Four Quadrant Learning

Mental learning:
I read books and research articles and wrote notes and reflections on learning. I was amazed to find many authors writing about integrity, emotional honesty, intuition, health, fitness, spirituality and the relationship between emotions and memory in books geared to the business community as well as to educators.

Physical learning:
I began yoga lessons, learned Brain Gym exercises and spent time walking outdoors. I started drinking at least eight glasses of water a day and became more careful about nutrition (okay, most of the time).

Emotional learning:
Reading about abuse and seeing some of my own past reflected in others' stories sometimes brought back old pain. Writing my reactions to readings was a challenge when feelings were raw, yet by doing so I began to make connections to my own deeply buried memories and beliefs and see the link between them and decisions I have made throughout my life.

Spiritual learning:
Integrity—acting (or not acting) on our most basic values—is spiritual. There is a spiritual dimension to changing harmful attitudes and beliefs. Honesty and kindness are spiritual. Learning to empathize with student stories (finally, I could listen instead of cringe) felt spiritual.

Personal Study Generates Personal Data

To observe personal changes, I kept a journal about work with students and events in my personal life. I observed the ways I taught students, their reactions to new methods and behavior, and changes in their learning. I recorded what was done and how it affected me.

I also took notes on the books and papers I read to inform my learning. Sometimes reading took me back to long-buried memories I'd have preferred to left covered. It helped to write in my journal about the incidents and feelings engendered and look at them calmly—as though they involved someone else—and attempt to see what I'd learned or what I believed as the result of past events. Activities were especially helpful at such times: dancing, singing or yoga lightened my mood, and Brain Gym exercises helped me focus.