I learned to make lesson plans on my way to becoming a therapeutic riding instructor. This involved crafting long term goals for each student, and lesson-by-lessons steps for reaching those goals. One of the concepts that pops up over and over again in the lesson planning process is the zone of proximal development.
That’s a hifalutin way of saying, “What is the next skill this rider could work toward that they cannot do now on their own, but can make progress toward with support and practice, and eventually even do independently?” Key to working productively in the zone of proximal development is having a lot of the prerequisite skills already in place. To hold the reins, a student has to be able to control their grip. To ride a sitting trot, they must be able to stay on without support at the walk (which takes a heap more skill and strength than you’d think).
One lovely aspect of later life is that we have acquired a ton of skills. Most of us have had several careers or career phases. We’ve navigated, at least short-term, more than one culture. We’ve weathered several different kinds of long-term relationships. We’ve driven a stick, a tractor, a golf cart, and an SUV. We’ve bounced back from bad decisions and bad luck. We even (sometimes) know how to keep our mouths shut when popping off with a dearly held screed would not be helpful.
With a few very significant caveats, when it comes to learning, the world is our onion. I like learning, and I know it’s good for the old bean, so I’ve set myself some challenges that lie in my zones of proximal development. I’m going after another horse-related certification (about which I will probably bore you at length, later). I have also taken on some fundraising tasks for the adaptive riding barns where I work.
Begging for money is no fun, so why do this?
Welp, my very first job in Washington, DC, forty-thousand years ago, was coordinating the drafting and production of proposals in response to government requests for bids. In law school, I took the classes necessary to be certified in procurement law. I know a lot about the intersection of public money with private enterprise and I love to write. So… how hard can it be to tweak those skills into thumping the tub for the worthy cause of safely putting people with disabilities on horses?
It’s… not so easy. The private foundations with money to disperse seem to all but hide their existence; the major corporations who claim to have charitable arms are also apparently stealth operations. Fortunately, I am tenacious and determined. I am also starting down the American Sign Language education path.
Why? Because I enjoy languages. I’ve studied French, German, and Spanish to the point of having rudimentary competence somewhere along the way, and I’ve seen Latin and a few glimpses of Scottish Gaelic through the linguistic binoculars. Riders who cannot speak are part of the adaptive demographic, and even though assistive devices can be incorporated into a riding lesson, why not just learn some ASL and see if that’s helpful? The sign for horse makes perfect sense to me.
So those are two of this year’s learning challenges, and what strikes me about both is that I can enjoy them. I can enjoy learning about the charitable foundation data bases, enjoy helping wonderful organizations find slightly firmer financial footing, enjoy trotting out my new sign vocabulary for the week.
What skill or expertise lies in your zone of proximal development that you could enjoy working toward?
PS: And because the first rule of fundraising is, “You have to ask!” if anybody here does have some ideas for how to locate money to host a little barn dance/fundraiser, please do drop me a line at [email protected]!
I would like to compile a list of how tos for my work peers. A list of simple responses & active listening tips.
I would like to hand over my dog club jobs. I’d be a helper for a transition year. I was hoping to hand off the job to my co chair but he will only chair if stay. I need to work on THIS!
When I retire- I would like to take a baking class, volunteer for meals on wheels – community service where I could use my skill set.
I think I might point out to your dog-colleague that if you both retire at the same time, the whole brain trust goes off line at the same time. Yes, you will both be “around” to help, but not on the job providing leadership to the next up.
And those sound like lovely plans, especially the baking class. Now I’m hungry!
I’m feeling inadequate again because I’m not thinking of working towards anything. Basically, I am hunkered down, trying to get through every day successfully (which means without curling in a ball, pulling the covers over my head, and crying until it all goes away). Of course, I always feel like hibernating in the winter and, yes, I know talking of winter in Florida is kind of ridiculous, but the days are still shorter and we do have cold snaps (it got into the 30s last week with highs in the 50s). But the world is currently a dumpster fire and I am in despair. Time to go bury myself in another world in the pages of a book for a few hours of escape!
I think you’d have to be a little nuts not to feel some despair these days. Wherever you are on the political spectrum, wages aren’t keeping up with inflation, health care is becoming inaccessible, and the planet is climate trouble. I don’t really want to ignore those realities, but I am mighty grateful for books to read and books to write, because that’s that my happy place these too. If I can spend some time regularly in my happy place, I am better able to face the dragons just outside the door.
I’m hoping to get back up to running half marathon distances. A disobedient knee last year meant I lost a level of fitness, but back into it this year!
That is actually the longest distance I ever completed on race day. I admire your commitment to the goal, and hope the knee obliges!
Many times I’ve had to create a path where there was no path.
So, Grace, while applying to already existent possibilities is the old known road (and useful in its own way), why don’t you make a list of businesses and companies that have or make a lot of money and write to them, something along the lines of “Hello, we are a therapeutic riding barn, you don’t know us yet but do you want to be our sponsor?” including a beautifully made presentation… I’m sure there are many possibilities out there.
And what about Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, Keanu Reeves and so on…Why not?
P.S.Thank you for the ARC!
Or maybe, because my barn is Great and Small Therapeutic Riding Center, somebody from the cast of the All Creatures series? Oh, my! Thanks!!!
Reply to Pilar: Bill & Melinda Gates’ daughter is an equestrienne.
