Category Archives: The Art of Teaching

You do a great job of not answering my questions

Posted on May 28, 2018 by

“You do a great job of not answering my questions”, so wrote a student in the final weeks of the semester. A peculiar statement without a context. With the context of the pedagogy I espouse, I find this statement a … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a science teacher, constructivism, Education, General, The Art of Teaching | Leave a comment

Walk alongside

Posted on May 20, 2016 by

The EAGALA method of equine assisted learning is based on the emergence of metaphor to raise and refine meaning and understanding. I just finished my second trip through the initial training. In one session, we were asked to work in … Continue reading →

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Metaphorical Tradeoffs

Posted on April 28, 2016 by

Entering the EAGALA arena is entering the land of metaphor. It is this journey into the world of metaphor that allows me to take my Elementary Science Methods students from inner city Hamline University into a collaborative relationship with 1000-pound … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a science teacher, EAGALA, Education, equine assisted learning, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be Not Afraid

Posted on December 30, 2015 by

The Christmas Eve message at Christ the King Lutheran Church was entitled “Be not afraid”. I suspect similar sermons have been preached across the globe. This comforting message finds its ways throughout society. A search for “Be Not Afraid” pulls … Continue reading →

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Trust the Process

Posted on April 27, 2015 by

On Saturday, I took eight students from my elementary science methods class to Cross P Ranch for a morning with the EAGALA model of equine assisted learning. We used the unique environment of the horse arena to engage in a … Continue reading →

Posted in EAGALA, Education, equine assisted learning, Musings, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Countering Groupthink with Solitude

Posted on November 14, 2014 by

I have been reading again Susan Cain’s book, Quiet. It is a tremendous book bringing to light the often unexamined role of the 50% that fall within the introvert side of the population. Many salient points are raised for me. … Continue reading →

Posted in Differentiation, Education, Musings, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Know Yourself

Posted on October 31, 2014 by

A question I often ask of new teachers is “Do you know yourself?” This is commonly met with a quizzical and puzzled look. Yet knowing who we are, how we think, what we believe, how we respond, and how we … Continue reading →

Posted in constructivism, EAGALA, Education, Educational Psychology, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Why do I teach?

Posted on August 21, 2014 by

I have dedicated my life to the vocation of teaching. Most of my career has been in a kindergarten through 6th grade setting, including 16 years as a classroom teacher and nine as a science specialist. The last six have … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a science teacher, Education, General, Musings, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

May the Wind Be Always at Your Back (or not)

Posted on August 18, 2014 by

“May the wind be always at your back,” I would tell my daughter as she prepared for a cross country meet. On bike tours, my wife and I would delight when a friendly tail wind pushed our weary muscles along. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Musings, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Facing Forward

Posted on April 28, 2014 by

They set a goal of moving their horse to the fence. Clear, specific, and measurable. All the indicators of a solid working objective – and now to work. They had earlier made the discovery that the placement of a halter … Continue reading →

Posted in EAGALA, Education, The Art of Teaching | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments