My ponderings these days have mostly to do with how to provide the best services to the 41 adult students registered in my ABE/GED/ESL courses at SWOCC in Brookings. And, why our Senators and Congressmen refuse to accept that supporting schools financially is an investment in our future, not just a bailout. Many schools are crumbling; I work in in one with a leaky roof and mold and few lights in the parking lot. I also work in one where there are no funds to buy instructional materials or expanding sections to get the student:teacher ratio down to a reasonable level for adult students struggling to grow academically so that they can get better jobs and support their families. While I believe that adult eduation is the right place for me at this time in my career, I also experience the same frustrations that forced me out of K-12 public schools: lack of resources to be the best teacher that I can be. ~ posted 2/10/09
Applications with supporting documentations have been mailed to all of the colleges within driving distance from Brookings OR. I have had an interview at the local community college and hope to get a few teaching hours there in ABE/GED/ESL. I am researching information about adult basic education.
And, I hope to get an opportunity to teach a weeekend course at one of the colleges or universities in teacher education. Distance learning courses are big here in southwest OR because of the distance to get to college campuses. I wonder if this kind of teaching will scratch my itch to teach again, or do I need direct contact with students?
House-hunt is finished and we settle on our house on 10 September. Then the repairs, painting, cleaning, moving, landscaping ... I guess we're here to stay for awhile. Harry Cat knew that this was the right place for us. Too bad that he didn't make it back here alive with us. We miss him. He passed away in June with cardiac disease. Sadie Cat seems to remember the smells here and she's quite comfortable. (15 August 07)
Mobile Meditation: Seriously deep thinking while moving, opposite of yoga. Phrase coined by comedian Robin Williams. Think he has ADHD? Yea. Some folks just think better when they're walking, running, riding a bike, squeezing a koosh ball, doodling, etc. For some follks, the worst place to go to think is a quiet library, and for many students, the worst place to go to think is a silent classroom.
About comedy: I once saw a banner in a classroom: He who laughs, stays after class. Robin Williams says that we laugh at the insanity of pain and wonder and when we laugh, "For a brief moment everyone is connected ... Hey, we're human." ~ Interview in AARP, November & December 2006
30 June 2006: I love Susan Ohanian's idea of a Happiness Index for Students!
What would happen if we asked schoolchildren: Are you happy? Asked the question and then shut up and listened to the answers.
New Focus in 2006:
"Why should society feel responsible only for the education of children, and not for the education of all adults of every age?" ~ Erich Fromm
Many students who are currently being pushed out of high school because of impossible testing requirements and lack of vocational education and related services will eventually find their way to Adult Education. And so, this is where I'm heading, too. Some new commentary will focus on how adult education can meet the needs of pushed-out adolescents and throw-away kids. But for now, I'm enjoying being a photo hobo and image nomad.
Read about adult literacy: One Word at a Time.
While we're wintering in Florida, I'll be completing an online certification course to teach English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESOL/TEFL). My next venture in education will be teaching ESL/EFL somewhere ... Note 8/15/07: Got distracted by photographing the 'gators and waterbirds and playdates with our friends Tom and Elaine and never got very far in the course. Maybe another time ...
