One Buttock Teaching

Sophomore year of high school. That's when I learned how to play the tenor sax on "one buttock". That's when I learned how to play with feeling, and emotion, and passion. But shouldn't our teaching be like this, also? Judy O'Connell brought this to my attention when she recently shared a wonderful video by Benjamin Zander, Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. While I didn't really even know who he was while I began watching, I was immediately captured by his passion. I continued watching it to the end, still not knowing who he was, but amazed by his teaching technique and his belief in "possibilities". It sent me thinking about not only how we need to see the possibilities in our students in this way, but the possibilities in ourselves, as teachers. Looking for a good New Year's resolution? Watch and be inspired - as I continue to be. I don't know about you, but I've begun to understand that getting others to accept Web 2.0 technologies and their possibilities is sometimes hard work. May 2009 be the year I learn to throw up my hands when frustrated and say "How Facinating!", and may 2009 be the year I learn to draw in my reluctant audience of students, colleagues and admin with my passion and enthusiasm for what can be.