Today in the Writing in Education course I teach students had to share their ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc. about a journal article. The article discusses ways to validate students lived realities in schools. The article reminds the readers that many students' lives do not mirror their teachers' lives. When a student writes, draws, or talks about a subject that isn't part of the teacher's lived reality there a student may be faced with silence. Silence, not to be cruel, but because the teacher is not sure or prepared on a way to respond. When my students have read this article in the past, they are always horrified that the teacher doesn't acknowledge a child's response. I know that each student in my class would meet the student's response with silence since he or she would not know how to respond. This article has always produced rich discussion but I wanted them to get more out of it.
Then last semester I asked them to express their thoughts, impressions, connections in any form they wish. I do give them a list of possible ways but encourage them to do the "expression" in any way they wish. We spent the whole class sharing what they did. Every student did the activity and everyone willingly shared. And after every presentation there was applause. There were even those times during the sharing that you saw heads nods or comments of agreements.
Some of their expressions were in:
Original Art
A comparison with The Great Gabsy and The Hunger Games
A Poster
A letter to the author
A letter to a school librarian requesting this journal article be shared with all teachers
A paper about how this article was nothing like her life and yet, it was ok to be different but there should be understanding
A paper about a girl that related to the broken relationships in the article
A poem from the teacher and from the child met with silence
A prediction before reading - a reflection during reading - an analysis after reading
Pictures draw on a legal size envelope during the reading of the article
A Mobile
A book jacket
A song to the tune "House of the Rising Sun" sung to us as he was playing guitar
Afterwards we discussed how their learning was deeper and richer. We talked about how some of the ways they expressed themselves were not expected. One woman shook visibly when she read her poem and her personality usually is very self-assured. The guy that sung was the last to volunteer and is always the quietest participant in the class. And yet after he sang the applause was loud and someone asked if he would sing it again so they could record it. He quietly began his song again.
And then I reminded them one day they would teach and they MUST look for ways to make the learning richer, deeper, more engaging. And of course, when a student says, writes, draws, etc. something that is not part of their lived realities do not meet him or her with silence.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Appreciation of Spring
This year spring has arrived early it seems all over the United States. To me, each spring leaves me amazed. I am amazed because spring is a wonder to me. I always pause and am amazed how spring appears.
My childhood was plagued with allergies. The type of allergies that restricted my eating, my playing outside, my health. During the spring I was indoor all the times. During my kindergarten through second grade years, I rarely made it through a full day of school and many spring weekends my parents found themselves taking me to the hospital. I know at the time it would have been rough on me but to be honest it is all a faded memory except when the leaves begin to appear on the trees.
When the buds come out on the trees and the leaves begin to grow and unfold, I stop and pause. I am thrilled to see this happen. It amazes me that not all trees bloom the same way and that so many have color first before the leaves come out. During my childhood springs, I was too ill to see the unfolding in front of me. Once everything had bloomed, I would feel better and be allowed to play outside once again. I have told friends about how the blossoming of spring amazes me and I can tell it is hard for them to understand.
Do I feel sad because I missed this part of my childhood or do I feel special because it is one thing I still meet with childhood wonder? I must admit I feel special because I am filled with awe at the splendor of a new season! (And yes, the allergies still are a nuisance but are controllable)
My childhood was plagued with allergies. The type of allergies that restricted my eating, my playing outside, my health. During the spring I was indoor all the times. During my kindergarten through second grade years, I rarely made it through a full day of school and many spring weekends my parents found themselves taking me to the hospital. I know at the time it would have been rough on me but to be honest it is all a faded memory except when the leaves begin to appear on the trees.
When the buds come out on the trees and the leaves begin to grow and unfold, I stop and pause. I am thrilled to see this happen. It amazes me that not all trees bloom the same way and that so many have color first before the leaves come out. During my childhood springs, I was too ill to see the unfolding in front of me. Once everything had bloomed, I would feel better and be allowed to play outside once again. I have told friends about how the blossoming of spring amazes me and I can tell it is hard for them to understand.
Do I feel sad because I missed this part of my childhood or do I feel special because it is one thing I still meet with childhood wonder? I must admit I feel special because I am filled with awe at the splendor of a new season! (And yes, the allergies still are a nuisance but are controllable)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A Gorgeous Day in More than One Way!
My daughter called and asked if we wanted to meet her and the kids at the pond.
How could we say no? Even if our list of things to do seems to get longer and longer. After all tomorrow is another work day.
And so what did we do?
We fed the ducks and shooed the geese. We crawled and walked around the green grass. We smelled flowers. We looked for frogs and found one hiding. We saw millions of tadpoles. We discovered a snake that we just quickly peered at. We sat on rocks. We threw rocks. We dangled our feet.
We ate peanut and jelly sandwiches. We drank water.
