tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18470078681318442192024-03-13T06:33:43.826-04:00Hello HomeroomAmalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674040655751169603noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-74359682461101837832019-11-04T09:14:00.003-05:002019-11-04T09:14:44.848-05:00Do Not Erase<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Greatly appreciating <a href="https://jessicawynne.com/94vxd1m50hoej43fydpqlpwultgkl6">Jessica Wynne's photography</a> project capturing classroom blackboards.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFchjBaPXn8/XcAx5Rb651I/AAAAAAAACuA/kBrLaQh3shgbTHcxuj5YVtZqzMZyvotXQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.16%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="771" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFchjBaPXn8/XcAx5Rb651I/AAAAAAAACuA/kBrLaQh3shgbTHcxuj5YVtZqzMZyvotXQCEwYBhgL/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.16%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jk6Iale6zeM/XcAx5xGdKUI/AAAAAAAACt4/lBvet_nwAOsa-Df6QkRxG_-noJV8k8DeACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.57%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="809" height="388" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jk6Iale6zeM/XcAx5xGdKUI/AAAAAAAACt4/lBvet_nwAOsa-Df6QkRxG_-noJV8k8DeACEwYBhgL/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.57%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFchjBaPXn8/XcAx5Rb651I/AAAAAAAACts/Rbvwo8MZbpsQPG7HlpqGZbAKRj-6OIlWwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.16%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="771" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFchjBaPXn8/XcAx5Rb651I/AAAAAAAACts/Rbvwo8MZbpsQPG7HlpqGZbAKRj-6OIlWwCEwYBhgL/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.16%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgPuhr4j4m0/XcAx5mJQfcI/AAAAAAAACt0/cQTvMzrxjUsADLtJsQb4MVlDyt66Z3hbACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.10.53%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="786" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgPuhr4j4m0/XcAx5mJQfcI/AAAAAAAACt0/cQTvMzrxjUsADLtJsQb4MVlDyt66Z3hbACEwYBhgL/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.10.53%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyabzwN2rbY/XcAx5kGci5I/AAAAAAAACtw/xIcw_Ki8nC8xwDsKfuClcIOY0ptFOBVbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.36%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="807" height="372" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyabzwN2rbY/XcAx5kGci5I/AAAAAAAACtw/xIcw_Ki8nC8xwDsKfuClcIOY0ptFOBVbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-11-04%2Bat%2B9.11.36%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-78135646864299999712018-12-18T18:19:00.000-05:002018-12-18T18:19:01.041-05:00Reflecting on ReflectionA funny thing happened today while I was journaling.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsISIZ7-2A8/XBl7o-ZEyYI/AAAAAAAABHg/Iw2bE1n7vnc0XQTg1TEZfgpBDievRPyTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsISIZ7-2A8/XBl7o-ZEyYI/AAAAAAAABHg/Iw2bE1n7vnc0XQTg1TEZfgpBDievRPyTQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">just some notebooks I have on me at this very moment</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
Before packing up and heading home after this long day,<br />
<br />
I set a timer for ten minutes,<br />
opened up to a new page in my notebook,<br />
and grabbed a pen.<br />
<br />
I went with the orange one. It felt right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Journaling is one of the strategies I use<br />
-- inconsistently --<br />
to process all of the things.<br />
<br />
<br />
A single day in the life of a classroom or school<br />
can involve so many moving parts<br />
and human interactions<br />
and goals with lots of layers<br />
<br />
that it doesn't all sink in in real time<br />
<br />
and I need a moment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So for ten minutes, I spill my brain onto the page.<br />
<br />
<br />
Unedited.<br />
Without any clear objective in mind.<br />
And almost never even going back to re-read what I wrote.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Today's entry started with some healthy rage:<br />
I was/am upset at myself for multiple balls I dropped.<br />
<br />
Things I wanted to have done but ended up writing on tomorrow's to-do list,<br />
calendar items I forgot entirely,<br />
people I accidentally inconvenienced,<br />
the lesson that could have been better executed.<br />
<br />
You know, your run-of-the-mill beat-yourself-up stuff.<br />
<br />
<br />
I went into list mode:<br />
I itemized, in orange ink, the Ways I'm Falling Short.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And then, weirdly,<br />
I didn't get past the third item on my list<br />
<br />
before my perspective shifted<br />
and I felt totally differently.<br />
<br />
Mid-write!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I finished off the entry telling myself that this is a Season Of Doing A Lot<br />
and most of it is actually meaningful work<br />
that I genuinely enjoy<br />
and while there's so much room to improve and be better,<br />
<i>that's</i> work I want to do, too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I thought about how reflection is my favorite of SLA's core values<br />
(don't tell the others)<br />
<br />
<br />
which is how <a href="https://twitter.com/awalkerroberts">Anna</a> and I came together to lead<br />
a <a href="http://2019.educon.org/conversations/reflecting_on_reflection-2">session about it at this year's EduCon</a>,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKKxcSpxYFI/XBl1lLIC0RI/AAAAAAAABHI/IdRR1jm75SEICZFmtRs8Cob4CBhJSCJ7gCLcBGAs/s1600/Educon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKKxcSpxYFI/XBl1lLIC0RI/AAAAAAAABHI/IdRR1jm75SEICZFmtRs8Cob4CBhJSCJ7gCLcBGAs/s640/Educon.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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which I intended to post about prior to this,<br />
and obviously didn't do,<br />
thereby adding to the list of dropped balls for which I here and now forgive myself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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I've written before -- <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2015/10/educon-28-january-29-31-2016.html">once</a> or <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2016/02/reflecting-on-educon.html">twice</a> -- about</div>
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the learning that takes place at our school's little conference</div>
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and what it's meant to me.</div>
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I hope to see you there!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Come and join us as we share our practices for reflection</div>
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and how they shape our work as educators.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And so much other stuff.</div>
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Conversations I'm especially drawn to this year:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://2019.educon.org/conversations/design_thinking_in_the_classroom">Design Thinking in the Classroom</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.blogger.com/Revisiting%20The%20Third%20Teacher:%20An%20Interactive%20Design%20Conversation%20about%20Space,%20Pedagogy,%20and%20Culture">Revisiting <i>The Third Teacher</i></a></li>
<li><a href="http://2019.educon.org/conversations/leading_from_the_classroom-teachers_supporting_teachers">Teachers Supporting Teachers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2019.educon.org/conversations/rigorous_whimsy--critical_creativity_in_the_classroom">Rigorous Whimsy + Critical Creativity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2019.educon.org/conversations/creating_a_learner-centered_school_through_personalized_learning">Creating a Learner-Centered School</a></li>
</ul>
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Final plug: early bird registration is on until December 31 :)</div>
<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-32316273326166723242018-12-16T21:07:00.000-05:002018-12-16T21:08:10.302-05:00In My Brain // Trying To Get It Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bB4HKSZ3BIc/XBb-w3hW1DI/AAAAAAAAcUw/0bnlPpRfH5oTCCPA0KjMAZeKlemdhBKTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1230" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bB4HKSZ3BIc/XBb-w3hW1DI/AAAAAAAAcUw/0bnlPpRfH5oTCCPA0KjMAZeKlemdhBKTQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5381.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
For all the confidence and excitement I feel about the work I do in my classes,<br />
(which I recognize is a tremendously fortunate series of circumstances already)<br />
I probably experience the same amount of dread and fear that I'm doing it all wrong<br />
and ruining a young person's day/week/life without meaning to.<br />
<br />
<br />
Like, maybe daily.<br />
<br />
And realistically: there's a <0% chance that's true.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sure, I'm doing my best with what I know and what I've got,<br />
neither of which are constants from one day to the next.<br />
<br />
<br />
And there are a million ways to achieve the objectives --<br />
if I've even identified the right objectives in the first place --<br />
<br />
at least as many ways as there are brains in the room.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So many brains that want and need and deserve different pieces,<br />
and only one of me bringing what I've designed for that day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It can be crushing going down that spiral.<br />
Seems reasonable: the stakes are high.<br />
<br />
<br />
I remember my own teachers -- the best ones and the worst --<br />
all of them so critical in shaping who I am<br />
and what I believe about myself and the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So I'll continue to do my best<br />
and grow what I know and what I've got.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
