Crazy love for change.

Sometimes I think I am crazy.  Am I too enthusiastic, too keen; too eager to explore, too curious?  Do I ask too many questions? Seek too many answers? Am I crazy for embracing change and discovering the new and unexplored? Or re discovering something lost or forgotten? 

Sometimes I think I am crazy.  Am I spending too much time following interesting blogs, viewing amazing images from instagram friends around the world who willingly share another path?  For trialling, refining and reflecting? For having a go? Am I crazy for genuinely loving learning. Loving continuing to learn?  Am I crazy for dwelling upon things that have been or could be? For sparking an interest or concern in anothers work or thoughts? For connecting and interacting with others around the globe?  Is it crazy to cherish these interactions which enrich my learning and passions? 

Sometimes I think I am crazy. For thinking change is actually grand; exciting, mysterious, challenging. For hoping for “better” and “beyond”. For not caring if I get it wrong or fail. For the pure wanting to improve and develop. Sometimes I think this thinking is crazy. Thinking about thinking….

Sometimes I think I am crazy. For being so excitable. For wanting to excel. To believe in people. To love what they do. What they can share. What they can bring.  To let go of old ideas and come up with new ones. For ignoring barriers and seeing the sky. For believing in belief.  For wanting the best for others... and myself. For the want of action. To show. To celebrate. To be valued.

Sometimes I think I am crazy. For itching to just start. To help others. To NOT resist change and have this crazy love for change. This crazy love for learning. This crazy love for wanting to help others. To help develop resilience skills and a positive mindset. This crazy love for wanting time to just be and reflect and not be so rushed or stretched. This crazy need to want to do better. To be better. Yet still, this crazy love of change; just there, nudging and pulling. Leading me to satisfy the want of what it is to educate. To help. To support. To inspire. To provide an environment for others to extend their own learning, skills and knowledge. To perhaps one day, open their eyes to see this crazy love for change.

Letter to my kids teachers....

Photo by @7mrsjames

Dear teachers of Mr4, Ms11 and Mr13,

Thanks for all the time you will spend with my children in 2012.  I am excited for all the possibilities their young minds will encounter.  Isn't it an amazingly remarkable world in which we now live. 2012!






I know you will remember that they are still so young.
Their precious characters are still forming; something not yet done.
And so, I know you will show them patience and care
that they are individuals that you will prepare, for life long learning and a hunger to achieve,
a will to put in effort and a mind that believes. Belief in the love of people, first and foremost,
to help, support and inspire and not to boast.

A belief that discovery is an exciting journey to toast.
The drive to self initiate and work "past the post".

To not be satisfied with "SAME" and to strive to learn more, as they are guided by your wisdom and
challenge to explore. I know you will enjoy seeing them achieve and progress, towards a goal that they
themselves have assessed; will assist in developing their passions, dreams and interests -not just simply for a the sake of some test!

I trust you will be confident enough to reflect, on your own learning and teaching and that you can introspect.

I know you will not be impatient, scream or shout, belittle or disrespect and show some positive klout.
I know you will set an example that you are willing to make, a mistake or two for own learning's sake.
We are all not perfect and do not hold, the entire knowledge base as treasure or gold.  Knowledge is to be shared, gathered and built, in order to understand and to help us "quilt". To patch together pieces of information in our worlds,  to connect, be successful and not to wilt.

I know you will not give up or turn a blind eye, when they are not motivated or you don't see eye to eye. I trust that you will find ways to inspire and share, to kindle that natural curiosity that has always been there.

I know you will establish an environment that is welcoming, relaxed and secure, enough to be willing to accept the risks of failure and the need to improve.  I know you will provide opportunities that stretch and inspire, teach resilience and management and that there is no need to perspire, over endless boring memorisation of facts. That worksheets are too standardised and the use of them quite laxed. That they may not extend thinking as much as they should, or lead to curiosity as good learning should.

I totally "get" the huge task ahead.  To inspire, to manage, to guide and be lead. To change the culture of learning boredom and school time dred.  To connect, to share, to continue to learn, to collaborate, unite, blend in technology and explore. The learning world has changed dramatically from our own. And I know you will embrace the pedagogy that has been shown to the ninth degree; that does engage, enlighten and prepare for the exciting future that is to behold and be shared.

Thank you for keeping all this in mind as we travel together and find, the right way for one, is not the same for another. I'd love to hear a positive word or three, not just come report time but anytime is fine with me :)

Yours in education,
Mrs Jeannette James

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