Block begins the introduction of his book by saying the following: "The need to create a structure of belonging grows out of the isolated nature of our lives, our institutions, and our communities...The essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole."
I especially enjoy the way Block describes pulling away focus from self-interest and turning attention to the whole. He outlines ways to break through this barrier and create community in his book "Community: The structure of belonging." Ways to bring this focus into the classroom are by forming small groups where the individual can be cherished and understood, and by focusing on possibilites and gifts rather than problems.
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Teaching is not an exact mirror. What the teacher thinks they are doing and what the students actually perceive are sometimes two different stories. Self-image for the teacher can be distorting: when someone thinks they are being clear and to the point it could come off as rude and unneccessary. And so we see that teachers turn to approaches that they have been told look good and give the students satisfaction without questioning it or trying it out for themselves.
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