Those who can't do, Teach. Ha.

Have you ever heard that phrase? It always made me angry, but then I realized it was always stated by horrible teachers.

Palmer writes about the little stories of the individual and the big stories of the discipline. These are my little stories that hopefully show you the big story.

On the first day of school I read a passage from Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. In this passage Dillard explains how she “used to hide a precious penny” in hope someone would find it and “receive, regardless of merit, a free gift from the universe.” She goes on to compare this free gift with watching “a muskrat kit paddling from her den.” Dillard wonders if this sight is only worth a “chip of copper.” She concludes, “It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won’t stoop to pick up a penny, but if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then since the world is in fact panted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get.” I have to read this story because it reminds me of the kind of teacher I want to be. I want the students to "see" the material presented.

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to take five students to a BioBlitz sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The event took place at the Indiana Dunces National Lakeshore. At the Dunes we gathered with 176 scientists from around the globe to catalog as many species as possible during a 24 hour time period. We chose to search for mosses and lichens with Dr. Gary Merrill of the Chicago Field Museum. We also studied amphibians and reptiles with Dr. Robert Brodman of Saint Joseph College in Indiana. Our trip with Dr. Merrill could have been a disaster. What student wants to look at mosses in rainy, forty-five degree weather for three hours? I was surprised when my students described the experience as a wet adventure. Luckily, the rain subsided and the trip with Dr. Brodman provided my students with the opportunity to find salamanders in their larval stage. When one of my students caught a larval blue spotted salamander her excitement made me think she had found a nugget of gold. The experience at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore provided the students with a life long story. Seeing at its best.

Of course there is always fear. Our studies in AP Environmental Science culminate in a trip to Everglades National Park and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In the Everglades the class camps near Florida Bay, canoes in Nine Mile Pond, and hikes through the sloggy waters of Big Pine Nature Preserve. At John Pennekamp students observe the fragile coral reefs of South Florida. For some of my students it is the first time they have ever slept in a tent outdoors. Every time I take that trip I filled with fear. In fact, I tell my chaperones that I won't be myself the first few days. I often take chaperones that I know will help calm me down. It's incredibly stressful.

Well, I've gone on way too long. I do know that teaching is the best thing ever, and that Palmer has nailed the sense of fear and paradox.

Thoughts on teaching: I agree with Sami that the kids surprise me with their intellect. I've also been surprised how easy little kids gravitate toward knowledge and their teachers. I'm sure elementary teachers get a high from this. Oh, why do we lose this excitement for knowledge as we get older? I think I like Farmcraft better than Autumn Adventures, but I'm looking forward to teaching AA on Thursday. Teaching the program may change my perspective. Although programming is starting to become a little routine, I am trying to keep it fun with high energy.