I love the curriculum guides that help teachers of all age groups teach Global Sustainability, Biodiversity, Interconnection of All Things, Life-Size Math, Social Responsibility, and SELF-EMPOWERMENT!
I adapt a Kindergarten Curriculum guide to preschool and use the 4 lessons to theme 4 phases of our school year. It's really great for that, and I'm showing others how I do that at the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children Conference.
I also get excited when I think of how it is now that more and more children are being taught by teachers supported by these materials at least once in their school career.
Teachers are compassionately supported and the situations with testing and standards, reporting study focus and areas is fully accounted for in the materials. Avoiding testing and still being able to really accurately report what a child's understanding of the materials is is a feat. These Curriculum guides build a curriculum students love that invited them to do projects in such a way, that the teacher can easily evaluate the level of comprehension of the many learning opportunities/angles/skills offered by a single lesson. It's like putting on glasses and being able to see clearly for a particular aspect, whether a student 'gets' it, or whether they are challenged by it. And then putting on different glasses for another aspect, to focus on it. And different glasses again, enabling teachers to evaluate with precision and compassion, through asking themselves simple questions and filling in answers in the tables provided in the Curriculum guide.
There are materials to copy right out of the book, lyrics to songs and links to where to find them online for free, places to suggest to the students who are hungry for more information (they get hungry with these appetizing lessons!) and exercises that put the student central and in power in the world.
I simply can't say enough about good things about it!
http://www.facingthefuture.org
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Transition Handbook
I don't really identify with the causal orientation (peak oil, living without oil.) I'd like to re-sub-title the book "From where we have been to local resilience". Local resilience in and of itself is exciting to me. But I understand that for those who prefer a reason/focused beginning point to initiate and perhaps make a priority of improving our collective lifestyle, it's a good title due to its scope, (notwithstanding the fact that that's what inspired the author!)
My motivation is mainly spiritual (and egoic: me ego is attached to a vision I keep having, and it is willing to 'step aside for' and 'be of service to' all projects and paths that lead there asap.) I have had many 'visions' (not visual) inspired by the question: "In a perfect world, in which everyone is enlightened, we're all meeting our needs, and we all know how to keep it that way... where do I live?"
A few years ago, I determined that I am "a living invitation" to that world, and that my life's calling / Art is to "sketch out the future I choose to see in everyday situations, and live a life in the present tense that affirms the inevitable outcome: humanity, consciously loving, and creating from there!"
My motivation is mainly spiritual (and egoic: me ego is attached to a vision I keep having, and it is willing to 'step aside for' and 'be of service to' all projects and paths that lead there asap.) I have had many 'visions' (not visual) inspired by the question: "In a perfect world, in which everyone is enlightened, we're all meeting our needs, and we all know how to keep it that way... where do I live?"
A few years ago, I determined that I am "a living invitation" to that world, and that my life's calling / Art is to "sketch out the future I choose to see in everyday situations, and live a life in the present tense that affirms the inevitable outcome: humanity, consciously loving, and creating from there!"
Seattle Transitions
Thank you Margo Adair!! I'm about to start (speed)reading The Transition Handbook, and attending the Training May 1st and 2nd. I'm so excited to apply myself to this project:
Big enough for my intentions,
Realistic enough to be broken down bite-size,
Author-modeled, and so: inviting...
And! explicitly guaranteeless - and thus, a worthy challenge!
The book offers a full-on case study of the first Transition Town - a town that, in 2006, decided it would be fun to challenge themselves with a living social experiment, sprouting from the question: "How would we choose to live in an age without oil?" Taking one action at a time, doing the inner and the outer work, they now live in resilient local communities that hold a shared vision.
Big enough for my intentions,
Realistic enough to be broken down bite-size,
Author-modeled, and so: inviting...
And! explicitly guaranteeless - and thus, a worthy challenge!
The book offers a full-on case study of the first Transition Town - a town that, in 2006, decided it would be fun to challenge themselves with a living social experiment, sprouting from the question: "How would we choose to live in an age without oil?" Taking one action at a time, doing the inner and the outer work, they now live in resilient local communities that hold a shared vision.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Focus Shifts when the Work is Done
"For everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season..."
Now that I've gone through a time of intense inner focus (on how I think and feel about every kind of action I undertake (while implementing the GTD system)) I am finding myself attracted to large, highly social undertakings:
- I'm facilitating 3 workshops at a state conference for educators of young children October 15-17 in Bellevue
- I'm inviting everyone who is able, to attend CANFEST October 17/18th, a festival celebrating Compassion in Action, harvesting your story regarding Seeds of Compassion!
- I'm most excited about gardening, tapping into my neighborhood's know-how of sustainable practices, and facilitating the inner work that accompanies outer transition.
In synch with all the blossoms around me popping open for all to engage with,
~Briana
Now that I've gone through a time of intense inner focus (on how I think and feel about every kind of action I undertake (while implementing the GTD system)) I am finding myself attracted to large, highly social undertakings:
- I'm facilitating 3 workshops at a state conference for educators of young children October 15-17 in Bellevue
- I'm inviting everyone who is able, to attend CANFEST October 17/18th, a festival celebrating Compassion in Action, harvesting your story regarding Seeds of Compassion!
