This is What I Learned in SI

I learned that family can be sweeter than anyone could ever imagine
And that colleagues can form a family unimagined

I learned that yard sales are not for the weak in body
And that goats have their own agendas.

I have learned that bubble gum comes with a host of traumatic stories
And rivers, creeks, mountains, and houses all make for amazing metaphors.

I learned that it’s OK to be TOO TOO Wordy
Or short, sweet, and to the point
That a friend brings more leaders to the table
And that writing, even badly, is never bad

In summer institute I have learned
Word processing
And digital stories
And how to format a 3.5 floppy disc
And how to use a flash drive
And that the technology itself is not nearly important as the skills of technology.

In summer institute I have learned that religion
In all its varied forms
Both bonds and separates us
But never leaves us alone

I learned that we are all survivors
Of our childhoods
Of our parents
Of our brothers and sisters
Of our significant others
Of our children
Of our pets

I learned that we are all the same
And when we tell our stories
There is much power
In the sharing
In the knowledge that despite our uniqueness
We are just the same as everyone else

In summer institute I learned that true learning feels uncomfortable.
Being in our comfort zone and feeling safe
Is a sure sign that no real learning is occurring
And I learned how to say that to my students
Who mistake the way learning feels for something scary.

In summer institute I learned that education is fear filled
That our parents
And students
And even we
Enter the classroom with fear in our hearts
And when we are afraid
True learning does not happen

In summer institute I learned
That we can only learn
Things we already know

In summer institute I learned the meaning of scripture
In the beginning was the word
And the word was with God
And the word was God
Speak those things that be not as though they were

I learned that words are horrible weapons
No bomb or bullet or knife
Has the power to hurt as much as hard words do
And I also learned that words are magical and medicinal
No medicine, balm or pill
Has the power to heal as much as soft words do

I learned that if the rapture happens
Several of us want to be taken
And most of us are afraid
We’ll miss it.