So, I took my learning inside and online...
Of course reading and watching is not the same as doing, but assuming
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The sun was teasing me this morning -- I saw her peeking out from behind a wisp of cirrus low on the horizon, making empty promises of flight possibilities! She illuminated the CN tower for about 40 minutes, then suddenly, she was gone again, and the skies were overcast once more.
So, I took my learning inside and online... Of course reading and watching is not the same as doing, but assuming
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Educators are familiar with Howard Gardiner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. In a nutshell, Gardiner argues that whereas traditional IQ tests typically measure only three intelligences (Verbal-Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical and Visual-Spatial), in fact, at least EIGHT intelligences exist.
In teacher's college, we try to instill in our pre-service teacher candidates an appreciation for all the intelligences, and we attempt to A debate exists amongst educators, over the “best” way to teach new skills and concepts. The basic argument is this: One side believes that students learn best when they are exposed to rich, "big picture" problems and allowed to construct their own understanding, making meaning by connecting to previous schema. The other side insists that students should be exposed to new ideas bit by bit, building on small skills until they are "ready" for the bigger, more advanced problems.
In a flight analogy, the constructivists might say that students should www.studentpilot.weebly.com
I confess I do feel mild irritation at teaching some students the same thing over and over again. Sometimes I am working with a group of kids around reading, and the "answer" is right there, so obvious to me, who has been reading for 35 years, and the kid doesn't get it, and it's so hard to hide my boredom and irritation. But I vow today to do a better job for all After many months of singing God's glorious praises as I gazed into His magnificently colourful and creatively textured heavens above, I am working very hard to be appreciative of the grey, hazy soup He has conjured up for me this week.
My week off, which could have been spent any number of ways, I dedicated to increasing my pathetic flying skills, and the weather has NOT been cooperating. Wed morning now, and soup again. I am going to take the dog for a walk and shake my fist at the morning sky to see if that will make a difference. I NEED to go up today!!! Infidelity sucks!
I didn't realise how comfortable I had grown with my own flight instructor and with my "home" airport until I took a lesson with a different flight instructor at another airport. Visiting relatives out of town today, I decided to seize the opportunity, and try something new. It was really very strange, and although I appreciated his insights, I longed for the familiarity of my usual person and place -- who knew?! THREE lessons I learned: 1. I am not confident as I thought I was getting - the false confidence comes with the comfort of the known and the familiar... throw something new into the mix, and it's back to square one, lol! 2. I need to go... Well, it's no secret that I don't deem multiple choice questions to be an effective measure of understanding. And the research supports me. So I am not convinced that -- despite my strong performance on the PSTAR this afternoon -- I actually "know" all that much.
On the other hand, it is quite something that I can speak somewhat articulately at all about even a few of the concepts related to flight. I mean, three months ago, I was completely clueless. And now, well, I just recently was working on a ppt for a PD session, and while making a link between new flight students and ELLs, I realised that I had learned, really learned the meaning of approximately 97 new words in the past three months. Quite remarkable. Ahhh, and yet there is so, so, sooooo much more to learn.... After ten days of intensive study, I am finally ready for the PSTAR!
First I noted the relevant sections of CARs or AIM in my study guide and read them, section by section. Next, I met with Okay, so after months of neglect, I finally got around to downloading some family photos this morning while the boys were playing with their new toys (yes, a car track/airport amongst other things!), and I realised that FLYING IS TAKING OVER MY LIFE!!! (Even some of the photos on my camera catch me in the act of studying, and not just at home!!) As Alex and Simon have told me "Flying, flying Mommy -- it's all about flying!" So today, no flying, no airplanes, just a slide show of a few highlights from the past few months. Click on the first photo below to begin the show, with captions: (for more about the twins/twins thing, click here)
I'm cheating, and it's no accident. Totally premeditated, in fact!!
I am determined to learn how to land a plane, and I think a change of scenery and personnel might help. So, next week while I'm out of town visiting the in-laws, I have booked a flight lesson at the nearest airport/flight school. I expressly asked for an experienced instructor, and specified my need to do circuits only, focussing in particular on landings. It will be my first time flying at another aerodrome, and with one exception, my only lesson with a different instructor. I think it'll be a good experience, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous about it all. |
Welcome to Vera's Flight Brain...Here I will attempt -- hopefully not in vain -- to share my connections to previous knowledge. Or I might share a few random thoughts loosely connected to flying, too, as well as any useful resources I may stumble across in my studies.
AuthorVera C. Teschow is a certified teacher and mother of twin boys Alex and Simon. In addition to documenting her flying lessons, she also blogs about babies, teaching and life in general. Categories
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September 2013
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