With that, some recent open tabs:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://electricliterature.com/the-worlds-on-fire-can-we-still-talk-about-books-5293c62d8944" target="_blank">The World's On Fire. Can We Still Talk About Books?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/08/opinion/college-gpa-career-success.html" target="_blank">Straight A's: Maybe Meaningless</a></li>
<li><a href="https://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/11/22/the-act-of-drawing-something-has-a-massive-benefit-for-memory-compared-with-writing-it-down/?utm_source=CreativeMornings+Global&utm_campaign=24bbbbb353-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_26_03_06&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1768cc808f-24bbbbb353-324215501&mc_cid=24bbbbb353&mc_eid=49f322b8d7" target="_blank">In Note-Taking, Drawing > Writing</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evwm54/a-brief-guide-to-making-a-better-tomorrow-v25n3?utm_source=Call+Your+Girlfriend+LLC&utm_campaign=44e966e6f3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_09_27_02_05_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_efd55a7ff8-44e966e6f3-43319443&mc_cid=44e966e6f3&mc_eid=fd67e11665" target="_blank">A Brief Guide To Making A Better Tomorrow</a></li>
</ul>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Photo of a 9th grader's rad notebook</span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-31872704720155232392018-12-09T13:06:00.001-05:002018-12-09T13:06:34.565-05:00Heart Eyes // Night StoriesI am so struck by <a href="http://www.lindenfrederick.com/" target="_blank">Linden Frederick's <i>Night Stories</i></a> series.<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bcAflWlH4o/XA1XlZfI53I/AAAAAAAAcJo/cqIjlgbXKmwloJHCj22aIvz6A3epXVd1QCLcBGAs/s1600/LF5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bcAflWlH4o/XA1XlZfI53I/AAAAAAAAcJo/cqIjlgbXKmwloJHCj22aIvz6A3epXVd1QCLcBGAs/s640/LF5.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Partially because of my initial disbelief that these are oil paintings, not photographs.<br />
<br />
And maybe partially because my 12th grade students just finished Cormac McCarthy's <i>The Road</i>,<br />
and that novel's desolate imagery lives in my brain.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCeTgw0VazE/XA1XklQ2gGI/AAAAAAAAcJg/akjGAnZFaOwJwyJJwpGop7Xq3_kvVzQHACLcBGAs/s1600/LF2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCeTgw0VazE/XA1XklQ2gGI/AAAAAAAAcJg/akjGAnZFaOwJwyJJwpGop7Xq3_kvVzQHACLcBGAs/s640/LF2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aY0uz1TGzsg/XA1Xkifzo_I/AAAAAAAAcJc/bDD6uWDOSyw6rPBm9Q9Eq0dsWaUzrpZ_QCLcBGAs/s1600/LF3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aY0uz1TGzsg/XA1Xkifzo_I/AAAAAAAAcJc/bDD6uWDOSyw6rPBm9Q9Eq0dsWaUzrpZ_QCLcBGAs/s640/LF3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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These images are so peaceful yet haunting. The tension between light and dark is so precise.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFRGU_uvxhk/XA1XklC-2uI/AAAAAAAAcJY/8xxW5MDq8VcjnXKSwRf4WezILIILZgQkACLcBGAs/s1600/LF1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFRGU_uvxhk/XA1XklC-2uI/AAAAAAAAcJY/8xxW5MDq8VcjnXKSwRf4WezILIILZgQkACLcBGAs/s640/LF1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />
I did some further reading and really enjoyed <a href="https://hyperallergic.com/408153/linden-frederick-night-stories-center-for-maine-contemporary-art-2017/" target="_blank">this piece</a>, too.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images via <a href="http://www.lindenfrederick.com/" target="_blank">Linden Frederick</a></span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-14675438470483190872018-12-04T17:16:00.002-05:002018-12-04T17:19:16.616-05:00Why should you read Kurt Vonnegut?A 9th grade student who recently finished one of my favorite books, <i>Catch-22</i>,<br />
asked me to recommend something she should read next.<br />
<br />
I replied, "Have you ever heard of Kurt Vonnegut?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcFC0jns-oU/XAb6ukDXU2I/AAAAAAAABGA/7yN4E0ztrxoCpSz-J1uPUFX3wszg1fKLQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5347.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcFC0jns-oU/XAb6ukDXU2I/AAAAAAAABGA/7yN4E0ztrxoCpSz-J1uPUFX3wszg1fKLQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5347.PNG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm always reluctant to recommend my favorites to students.<br />
They're so subjective<br />
(even moreso the curriculum I've designed and make everyone follow).<br />
<br />
I feel I have to defend the works.<br />
Or be good enough for them myself.<br />
<br />
It's weirdly personal,<br />
in the way that literature, often at its best, can be,<br />
in the ways I try every day to sell to students with <i>other</i> texts.<br />
<br />
<br />
What a contradiction!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I've never taught a Vonnegut novel, even though he's my favorite.<br />
(I have included "Harrison Bergeron" in a short stories unit.)<br />
<br />
I'm kind of too scared to do it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zr21opYyb4I/XAb6usqWtpI/AAAAAAAABGI/YVgEOGBvEtoWl3_ZipYqYWxpw8pVgHlvQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5346.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zr21opYyb4I/XAb6usqWtpI/AAAAAAAABGI/YVgEOGBvEtoWl3_ZipYqYWxpw8pVgHlvQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5346.PNG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And then later today, I came across this video from TED Ed:<br />
<i><b><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/mia_nacamulli_why_should_you_read_kurt_vonnegut?language=en">Why should you read Kurt Vonnegut?</a></b></i><br />
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As I watched it I thought about how I had just recommended Vonnegut to a student<br />
and how she'll probably come back and ask me why I like this author<br />
and want to talk about how his works align with who I am as a human being.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd1fjdPVdZ0/XAb6ussIk1I/AAAAAAAABGE/X5HmcBtPI3sAZmi8aDMPpSD4e5j2fkNpwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5345.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd1fjdPVdZ0/XAb6ussIk1I/AAAAAAAABGE/X5HmcBtPI3sAZmi8aDMPpSD4e5j2fkNpwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5345.PNG" width="640" /></a><br />
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And realized I felt pretty good about that.<br />
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Maybe good art is easily defensible, really.<br />
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"In spite of his insistence that we're all here to fart around, in spite of his deep concerns about the course of human existence, Vonnegut also advanced the possibility, however slim, that we might end up making something good. <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2014/12/the-last-twelve-months.html">And if that isn't nice, what is?</a>"<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Beautifully-illustrated images from the video</span></i></div>
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<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-28982339922866854852018-11-21T16:53:00.000-05:002018-11-21T16:54:26.242-05:00The Last Class Before Thanksgiving BreakThis afternoon, just before leaving for the holiday with families and finalizing college applications, students in Senior English furrowed their brows and thought through some existential conundrums.<br />
<br />
We're reading Cormac McCarthy's <i>The Road</i>.<br />
<br />
It's bleak.<br />
We're less than 100 pages in and generating questions like:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What's worth living for? What's worth dying for?</li>
<li>What makes a life meaningful? </li>
<li>What's left -- out there, in us -- when the world as we know it is gone?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One student point-blank asked me how I can teach a book like this year after year.<br />
Why I would read it again and if I get anything out of it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I got to answer honestly:<br />
<i>The thing is, see: I truly love the literature.</i><br />
<i>And there are no simple answers to complex questions.</i><br />
<i>And I believe they're worth thinking about, always.</i><br />
<i>I hope you find value in that, too.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
An hour later in the library with our staff,<br />
our boss reminded us of his own gratitude for the work we get to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And I feel exactly the same way.<br />
I'm so grateful that I get to share this brainspace<br />
and navigate these ideas with young people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones">This poem</a> has been on my mind for weeks:<br />
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"I am trying to sell them the world."</div>
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Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-43274676543968791492018-11-17T08:11:00.000-05:002018-12-16T21:08:50.197-05:00SLAmbassadors in TorunIn the spring I posted about <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2018/02/slambassadors-sister-cities-exchange.html" target="_blank">our Sister Cities Exchange program with Nicolaus Copernicus High School #1 in Torun, Poland.</a><br />
<br />
And this fall -- we went!<br />
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<br />
I cannot express how meaningful and transformative this trip was for our students.<br />
<br />
They left home for the longest and farthest they've ever been away,<br />
stayed in the homes of Polish students and their families,<br />
played with their pets,<br />
ate meals at their tables,<br />
inflated their air mattresses,<br />
and made their commutes to school.<br />
<br />
They attended high school classes,<br />
most of them in a foreign language,<br />
and engaged in the learning before them.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I made an effort to document the awesomeness of it all,<br />
earning the nickname <b>Instagram Mom</b> from the kids.<br />
<br />
I decided to lean into it :)<br />
