Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs. In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year. Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home. I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms...
"T he powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse." - Walt Whitman The last section of George Couros's book asks the reader to make the innovator's mindset a reality by creating a culture that encourages innovation. To this end, the readers must take action. He sets forth a series of questions reflecting on 5 key elements set up in the first sections of the book. These elements are essential for unleashing the talent of the individuals in our classrooms and schools. This is what the book is leading up to. Not some magic one size fits all solution. It's the insight to create the solutions that are right for your situation. George has frames the argument, it's our turn to fill in the canvas. If you haven't answered these questions for yourself, you haven't really "finished" the book. Below are my answers to these questions as they relate to my classroom practice. Strengths - Based Leadership Do I know and buil...