We wandered and wandered and wandered. We sat and hugged. We sat and talked.
We savored the outdoors and each others' company.
We each went to our own homes --- richer, happier...and yes, with the list that will be waiting for another day.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
One is Roots - The Other Wings
Yesterday a dear friend posted on Facebook that her twin boys had driven to school together for the first time. She expressed her happiness and her sadness. Her boys were becoming more self sufficient. Her post reminded me of a saying that has kept me going through my years of parenting:
There are two lasting gifts we can give to our children
One is roots
The other wings
This saying sat in my laundry room for years, and as I would be working I would reflect upon its meaning at that particular time in my children's lives.
I now have grandchildren and one day my daughter called me up. As soon as she said, "Mom," I could hear the tears in her voice. Her daughter was near a year and a half and had been in the process of weaning herself and that day wasn't interested at all in her mother's milk. My daughter was crushed. She and I had talked about the saying I had many times and so I quietly said it to her. She said, "Oh Mom, I don't want my daughter to even have a feather."
I smiled to myself with the tears coming for both us now --- thinking first we help our children put down roots so that eventually they can fly away.
There are two lasting gifts we can give to our children
One is roots
The other wings
This saying sat in my laundry room for years, and as I would be working I would reflect upon its meaning at that particular time in my children's lives.
I now have grandchildren and one day my daughter called me up. As soon as she said, "Mom," I could hear the tears in her voice. Her daughter was near a year and a half and had been in the process of weaning herself and that day wasn't interested at all in her mother's milk. My daughter was crushed. She and I had talked about the saying I had many times and so I quietly said it to her. She said, "Oh Mom, I don't want my daughter to even have a feather."
I smiled to myself with the tears coming for both us now --- thinking first we help our children put down roots so that eventually they can fly away.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Out for a Run
This week has been a very busy week at work for me. Along with the work schedule has been the rain. It began raining Monday and continued throughout this week. At the end of my day on Thursday it had quit for a brief period of time. When I came home my husband and I decided to get a run in before the rain started again. We enjoy running together and hadn't been able to all week long.
We headed out on one of our favorite routes in an old neighborhood. This run is one that the people that live in the neighborhood are use to seeing us. People wave, dogs sniff at us warmly, some people call us by name. "Hey guys!" "Hi kids." "Great to see you." "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hennessy." etc. We have become a fixture in their everyday lives.
Today on our run as we passed one house and a man was standing in the street with a shirt wearing a shirt for a tree service. We had never met but he must have thought we were part of the landscape. He said, "Man, this tree is going to be tough to take out." We stopped, turned, and looked up. Sure enough there was a very tall thick tree without any buds. He proceeded to tell us it had been hit by lightning. It appeared to be standing alright but he said the bark was easy for him to remove and he could tell it hurt inside. Then he commented on how it would be nice if a crane could come in but the electrical wires were to close. As we stood looking at the tree it seemed so majestic close between two homes and yes, close to the wires. He thought he might have to get 10-15 men to stand in a line and carry out pieces as it was cut down. He continued saying he was worried about the danger to a man cutting it down. Cottonwoods were dangerous trees. The trunk was very thick and yet it could crack easily in the weak spots on the branches. He said more men lost their lives cutting down this type of tree.
I never want a tree cut down. I imagine how long they must have stood there and I wonder what the land was like and how the houses and neighborhood grew around it. And then I thought of the older woman that lived in the house with the cottonwood. If it fell, it could do real damage to her home. As we stood there with the man talking and me thinking about the demise of the tree, raindrops began to fall. We stopped talking and went our ways. We continued our run, and he got in his truck and drove off. I love our runs for the exercise and for the opportunities to converse with those we meet along the way.
We headed out on one of our favorite routes in an old neighborhood. This run is one that the people that live in the neighborhood are use to seeing us. People wave, dogs sniff at us warmly, some people call us by name. "Hey guys!" "Hi kids." "Great to see you." "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hennessy." etc. We have become a fixture in their everyday lives.
Today on our run as we passed one house and a man was standing in the street with a shirt wearing a shirt for a tree service. We had never met but he must have thought we were part of the landscape. He said, "Man, this tree is going to be tough to take out." We stopped, turned, and looked up. Sure enough there was a very tall thick tree without any buds. He proceeded to tell us it had been hit by lightning. It appeared to be standing alright but he said the bark was easy for him to remove and he could tell it hurt inside. Then he commented on how it would be nice if a crane could come in but the electrical wires were to close. As we stood looking at the tree it seemed so majestic close between two homes and yes, close to the wires. He thought he might have to get 10-15 men to stand in a line and carry out pieces as it was cut down. He continued saying he was worried about the danger to a man cutting it down. Cottonwoods were dangerous trees. The trunk was very thick and yet it could crack easily in the weak spots on the branches. He said more men lost their lives cutting down this type of tree.