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<br />
<br />
PART I // Gdańsk<br />
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We landed in this beautiful Baltic port city<br />
and spent the first part of our trip exploring together<br />
before heading to the destination of our exchange.<br />
<br />
These first days were formative;<br />
our students bonded as a group<br />
and began adjusting to a new culture's norms.<br />
<br />
We did a lot of walking, talking, eating, laughing,<br />
and staring down at our money trying to add simple sums.<br />
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At the recommendation of our hosts in Toruń,<br />
we visited the <a href="http://www.ecs.gda.pl/title,Jezyk,pid,2,lang,2.html">European Solidarity Center</a>, which we absolutely loved.<br />
We constantly revisited the museum's thoughtful content and incredible design concept<br />
in our conversations throughout the week.<br />
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Most of our students had never been to Europe, so walking around and observing every detail was fun in itself. All of us were constantly pointing and stating the obvious with a sense of wonder.<br />
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PART II // Toruń<br />
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Unlike Gdańsk, which has been largely rebuilt since WWII,<br />
Toruń is a nearly-untouched medieval city.<br />
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Nicolaus Copernicus' hometown is absolutely gorgeous.<br />
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A lot of our time was spent in school at Nicolaus Copernicus High School #1 </div>
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with our exchange students and teachers. </div>
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Their model of learning is so different from ours, </div>
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and it was such a privilege to participate in their classes </div>
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and get to know their students and teachers.</div>
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My colleague even got to step in to teach during a Calculus class. </div>
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Apparently math really is the universal language!</div>
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A quick review of the notes before class ...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Side note: I took Calculus in high school and again in college and was completely lost in this lesson. That is so upsetting.</span><br />
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... and then debriefing about the super-stressful national exams.<br />
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It took no time to see the ways we all value teaching and learning<br />
and the levels of <b>care</b> that matter most in defining school communities.<br />
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Every student and adult exemplified this,<br />
so even though these classes looked different from ours,<br />
we all shared this understanding of school as <i>home</i>.<br />
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We loved getting to know the educators in the English department, talking to the principal,<br />
and even meeting some of the officials in Toruń's City Hall.<br />
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One of our students even made it onto the local nightly news.<br />
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And in a town known for its gingerbread, we learned to make our own (and eat our fair share).<br />
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PART III // ToMUN<br />
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Our school doesn't have an existing Model UN program,<br />
so our students' first exposure was in this international forum.<br />
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We were joined by schools from all over Europe, including Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Spain, Germany, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Denmark.<br />
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I think we were all a little intimidated as first-timers,<br />
but we were made to feel so welcome and our students figured things out pretty quickly.<br />
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They loved their experience in the conference;<br />
it was especially interesting to hear their feedback about it<br />
in the context of our school's project-based learning model.<br />
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They had no trouble diving right in to the research and tackling the problems that needed solving. They did a ton of work before our trip, and confidently presenting their ideas to their peers.<br />
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I'm endlessly impressed by them and humbled to be in their orbit.<br />
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We constantly spoke about how lucky we all felt to be part of an experience like this,<br />
knowing it had changed us somehow.<br />
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The tears on departure day -- our kids', their kids' their parents' -- said it all.<br />
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I am so grateful for this opportunity to travel internationally with my students<br />
and to see them shine in new contexts.<br />
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This SLAmbassadors exchange was a massive success, and we couldn't have done it without the support of our incredible school leadership and the SLA community, the generous donations of our families and friends, and the welcoming partnership with Daniel and the amazing faculty at Copernicus High School #1. We're certainly going to try to make it happen again in 2019!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-20448102253403517502018-09-06T14:14:00.001-04:002018-09-06T14:15:01.272-04:00Learning Names<div>
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<i><a href="https://www.unco.edu/alumni/events/history-traditions.aspx"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image</span></a></i></div>
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I don't call out attendance on the first day of school.</div>
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As a student, I always dreaded that moment.<br />
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I knew the teacher would see my name on the list and</div>
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- horribly mispronounce it, or (maybe even worse)</div>
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- not even bother to try</div>
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Here's what I do instead:</div>
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I greet students at the door: "Come on in! Feel free to sit anywhere for now, but don't get too comfortable because I'm going to move you."</div>
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At the start of the semester I assign seats to everyone -- even 12th graders -- in alphabetical order by last name.</div>
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This is deeply unexciting; kids don't care for it, I don't even care for it as an actual seating arrangement, and I know progressive educators everywhere are eye-rolling so hard.</div>
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It's just that: it's the best way I've found to learn everyone's names.</div>
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And that's a critical step one.</div>
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My job is to forge relationships with students. To guide them. Challenge them. Support them. Assess them. Know them.</div>
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Their personal identities shape these interactions and their learning.</div>
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And there's no way I'm doing any of that without giving them the opportunity to tell me who they are.</div>
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And I say this to them, sort of.</div>
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That names are how we introduce ourselves, the first identifier we put out into the world.</div>
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I go first.</div>
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Before I ask anything of them, I introduce myself.</div>
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I tell them all about my name. </div>
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What it means and what it means to me.</div>
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Why my parents gave it to me, and how their story shapes mine.</div>
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How it's pronounced and how it's often mispronounced.</div>
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My conflicted choice to change my name when I got married.</div>
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And how I dreaded the first day of school when teachers would mess up my name.</div>
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Then, I ask the entire class to line themselves up in alphabetical order by last name.</div>
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They get it mostly right in a couple of minutes. </div>
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I can take it from there.</div>
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The person at the front of the line then says, "Hi, I'm ______."</div>
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And I say, "Hi, ______. Please sit here."</div>
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And so on.</div>
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Until I've listened to everyone's names.</div>
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Said everyone's names.</div>
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And we're all seated.</div>
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I don't hesitate to ask students to repeat their names.</div>
