9 April 2017: "Only the forest can tolerate such foolishness." --one of our English students, during the Q&A after his senior capstone presentation today.
I liked this comment (about A Midsummer Night's Dream), a bit of silly fun, quite a lot. Of course, we had so many good lines to choose from--there were 21 (!) presentations, all quite successful.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Three quick good things...
It's been a long and sometimes stressful week. And we are just gearing up for the big, crazy, busy dash towards graduation. So deep breaths and all that... But in the midst of the not-so-great stuff, I want to share three pretty good things...
1) The redbud tree in the backyard, more beautiful this year than ever before.
2) This pin, given in recognition of my TEN years at Shepherd. TEN YEARS? Wow.
3) This card, given to me by the two students I took to Louisville last week. They are just terrific and boy, did this make me smile.
Plan Be
8 April 2017: "Everything that we had planned last year and having to cancel so much--it became like Plan B, right? And then I realized one day, 'Oh, it's actually the word BE. It's Plan Be. Just be.' And somehow...that just helped."
This insight from Rosenthal, shared during a StoryCorps interview with her daughter, just floored me. What a beautiful and poignant insight, especially moving because she is talking about the return of her cancer, a cancer that recently took her life. What an amazing woman. Listen to the entire interview here and follow the links in the article, too.
This insight from Rosenthal, shared during a StoryCorps interview with her daughter, just floored me. What a beautiful and poignant insight, especially moving because she is talking about the return of her cancer, a cancer that recently took her life. What an amazing woman. Listen to the entire interview here and follow the links in the article, too.
Friday, April 7, 2017
When you feel a bit unnecessary...in a good way...
7 April 2017: "I'm not ready to leave yet!" --a student in my ENGL 301 today. They were working on their final annotated bibliographies. These are massive, semester-long projects--real badges of honor for students once they are completed. I set aside this day of class for them to bring all their stuff (sources, drafts, revisions, laptops) and just work, asking me for help as needed.
And then--to my delight--they really didn't need me that much. They worked diligently on their own and--unprompted--with each other. It was kind of amazing to listen to them talk out questions and issues, offer advice, and help each other out. They hit their grooves and were working so hard that I had to prompt them to leave the room.
I was about to write that I'll miss this group, but then I remembered that I will see most of them in other classes next semester or in the semesters to come. They are a special bunch.
And then--to my delight--they really didn't need me that much. They worked diligently on their own and--unprompted--with each other. It was kind of amazing to listen to them talk out questions and issues, offer advice, and help each other out. They hit their grooves and were working so hard that I had to prompt them to leave the room.
I was about to write that I'll miss this group, but then I remembered that I will see most of them in other classes next semester or in the semesters to come. They are a special bunch.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Farm to Fork & Sustainability
6 April 2017: "If I take care of the land, it takes care of me....These are my people; my farm--I want it to go to these folks." --a local farmer at a presentation I went to tonight on sustainability and farming. I have said this many times, but this is such a special town and community, full of interesting, caring, smart, and creative people. I am very lucky to live here.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
On Trickster Figures...
5 April 2017: "I'm all for it. Pimp the system. Whatever you gotta do." --a student in my ENGL 301 class, during our discussion of Charles Chesnutt's "Po' Sandy." He was responding to my question about the ethics of the trickster figure in the story, a former slave who uses emotional manipulation to get what he wants from the wealthy white characters.
I find this particular student quite charming. He's from inner city Baltimore and, to put it mildly, he's seen some stuff, so he speaks with a refreshing kind of honesty, as revealed in this comment. He's also the guy who sent me to this song.
And yet another example of students putting things better than I could have put them myself...
I find this particular student quite charming. He's from inner city Baltimore and, to put it mildly, he's seen some stuff, so he speaks with a refreshing kind of honesty, as revealed in this comment. He's also the guy who sent me to this song.
And yet another example of students putting things better than I could have put them myself...
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
"I Choose You"
4 April 2017:
"There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me that you could not come true
Just love's illusion.
But then you found me
And everything changed
And I believe in something again.
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter" --Sara Bareilles, "I Choose You"
Sigh. Love this little song and its simple joy, optimism, and faith. And I heard it at just the right time today.
"There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me that you could not come true
Just love's illusion.
But then you found me
And everything changed
And I believe in something again.
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter" --Sara Bareilles, "I Choose You"
Sigh. Love this little song and its simple joy, optimism, and faith. And I heard it at just the right time today.
Monday, April 3, 2017
An apt description...
3 April 2017: "He's so aggressively masculine....it's annoying." --a student in my ENGL 204 class today, discussing Stanley and Blanche's first interaction in A Streetcar Named Desire.
I teach this play every time I teach ENGL 204 (and that's a lot!). It's hard to get students to articulate right away what's so unsettling about this character (and shout out to the film version, which is so amazing and helps make the point). But this kid got it and said it very well. I even quoted her in the afternoon class and was delighted to see a bunch of students in that section nod their heads in agreement.
I teach this play every time I teach ENGL 204 (and that's a lot!). It's hard to get students to articulate right away what's so unsettling about this character (and shout out to the film version, which is so amazing and helps make the point). But this kid got it and said it very well. I even quoted her in the afternoon class and was delighted to see a bunch of students in that section nod their heads in agreement.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
It's back!
