Ponderings of a New Teacher

Why is it that I feel funny having people in my daily life read my blog but am fine with allowing thousands of perfect strangers read my inner thoughts? Okay, maybe I am over-estimating that thousands of people are reading my blog but please just entertain me for a moment. Am I the only one out there that feels this way? Can I get a “what-what?”

I know that I am, in fact, not the only one who feels this way due to a recent conversation with a fellow blogger. So, if we know that our friends, collegues, students are reading our blogs, do we (and by we I mean I) filter what I say in the hopes that I will not be judged as harshly for my insanity, sensitivity, or utter irrationality? In this vain, my goal is to be as true to myself in my writing as I can be no matter if my reader is an 80 year old, chain-smoking Frenchman with a love of edublogs, whom I’ve never met (Bonjour!) or my mother. Now can I get a “what-what?”

I have often wondered how to open my students minds to the many religions of the world.  It is often a difficult subject to discuss in a classroom, not wanting to offend anyone.  Today, I was witness to a fantastic discussion of religion with 4th and 5th graders.  They were insightful, inquisitive, and respectful.  I was blown away.

It started with a creation myth belonging to a culture of Pacific Northwest Native Americans.  The myth was told by a storyteller after a short discussion about what a myth was.  After the myth the students talked about gods in all their forms.  I was amazed at how insightful the kids were about diverse cultures gods.  They discussed gods taking an animal form, human form, natural force and  no form at all.  They talked about how different cultures communicated with their gods and how their beliefs evolved over time.  They even touched on the phenomenon of turning ordinary people into god-like idols that is so much a part of the culture in the US.

I  learned so much today about the power of dialogue and the curiosity of children.