sidenote: education

An artist is never really ready to finish a painting; they feel as if there is always more they could do… In the same way, our whole goal in education is to create life-long learners; this means creating students that are never finished learning. To begin my analogy, students act as a blank canvas. They come to school ready to absorb whatever “colors” (lessons) are brushed upon them. Every canvas has a bit of texture; this texture is equivalent to background knowledge and experiences the students’ house. The painter (teacher) comes before the canvas with an image in mind (their goals based on Student Learning Expectations). Before the painter is ready to use her paintbrush (research-based lesson delivery method), she makes sure all her supplies are accessible. Her easel (community) provides strength and a foundation from which she can work. The rinse station (Department of Education) is the basis for maintaining a clean workspace and clean utensils (clean record, licensure upkeep). An artist must have a supply tray (superintendent and principal) for utensils that may be needed while working (professional development, latest technology, feedback on observations). As the painter chooses what colors (lesson) she will display, she must have a palette (curriculum coordinator); as a palette houses the colors the painter is using, so does the curriculum coordinator house helpful information regarding lessons and how to best meet SLEs. The painter chooses her brush (delivery method), and with each mark onto the canvas, the color (lesson) changes it. In every stroke of the brush authentic learning is occurring, rearranging and reshaping what once was there. Along the way, the painter may have to use a color shaper (special needs strategies) to bring forth understanding and form. And, there are times when paint razors/knives (enrichment) must be placed upon the canvas to give depth to the image. Once the canvas is full of color and the painter’s image(SLE) is impressed, it can then be framed and this desired product is metaphorical to that of a school’s curriculum, where experiences, goals, and key players come together to “fill-up” what once was a blank canvas.