Last week, I had the great fortune to spend a several hours with Jean Eisele, a colleague and friend. She has taught in the school of education for many years and has a deep and wonderful history with the world education. In the 70’s, she was the teacher of the year in Virginia, I think it was. I recently discovered that she spoke at this event. She has that vibe 🙂 I mean what could be more wonderful than having conversations around, “1968 Revisited: Whatever Happened to Revolution, Counterculture, Pedagogy, Utopia?” She is wonderful- full of life and questions and hope! I am blessed to know her. This image from a couple years back.
Jean was working on some ideas for a Child-Centered Education Day with some of her former students and colleagues. Over the years, she has seen some of the things I have created for workshops and she wanted to create a few for her upcoming event. One was a large lollipop with quotes from various educators on the back. It was used for an icebreaker activity. She wanted to use the idea, but make flowers instead! The other was a small coloring book used to take notes, and color in, during the event.
Along with my colleague Ana Thompson, we sat there cutting out the flowers and chatting about some of the discussion prompts on the flowers on popsicle sticks. “Tell us of a lesson/activity that you’re most proud of and why?” or “Describe a lesson that gave kids choices (or) a lesson that was entirely a student’s choice.” We answered the questions ourselves and questioned one another as we went along. Tape, scissors, stapler… Crafty stuff. The stuff that makes me happy.
On our second meeting about the possibilities, she brought us a loaf of her banana bread. She usually brings them to us around the holidays. She knows me well. We have coffee and banana bread and tell stories about teaching. I am inspired by all the lives she has touched and the student-centered focus she has always had in the space of classrooms and learning. We are lucky to have each other.
I am fortunate.