Not Necessarily the Hard Way
Mar 26th, 2008 by MrW
Inspired by the Passion Quilt idea I saw on this blog entry, I’ve quickly cut together a picture that shows from where my classroom passion stems. I’d love for all of my students to realize that the hard way isn’t the only way to learn.
What part of the Bible inspired you to teach?
I thought that picture looked a bit too much like The Book. I actually meant for it to be a general book. I’d like my kids to leave my class with some understanding that books are more than words, that books are ideas, knowledge, organization, power.
I’ve been primarily a reading teacher for almost half my career, but I still find it amazing that when asked what they see when my students are reading a novel, most of my students give me a look of ridicule when they reply, “Words?”
As far as the Bible, I find most of the New Testament pretty inspirational.
Mr. W
I honestly wasn’t sure if you’d found Jesus and were letting us all know.
Your comment reminds me of that exchange between Hamlet and Polonius, where Hamlet, pretending to be crazy, enters the stage reading a book.
Polonius: What is the matter, my lord?
Hamlet: Between whom?
Polonius: I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
Hamlet: (Looking at the book) Words…words…words.
And I agree with you about the New Testament.
I was going to call you Thumper at first, but then I realized I really like your little black book picture.
As for me:
“You can say anything you want, yessir, but it’s the words that sing, they soar and descend . . . I bow to them . . . I love them, I cling to them, I run them down, I bite into them, I melt them down . . . I love words so much . . .”
- Pablo Neruda