I’m tempted to reply with snark, but she is not her dad…I was told way back in graduate school that if your cause is just, you take money from Old Scratch himself (The Phillip Morris Foundation was the example given) provided there are no strings attached. Better to spend that money for good causes than to leave it lying around for other purposes, or so the reasoning went.
Why do we only consider ourselves students when we are younger? Because “students” sit at desks, take notes, and take tests. Learning is more fun when we are older because usually we aren’t studying just for a test but because we are either interested in a topic or we see how having that knowledge will help us in life.
Good point. We are assigned the label student earlier in life, and that’s probably not how the best learning occurs.
One of my father’s favorite maxims was, “The day you stop learning, you’re dead.” He was taking computer classes at 84 mere months before his death following surgery.
I’m learning new software myself by diving in & using it, a new yoga routine to regain flexibility lost while having procedures, & coaching a self-employed friend in business operations. She didn’t have the luxury of a father who started teaching her about taxes & corporations using his own ledgers & tax records as a textbook before I graduated from high school.
My county library system has partnered with two other counties, so I no longer exceed my monthly allotment of ebooks, audiobooks, music & movies. (Yay for requesting our Grace at THREE library systems off one library card!!) But I’m infuriated by how hard it is to find research & educational materials for ADULTS running small businesses, especially business education at a higher level than Keyboarding for Dummies. Sigh… By the time inter library loans wander in to counties that DON’T have billion dollar budgets, they’re frequently out of date. Grrrrr!
I could go off on a rant about the useless archaic offerings of the SBA, but will spare us all.
I recently learned I can get transcripts for podcasts if I click the 3 dots on my device, so that’s speeding my inhalation of data & instruction. No more listening to some blowhard droning on about his vacation for 20 minutes before getting to the actual industry info. Yay!
My body might be flabby at the moment, but my brain is in ultramarathoner mode.
And of the two, I think an athletic brain is probably the more useful asset, though of course, good health is a huge blessing. I echo your frustration. My accountant fortunately just retired, fortunately, because I was about to fire him. It simply did not occur to him to ask me, “But didn’t you drive all over creation getting that riding instructor thingie? Didn’t you needs some clothes you can only wear or use at the barn?” Year after year of me paying him to impersonate an abacus, when what I needed from him was accounting smarts.
No particular goal in mind, just learning through my various reading interests.
Mainly I’m here to say how much I love your cat pix – adorable!
Thanks. I used to have an Instagram account. About the first thirty pictures were just cats sitting on my modem, sleeping on my modem, snuggling with my modem… They’re just photogenic–the cats, that is.
I am working to say what I want to say with fewer words. It’s a tricky business for someone like me to get the full message out succinctly. I can’t say I enjoy this but I admit I feel pleased when I succeed.
I am also working to be happy with the life I have now even though it has not turned out as I would have preferred. Can’t say I enjoy this either, but it needs doing
Can I just add what I do enjoy? This evening a Girl Scout came to my door selling cookies. She had her brother with her and her mom was pulling a wagon full of product with an adorable home made sign. It was just the most delightful experience and I am still smiling at the memory!
Thanks for that vignette. I ALWAYS buy me some GS cookies. They are a reliable good product and the scouts learn a lot during the fundraising campaign.
I am refreshing and polishing my middle school teaching skills, especially essay and story writing, 5 mo from retirement after having a teacher unexpectedly quit… and I had an 8-harness loom gifted to me, so am teaching myself now to use this complicated equipment. Neither seem like they will be qick to master…
And isn’t that nice? In the Outer Hebrides, there’s a tradition that when crewing on the oil rigs just gets to be too much, the riggers retire and go for the six-month training with Harris Tweed. A complete change of venue, regular hours, cottage employment, craft, home, soft textures, beauty… I think it saves the sanity of many, and adds beautiful products to the market.
What about a Kickstarter, GoFundMe, or other crowdsourcing? Yes, there are admin costs and headaches, but your people are here and the turnout might surprise you. Especially if you set it up so monthly pledges could be made.
That’s an interesting idea, Krista, especially if we can think up some cool incentives. My age group would probably be a little puzzled by it, but more tech and socials-savvy demographics might really go for it. Thanks!
You’re very (belatedly!) welcome!
I am updating my respite foster care licensing. Why the hifalutin words?! Most of us have an extra bed or two, good internet and the time to ensure supervision. I do not want or need the dictionary definition of communication spread over 130 slides with terms like “receipt of reciprocal information.” Translation, if I understood correctly, communication is a two-way street.
The “zone of proximal development” for me means the treadmill is unfolded, my shoes are visible on the ramp and the remote is in the cupholder. My meds are in a weekly case. The toothbrush sits next to it. Still not a given any of it will happen, but it’s more likely.
And thank you for the ARC!! I have a busy (for me) week and it will be my reward for surviving it. And we do plan to survive, maybe even enjoy parts of it.
That’s the James Clear approach to success. It’s not that very productive people are smarter, more focused, or harder-working than the rest of us. What they do have is a lot of skill at removing distractions, obstacles, temptations, and interruptions from the shortest path that leads to their goals. I wonder if Mr. Clear has much familiarity with children?
You’re an inspiration, Grace. We have some major fires going on three different fronts and my primary goal is keeping them from becoming completely out of control. I’m so grateful for our new Lord Julian mystery–and that we don’t have to wait too very long to spend time with him again. (I just bummed that I finished AGFFH so quickly)
I am not bummed at all. The surest proof that a book is worth the asking price is when a reader gobbles it down. Thanks!
Don’t have any ideeas but I hope it is successful