Ruth's Reflective Routes

I recently came across this post that sparked my curiosity: 'A millionaire won’t judge you for starting a business. A bodybuilder won’t judge you for working out.' It speaks to a simple truth—people working toward their goals tend to support others on a similar path. More often than not, judgment comes from those who feel stuck in life. This made me pause and ask: Why do some people get stuck, while others thrive? As a teacher, we’re trained to pay close attention to the learner who disrupts the class. Over the years, I’ve learned that disruptive behaviour usually signals something deeper—like discomfort or unmet needs in their environment. When I sit down with such a student, I often discover they’re carrying some kind of hurt. Once they feel heard and reassured, the disruptive behaviour fades. That same morning, after reading the quote on social media, it sparked more questions in my mind: Is it a lack of motivation, unclear dreams, or missing resources that causes people to ...

In today’s diverse classrooms, differentiation has become a key element for ensuring that every learner’s unique needs are met. The concept is well understood and supported by teachers, who recognize that personalizing instruction is crucial for maximizing student engagement and success. However, the reality is that differentiation requires significant time and effort, and many teachers face overwhelming time constraints. Time: The Scarce Commodity With a set number of holidays in a year and the preparation required for school celebrations and events, teachers often find their available working hours shrinking. These events are essential for creating a vibrant, well-rounded learning environment, but they also take away from the time that could be spent on planning differentiated lessons. Despite these challenges, teachers continue to rise to the occasion. I’ve encountered many dedicated educators who go the extra mile to collaborate with their peers. They understand that differentiatio...

Growing up, wrestling wasn’t just entertainment—it was a family tradition. My brothers, sister and I would gather around the TV to watch WWF superstars in action, and at home, we had our own championship matches. My brothers proudly claimed the title of household WWF champions, and we would dive off couches, imagining ourselves as the wrestling icons we idolised. Wrestling taught us a lot about energy, timing, and control—but it also delivered lessons that extend far beyond the ring. One of these lessons came from Dave Bautista, famously known as Batista, who shared invaluable advice he received from The Undertaker, one of wrestling's greatest legends. While The Undertaker guided him on being mindful in the ring, it was his financial advice that left a lasting impact on Batista. As Batista recalls, The Undertaker said, “Always live beneath your means.” It’s a lesson Batista admits he learned the hard way—through personal mistakes—and now shares with athletes from humble beginnings,...