of TEACHING 
CONTINUE GROWING. There is a body of knowledge and a level of skill development that all educated individuals must carry within them, and it is our absolute responsibility to inculcate that knowledge and develop those skills within our children. We must do this within a framework of honesty, respect, and love. Since we as teachers are still evolving and developing, it is important to concede that we have not found all the answers. We must admit our faults, failures, fears, and even our dreams. Our students must know that we often laugh and that sometimes we even cry. We should help them understand that we are still evolving, changing, growing, and learning. We must all get involved in our children’s lives and educations – it does take a village. In my classroom a sign reads, “Create until you experience has become your expression.” Let us create a unified environment that allows children to experience life and learn from it. Mistakes made in school are easier to fix.
DREAM AN AWESOME DREAM. I make this concept part of a teaching philosophy I share with each of my students. At some point in the year I have students come to me with “at least, dot dot dot…” At least I have my books today, at least I have a pen, and at least I showed up today… However, my duty as a school teacher is to create a positive learning environment in which students thrive and build valued relationships. Such a focus helps convert "at least" behavior into an “at most” attitude. Students will feel, not only do I have my book, "at most" I will fully evaluate the information in my book. Not only do I have a pen, "at most" I will use my pen to create and record new ideas. Not only did I show up today, "at most" I will leave this classroom with a greater understanding of myself and the world around me. These are the words of an “at most” student.
However, it takes work. It requires a great deal of work to take a classroom of books, desks and students then elevate and translate them into a powerful learning environment. It takes work to translate functioning interpersonal relationships and weave them into powerful exchanges of thoughts, compassion, and actions. WHY DO IT? Because building valued relationships in a compassionate environment where ideas are paramount transforms functioning students who get by into powerful students who get ahead. Powerful students are built of powerful literacy. And powerful literacy fuels dreams. And those dreams begin now.
Click on an image to read the article or view video
Adopt-A-Child Mentorship Lake Taylor High School Gentlemen's Club Unity Exhibition Norfolk Public Schools video
d'ART Center Children's Studio Art Classes ARTSPOT! Learn To Paint Fox TV 43 video
ARTSPOT! Lessons in Sculpting Clay Masks July 2, 2009 ARTSPOT! Lessons in Sculpting Clay Masks July 2, 2009 (seg.2)