The Way of Teaching

Only one more full week to go and with the first TPA task clearly out of the way, we are all trying to wrap up our coursework and get ready for the transition to full time student teaching. As I sit here searching for spirited words and infinite wisdom to share with my cohort, I just keep thinking back to a lesson I learned from the Tao Te Ching. Tao Te Ching can be translated in many ways to find its meaning. One such interpretation I have read is "The Way of Life." I remember being intrigued by the Tao concept of "flowing." There are so many factors beyond our control. Needless concern or worry will not alter the flow of life or the flow of our program. We are all moving this path together, a path of knowledge, a path of growth, a path of consideration. For me it starts to feel like this journey into teaching is no longer a path I walk but a stream that I am flowing down. This idea makes the rest of the journey feel so much more relaxing to me. Like I have weathered the storm and now sit on the porch with a warm cup of coffee watching the sun rise up and warm me down into my bones. Ok, its true, I don't even drink coffee, and I don't mean to ramble and wax poetic but it certainly feels like the calm AFTER the storm right now. So here's to the next 8 weeks of student teaching uninterrupted, not to mention a couple vacations. So I hope each of you enjoys this time and please remember while you are student teaching that you have followed this path because you CARE and you can MAKE A DIFFERENCE and with a little practice, you will SUCCEED. Let yourself flow!

"How can a man's life keep its course
If he will not let it flow?
Those who flow as life flows know
They need no other force:
They feel no wear, they feel no tear,
They need no mending, no repair." ~The Way of Life According to Lao Tzu

Check Your Brakes...

Anyone have the feeling that we are now headed downhill and its going to be tough to stop? We are well past the halfway mark now. We only have three or four of each class left and it will be time to focus on our students. It is so very exciting and good to know that time is still moving on. I know that I for one am happy to have broken the ice with the first TPA and am ready to move into more time with the Clinical Practice. I can also tell you how excited I am to know that there is vacation time coming in November as well as almost a whole month off in Dec-Jan. I hope everyone is keeping their heads up because the craziness will ebb and tide and the ebb is just down that hill. Just don't roll too fast!