EduKare- Starting with the story...

So I am delighted at the attention my first EduKare post garnered over the last two weeks. The conversation has been very involved; the contributors diverse. @ToughLoveForX (Michael J.) has been connecting the social media dots and it's pretty exciting to see a network of thought-brokers evolve in real time. I think this is an idea worth spreading.

The #EduKare Twitter stream has been active, and for the last two Wednesday evenings, the #ecosys chat (9:00 EST) around the idea has been lively and reflective. People are challenging their convictions as a result of the EduKare reform concept, and that's a good thing. The questions have been coming fast and furious. It's been difficult to keep up, but the energy I'm feeling around this idea and the interest it's generated has ignited a follow-up sooner than I expected; perhaps an indication that EduKare is beginning to scale.

Passionate and Caring teachers...

Passionate, caring teachers... maybe some of the luster and significance of these adjectives is lost in the broad world of cliche language that well-meaning people use to describe the art and science of teaching.

Could it be that things become cliche for a good reason?

Ideas that endure do so because they make sense. If the fact they endure makes them cliche, I can live with that.

When it comes to passion and care in teaching, I simply cannot think of any elements that would be considered more foundational and true... essential.

I am a passionate and caring teacher. The work I do is entirely on behalf of my students.

I make no apology for the language I choose to represent that.

I was a closet optimist...

Flickr photo via KungPaoCajun

 I am grateful for those who set me straight on why we can't get things done.

Their wisdom informs me that we must see the negative side of issues before the positive.

I've learned not to think too much to avoid possibility.      

The pessimism they share keeps me from taking risks that lead down unfamiliar paths.

After all, learning and living should be safe and predictable. Cognitive dissonance makes people feel uncomfortable so we shouldn't cram too many conflicting ideas into our heads.

We don't want to think differently; we just need to stay our course- no extras.

Things are way too intangible outside the box.