During a recent adult retreat, a panelist spoke about how she struggles (then accepts) that early morning time with her infant is prayer. Acknowledging her presence with and for her daughter led me to think that what we do as teachers is prayerful presence with and for our students and to reflect that perhaps more than anything and perhaps most important during the physically and psychologically violent times in which we are living is that we are in the business of education as a ministry of presence: being present with and for and especially attentive to students and one another in our schools. But what does presence ministry look like played out in school? We know for sure . . .
Parker Palmer, in The Courage to Teach, alludes to being present in schools when he writes, “As I teach, I project the condition of my soul onto my students, my subject, and our way of being together.” Our way of being together is surely that presence ministry that requires specific strategies that when practiced support students and colleagues. __________ Bohanon, Hank. “Hallways and High Schools: Changes in Adult Behavior to Decrease Disruption from Students in Non-Classroom Settings.” Loyola University Chicago. Hammill Institute on Disabilities, 2015. Bouffard, Suzanne. “Email Dos and Don’ts for Educators.” Harvard Education Letter. Vol. 29, No. 2. March/April 2013. “The Cafeteria: Creating a Positive Mealtime Experience.” AOTA, Inc. https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Children/Cafeteria-Mealtime-Info-Sheet.pdf Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam, 1997. Linhares, Jim. Technology & Formation at St. Louis University High School. https://www.sluh.org/academics/technology Palmer, Parker. The Courage to Teach. San Francisco: Wiley, 1998. Roberts, Nathan. “Small Group Teaching: Methods and Techniques.” Learning Hub. 2 December 2016. Weimer, Maryellen. “The Importance of Learning Students’ Names. Faculty Focus. 2 August 2017. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/importance-learning-students-names/
1 Comment
3/31/2018 08:06:06 pm
Great post. I love the Parker Palmer reference as well as the notes on cognitive coaching and your inclusion rationale for small groups. I wonder what Bohanan's position on self-directed time is? Now that we have students in the building at any given time, hallway behavior between classes isn't an issue at all.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Pete MussoAssistant Principal, Curriculum & Instruction Archives
May 2022
Categories |