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I tell them in advance that I might do this, to make sure I hear them properly.</div>
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I make notes about pronunciations or nicknames or what anyone would prefer to be called.</div>
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And throughout the first few weeks, students look up while they're working to see me mouthing the names to myself and looking at the faces in the seats.</div>
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When someone raises a hand to participate, I might say, </div>
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"Yes! But first tell me your name again, please?"</div>
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I overdo it on the playback in the first weeks.</div>
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"Ooooh, Raymond makes a great point here."</div>
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"Interesting idea; does anyone want to add to what Giniah said?"</div>
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I want to learn their names. They want to learn each other's names, too.</div>
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For homework on the first day of school, I ask students to complete an assignment where they tell me more about themselves. The first question is this:</div>
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Responses always vary here, in length and depth and emotion. I'm always glad I asked.</div>
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A cool extension could include <a href="https://genius.com/Sandra-cisneros-my-name-annotated">"My Name," from Sandra Cisneros' <i>The House On Mango Street.</i></a> </div>
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Maybe next year!</div>
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Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-86945945142585915712018-08-31T11:00:00.000-04:002018-08-31T11:00:10.340-04:00In My Brain // Back To School Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><-- how I've felt about school basically forever</span><br />
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The children are here and whiteboard real estate is already extremely limited. Here's some of what's in my brain as Year 13 kicks off:<br />
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<a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ddf1862320/the-time-zack-morris-got-jessie-hooked-on-caffeine-pills?playlist=523023">ZACK MORRIS IS TRASH</a> // Shoutout to Mason for this treasure<br />
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<a href="https://www.unm.edu/~gmartin/535/Sticks.htm"><i>STICKS</i></a> // This is the first text I read with 12th graders. It's two paragraphs long and, in my opinion, captures so much to discuss about what literature can be (George Saunders' brilliance).<br />
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<a href="https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/the-distracted-state-of-the-union/">ON DISTRACTION</a> // A resonating read (and I won't tell you how many times I started it before finally finishing it): <i>"In its strictest sense, to be distracted means to be perplexed, confused, bewildered; a distracted person is out of touch with the person they used to be; a person “beside themselves,” who has to be reminded; a person drawn asunder, pushed away, pulled apart, turned aside; a person “depersonalized,” who’s lost their grip, their footing, their mind."</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.openculture.com/2018/08/the-new-york-public-library-puts-classic-stories-on-instagram.html">NYPL KILLING IT ON INSTA STORIES</a> // I <i>love</i> this and obviously my first thought was: Ohmygoshthiswouldbesuchacoolprojectformykids<br />
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<a href="https://austinkleon.com/2018/08/30/reading-with-a-pencil/">READING WITH A PENCIL</a> // This is pretty close to what I teach and preach all day long.Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-51559411003233577812018-05-11T15:17:00.002-04:002018-05-11T15:17:52.882-04:00Lifework // Worklife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Three things I've been working on lately:</div>
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<li>reading more [stuff that students didn't write]</li>
<li>understanding my habits and aligning them to my values</li>
<li>practicing note-making strategies that I can use and teach</li>
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After hearing it referenced for the 800th time, I finally picked up <a href="https://fourhourworkweek.com/">Tim Ferriss' <i>The 4-Hour Workweek</i></a>. I don't agree with it entirely, but it is bringing up questions and ideas that I'm finding worthwhile in applying to my own life. </div>
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I doodled some notes. </div>
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I'm eager to have some time this summer to unpack some of these ideas and determine how they'll impact my choices. Turns out, it's a lot of work being a person in the world. Whaddaya know.</div>
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<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-24325606274583351602018-02-26T19:01:00.003-05:002018-02-26T19:01:44.704-05:00SLAmbassadors // Sister Cities ExchangeLast year, ten SLA students participated in a weeklong exchange to with a group in one of our sister cities, Frankfurt, Germany.<br />
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As their <a href="https://twitter.com/lpahomov?lang=en">fearless leader</a> put it:<br />
<i>Was it a paradigm-shifting, mind-blowing experience for the kids we took? Yes and yes. Since returning, those students are busy learning German, plotting their return exchanges for college, and stalking tickets back to Frankfurt for the week after graduation.</i><br />
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This year, the SLAmbassadors group is doubling in size to include a second program with Torun, Poland! We will be hosting their group this March and will travel to Torun in October.<br />
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I am beyond thrilled to be one of the adults on this journey.<br />
I know how powerful international travel can be.<br />
The experiences and the relationships that come out of this will be transformational.<br />
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To ensure that all ten students can participate in our exchange with Poland, we are conducting all of the fundraising ourselves. And we'd love your help!<br />
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IF YOU'RE IN PHILLY:<br />
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You are cordially invited to our Happy Hour Fundraiser on Thursday, March 8th at <a href="https://www.brauhausschmitz.com/">Brauhaus Schmitz</a>. Your $20 donation gets you a drink ticket, access to some pretty killer raffle items, and three hours with me and my esteemed colleagues. If you'd like to purchase a ticket in advance, you can donate the $20 amount <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/send-us-to-poland-and-germany">here</a>.<br />
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IF YOU'RE NOT IN PHILLY:<br />
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<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/send-us-to-poland-and-germany">Check out our general fundraising page</a> - we welcome donations of any amount! Feel free to purchase a $20 ticket in absentia, and we will toast you at the happy hour -- and send you a thank-you note while we're on the trip!<br />
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Thank you for your support. Our friends in Torun will be here in a short while and we're thrilled to meet them IRL and show them our little city. I can't wait to share more about this experience.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-35022958880107531982018-02-25T16:19:00.001-05:002018-02-27T09:00:48.581-05:00I'm just, like, still figuring it out.I videotaped myself teaching.<br />
I watched it.<br />
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Oh my.<br />
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Within about 30 seconds of the footage, I couldn't <i>stand</i> how many times I had interjected the word <i>LIKE</i>.<br />
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I'm having feelings about this in two layers:<br />
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<li>At the thing: I notice and get annoyed when other people say <i>like</i> every other word but didn't notice that <i>apparently I totally do that</i>.<br /><br />I hate being a hypocrite more than I hate being an English teacher with a words problem.</li>
<li>At myself: My annoyance with Like Overuse in the first place means I've fallen into the trap of being on the wrong side of policing women's voices.</li>
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And I was immediately reminded of Ann Friedman's piece from <i>The Cut</i> a couple of years ago: <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2015/07/can-we-just-like-get-over-the-way-women-talk.html">Can We Just Like Get Over The Way Women Talk?</a> </div>
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Read it.<br />
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It's freaky to realize how conditioned I've become to these norms:<br />
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The number of <i>LIKE</i>s peppered in my speech.<br />
The number of <i>JUST</i>s that appear in every email I've ever sent.<br />
The exclamation point in almost every text message.<br />
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I'm just out here, seeing the problem and simultaneously perpetuating it.<br />
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Gross.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vApK7beW8k/WpMnRvGTWAI/AAAAAAAAA7o/5WNaVq_h-Os_0O_OLsjyAUc9gRhECTMnQCLcBGAs/s1600/AB3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vApK7beW8k/WpMnRvGTWAI/AAAAAAAAA7o/5WNaVq_h-Os_0O_OLsjyAUc9gRhECTMnQCLcBGAs/s640/AB3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For that teaching video, I needed to write up some context about the lesson.<br />
