Creating a Love of Learning

Looking back over the years, we can probably all remember some teachers who were really bad and maybe some teachers who were really good.  What was the difference?

It’s a question worth asking, because whether we educate formally in the classroom or informally in life (as parents, for instance), we all teach.  So how do we teach well so that people want to learn what we think it is important for them to know?

I’ve been thinking about his recently because my youngest daughter’s biology teacher has his classes doing a project where they can get extra credit if they attract a turkey vulture to a bird feeder.  And though my youngest doesn’t much like school (truth be told, neither did I, at least not until I got to college), she is pretty excited about this.  It makes my heart glad.

So, through careful Strategic Planning and detailed Needs Analysis, we have created Operation Turkey Vulture (OTV).  For the squeamish, you may wish to skip the rest of this post and any others that refer to Turkey Vultures in the title. 

Phase 1 of OTV was to deploy key operatives in the field.  They have been on red alert for a couple weeks now, searching, always searching, for road kill.  The preferred objective in this search has been to procure a dead deer, as painstaking research seemed to indicate this would yield the greatest chance of success.

Yesterday, at approximately 9:21:55AM, a call came in from Agent Uncle.  A possible target had been sited, in the median of Wiehle, about 200 yards shy of Baron Cameron Boulevard.  It was time to proceed to Phase 2 of OTV.

This Phase involved obtaining an appropriate Retrieval Unit and Extraction Team.  Both proved to be rather difficult.  It was the Operations  Manager’s hope that a truck could be found, but alas this was not to be.  The trunk of the family car would have to suffice.

As for the Extraction Team, yours truly and my youngest daughter were chosen by default.  My oldest daughter agreed to be Trip Photographer.  One more team member would be need, ideally a young male strong of limb and back.  It took a great deal of persuasion to recruit this final member, but in the end Agent Wrestler also joined the team.

We were now set to proceed to Phase 3:  The Extraction.  Details to follow in the next report.  Over and out.

Comments

[Riddle]

oh my! this could get interesting!

[Dan Davenport]

Nothing like a good road kill extraction to get one excited about school again. Sounds like Mary has a great biology teacher. I'm holding my breath (as i'm sure you were) to see what happens. Is Linda really going to let you put that thing in the back yard?

[Hedwyg]

Oh LORD! I can't WAIT to hear the next phase of this story!

[jan]

I saw a dead deer on the way in to work this morning and I have a pickup truck, but I don't suppose that information does you any good too late and 3000 miles away... :)

[BJ]

I saw a turkey vulture on one of the neighborhood roads as I was coming home from my son Ken's house in Broadlands a few months back--it was late at night and the vulture was close to the side of the road having a feast on something (smaller than a deer). It was so intent on its feast that it didn't seem to mind that I pulled to a stop right beside it (no one was in sight) just to watch it a bit. If I see it again, I'll tell it to fly your way---LOL!

Can't wait to see the next posting on this venture, although perhaps buying a bit of venison from the store and letting it sit out to ripen might be the approach I would take, this sounds more interesting/educational. Good luck. heh heh heh.

[coral]

Oh, man, you do get up to things, this story will go down in family history next to the Rosetta Stone!!

Waiting with baited breath for Phase 3: The Extraction!!

(Doncha love 'baited breath'? Baited like the bird feeder will be - what does that phrase mean???)

[Shirley]

Neil would be proud!!! I'm going to forward this to him! I bet you find deer hair in your trunk for years and years...can't wait to see more pictures!!!!