2 April 2017: "No one is ever as alone as they imagine." --"Older Jenny," narrating tonight's episode of Call the Midwife.
Lord, how I love this show. And this particular line stuck out to me on a Sunday night, a night where I tend to feel a bit lonely. But today was also a good day in other ways, one that I spent around some people who mean a lot to me. So yeah...it's good to remember those words above for those moments when I might feel a bit blue.
Lord, how I love this show. And this particular line stuck out to me on a Sunday night, a night where I tend to feel a bit lonely. But today was also a good day in other ways, one that I spent around some people who mean a lot to me. So yeah...it's good to remember those words above for those moments when I might feel a bit blue.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
New dance move...
1 April 2017: "It's a Juicy Drop Pop." --Brianna, one of the two students who went to Louisville with me, on our trip home today, telling us about this ridiculous candy thing she got when we stopped for gas. To me, this sounded like a dance move more than something you eat, so I requested that she and/or the other students in Sigma Tau Delta develop such a dance move. We shall see...
Otherwise, we are home safe and sound after a good trip. Glad to have it in the rear view mirror, but even more glad that everything went well.
Otherwise, we are home safe and sound after a good trip. Glad to have it in the rear view mirror, but even more glad that everything went well.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Full day of convention-ing...
31 March 2017: "A kind of guerrilla feminist..." --Student at a session today, discussing Rebecca Harding Davis. I really loved this idea and the images it brings with it.
It's been a good day at the Sigma Tau Delta Convention, and a day that has given me lots of time to embrace this year's blog theme and just listen. The students here are so bright and energetic and have so much to say. And they are worth listening to. I could have listed any half dozen smart lines like the one above. I just picked that one because it came early--during an 8:00 a.m. session. If these students are representative of what English departments across the country are putting out there, then we can feel pretty good about ourselves.
Of course, I am a bit biased about two of the best: these fabulous Shepherd students and my travel companions.
It's been a good day at the Sigma Tau Delta Convention, and a day that has given me lots of time to embrace this year's blog theme and just listen. The students here are so bright and energetic and have so much to say. And they are worth listening to. I could have listed any half dozen smart lines like the one above. I just picked that one because it came early--during an 8:00 a.m. session. If these students are representative of what English departments across the country are putting out there, then we can feel pretty good about ourselves.
Of course, I am a bit biased about two of the best: these fabulous Shepherd students and my travel companions.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Off to Louisville...
30 March 2017: "I want a biscuit!" --Julia, one of my Sigma Tau Delta students, voicing her opinion for our lunch stop today. I am currently in Louisville, Kentucky with Julia and another student, Brianna, for the Sigma Tau Delta Convention. That meant spending most of today in the car driving here. But at long last, I finally experienced a West Virginia delicacy: lunch at Tudor's Biscuit World. And yes, it was very good.
These two students are a lot of fun: funny, smart, and sweet. I mean, think about it: we were in the car with each other for over nine hours and I wasn't tired of them. (Not sure that goes both ways!)
These two students are a lot of fun: funny, smart, and sweet. I mean, think about it: we were in the car with each other for over nine hours and I wasn't tired of them. (Not sure that goes both ways!)
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Polls...
29 March 2017: "The response rate today? 8%." --Dr. Slocum-Schaffer, discussing the response rate for political polls today versus the 1970s, when the number was 80%, at today's Teach-In on fake news and polling, sponsored by the Political Science department. Just in case you *never* wanted to trust a poll again...
And a runner-up entry for today's "listening" post: "I feel like I should write 'I don't know what I am talking about' in the header to my Deconstruction paper." --a student in my ENGL 301 class. So I had to intervene on that one. Ha.
And a runner-up entry for today's "listening" post: "I feel like I should write 'I don't know what I am talking about' in the header to my Deconstruction paper." --a student in my ENGL 301 class. So I had to intervene on that one. Ha.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
"Where the Streets Have No Name"
28 March 2017:
"I wanna run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside.
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name." --U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name"
Heard this song, which I've always loved, at just the right time today--at a moment when I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed. It's been a strange day, with emotions all over the place, but this song lifted me when I needed it to.
"I wanna run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside.
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name." --U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name"
Heard this song, which I've always loved, at just the right time today--at a moment when I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed. It's been a strange day, with emotions all over the place, but this song lifted me when I needed it to.
Monday, March 27, 2017
When it gets meta...
27 March 2017: "I mean, I might be way off...but I think the space represents silence." --a student in my ENGL 307 class today, as we discussed Brown Girl Dreaming, specifically a poem called "How to Listen: #10."
The "How to Listen" poems are all haiku form, and all interesting as we read about how the main character becomes a writer. This last one is different from the others as there is a gap between the second and third lines:
"Write down what I think
I know. The knowing will come.
Just keep listening."
The student who shared the observation above is one of the more quiet ones in the class. And she was sort of slow to raise her hand here and even a bit reluctant to share her idea. But her comment is so insightful: leaving space for silence is a key part of listening.
The "How to Listen" poems are all haiku form, and all interesting as we read about how the main character becomes a writer. This last one is different from the others as there is a gap between the second and third lines:
"Write down what I think
I know. The knowing will come.
Just keep listening."
The student who shared the observation above is one of the more quiet ones in the class. And she was sort of slow to raise her hand here and even a bit reluctant to share her idea. But her comment is so insightful: leaving space for silence is a key part of listening.
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