Monday, December 28, 2009

Being One of a Kind Not One of a Crowd


After reading the NY Times article, When Lady Gaga Appears, So Do Her Many Influences, it is clear the importance of fostering student individuality.  Lady Gaga may appear to most as a... well an odd duck but actually she is quite brilliant in her effort to be one of a kind not one of a crowd!  The 27 students in my class this year need to see that it is OK to make their own trail.  Students should understand that by jumping on the road less traveled they will experience all the difference in life.  What makes promoting this in a classroom a sometimes daunting task is the amount of time that's supposed to be used to look students in the eyes and truly see what gifts they bring as individuals.  The question then is... how can we make the time to create a space for kids so they can feel free?


  

4 comments:

  1. I think this is a great avenue you to put out some of that creativeness and techy-ness that is stirring inside you. i think this will be a great outlet for you...proud of you google girly!

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  2. My Geeky Mentor, congrats on hopping onto the blogging bandwagon. Looking forward to following your creative and cutting edge thoughts.

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  3. Great points and ideas. It reminded me of somoething I saw recently it's teh lady gaga lyrics as a mathematical formula. http:/i.imgur.com/oa68x.jpg
    As far as your post and the "question;" we need to create spaces and environments that not only allow that freedom and creative space, but are also safe, mindful, and deliberate in the concepts and or bencmarks being addressed. Being an innovative educator is exciting, but it carries the responsibility that you are modeling and walking the walk of strong pedagogy and high achievement, your friends will want you to succedd and will learn form you, your critics will ecpect you to fail, but will also learn form you. It gets messy, but you are a great teacher and leader, keep it up!

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  4. Michael- Your thoughts are so true- I read this post on Seth Godin's page:

    http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/01/without-them.html

    Without them

    One of the most common things I hear is, "I'd like to do something remarkable like that, but my xyz won't let me." Where xyz = my boss, my publisher, my partner, my licensor, my franchisor, etc.

    Well, you can fail by going along with that and not doing it, or you can do it, cause a ruckus and work things out later.

    In my experience, once it's clear you're willing (not just willing, but itching, moving, and yes, implementing) without them, things start to happen. People are rarely willing to step up and stop you, and often just waiting to follow someone crazy enough to actually do something.

    I'm going. Come along if you like.

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