I never want a tree cut down. I imagine how long they must have stood there and I wonder what the land was like and how the houses and neighborhood grew around it. And then I thought of the older woman that lived in the house with the cottonwood. If it fell, it could do real damage to her home. As we stood there with the man talking and me thinking about the demise of the tree, raindrops began to fall. We stopped talking and went our ways. We continued our run, and he got in his truck and drove off. I love our runs for the exercise and for the opportunities to converse with those we meet along the way.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A Spine Poem
Today as I sat at my computer getting ready for the day. I looked up and some books grabbed my attention. All ones I have reviewed but not all I have engulfed myself in...and when planning for my Writing in Education course today, I know I must find ways to help them teach the writing process (no matter grade or content) and tie it to standards. AND MAKE IT WORTHWHILE AND ENGAGING FOR THEIR STUDENTS!
And so my spine poem...
And so my spine poem...
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Program Coordination
One of the titles I have at work is Program Coordinator for Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Education. This title is long in my mind and since beginning this job this academic year, I have decided the length means more duties can simply be added to what I am to do. One of my responsibilities is to hire and evaluate adjunct instructors teaching our online courses.
Those wishing to teach will submit their vitae, transcripts, recommendations, and any additional information they wish to have evaluated. It is then my task to wade through it to see if they are qualified on paper. It seems odd to me that I don't meet them. When I think about it, I would review all paperwork first prior to an interview for an adjunct professor to teach a face-to-face class. The part I do find odd is that some that apply have no knowledge or skills in the field they wish to teach. For example a veterinarian applied to teach a law and ethics class dealing with schools. I think that when someone applies and doesn't have the experience it is easier to do when they know they will never meet in person that will hire them. A colleague and I have set up basic qualifications that all instructors must have to apply and then have specifics for different courses. Such as the one dealing with law and ethics. We want someone that has experience in the field of law and/or school administration. I am feeling more positive in the direction we are going...now if someone would just screen the applicants before hitting my desk.
Then our online adjunct instructors are evaluated once in five terms of teaching a particular course. Our online courses are eight weeks in length and we have five terms each academic year. I am notified of the instructors to be evaluated and am to review their knowledge of content in the online classroom. There is another person that evaluates the facilitation of the course and she observes the course during two consecutive weeks. I feel this to be an invasion because as a teacher and now as an instructor when I was or am observed there was a planned time for an administrator to do the evaluation. For me the online observations are time consuming and challenging. I feel that our online courses are well developed but the content and format are set. An instructor can't change the course content or format. So I must find ways the instructor expands and adds to the students' learning of the course content.
A new eight week term is beginning and so I have begun once again to ponder how to do this in a fair and meaningful way. And to be honest, this post today is because I need to write some of my thoughts down in hopes to figure this out. This part of my job isn't something I love but I do want to do it in the best way to benefit students and the adjunct instructors. So today I am thinking about this task. Wednesdays aren't teaching days for me and so then I can catch up or think about my program coordinator responsibilities.
Those wishing to teach will submit their vitae, transcripts, recommendations, and any additional information they wish to have evaluated. It is then my task to wade through it to see if they are qualified on paper. It seems odd to me that I don't meet them. When I think about it, I would review all paperwork first prior to an interview for an adjunct professor to teach a face-to-face class. The part I do find odd is that some that apply have no knowledge or skills in the field they wish to teach. For example a veterinarian applied to teach a law and ethics class dealing with schools. I think that when someone applies and doesn't have the experience it is easier to do when they know they will never meet in person that will hire them. A colleague and I have set up basic qualifications that all instructors must have to apply and then have specifics for different courses. Such as the one dealing with law and ethics. We want someone that has experience in the field of law and/or school administration. I am feeling more positive in the direction we are going...now if someone would just screen the applicants before hitting my desk.
Then our online adjunct instructors are evaluated once in five terms of teaching a particular course. Our online courses are eight weeks in length and we have five terms each academic year. I am notified of the instructors to be evaluated and am to review their knowledge of content in the online classroom. There is another person that evaluates the facilitation of the course and she observes the course during two consecutive weeks. I feel this to be an invasion because as a teacher and now as an instructor when I was or am observed there was a planned time for an administrator to do the evaluation. For me the online observations are time consuming and challenging. I feel that our online courses are well developed but the content and format are set. An instructor can't change the course content or format. So I must find ways the instructor expands and adds to the students' learning of the course content.
A new eight week term is beginning and so I have begun once again to ponder how to do this in a fair and meaningful way. And to be honest, this post today is because I need to write some of my thoughts down in hopes to figure this out. This part of my job isn't something I love but I do want to do it in the best way to benefit students and the adjunct instructors. So today I am thinking about this task. Wednesdays aren't teaching days for me and so then I can catch up or think about my program coordinator responsibilities.
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