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Elisa Waingort

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A Teacher Musing Out Loud

  • Purpose

    #DigiLitSunday purpose This is a word that demands attention.  Commitment.  Focus.  Seriousness.  purpose  We all seek purpose in our lives.  Without purpose we are lost. Stranded. Without purpose we have no direction.  That’s why we look for something or someone to give us the praise – validation –  that we sometimes desperately seek.  The validation… Read more

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  • How Do I Focus?

    How do I focus?  #DigiLitSunday This is a great question with several entry points and no easy answers.  I could write about how I stay focused, or not, by getting things done despite a myriad external and internal work demands.  Or, I could write about how I maintain a focus on what matters.  Or, I… Read more

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  • Thank You

    Source:http://www.planwallpaper.com/static/images/thank-you-clothesline-752×483.jpg I had a hard time writing this post. In fact, I kept putting it off all week and now, a week and a day later, I am forced to write something. I feel like I should have a big, inspiring story about a former student who contacted me years later to thank me for… Read more

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  • Writing Does That For Me

    Writing has always been a cathartic activity for me. I write when I’m upset or confused and, after just a few minutes, I start to feel better. Writing about failures or challenging situations helps me clarify my thinking so that I can sort through the muck and figure out what my next steps might be.… Read more

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  • The Teacher I Want to Be

    I have been dismayed to realize that despite my self-image as a teacher with a learner centered classroom, I am far from truly achieving that goal.  I have been listening carefully to myself lately, and I don’t like what I hear myself saying to the kids. Instead of empowering my students to take ownership of… Read more

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  • The Teacher I Want to Be

    The I have been dismayed to realize that despite my self-image as a teacher with a learner centered classroom, I am far from truly achieving that goal.  I have been listening carefully to myself lately, and I don’t like what I hear myself saying to the kids. Instead of empowering my students to take ownership… Read more

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  • #EdCollab and #TWOTC twitter chats

    I participated in back-to-back Twitter chats tonight. Two hours of fast-paced, free professional learning, coaching and collaboration. Ideas, encouragement and pure inspiration that I will take back to my classroom tomorrow. #EdCollab and #TWOTC Back-to-back learning opportunities.My choice.My needs.Nerdy teacher heaven. Here are nine takeaways from these two chats: When I am working with a… Read more

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  • Searching for Balance

    I have been doing a lot of soul searching over the last couple of days.  And, I’ve come to the conclusion that I must change my attitude – shift my stance – so I can assume a new perspective. So that I am more aligned with what’s important and may add value to my life.… Read more

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  • In anticipation…

    Today was my second day back at work. The students haven’t started yet. Their first day is next Tuesday. At this time next week, I will have met my new students. I looked at my class list yesterday, and again today. I studied my new students’ faces. None of them are familiar to me. A… Read more

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  • Back-to-School Ruminations

    I would be lying if I said I didn’t have mixed feelings about admitting that I’m looking forward to the start of school in a couple of weeks. Mixed feelings about admitting that I’m looking forward to returning to school in a couple of weeks? Wait. I am looking forward to returning to school in… Read more

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