Chronicles of a Teacher

When You Think You Know Everything

2011-12-09T13:27:00.005+02:00

Source: Google Images

In a world where personal achievements are the strings you are attached to that further dictate how "successful" you are considered a misconception governs. In the field of education a teacher should be capable of performing in several areas carrying out a variety of activities. It would be impractical to list all of them but examples of these areas include planning lessons, photocopying material, meeting with the parents, correcting homework/papers and exams, motivating students, dealing with the administration, taking part in extra curricular activities (ECAs) and finally but most importantly answering to student questions.

When You Hit a Brick Wall

2011-10-25T01:11:00.001+02:00

Source: Google Images

It's been quite some time. Although the urge to comment on my daily observations has been tickling me for weeks, a weird and unexplainable aura has been blocking me from putting my thoughts down on e-paper.

Through the course of the rapidly changing environment surrounding me I've come to realize that it takes a great deal of intellectual and at times irrational understanding to value what the person facing you is thinking.

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Advice vs. Understanding

2011-08-14T14:15:00.002+02:00

Source: Google Images

Observing and trying to analyze how people communicate has always been a fascinating activity. But can you really observe so much only by standing at an ice-cream line? The following conversation took place between a man and his wife, a couple that showed heavy westernized characteristics.
As the couple passes by the woman turns around and asks her husband:

W: "Do you want to stop for ice-cream?"
And so the man replied:
M: "No, thank you."

He answered honestly and therefore didn't stop. But did it end there?
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Creativity and Innovation

2011-07-30T16:12:00.000+02:00

Source: Google Images

To most of us the words creativity and innovation are synonymous words, when really they should not be. If you were to give a definition to both of them you'd immediately understand that they are significantly distinct from one another. As cited by Dr. Dorothy A. Leonard, Professor at Harvard University

Creativity: A process of developing and expressing novel ideas that are likely to be useful.

Innovation: The embodiment, combination, and/or synthesis of knowledge in original, relevant valued new products, processes or services.

So what is the difference between the two concepts? Can you foster both of them to boost your mental capabilities and overall contribution to society?

Little acts of kindness start with Me

2011-07-19T22:25:00.002+02:00

Source: Google Images

Location: The supermarket - Cairo, Egypt.

- I am having lunch alone at this supermarket near my house in Cairo. Next to me a newlywed couple are tying to have lunch but the mother is seemingly having a hard time eating.
- Her baby is on her lap preventing her from having a descent meal.
- Only a table away a mother is sitting with her daughter.
- The daughter not more than 18 years old offers to carry the baby.
- An act that made me smile, an act that made me feel that sometimes it doesn't take much intelligence to understand that someone is in need of help.
- Just take the time to offer.

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Double Jeopardy

2011-07-09T19:58:00.002+02:00

Source: Google Images

I hate it when I am right. I just hate it. Public education is never going to change. Too many muscle-flexing, ego-filled, self centered instructors that prioritize money over real learning.

Friends do not Exist

2011-07-03T19:02:00.001+02:00

Source: Google Images

Friends are not important and they do not exist. Anyone who doesn’t know me will most probably deem me crazy and will consequently stop reading this article immediately. Patience, I think I have a valid argument here.

Find It

2011-07-01T02:53:00.003+02:00

Source: Google Images

Taking the time to look up the word inspiration, one might find words such as motivation, insight, flash and encouragement as synonyms. What is your inspiration, or how were you inspired to be a teacher is a question I get a lot these days.
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Change and the pursuit of Happiness

2011-06-28T04:11:00.004+02:00

Source: Google Images

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is the phrase you will come across if you take the time to read the United States Declaration of Independence. It’s considered as the most powerful, meaningful and significantly inspiring sentences ever written in the English language. But what is the pursuit of Happiness?

Wait What?

2011-06-27T17:33:00.003+02:00

Source: Google Images

"Our whole universe was in a hot dense state then nearly 40 billion years ago expansion started, wait.."

These lyrics I borrowed from the widely known sitcom called: "The Big Bang Theory". Why am I interested is because the song starts with this statement claiming that our whole universe was crammed and then something happened and everything exploded, and the universe as we know it today was created. Plausible, but not widely accepted.

What comes to mind though in this 58 second audio sample played before every 20 minute episode, is that immediately after that sentence in the opening statement of the song, the band starts listing all the major events, or creations of mankind.
Wait, what?

Finding Your Element

2011-06-27T00:23:00.002+02:00

Source: Google Images

I had a friend once that came up to me and said: " I am so excited cause I am taking a creativity course". I wasn't really surprised with the whole idea. I thought to myself "Creativity course? How the hell does that work?"

Can someone actually have the guts to claim that he or she has the capability of inducing or even trying to teach you such a virtue? A professor for that matter. Is creativity really taught? Or is it a gift you are born with? Who would know that a few months later I would be employed by such an institution in which 'creativity' is a school objective.