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It took multiple viewings to get past my vocal tics and see the substance of my work.<br />
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Beyond my stereotypically obnoxious linguistic patterns, the video also shows:<br />
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<li>students engaged in conversations so rich that it takes a while to refocus their attention,</li>
<li>dozens of hands in the air eager to share ideas,</li>
<li>a board with hardly any space left to write tidbits of students' insights about what they've been learning, and</li>
<li>my inability to keep the lesson's timing on track because too many folks had commentary they wanted to share.</li>
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I have a lot to learn. </div>
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About myself and my role and the space I take up in the world.</div>
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The ways I see all of that and what I do about it.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Illustrations by the amazingly talented <a href="http://www.abernathyparade.com/">Abernathy Bland</a></span></i></div>
Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-71204477992112833432018-02-22T17:47:00.002-05:002018-02-22T17:48:13.806-05:00Heart Eyes // Guy Bourdain<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSMeqJXkMa8/Wo9Ew765gjI/AAAAAAAAA5g/dwVI_dGxaNk34z6cpD74WYdxYDC40bsuQCLcBGAs/s1600/gb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="554" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSMeqJXkMa8/Wo9Ew765gjI/AAAAAAAAA5g/dwVI_dGxaNk34z6cpD74WYdxYDC40bsuQCLcBGAs/s640/gb2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I recently came across the fashion photography of <a href="http://www.guybourdin.org/">Guy Bourdain</a> and immediately fell in love with his distinctive style. The images are provocative, funny, shocking, amusing, surreal, and fetishistic.<br />
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Bourdain was a protege of Man Ray's in his early years, but it was his collaborations with French shoe designer Charles Jourdan that really got him noticed.<br />
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It's evident that the shoe is the subject, but it's also just a tiny part of the larger mise-en-scene at play.<br />
It's impossible to look at these just once.<br />
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<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-56527257993443081002018-02-21T14:33:00.001-05:002018-02-21T14:34:05.032-05:00Zion + Bryce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/travel/2017-digital/utah/zion-national-park/watchman-zion-national-park.adapt.885.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/travel/2017-digital/utah/zion-national-park/watchman-zion-national-park.adapt.885.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/zion-national-park/#/watchman-zion-national-park.jpg"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image source</span></i></a></div>
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Update on <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2017/07/happy-camper-here-i-go.html">last year's Glacier trip</a>: I can't believe I was almost stupid enough to pass it up. Since then, I have been itching to get back into the outdoors and needing the sky to be bigger on a daily basis.<br />
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I was eager to request a sleeping bag as a birthday present and start planning the next trip.<br />
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Check.<br />
And check.<br />
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We're excitedly planning a quick getaway to Zion and Bryce National Parks this spring -- what are your recommendations? Fire away!<br />
<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-38988315169399098112018-02-18T15:12:00.000-05:002018-02-18T15:12:02.788-05:00In My Brain // Presidents' Day Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I'm spending the weekend catching up on grading, planning ahead for the ridiculous number of projects I've somehow said yes to, and running in the cold air and sunshine. </div>
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Here are some of my distractions from the Internet:</div>
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PEAK READING/SHINE THEORY CIRCLE // <a href="http://americanshortfiction.org/2018/02/06/fish-jokes/">Kate Petty's <i>Fish Jokes</i></a> (read now) --> featured in <a href="http://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=4a77dae67a768bc3b920d4961&id=e70e896376">Ann Friedman's newsletter</a> --> blasted by <a href="https://twitter.com/hellohomeroom/status/962054875512098816">me on Twitter</a> --> used as a <a href="http://us7.campaign-archive.com/?u=4a77dae67a768bc3b920d4961&id=8e6915ad07">testimonial</a> the following week<br />(Sidebar: This week's <i><a href="http://www.callyourgirlfriend.com/the-ladyweb/">Call Your Girlfriend</a> </i>is terrific.)</div>
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LISTEN // <a href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/frank-ocean-moon-river/">Frank Ocean's cover of Moon River</a></div>
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THIS OLDIE // Last week my 12th grade film studies students began <i>The Graduate.</i> I always love seeing how this film still resonates with kids today. And even though I've seen it over a dozen times, I'm always catching new things and learning more from fresh eyes. This year I can't get over how tight the writing is. The image above is from here: <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/03/graduate200803">Here's To You, Mr. Nichols: The Making of <i>The Graduate</i></a></div>
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PRIORITIES // <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/opinion/sunday/tyranny-convenience.html">The Tyranny of Convenience</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.loft.com/modern-drop-earrings/458128">THESE FUNKY EARRINGS</a> // On sale and coming soon to my face</div>
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<a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/reality-show-pitches-for-your-literary-friend-who-claims-to-be-unable-to-relate-to-reality-tv">REALITY TV FOR LITERARY FOLKS</a>: a good laugh, plus the embarrassing realization that you'd catch me watching these</div>
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/well/phone-cellphone-addiction-time.html">THE FEMALE PRICE OF MALE PLEASURE</a> // I keep rolling this piece around in my mind</div>
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HELP ME // <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/well/phone-cellphone-addiction-time.html">I need to break up with my phone</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.debbiemillman.com/designmatters/">DESIGN MATTERS</a> // turns out that "one of the world's first podcasts" is new to me, and so happy I found it!</div>
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<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-74450922289931598842018-02-14T10:04:00.001-05:002018-02-14T10:04:56.043-05:00Seems like everyone hates this holiday except for me.Which is why I shamelessly illustrated my likeness and dropped a handmade Valentine into each mailbox in the staff room.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxEjrITWzcY/WoMRPYztADI/AAAAAAAAA4I/-06K3kTwvbwoLlQ-JdsTsPKKGLv2FimYwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxEjrITWzcY/WoMRPYztADI/AAAAAAAAA4I/-06K3kTwvbwoLlQ-JdsTsPKKGLv2FimYwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1668.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Not one to shy away from commitment, I am wearing the exact outfit pictured in this card today.)</div>
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And if I'd had more time, I would've busted out the sewing machine, like I used to do back in the day (because paper happens to be my favorite thing to sew). And then dropped dozens off at the post office and sent them all over the planet to all the folks I love and miss.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ilkrgABt4TE/WoMRPViUtcI/AAAAAAAAA4E/7r6ZhLiDMLEMdXPqK0xIAeC77PofNf4VgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ilkrgABt4TE/WoMRPViUtcI/AAAAAAAAA4E/7r6ZhLiDMLEMdXPqK0xIAeC77PofNf4VgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1669.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />
I'm cynical about a lot of things. Valentine's Day isn't one of them.<br />
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Which isn't to ignore its problematic consumerism and obnoxious and harmful emotional messaging.<br />
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I'm just choosing to celebrate things that matter to me always: friendships and feelings and handmade things and pleasant mailbox surprises.<br />
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So -- happy fake holiday to you. Hope it's full of things that matter to you always.<br />
<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-57031542635241738722018-02-02T10:00:00.000-05:002018-02-02T10:00:40.366-05:00Our Philadelphia, Our America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I read Claudia Rankine's <i>Citizen</i> last year, I immediately wondered what my students would have to say about it.</div>
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In her writing, Rankine captures her experiences and observations of race in America. The lyric poem explores what Rankine calls her "self self" and her "historical self." It's a moving account, from the microagressions to the national outcries, and students had a lot to say about this text.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ffaE2u7yNSo/WmgAPCKYy5I/AAAAAAAAUOg/zJZ07NzSavoKKDRLihG6jnRsEoH8F2u2wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ffaE2u7yNSo/WmgAPCKYy5I/AAAAAAAAUOg/zJZ07NzSavoKKDRLihG6jnRsEoH8F2u2wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0484.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Earlier in the year, my colleague, <a href="https://mrjblock.com/">Josh Block</a>, and I wondered about how to engage students in the current world around them. The culminating project that we came up with was Our Philadelphia, Our America. In both of our classes, we asked all of the 12th graders these essential questions:<br />
