A New Adventure

In the world of education, there is always a lot of talk about what to teach and how to teach it, but rarely is the question raised, “why do we teach?” In my search for an answer to this, a few great thinkers have repeatedly left me feeling inspired and excited about my future in education. For one, I am in love with Ken Robinson’s idea of searching for one’s Element, the place in life where our greatest passions and strengths converge. Alfie Kohn’s thoughts on giving students a say in what and how they learn have also heavily influenced my perspective. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligence and Isabel Briggs-Myers’ work with personality type are responsible for guiding me toward my true calling as an educator. And of course there is the Reggio Emilia Approach, which is what I have spent the past two years immersing myself in at Bella Mente in Seattle, WA where (up until next week) I have served as a teacher and Curriculum Development Specialist.



When I was growing up, school was a major source of anxiety for me because I wasn’t very good at it. It was not that I didn’t try or that I wasn’t smart or capable, but I just was not interested in it much of a time and I was one of those kids whom you could not get to sit still for more than a few minutes unless I was intrinsically motivated to do so. In my graduate research on learning style I realized that our current public school system is designed for a very specific type of learner and because I did not fit that mold, the cards were stacked against me from the beginning. So I spent my entire pre-college career anxious, embarrassed, and believing that I was not a “good student” because I did not get good grades and school did not come easily to me.

Flash forward to my first semester in college (I went here and then here) and suddenly everyone was asking me for help with their homework, ME! I was in shock. Reading and analyzing texts, writing papers, and having meaningful discussions about the issues and ideas I cared most about meant that I could finally shine as a student. So what was the difference? Well, in college I chose what I was learning, so my intrinsic motivation skyrocketed, and I was able to process information and demonstrate my knowledge in ways that were far more authentic for me. I felt for the first time, that school was easy. Looking back, I feel a bit jipped. It wasn’t fair that I had to wait until my education cost me $20,000 (or more) per year to finally start enjoying myself and finding success. So now I am doing what I can to create a more positive academic experience for future students.

Philosophy of education may be an obscure field, as most people who go to school do so for the training. I, on the other hand, have always been a theory junky. I want to know as much as I can about how people learn so that I can increase the chances of students finding success in school and later in life. Through my research, I have come to the understanding that one of the most important factors in determining how well a people will learn something (anything) is how much it sparks their interest. Searching for ways to make education more authentic and effective is what sparks my interest so this blog is my chance to share what I have found.

Everyone deserves to find success and enjoyment in school and not share my unnecessarily miserable experience, and not just for personal satisfaction but for the good of our society. People who are passionate about what they do (in work and school) end up happier, healthier, and more productive and that is just what America needs right now in this turbulent era of change and uncertainty. Although I might seem crazy for leaving a secure, well-paying job to set out on my own for a while, I am so excited to at last be doing the work that makes me come most come alive. Because really, what else is there?