Tuesday, July 28, 2015

SoLSC Water is Water 7.28.15


 

Slice of Life is a weekly event hosted by Two Writing Teachers.


A few weeks ago I came across an article that IPC swimming (International Paralympic Committee) had tweeted.  It was titled "10 Things You Only See At A Para Swim Meet".  Please take a quick minute and read the article.  It's an eye-opener.  Plus it has a great ending line.

After being at a Paralympic swim event, I can tell you how amazing they are.  These athletes work so hard at their sport and they do it with a disability.  

People have asked me before about the difference between Special Olympics and Paralympics.  A main difference is Paralympics has a more elite athlete - they only compete on an elite level.  They have specific classifications and must meet specific standards for those classifications.

The part of this article that gets to me is number 10.


I think that is true, "water is water."  These athletes have found a way to move through water in such a strong, profound way. It equalizes us.  

How can we do this at school?  How can we equalize all of us?  How can we have all students give all that have?  How can we make all students be doing what they do because they love it?

Keep these questions in the back of your mind as you start school this fall.

7 comments:

  1. What a wonderful piece, and thank you for sharing this article! Brought tears to my eyes, in a good way. I was just talking with fellow teachers about finding ways to reach all learners- every teacher's constant refrain. This swim meet is a great metaphor, and we can all remind ourselves that water is water and we are all trying to get to the other wall as fast as we can, using what we've got. Thanks for this piece- I am going to try to keep it in my mind all year.

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  2. What a wonderful piece, and thank you for sharing this article! Brought tears to my eyes, in a good way. I was just talking with fellow teachers about finding ways to reach all learners- every teacher's constant refrain. This swim meet is a great metaphor, and we can all remind ourselves that water is water and we are all trying to get to the other wall as fast as we can, using what we've got. Thanks for this piece- I am going to try to keep it in my mind all year.

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  3. Michele, I love how you've connected a personal part of your life into guiding questions for our teaching. Definitely important to reflect upon as we're setting up for new school year!

    Thanks!
    Susan

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  4. I like the connection you made!
    Thank you, too, for explaining what paralympic means. I didn't know the difference.

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  5. I enjoyed learning more from the article, Michele. That part, #10, that you highlighted can be edited perhaps to read "learning is learning and we are all equal in it". Thanks for the inspiration.

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  6. I think those are the questions that keep us coming back to the classroom year after year. Great connection!

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  7. I think those are the questions that keep us coming back to the classroom year after year. Great connection!

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