- I'm most excited about gardening, tapping into my neighborhood's know-how of sustainable practices, and facilitating the inner work that accompanies outer transition.
In synch with all the blossoms around me popping open for all to engage with,
~Briana
Testimonial #1
I have the privilege and pleasure of posting the following testimonial. Enjoy!
"You helped me through a difficult period when I was laid off from my job. First, congratulating me on my "blessing in disguise" and allowing me to reflect with you about the triumphs and struggles I had with it.
You listen to my frustrations and took note of my deeper needs and desires. You're endless compassion allows me to open up the sore points and bring them to light; massaging raw energy into positive opportunities to create change. I talk with you freely about the thoughts and feelings I'm ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, and scared of. You encourage me to be humbled by them and something to engage and see through, creating transparency and clairvoyance.
When we brainstormed my dreams and aspirations of finding a job to fulfill my longing of understanding the natural environment I used your advise and guidance to create a cover letter and interview approach that was less rigid and "professional". You guidance in crafting one that involved elements balancing personal desire, passion, and accomplishment impressed not only me but all the employers I sought to work for. After exploring my options I found myself working with the firm of my choice, knowing it was the right fit of growing and expanding my life. Pragmatically speaking I'm making a healthy salary, and ecstatic to work with a team of people that share so many visions and work diligently to make them real. We did this together, and I have you to thank for standing by me all the while and encouraging me through every step."
B.K., Seattle, WA - Contact info available on request.
"You helped me through a difficult period when I was laid off from my job. First, congratulating me on my "blessing in disguise" and allowing me to reflect with you about the triumphs and struggles I had with it.
You listen to my frustrations and took note of my deeper needs and desires. You're endless compassion allows me to open up the sore points and bring them to light; massaging raw energy into positive opportunities to create change. I talk with you freely about the thoughts and feelings I'm ashamed, embarrassed, humiliated, and scared of. You encourage me to be humbled by them and something to engage and see through, creating transparency and clairvoyance.
When we brainstormed my dreams and aspirations of finding a job to fulfill my longing of understanding the natural environment I used your advise and guidance to create a cover letter and interview approach that was less rigid and "professional". You guidance in crafting one that involved elements balancing personal desire, passion, and accomplishment impressed not only me but all the employers I sought to work for. After exploring my options I found myself working with the firm of my choice, knowing it was the right fit of growing and expanding my life. Pragmatically speaking I'm making a healthy salary, and ecstatic to work with a team of people that share so many visions and work diligently to make them real. We did this together, and I have you to thank for standing by me all the while and encouraging me through every step."
B.K., Seattle, WA - Contact info available on request.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Conscious transition yields conscious new habits.
I am currently implementing the Getting Things Done System. I promised myself big things! And I am noticing that they are all coming true.
There is a special flavor of self-absorption that's healthy, and it happens to us when our life is about to change. When I attend to the undeniable need to reflect and apply a special kind of focus to that reflection, I notice HOW the mind and body re-program our previously automatic responses to stimuli, question the usefulness of it, and choose again.
There is a special flavor of self-absorption that's healthy, and it happens to us when our life is about to change. When I attend to the undeniable need to reflect and apply a special kind of focus to that reflection, I notice HOW the mind and body re-program our previously automatic responses to stimuli, question the usefulness of it, and choose again.
Graduation through each phase of life requires transition.
Once, a client explained why he enjoys astrology, something like this:
"Each day there are opportunities - windows of opportunity - that open and close, sometimes opening so wide they're undeniable. If we are unavailable to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, that's okay, they will come again... However, sometimes the window is so big and easy to step through, that we are outright denying ourselves opportunities if we find ourselves intoxicated, fearful, preoccupied, or stuck doing something else. I like to hear what someone else says the big opportunities are that are coming up for me. It's how I began to notice them for myself, watched myself take advantage of them, reaped the benefits, and became motivated to stay clean and clear: for opportunities. For exciting, life-affirming reasons. Who knows whether the opportunity I have today will ever be so easy again?"
In education, these are called 'learning opportunities' or 'teachable moments.' The thing teachers and parents learn is to notice and take advantage of them, by asking the student questions and allowing them to hear their intuition answer... teaching them to trust themselves.
"Each day there are opportunities - windows of opportunity - that open and close, sometimes opening so wide they're undeniable. If we are unavailable to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, that's okay, they will come again... However, sometimes the window is so big and easy to step through, that we are outright denying ourselves opportunities if we find ourselves intoxicated, fearful, preoccupied, or stuck doing something else. I like to hear what someone else says the big opportunities are that are coming up for me. It's how I began to notice them for myself, watched myself take advantage of them, reaped the benefits, and became motivated to stay clean and clear: for opportunities. For exciting, life-affirming reasons. Who knows whether the opportunity I have today will ever be so easy again?"
In education, these are called 'learning opportunities' or 'teachable moments.' The thing teachers and parents learn is to notice and take advantage of them, by asking the student questions and allowing them to hear their intuition answer... teaching them to trust themselves.
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