<ul>
<li>How can we respond to this moment in time?</li>
<li>What new narratives can we construct in order to re-imagine future possibilities?</li>
<li>What does it mean to be a citizen?</li>
<li>What does it mean to be a young person in Philadelphia?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/17bQLNBIrmmU3dDG7fWWBw7nx1_yCjWlrRYnokhM7ZbM/edit?usp=sharing">Here is the full project description.</a><br />
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Students grappled in a variety of ways with ideas of citizenship and identity. The structure of this project gave space for students' voices while pushing them to create their best work to share with a wider audience.<br />
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<br />
It was an important reminder:<br />
Sometimes the best thing we can do for student learning is to get out of the way.<br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<br />
There are too many great Field Notes to share, but here is a sampling of some stand-outs:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/home/">Home Note, by Tito</a> (check out the video, too)</li>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/race-note-by-desarae-gilbert/">Race Note, by Desarae</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/toby-note-by-nat-hilton/">Toby Note, by Nat</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/progress-note-by-ryan-king/">Progress Note, by Ryan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/17/dimensions-note-by-kate-kopf/">Dimensions Note, by Kate</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/biracial-note-by-lotus-shareef-trudeau/">Biracial Note, by Lotus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/ultimate-diversity-note-by-saamir-baker/">Ultimate Diversity Note, by Saamir</a></li>
</ul>
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This is a tiny selection of awesome student work, but you can <a href="https://ourphiladelphiaouramerica.wordpress.com/">see many more Field Notes on our evolving website</a>.<br />
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At EduCon last weekend, Josh and I led <a href="http://2018.educon.org/conversations/citizenship-radical_hope_in_today-s_world">a session called Citizenship and Radical Hope</a>, where we invited several students to share their work on this project with conference attendees.<br />
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My favorite part of the entire weekend was hearing students read aloud snippets of their writing. Their voices sounded different. There was a fire behind the words that I didn't hear from other class assignments.<br />
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Something to ask myself more often, perhaps: what's my role in tending that fire?Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-81326598278361955672018-01-22T19:06:00.003-05:002018-01-22T19:06:59.047-05:00Teacher Person(a)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62Wc1oMrMfE/WmVEj1X_i2I/AAAAAAAAA0I/ajJkDSu8gEk85vYaInbqjJENjtqhkEH4QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="1600" height="516" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62Wc1oMrMfE/WmVEj1X_i2I/AAAAAAAAA0I/ajJkDSu8gEk85vYaInbqjJENjtqhkEH4QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5328.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
In my first year of teaching several older and wiser educators told me: <i>Don't smile until Christmas. </i><br />
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They had discerned quite quickly that I would need a tougher exterior.<br />
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The subtext of this advice was: being yourself won't cut it.<br />
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I recall one teacher in particular whom the students especially feared. She was a veteran in the English department, and her classroom was very different from mine. In some ways I envied the order and discipline of that space, which I believed had led to so much of her success.<br />
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On the other hand, I was as terrified as the children in her room. I wondered if I could ever make my class feel like that.<br />
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Around the office, she would joke that she spent years developing her teacher persona. Her classroom self and her real-life self were unrecognizable to one another.<br />
The toughness and severity of her teacher-self, she explained, were necessary to get the job done.<br />
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I didn't have a strong sense of how this idea fit into my life or career.<br />
It didn't quite fit, for me, but I didn't have an alternative plan here, either.<br />
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Questions about a teacher persona lingered in my brain for a while, especially during the early years of my career when I felt like I didn't have classroom management completely under control or when it was a struggle to consistently build dynamic and engaging lessons every day. I wondered if I should have been developing a stronger act,<br />
a bigger presence,<br />
a different <i>me</i><br />
to play this role.<br />
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I never did, and I'm glad.<br />
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Now I kind of resent ever having heard that advice, actually.<br />
I push back on that thinking about this work. A lot.<br />
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I'm very much myself, inside and outside of the classroom.<br />
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For better and for worse,<br />
to the students who realize my corny jokes are my real jokes,<br />
and my friends who have to discuss character development and thematic consistency about books and movies and TV shows.<br />
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The confidence to <i>not</i> change didn't come immediately.<br />
But it was essential.<br />
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Now I play the role of guiding younger teachers.<br />
Some of them are in my building, and some of them have very different teacher-lives than me.<br />
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<br />
<br />
And my biggest piece of advice is the same:<br />
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Be yourself.<br />
In this gig, who you are matters as much as the work you do.<br />
<br />
Students see you and know you and appreciate you.<br />
Because it's not about English or History or Algebra II,<br />
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it's about people.<br />
And relationships.<br />
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I'm reminded of this every day.<br />
In the middle of the lessons with the newest students in my care,<br />
in the meetings with parents and families about good news and concerns,<br />
in the conversations with colleagues near and far,<br />
in the messages and notes from alumni and students long ago.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
Truly. I don't recommend waiting to smile.<br />
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How can you even help it?<br />
It's the best part.Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-65380391144610717032018-01-18T16:30:00.000-05:002018-01-18T16:30:18.353-05:00Take Me To ThereI saw <i>Call Me By Your Name</i> this week and immediately began wondering if I should figure out a way to spend my summers in northern Italy.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Sidebar: go see it so we can discuss.)</span><br />
<br />
The itch to travel has been so present for me ever since our trip to Prague and Budapest last year (for which I still need to edit photos).<br />
<br />
I simultaneously love where we live and can't wait to be everywhere else.<br />
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I keep a folder of collected images from all over the world at all times.<br />
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It makes me feel so small.<br />
It's a world out there. There are so, so many possibilities.<br />
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Like: I maybe <i>could</i> just grab my camera and walk out the door.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.brandonkidd.net/category/travel/">1</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/68/a4/7c/68a47cb5fcc777eda616f574246d5da8.jpg">2</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/56/9b/88/569b883e66183ebe1d302b08e6cce3d3.jpg">3</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/33/38/2b/33382b31ab417e220fc1928b96bd01e1.jpg">4</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/95/70/8d/95708d1f607890de13306d14d338f891.jpg">5</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/08/42/5e/08425e7c8600f8bb283c3ecb517a5e08.jpg">6</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a7/55/55/a755558db1739294c79b24d116bb05c7.jpg">7</a> // <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f0/8e/dd/f08eddb37251a75febe8730c2cf2f87c.jpg">8</a></div>
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Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-80912873385505003192018-01-17T17:14:00.003-05:002018-01-23T22:36:24.952-05:00Progress Report // Reading and Loving ItNot to get too ahead of myself with the self-congratulations, buuuut:<br />
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I'm about to finish my fifth book of 2018, y'all.<br />
<br />
Yep.<br />
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<br />
This is not my normal. I've written before about <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2014/03/the-unintentional-personal-literacy.html">my unintentional literary hiatuses</a> and how <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2017/04/progress-report-books-on-nightstand.html">my nightstand book piles are ridiculous and toppling over</a> in the night.<br />
