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In Each Thought...

In each thought...

Fractions can be puzzling for students. 
The definition of "matter" can be difficult for them to grasp.
Learning can be tiresome.
There are 25 students in my room every day.  Each one learns in a way that may be quite different from the one sitting next to them.  Yet they are expected to understand, at some level, the same ideas.  Not only understand them, but apply them.
Listening to my students this week I realized that each thought they expressed somehow led to learning.  Whether it was a thought about a topic we were discussing or a random thought. Yes, even the random thoughts expressed helped us learn. For from these thoughts lie the essence of learning, which is exploration.
I often find myself relentless in my efforts to "keep my students focused".  I did, however, let their random thoughts enter our learning arena.  In fact, I let some of my own take the stage.  I realized that these thoughts, although seemingly random and disconnected from the topic, offered ways for others to make sense out of what was being taught. 
All too often, when a random thought or expression was voiced, it somehow led to understanding.  I heard, "Ohhh" and "I get it now"; things that teachers want to hear.
Our thoughts are powerful. For all we see in the world began as someone’s thought.  That thought was expressed through words at some point and those words were put into actions.  Actions produce.
Even when the thoughts expressed seem distant from the topic, there lies within that thought a communication that may well be explored...for it may provide insight into something greater than we know.
In each thought...we find ourselves, our learning, and our meaning. 
In each thought...
 Mr. Casten
March 25, 2011
   Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten

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