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Concluding Post: An Open Letter to my Students

           Our lives are stories, journeys, or taken from the Latin basis of the word curriculum “running” or “a race”.   In this race of life, learning, and accounting for what is the curriculum of my life, I want to say thank you to all my students.  Thank you for being part of my learning path, and thank you for all that you have taught me.  When I think back over the course of my teaching career, even though the title of this blog is “In the Blur”, the memories of the lessons from my students distill into discrete and beautiful memories.  Jean McNiff (2012) states, “My story is, however, a story of stories” (p.3).  Personally, I can’t think of any truer words to account for a life.  So, for my past, present, and future students, think of this letter as my story to you of how I recount and explain my living educational theory to you, and in service of your learning.  Alfred North Whitehead wrote, “There is only one subject-matter for education, and that is Life in all its manif
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Cycle 4: Controversial Topics in Curriculum

                First and foremost, I think that curriculum, on some level, is always controversial. Survey any number of teachers, scholars, or theorists and they may agree on the broad definition of curriculum but the finer points will produce a wide variety of discussion and range.     What is controversial and how is controversy in the curriculum handled?     In many cases, I believe geography and personal socialization account for some of the range in controversy.     What may be absolutely scandalous in one location, may not raise an eyebrow in another.     One issue that rocks local politics in one town might not be on the radar in other.     Environmental or land use issues in one geographical location may cause an entire town to split along the proverbial Hatfield and McCoy lines while in another, it may be racial or LGBTQ+ issues that arise to the forefront of the community. In the context of this learning cycle, controversial topics are centered on LQBTQ+ issues. However, I
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Interlude Post

It is striking to me that I am writing my Interlude post while in the midst of experiencing an uncertain life interlude.  Pondering the development of my living educational theory during this time of quarantine adds to the element of the surreal while also helping to drive my reflection on the truths of what is important in my life. McNiff (2012) talks about the art of narrative storytelling and the use of action research as a means of helping to produce, frame, and articulate a teacher’s living educational theory.  This chapter spoke to me on many levels and in a multitude of ways.  The older I get, the more I think about my beliefs and values, both for their role in my life and the ways in which I live them out.  Do they serve others?  Are they good?  How do I use my values to drive my thinking and learning?  How do you know if you are effective?  How do you both assess and show accountability? McNiff (2012) discusses many questions similar to these in her writing and makes the case
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Cycle Three: Curriculum and Technology...plus Quarantine Diary

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Pippa and Einstein love treats and quarantine Quarantine Day 8 (or is it 9)? Social distancing. Flatten the curve.  #Coronacation.  All words and phrases which are now part of everyday vernacular.  I’m as isolated as one can be with 5 children, two corgis, one cat, and a husband who is still working and only home on the weekends. I’m intrigued by the notion of quarantine journal as primary source so here goes. First thoughts…I’m very grateful that I was a stay at home for 10 years so I have some experience with all this balancing.  Working from home is hard…professional face on one side of the computer, kids lined up vying for attention on the other side. I’ve been trying to write this post for 10 days and finally have literally locked myself in a room to get it done.  My teenage children have a seemingly endless stream of “can I go to this place, can XXX come over, I’m just going to run next door to get my Xbox controller, can we get take-out, are we going to the condo fo
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Cycle Two: Is there a “Natural Curriculum”?

            I believe that humans and the earth are intertwined, interrelated, and connected on both physical and spiritual levels.  The earth houses or brings forth the components and building blocks of life (water, food, air). Reconnecting with nature is a common component of well-being in many parts of the world (forest bathing in Japan, “Nature Step to Respiratory Health” in Finland (2018), or grounding) and is growing within the global medical community (for both physical and mental health). I wholeheartedly believe that there is such a thing as a “natural curriculum”.  Although, I also believe that the lived curriculum is a larger part of what we learn than our specific time within formal classroom learning.  I believe the natural curriculum is larger than what we learn in our science classes and I found the readings linking environmental issues and learning to social studies curriculum to be very interesting.   I personally have embraced interdisciplinary instruction an
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TE 818: Cycle One

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Cycle One: What is curriculum?   Ask 10 educators what curriculum is and it’s likely you will get 10 varied answers.  Ask me the same question on ten different days and I’ll likely give a slightly varied answer each time myself.  Curriculum is complex, convoluted, and sometimes a conundrum to me personally.  On the surface, I believe curriculum to be the basic set of information (objectives, goals, standards, etc.) that you teach in a class, course, or learning situation. Thought of holistically, curriculum takes on a much broader scope.  Or is it perhaps boundless?  I believe that “curriculum” can stretch across the lifespan. Curriculum becomes the sum total of everything we learn and how we relate that knowledge to our beliefs and values ultimately encompassing everything in our lives.  Alfred North Whitehead wrote, “There is only one subject-matter for education, and that is Life in all its manifestations.”              I wrestle with curriculum in my personal and profess
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Introduction and Welcome!

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Hello!  Welcome to my corner of the internet and thanks for stopping in!  If it was real life, I’d offer you coffee or drinks and provide you with snacks.   I’m Sarah, living life in a bit of a blur but always striving for more clarity.  I’m “mom, Mom, MOM,” to five awesome kids who are blessings and keep my husband and I constantly on the move. Our oldest is a senior in high school and currently applying to college, while our youngest is in fourth grade. I span the k-12 school system as both a parent and an educator.  This year our kids are involved in football, tennis, baseball, soccer, and horse-back riding lessons plus all other kinds of school activities. The kids are in an International Baccalaureate Chinese Immersions program ( Post Oak  )which is a rather unique experience. I love to read, garden, and travel but due to the time constraints of life, I don’t really spend any time on my own hobbies at this point. I was raised on a dairy farm in a tiny town in Michigan’s U
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