tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577147026946048956.post8967859758921978046..comments2023-11-12T18:56:48.361-05:00Comments on The Comma Goddess Speaks: Musings on Life's Joys & Vexations: I Teach, Therefore I InspireJayne Jaudon Ferrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09208478365348912235noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577147026946048956.post-49632741917370511162010-04-03T15:11:58.445-04:002010-04-03T15:11:58.445-04:00In the pictures on your tribute page, I think the ...In the pictures on your tribute page, I think the expressions on the faces of the students and teacher you're working with say a lot! Learning should be exciting, not boring--and when teachers opt for the easy way out, it's the students who pay for that laziness. I don't think I have it in me to be a great teacher day after day, but I LOVE doing poetry and creative writing workshops and getting kids jazzed about the power of words. Sounds like you instilled the joy of reading and writing in a lot of students, Joe--and are still at it!Jayne Jaudon Ferrerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208478365348912235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577147026946048956.post-81881164532150939712010-04-03T12:32:49.126-04:002010-04-03T12:32:49.126-04:00“I Teach, Therefore I Inspire” and “What Lies Ahea...“I Teach, Therefore I Inspire” and “What Lies Ahead” are both wonderful piece of writing. Maybe one of them could be published in Newsweek’s “My Turn”. Yes, I love to look at books, touch books, and collect books. In my den I have bookcases of all sizes and shapes filled with books, and family photos. Books and photos capture moments in our lives that help define us. <br /><br />I wasn’t always a book lover. The book that changed my life was Catcher in the Rye. I couldn’t believe how authentic J. D. Salinger was as a writer. And I read it at the perfect age: 16. I wanted to be like him as a writer, and never be a phony. I also wanted to teach. I did happily for thirty-three years. And, now, I actually dream periodically about finding my class and teaching again. So, I try to get into classes and do poetry performances as much as I can. But it’s so challenging to work around the I-got-to-teach-for-the-test teachers. They need to realize that teaching about “Egypt” isn’t as important as making poetry connections and establishing rapport with kids that are hungry for words that shed life on their own existence on Planet Earth. At the end of my “Tribute” section on my Web site, I have a poem written by a former student that I will treasure to my dying days. What a superb gift from a student. You will find the poem by following this site… <br />http://www.consideration.org/sottile/for-teachers/tribute.html.Joe Sottilehttp://www.joe-sottile.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577147026946048956.post-48101857101934570742010-04-02T10:47:56.501-04:002010-04-02T10:47:56.501-04:00I'm sure Mrs. Chapman would understand running...I'm sure Mrs. Chapman would understand running out of room for books, Glenda! Teachers who emphasized reading and writing were always my favorites, of course but, in definite contradiction to the stereotype, two of my BEST teachers were coaches. Jim Youmans actually made me understand Algebra I (no small feat, that!)and Joe Hall made world geography absolutely riveting--proof positive that a gifted teacher is capable of anything!Jayne Jaudon Ferrerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208478365348912235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5577147026946048956.post-62049846377382889952010-04-02T02:37:57.589-04:002010-04-02T02:37:57.589-04:00I so agree with you on praising teachers who make ...I so agree with you on praising teachers who make a difference.<br />I had only a couple of teachers in my youth who instilled a life long love for learning. My first was Mrs. Chapman who read to us every day in third grade. She read the Miss Minerva books and she read the dialect perfectly. I recently bought Miss Minerva and William Greenhill and was amazed when I saw almost the entire book was written in dialect. I am sure the reading of this book would not be allowed in this day and time. <br />Mrs.Chapman was an exemplary teacher who inspired a love for books that brings me to dispair when I have to give some away due to lack of space.glendahttp://www.profilesandpedigrees.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com