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This is a story about a tree that continues to give and give and give without expecting anything in return. The young boy takes and takes and takes until there isn't anything left for the tree to give. The story concludes with the boy being overwhelmed by all of his wants, and decides he must now rest on the left over stump...and think...and reflect...
This story reminds me of the many resources we as teachers have at our finger tips. We are the "little boy" who will take and take and take all of these resources and put them on a shelf for future use. Until one day we decide that those resources aren't what we really want so we seek out new resources, better resources. And those older books, articles, and magazines go untouched and underappreciated. So the tree (our professors, learning communities, Personal Learning Networks, Parents, Adminstrators) give us new resources (technology) to use. So you see, the greatest growth of an educator is to not just take all of these resources, but decide how can we implement them so we can grow new trees (new learning for our students).
So we begin with a small seed that is planted in each one of us as educators. How we decide to nurture this seed is up to us. Will we decide to implement these new technolgies in our daily classrooms? Or will we forget to water, give space to grow new ideas, and provide sunlight in a loving and caring environment for our learning to grow?
I decided to nurture my seed!
I began by implementing a variety of technologies to implement in my classroom. I have planted a seed of excitement for learning new technologies in each one of my students. This excitement spread to other teachers who are now planting this same seed.It is my inspiration from "The Giving Tree" that will foster this learning, and continue the use of technology so that in future learning, my students become more attentive to task, involved in their learning process, and become a successful 21st century thinker. I know that my students will not be the little boy who takes and takes and takes, or the tree that gives and gives and gives, but instead will be the seed that can grow, and be planted in others in a cooperative learning environment.
Resources:
Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. New York: Harper and Row, 1964
Wah, Elaine. The Giving Tree (Video). YouTube, 2007.
Video retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUDBrz16Irk&feature=related
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