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But hey. I'm a work in progress.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZW2UGsu49U/Wl-WUDnNONI/AAAAAAAAAzo/cpEpnFflHxkI-etkTcLpuffKqYOu9qb8wCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-01-17%2Bat%2B1.29.57%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="1228" height="254" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZW2UGsu49U/Wl-WUDnNONI/AAAAAAAAAzo/cpEpnFflHxkI-etkTcLpuffKqYOu9qb8wCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-01-17%2Bat%2B1.29.57%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a><br />
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I've been using <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12064-amal">Goodreads</a> to track my reading, set goals, and keep lists for what I want to read. I've even started using it as a classroom tool; my 9th grade students are all over the site for their independent reading, and they'll be posting reviews for their book choices as their final project soon.<br />
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(Also, the other day a bunch of kids had their phones out during class, using the Goodreads app to share books and exchange recommendations. My face was just that heart-eyes emoji.)<br />
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<br />
My updates at the moment:<br />
<br />
I'm currently in the middle of three books, as is my wont.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/2-M-at-Cats-Pajamas/dp/0804140251/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516218885&sr=8-1&keywords=2am+at+the+cat%27s+pajamas" style="font-style: italic;">2AM At The Cat's Pajamas</a> by Marie-Helene Bertino<br />You might notice that this is a holdover from <a href="http://www.hellohomeroom.com/2015/05/summer-reading.html">my 2015 summer reading list</a>, which I am choosing to be totally not embarrassed about.<br /><i><br /></i></li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Naomi-Alderman/dp/0316547611/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516218949&sr=1-1&keywords=naomi+alderman">The Power</a></i>, by Naomi Alderman<br />A few people recommended this to me (including <a href="http://ew.com/books/2017/01/18/barack-obama-book-recommendations/">President Obama</a>, you might've heard of him) and I decided to bump it up on my reading list when it was the <a href="http://girlsnightinclub.com/book-club/">Girls' Night In Book Club</a> pick for January. I've been roaring through it and I want you to read it so we can talk about it.<br /><br /></li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Argonauts-Maggie-Nelson/dp/1555977359/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516219433&sr=1-1&keywords=the+argonauts">The Argonauts</a></i>, by Maggie Nelson<br />This has been in my "currently reading" pile for over a year, I think, even though I put it down months ago and haven't picked it back up. I'm still determined to resume -- errrr, restart.</li>
</ul>
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<br />
Soon I'll be participating in a book club for Margaret Atwood's <i>Alias Grace</i>, which I just finished. Students have been recommending the Netflix series to me, and I can't wait to watch it, too.<br />
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I'm very into this <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12064-amal?per_page=infinite&shelf=to-read&utf8=%E2%9C%93">list of books that I want to read but haven't yet</a>. I know it's stupid to be pleased with my aspirational self (the woman who reads all of the books) rather than my actual self (the woman who dreams of reading all of the books), but I look at it and think: <i>dang, that's a mighty fine list</i>.<br />
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Always interested in recommendations. Fire away.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-37711622736124744572017-12-05T10:15:00.002-05:002017-12-05T10:15:36.981-05:00Be yourself. But like, way better.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84dFHbZ9v8A/Wia0v_0voDI/AAAAAAAAAyI/rnNNnL0ZQIM2zxOkO7t1wF1RA6PzTFysACLcBGAs/s1600/youareenough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="800" height="376" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84dFHbZ9v8A/Wia0v_0voDI/AAAAAAAAAyI/rnNNnL0ZQIM2zxOkO7t1wF1RA6PzTFysACLcBGAs/s640/youareenough.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's December and everyone is high strung and I suspect the supermoon didn't help.</div>
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1.</div>
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Yesterday I lost my cool in one of my classes.</div>
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Most students were being squirrelly and distracted, and some were being real ding-dongs. </div>
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My classroom wasn't a room full of diligently-working angels.</div>
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But that's irrelevant, because they're kids and I'm the adult.</div>
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And it's literally my job to <i>be</i> the adult.</div>
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(not to mention to design instruction that doesn't leave much room for ding-dong tendencies)</div>
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I was reactive and ugly and mean. </div>
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Grouchy at best and hurtful at worst.</div>
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It bothered me all day. </div>
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2.</div>
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This morning, I started checking thesis statements and outlines for the essays students are developing.</div>
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Their works-in-progress are amazing. </div>
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Their learning is evident, in all of its tiny stages, right there in the documents.</div>
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A lot of them worked really hard on it.</div>
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The proof is in the pudding, and I'm really, <i>really</i> proud of them.</div>
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These two things don't have everything to do with each other. </div>
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Except to remind me that this work requires my best self.</div>
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And there isn't room for my ding-dong tendencies, either, when true learning is at stake.</div>
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Not just what's in the assignments, but what this entire experience is about for young people.</div>
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My work happens in front of an observant and impressionable teenage audience multiple times a day.</div>
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They deserve the best.</div>
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And I have to bring it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">image via P<a href="http://abandonedloveseries.tumblr.com/">eyton Fulford's <i>Abandoned Love</i></a> project</span></div>
Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-50012381468993390442017-12-01T17:29:00.003-05:002017-12-01T17:29:58.995-05:00The Right Kind of HardAfter the 12th graders in my class read <i>The Handmaid's Tale</i>, they write a critical analysis essay that takes a deep dive. From a single passage in the novel -- one chapter or just a part of it -- they complete a close reading and determine a thesis that captures the impact of the author's choices and their greater significance to the text as a whole.<br />
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They really dig into each word and read in between the lines.<br />
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It's a <i>tough</i> assignment.<br />
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The Deep Dive Essay has even developed a bit of a reputation, or so I hear.<br />
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So. I set out to do it myself.<br />
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I don't often get to do my own homework. There simply aren't enough hours in the day.<br />
And I don't think I <i>have</i> to, really, to prove that the work makes sense.<br />
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I set out on this particular journey to be able to provide better support for the writers in my class. I hoped that I would be able to use my process as a model; I wanted to show students how I went from point A to point B.<br />
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Y'all.<br />
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It was <i>tough</i>. Really, it was.<br />
<br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r-fLFRBqUHR-aydtEKWwtsX3rJX-GdPlFyZI9XBtGtk/edit?usp=sharing">I shared them into this document to show them my process</a> for the close reading and how I tried to arrive at a functional thesis statement. It's comically chaotic.<br />
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It took me forever, too.<br />
And I still don't love what I've got so far.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_cWQ_Z6bYY/WiHU2GXB1vI/AAAAAAAAAxM/kahjKMfvvkUJ1JIkhQq3TrNTffnZ1M90wCLcBGAs/s1600/finnegans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="326" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_cWQ_Z6bYY/WiHU2GXB1vI/AAAAAAAAAxM/kahjKMfvvkUJ1JIkhQq3TrNTffnZ1M90wCLcBGAs/s640/finnegans.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">from James Joyce's <i>Finnegan's Wake</i> -- figures</span></div>
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In class today I talked about how writing is really hard.<br />
Even for me, who's naturally fairly decent at it and finds it enjoyable.<br />
And who is way more educated than they are.<br />
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There were some dejected faces in the room.<br />
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Which didn't go away when I compared it to running or working out.<br />
I said something like, "You know, you get better at it, and you get a lot stronger and faster and you build your endurance, but you never really finish a worthwhile workout and think, 'Whew! That was so easy!'"<br />
