Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Powerful Teacher Presence

10 August 2010 - Education Leadership Project (ELP)

Julie Killick - Powerful Teacher Presence

What is it and how can we cultivate it?

Being present is not as easy as you might think! How often have you arrived somewhere and suddenly realised that you have very little recollection of the journey? Or maybe you reach for that cup of tea only to discover you have already drunk it? Where were you? Where are you moment to moment when you are teaching? This workshop explores cultivating powerful teacher presence, and quality engagement with children.

Being-ness is at the core of teaching and learning and the most important resource is me and my colleagues. Teachers should be self reflective as it increases understanding of themselves, how they teach and nurture their inner lives.

Being present is such a gift.

Julie Killick recommends that we should practice being present during habitual tasks and be 'in the moment' (In the moment...there is no future, no past and no fear.)

Some questions to reflect on:

How would I describe teacher presence?
Is my teacher presence abundant or not and how do I know?
Does teacher presence change and has my teacher presence changed over the years?
Do I deliberately nurture my teacher presence?

Just being aware of the above naturally increases my teacher presence.

Thank you for this work shop Julie and ELP.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

No Sense of Direction

Ever since I can remember I know that I suffer severely from having no sense of direction and out on today's run, which was supposed to be the Cathay Pacific half marathon route, I went the wrong way and ended up cutting 3.5kms off my overall run.

We left at 8:07am from Okahu Bay and headed to Quay St to do the loop of the Strand back to Tamaki Drive. I had a map and found my way quite nicely until I reached Paratai Dr and instead of turning off I continued all the way to the end of the street, quite some distance. My running buddies were somewhere behind me. Not sure on which direction to and feeling slightly flustered due to the time constraints of the day, I decided to head right. It turned out to be a good choice as just as I reached the corner I could see my running buddies coming towards me from a different street. I ran with the for a bit and then took off along Kohimara Rd but instead of turning right I went left and ended on Tamaki Dr again! Grr! I contemplated going back to find the correct road but decided enough was enough and so continued on back towards Okahu Bay.

I got back to my car at 10:00am and so not happy that I cut short my run and even more unhappy that the time was not nearly as good as I hoped. I covered 17.5kms today instead of 21ks that I had planned and although I felt comfortable enough I slowed right down at the end.

I met a chap and chatted to him for while. He suggested teaming up with the YMCA Running club and I may consider this in the future. Hit the link for more info.
Next training run Tuesday or Wednesday.

Friday, August 13, 2010

8kms done

Just an 8km run today and all went well. Again, no issues just an easy run. I'm not challenging myself too much at the moment.

Next run should be on Sunday with Michelle and co and we're doing the Cathay Pacific half marathon route. It will have to be a challenge as Sunday is a very busy day and I will be very short on time. Feeling good about it so let's hope I can stay in that frame of mind...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

10k Lap - Done

My first run in just over a week and it went well. No issues today, just a nice easy run. 10kms with a couple of hills for good measure.

All going well I should do the same again on Friday.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Traxee

I found this useful website Traxee and will look into in more detail tomorrow. I'm hoping it will help me...
18km run tomorrow. Let's see how that goes.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

No Go Wednesday

I did a 6.5k run on Tuesday and started well. Good breathing and felt fine until about half way my right shin started to ache again and I could feel a pull behind my left knee. What's going on? Today was supposed to mark the end of the short runs and I was hoping to be well and truly ready to pick up the higher mileage...
I decided not to go today which means I am no longer on track for 4 runs per week but I will keep at it and see how I can make it up. Tomorrow or Friday will have to be at least a 10k run, Sunday's run is already planned and then I will make a plan of action for the following week.
Signing off now feeling a tad despondant...

Sunday, August 1, 2010

My Running Buddies

Today's run was with Michelle, Shayne's sister, and Cheryl, our good friend. Unlike myself they are following a training program and they are a few weeks into their training. We agreed to do this week's run together, or at least start together. I am grateful for this as once I have made a commitment to run with someone I will ensure that I go. That way I can't talk myself out of going and I don't have time to procrastinate.

We left at 9:00am and headed up to Titirangi. Last week this run was quite hard and I was tired. This week I felt ok but I was perhaps a bit heavy footed. I got up the hill ok although the pain in my shin was back but nothing too major and so I carried on. I'm not sure where I lost Michelle and Cheryl, somewhere on the hill but I didn't look behind to see if they were ok, just kept going. I reached 8kms which is the turn around point and headed back down the Pipe Line. I met Michelle and Cheryl running towards me and they looked good and strong.

I tried to run faster all the way home but my running seemed awkward and I didn't feel like I was running fast enough no matter how hard I tried. Apart from the pain in my shin, which at this stage of the run had practically gone, I was breathing ok and I wasn't too tired. I was mindful about making my legs go faster and I longed to be able to relax into run mode and let gravity take me all the way home but today it wasn't to be. I worked all the way. I guess another test...

I reached home about 10 minutes before Michelle and Cheryl and they did the run in 1hr 36mins and so I had to be happy with today's efforts as it has been years since I have run that route in under 1hr 30mins. I don't know, running is very confusing. I don't understand how my awkward, heavy footed run could be one of my fastest runs in a long time...

Thursday marks the 1st day of my 4th week of marathon training and that's when I want to build on the ks. I have planned the next 2 Sunday runs, next week will be with Sharon, my OXFAM buddy and we're doing the waterfront (18kms) and the following Sunday will be with Michelle and Cheryl and we're doing the Cathay Pacific half marathon route (21kms).

I have to do 2 more small runs before Thursday to stay on track so will probably be Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 or 7kms.