Passionfruit

Last week I posted about passion and passionate educators after reading Silvia Tolisano tweets on passion and watching her video titled Passion in Education …make a difference! Little did I know that passion was now a huge buzz subject on my PLN? I guess I’ve been more focused on activities at school than I realized. Angela Maiers has been featuring guest bloggers on the topic Passion Driven Conversations. I invite you to visit her page and check out the list of guest bloggers like Larry Frelazzo and George Couros. You will find some great reading.
My PLN has many individuals that would qualify as passionate educators. In putting together my list of passionate educators last week, I know I could not include everyone that qualified. I listed the names of those that first came to mind. In doing so, I left off one outstanding educator in Melbourne, Australia - Jenny Luca. I really enjoy her School’s out Friday postings. She also posts on Learning happens. If you read this week’s post of Learning happens, you will see a passionate educator in action. Jenny participated in a ‘camp’ program called Creative Communication. She was working with 21 very special girls who have all made an effort to extend their thinking and contemplate how we communicate in today’s world. One outcome of the time with Jenny was an online publication called passionfruit. Here you will see the efforts of some passionate students.

What do you think of the new online publication passionfruit?

Passion in Education

I cannot get the word passion out of my head after watching Silvia Tolisano’s video, Passion In Education. We have all know teachers that could accomplish the most unimaginable task or project. Most of these same teachers seem to turn around students placed in their class that lacked any desire or love for school or learning. You have known some I’m sure. It is a marvelous, awe-inspiring experience to be around them when they are working with children. What do they possess that allows them to make that connection with kids that others seem to be lacking? I submit that the main quality missing is a passion for learning and love of the students and subject in which they are teaching.

I’m still trying to have a more complete understanding of the meaning of passion. I’ve read Merriam-Webster online dictionary, which offers the following synonym discussion of PASSION:
passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable . fervor implies a warm and steady emotion . ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived . enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity . zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause .

I have watched Silvia Tolisano’s video Passion In Education.

Passion in Education from langwitches on Vimeo.

As I continue to wrap my brain around passion and education, I begin to think of my PLN. Yes, an excellent means of illustrating passion in education would be to offer examples of people who are passionate about education. I know that students develop a greater understanding when given examples. I pull a list of PLN members. Whoa, I find it very difficult to make choices but do offer the following names: Silva Tolisano @langwiches, Kelly Tenkely @ktenkely, Kevin Jarrett @kjarrett, Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher, Edna Sackson @whatedsaid, Kathleen McGeady @kathmcgeady, Pernille Ripp @4thGrdTeach, Karen Keenan @2ndgradeteach, George Couros @gcouros, and Chris Wejr @Mr.Wejr.

After checking these web pages my understanding of passion in education is much more complete and I know yours will be also. Have you found your passion? Sir Ken Robinson says, “Finding your passion changes everything.” I would love to hear your comments on passion.