Direct Instruction

The latest educational fad seems to be a pendulum swing back to teacher-led direct instruction. I'd like to see it in practice, working, before I make any judgments. Regardless of its effectiveness, I like the fact that discussion of teaching methods has directed my attention back to the ageless question: How can I be a better teacher?

I watched a ridiculous number of Top Chef episodes last night. In one, the losing chef Manuel mentioned that he made certain choices because he wanted to learn from his partner. The critic pointedly scoffed, "Don't you believe it is a little too late to learn from someone else at this point in the competition?" He answered unequivocally, "Absolutely not." I can't cook, but I can appreciate the humility of someone who loves his craft.

Remember me?

I'll try my hand at this again. We'll see if anything comes of it.

So what has happened in the past few months? Surprisingly little. We've been busy with work, J and L join forces to hide the markers from my sight and cause all kinds of chaos, the Democratic primary is teaching me a new level of patience, and a friend is getting married in the Philippines next year. Somehow, I think we're going to find a way to get there.

Best wishes to anyone out there.