforum.org/workshops/nctm2011/ignite.html

We welcome having you contribute your comments!

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    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

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