The Misunderstanding Ladder

explora

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Joined: Jun 2 2009

Submitted by explora on Mon, 2010-02-22 07:59

Feb 22 2010

I'm at the back of a large room. There's some kind of structure to my right - of an open form, perhaps made from thin metal tubes, but of a relatively solid form. Something like a playground, but a little more functional.

I'm just standing there, and things have been going on around me, when all of a sudden, up come a group of children.

They present me with this amazing ladder. I can see it clearly - there's lots of space between each rung. It's elegant and large - made from wood, I think. The children carry it - laid out horizontally across the room - different parts of it strung through each person's hand.

It's decorated with lots of colour, and many crafty additions. Very cool!

It brings about one of those instant "aha" moments. Immediately my "dreaming" mind switches into that of the teacher. I start speaking (with a tone of both excitement, and awe). I've realised what this thing is or could be - it's a teaching device - a "misunderstanding ladder". And so I begin (the words seeming to just roll out my mouth)

"Sometimes ... one of us understands something different from another ..."

Watching the children's hands at the different rungs of the ladder, I see how these "rungs" could be used to show how we don't always stand at the same place on the ladder - that this can be used to express why we might see something differently from another person.

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Lightning Dreamwork

Feelings:

Rested, excited.

Reality Check:

I don't really recognise the room, but the context yes - it's more or less like a day in the classroom. The only thing was this room seemed more like a gym - that happened to be inhabited by children.

Knowing More:

I'd like some suggestions for making the ladder. How would you make it? Also, I'd like to know how other people relate to the concept of the misunderstanding ladder. What do the rungs signify about each of us having a different understanding? It seemed interesting to me that the ladder was spread out horizontally, rather than vertically.

Comments

Sunwolf wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

The misunderstanding ladder also reminds me of the double helix of the DNA, how each person's DNA might be similar but yet also distinct and unique.

You dream alot about kids. Its that because you teach kids? Do you wish to have your own kids?

explora wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

Hey Ron.

Yeh actually it reminded me of the DNA too. I'm glad you mentioned that.

In my original post, I added some comments in the "Lightning Dreamwork" fields - with a similar question to anyone reading. Now I just have to work on the website, to make sure that they show up (and everybody else can see them - not just the author).

I do dream alot about children. I think it is because I'm in the school so often. Do I wish to have my own kids? I'm not sure. I have a feeling that at some point, it's a possibility, but we'll see. Definitely no rush, from where I stand :) I don't think I could handle the responsibility right now.

Nick

Rodrigo wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

I wonder if this is only related to the kids. I mean, what about misunderstanding and teamwork as signs by themselves?

explora wrote 2 years 11 weeks ago

Interesting thought Rodrigo! I'm glad you mention it.

It's interesting - I have two different jobs. One is working in schools - as a teacher. This takes up most of my time - usually three or four days a week. Plus, I spend a few hours each week doing some webdesign.

As far as school is concerned I've been having a really great year. Everything's flowing smoothly - I'm getting along well with staff, there haven't been any mixups or misunderstandings, and everything is going beautifully.

I was about to comment on that - and was reminded of a recent 'misunderstanding' that occurred with the person who employs me to do web design work for different sites. Even though I had worked a number of hours on the site, I wasn't able to be paid for it, as an important part of the site did not load in a popular browser and we could not solve the problem. Even though I'm a good friend of the person who employs me, the situation has been frustrating. Thinking about this in relation to the dream and your comments, I can see how easy it is for me to move forward and accept it (understanding the challenges that arose for my friend in managing the job).

Thanks! Nick