Recently I received a parrot as a gift.
The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.
I tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else I could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.
Finally, I was fed up and I yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. I shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.
So, indesperation, I threw up my hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.
Then suddenly there was total quiet.
Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that I'd hurt the parrot, I quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto my outstretched arms and said,
"I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."
I was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.
As I was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued,
"May I ask what the turkey did?"
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I received this in an email from my Dad.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Exhilaration
Yesterday, I taught for the first time in a high school.
I was SO nervous!
BUT...
when I stood up and was teaching and interacting with the students, it was exhilarating!
Of course, I still have a lot to learn to become a great teacher, but I could see the beginnings. Plus I had a wonderful dialogue with my St Thomas supervisor. She helped me recognize my strengths. We talked about things I would do differently. It was very, very helpful...and just the confidence builder that I needed.
This experience combined with what I'm learning in my courses is making me even more excited about my future career.
(My lesson was introducing an Urban Geography unit to a class of 9th & 10th graders. I taught my lesson twice.)
I was SO nervous!
BUT...
when I stood up and was teaching and interacting with the students, it was exhilarating!
Of course, I still have a lot to learn to become a great teacher, but I could see the beginnings. Plus I had a wonderful dialogue with my St Thomas supervisor. She helped me recognize my strengths. We talked about things I would do differently. It was very, very helpful...and just the confidence builder that I needed.
This experience combined with what I'm learning in my courses is making me even more excited about my future career.
(My lesson was introducing an Urban Geography unit to a class of 9th & 10th graders. I taught my lesson twice.)
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