Curiosity doesn't have to kill the Cat

How many questions are teachers asked everyday?

Seriously, how many answers are you throwing back at students all day long? 

Some of our answers are nonverbal, a single nod of the head will work. Or if you're in Guadalajara, you move your index finger up and down, which means "yes". 

Sometimes our heads are so full that we stop listening. Nobody likes to admit that, but c'mon, how many times has the 3 o'clock bell rung and you've said "Thank God, my brain can breathe now."

In the busy days of a teacher, many students' questions are lost in the turmoil or in the textbooks or in the curriculum standards. Kids are curious. Kids ask us questions that we don't have the answer to. 

Kids ponder the existance of diseases, the difference between countries, adult's obsessions with color of skin and so much more. 

Yet, as teachers, are we listening? Or are we simply "moving on" and trying to get through the day's lesson?

I want to challenge myself this year. I want kids to ask questions. I don't care if it takes extra time or if it's not in my "plans". 

I want to hear what kids want to know.

Let's get this year rolling and the questions coming. 

Let's see where curiosty leads us this year. 

"Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning." William Arthur Ward

Ponderings: Remember that time?

High School English class. Mrs. E was teaching us quotes from age old fables. I loved hearing the play on words, but didn't really understand why we needed to know them. Yet, ten years later, as I look at my attempted educational blog, I can't help but think: 

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."

So it goes, remember that time 3 months ago I was ready to make a difference? I wanted to stamp my name on the world of education. Ha, I had so many good intentions, yet here I am drowning in a to-do list and waking up an hour earlier every morning trying to catch up.

Yet, 

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are."

So here we are again, the first week of February.

My students will be skyping with their Folklorama countries - any other classes want to talk to us from Brazil, Costa Rica, Kenya or South Africa?

My students are tweeting! Follow us @MsDomsClass to see the awesome things we are learning in math and social studies.

I am figuring out the world of twitter as well @DominiqueDynes.

Let's see what else comes about this month. 

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."

Enough is Enough

I’m not going to lie in my first post (what kind of promising start would that be?) and say that I've never made excuses. 

It's easy to find something that gets in the way of a job well done. I can be quick to throw the blame and complain about this or that. I'm good at filling my days with things that don't last. 

I've heard myself say "I just don't have enough time. They don't pay me enough. I don't have time for waiting for others, it's easier to just get things done." 

I can only imagine that teachers around the globe may say such things. And in my case, even if I'm not complaining, I can be complacent. 

Don't get me wrong. 

I love life. I enjoy my days. I can't get enough of this Mexican weather (has it already been 5 years since I left Minnesota?!?). I have a great job, but...

...I want to challenge myself.

Challenge myself to stop sitting on the sidelines, start new things, stop seeing the problems and start making the solutions. 

Sometimes it takes something big to change the comfortable patterns you've created in life.

Call me crazy, but I want to pick up the pace and make a change. Call me lucky, because 3 months ago I went to a Google Apps Conference in Mexico City. Call me cursi (cheesy), but I think everything happens for a reason. Call me hopeful, because I am ready to start over. 

It’s time to make goals, time to start collaborating with fellow colleagues – be it in Mexico or around the world, time to start connecting and time to stop letting life pass me by.

Enough is Enough.

Let’s do this, one day at a time.

Let’s talk.

Let’s learn.

Let's connect.

Let's teach.

Let’s love the adventure.

Join me, no promises for brilliance, but follow the day to day (or week to week) journey as we grow, help each other and have some fun along the way.