Nan Bahr's Blog
Beginning teachers regularly say that they feel unprepared for their role. Their supervisors agree and argue that universities have too many theoretical programs without practical application to prepare them effectively. And, we have a very disappointing rate of separation from the profession for people early in their careers. Popular media and some researchers cite workload,... Continue Reading →
Am I bored? Is this truly boredom, or could it be something else? Perhaps it's depression, slow cognitive decline, or maybe I'm not feeling well. No, let’s just say I’m bored. If I embrace the life of a yogi, I should meditate. I begin by clearing my mind of intrusive thoughts. Now, I'm a blank... Continue Reading →
A Veteran - whether regular, reserve, or retired - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank cheque made payable to the nation for an amount of “up to and including my life.” (unattributed) This famous but anonymous quote captures the spirit of military service. Military service calls upon... Continue Reading →
As my followers know, I have been living with Parkinson's disease for nearly eight years. I retired from full-time work six years ago. In reality, it wasn’t Parkinson’s that prompted my early retirement; I was burnt out. My superannuation savings became a life raft, guiding me out of my hectic lifestyle toward what was promised... Continue Reading →
Feeling immersed in negativity? Making silly mistakes? Feeling sad, sick, lonely and self-hating. Maybe you are overweight, underweight, unfit, and you feel generally unmotivated and with free-floating anxiety… and you don’t enjoy anything anymore. You hate yourself for feeling like you’re not yourself. You are all up in your head, and you are mentally bullying... Continue Reading →
I bought some socks. An everyday event that I assumed I could pursue without an inquisition, but this was not to be. First, “Would you like to join our loyalty club? We offer a 10% discount when you have spent $x in x months.” I politely declined. I proceeded to pay for the socks with... Continue Reading →
What will be my exit? Will it be a face plant after tripping over my shoelace and landing nose-first in the path of a random blind man? Will I have assumed the undignified position of the dubious winner of a game of twister left in a twisted and expired heap in the lounge room? Will... Continue Reading →
Now, this is a huge question. We can all agree that parents have a role in their teenager’s development as young adults. However, their place in the equation seems to be significantly diminished and vague when their child enters secondary school compared to the early years or primary/elementary school. Partly, this is due to the... Continue Reading →
When we talk, we consolidate and test our knowledge. Speaking out loud requires mental organization. As we speak, there’s an immediate feedback loop as we hear our own ideas. This allows us to reflect on our logic. It's like holding up a mirror to our explanations, judgments, and arguments. Speaking aloud helps us confront our... Continue Reading →
Promoting Teacher Education 