We are fortunate enough to have Steve McGinley as our Inquiry Instructor (UBC EDUC 452B) this past year. Recently, we had an asynchronous activity that proved to be enriching – and useful, for us to add to our Best Practices.

Psst…. here is the secret… this is a mindfulness activity for YOU and adaptable for your future STUDENTS.

Activity follows:

Asynchronous Activities to complete:

Task #1

• Retake the TPI questionnaire and save profile- http://www.teachingperspectives.com/tpi/ (Links to an external site.)
• Compare with your original TPI from the fall.  Has anything changed? What has changed? Why?

Task #2 

1. Complete: A Walking Curriculum activity – teacher professionalism  (Links to an external site.)

1. Explore/play – Go out for a walk in your local community
2. TODAY’S REFLECTION – What values guide the professional lives of teachers?
3. Discover five types of tree or plant around campus/home/your community that appeal to you on the grounds they remind you of professional values that you have come to appreciate as important in the lives of educators.
4. Next Class, you will be asked to share:

(a) describe the tree/plant or object in particular detail, perhaps with a photograph, drawing or verbal depiction,

(b) make connections to the professional (‘heroic’) value that the tree/plant represents for you, connect this to TPI #2 reflection in task #1 above.

(c) explain the importance of that value to a robust sense of professional life, and

(d) discuss where you have seen (or wish you had seen) this value enacted in your experience as either a teacher or a student.

Task #3 – Post your short reflection and picture on the discussion page to share next class.