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At this point their looks were somewhere between dejected and downright agitated.<br />
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I regret not kicking off the semester with <a href="https://wrd.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/1-Shitty%20First%20Drafts.pdf">Anne Lamott</a>.<br />
(I should say that about any course, any semester.)<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDU-Gv2R5xM/WiHWVS3EvyI/AAAAAAAAAxY/GXdqAJUoP6YUGFQQY4SS_Y4kiv8yOCPWgCLcBGAs/s1600/huxley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="438" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDU-Gv2R5xM/WiHWVS3EvyI/AAAAAAAAAxY/GXdqAJUoP6YUGFQQY4SS_Y4kiv8yOCPWgCLcBGAs/s640/huxley.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">from Aldous Huxley's manuscript for <i>Island</i> -- more rejects than keepers</span></div>
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All of this to say:<br />
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It's hard.<br />
It's worth doing.<br />
Maybe those two ideas go really well together.<br />
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Regardless, kids. I'm right here with you on this journey.Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-52674149216708814522017-11-26T12:37:00.002-05:002017-11-26T16:18:43.703-05:00Process // Of Air And EarthIt can be tricky taking on friends as business clients. You need to navigate making them happy while holding to best practices. You need to listen to their needs and wants while supporting their ideas with your knowledge about good design. You want to give advice without being overbearing.<br />
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Fortunately, when Alexa approached me about her venture with Of Air And Earth, what I found was a perfect example of how this working relationship could go beautifully.<br />
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I've known Alexa for a number of years. She has been a mentor and a friend, someone whose work I've looked up to and whose sensibilities I admire.<br />
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Visually, she knows what's up.<br />
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Alexa told me about project she had recently undertaken: creating arrangements of air plants, gemstones, and found vessels. Her creations were beautiful. She showed me some photos from her brand new Instagram account and we talked about some ideas for her logo and branding.<br />
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She had decided on a name: <b>Of Air And Earth</b>.<br />
I doodled it about 800 times.<br />
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I asked Alexa to put together a Pinterest board of images that somehow get at the vibe she wanted reflected in her branding. Here is a sample of what she gathered:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CAVMZ3H2iuw/Whom1o7KvZI/AAAAAAAASiE/Jr3VOev1n9I9lE55RKfvBWZIxxL8LqCAwCLcBGAs/s1600/Image-1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CAVMZ3H2iuw/Whom1o7KvZI/AAAAAAAASiE/Jr3VOev1n9I9lE55RKfvBWZIxxL8LqCAwCLcBGAs/s640/Image-1%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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These captured a lot of what I already knew about Alexa's aesthetic: classy antiques mixed with modern elements, plus lots natural elements, pops of color, and variations in texture. Over a delicious sushi lunch, we unpacked some of these elements and Alexa provided me with some language and guidance. Some keywords I jotted down included: <i>elegant, Santa Monica, sort-of boho, muted, prism.</i><br />
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This pretty much captures the puzzle I had to solve. Alexa is tasteful and thoughtful and knows what looks good, but she's not a designer. It was up to me to figure out how these images and words from her brain would translate into a tangible design package.<br />
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I started with some color choices:<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wZlYYOO0YQ/WhoqR4QfiYI/AAAAAAAASic/H0WRSbJ4W0UJ89E-nb3pPnt3zsDw-3AEACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-11-25%2Bat%2B9.42.46%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="855" height="252" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wZlYYOO0YQ/WhoqR4QfiYI/AAAAAAAASic/H0WRSbJ4W0UJ89E-nb3pPnt3zsDw-3AEACLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-11-25%2Bat%2B9.42.46%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then I played with shapes and layouts and various design elements, knowing that none of these would actually stick. I sent over these initial concepts:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1_2iqHFYHk/WhojRVSrdkI/AAAAAAAASfM/La6vhDEevjMa-K6_jFIw4L3ot2pk4VrigCLcBGAs/s1600/Image-1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1_2iqHFYHk/WhojRVSrdkI/AAAAAAAASfM/La6vhDEevjMa-K6_jFIw4L3ot2pk4VrigCLcBGAs/s640/Image-1%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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In this first round, I wanted to give Alexa a lot of variety, so I played with type, drawn graphics, watercolor, and photographic elements. Now it was up to her to identify details she liked or didn't like.<br />
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She settled on a favorite, and I got to work customizing the pieces. Alexa would need a logo, a square business card, a sticker, and a banner for web stuff.<br />
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I did, and we got down to the nitty gritty, mostly around type and color balance.<br />
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This, this or this? These or these? Here are only a handful of the varieties I sent over:<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SaPIFxhnBoA/Whov07zYFII/AAAAAAAASi0/aKFBTkuUUFI7LZ32sBLT3gmZ8UgGtmR-QCLcBGAs/s1600/Attachment-1%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SaPIFxhnBoA/Whov07zYFII/AAAAAAAASi0/aKFBTkuUUFI7LZ32sBLT3gmZ8UgGtmR-QCLcBGAs/s400/Attachment-1%2B%25281%2529.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7rkFh7mIjm8/Whov0wwsWzI/AAAAAAAASiw/I4uleRg4hOEVAlhSg9h9QNz1rpQBQMNJQCLcBGAs/s1600/Attachment-1%2B%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7rkFh7mIjm8/Whov0wwsWzI/AAAAAAAASiw/I4uleRg4hOEVAlhSg9h9QNz1rpQBQMNJQCLcBGAs/s400/Attachment-1%2B%25282%2529.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Alexa sought her second and third opinions, and we finalized her new designs!</div>
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I'm really happy with the outcomes. Here is the completed logo, business card, the sticker, banner, and the care card that will come with each purchase of an air plant:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_53qeEdi_m8/WhoxPhZwDXI/AAAAAAAASjQ/GWYHvE8GbvIkz2PS4QrU-T-bukWG_PbQwCLcBGAs/s1600/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_SQUARE%2BCARD%2BFRONT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_53qeEdi_m8/WhoxPhZwDXI/AAAAAAAASjQ/GWYHvE8GbvIkz2PS4QrU-T-bukWG_PbQwCLcBGAs/s200/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_SQUARE%2BCARD%2BFRONT.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8s_m1lfaL4/WhoxPGeH-VI/AAAAAAAASjI/7eHufo9ProsVbWwqCa6QajsCjqGdCx9_QCLcBGAs/s1600/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_SQUARE%2BCARD%2BBACK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8s_m1lfaL4/WhoxPGeH-VI/AAAAAAAASjI/7eHufo9ProsVbWwqCa6QajsCjqGdCx9_QCLcBGAs/s200/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_SQUARE%2BCARD%2BBACK.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1m4Hk27AQM/WhoxOqZOwJI/AAAAAAAASjA/PcqszTyWBAw0WFFUtq2p07AWaPWl6B10gCLcBGAs/s1600/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_Rectangle%2BBanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1050" height="226" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1m4Hk27AQM/WhoxOqZOwJI/AAAAAAAASjA/PcqszTyWBAw0WFFUtq2p07AWaPWl6B10gCLcBGAs/s400/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_Rectangle%2BBanner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHpb2sI5yi8/WhoxOkXHCCI/AAAAAAAASjE/0RYwi0Wjx5M8UXJ1fsF-3K-CYq3Kw2ANwCLcBGAs/s1600/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_Care%2BCard%2BFront.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHpb2sI5yi8/WhoxOkXHCCI/AAAAAAAASjE/0RYwi0Wjx5M8UXJ1fsF-3K-CYq3Kw2ANwCLcBGAs/s400/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_Care%2BCard%2BFront.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yl0PLvbtAjU/WhoxOsmwLAI/AAAAAAAASjM/rBNf3fsvTCw4Qx9KjDn1f-4TIcv-cUYwQCLcBGAs/s1600/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_Care%2BCard%2BBack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yl0PLvbtAjU/WhoxOsmwLAI/AAAAAAAASjM/rBNf3fsvTCw4Qx9KjDn1f-4TIcv-cUYwQCLcBGAs/s400/OfAirAndEarth_FINAL_Care%2BCard%2BBack.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love that Alexa wasn't afraid of the playful but muted color choices. She really liked the navy blue background, which looks awesome in print, too. This was my first time playing with patterns much in Illustrator; the overlapping circles reflect vibe from some of the rugs and tiles from the original Pinterest board. I'll be excited to practice with this tool more for future projects.</div>
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Alexa didn't waste any time while I was tinkering with vectors. Her designs are already for sale on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/OfAirandEarth" target="_blank">her Etsy shop</a> and IRL at <a href="http://www.weaversway.coop/articles/weavers-way-mercantile-2017" target="_blank">Weavers Way Mercantile in Mt. Airy</a>.</div>
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And she has these fancy printed materials to show, too :)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6KJIGbG-6k/Whr2ivg018I/AAAAAAAASmQ/okCiwxpb2TYPT0AezH4Z0cp-7uVi4_y_wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6KJIGbG-6k/Whr2ivg018I/AAAAAAAASmQ/okCiwxpb2TYPT0AezH4Z0cp-7uVi4_y_wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Congratulations to Alexa on starting her small business! This was a fun project for a dreamy client. I'm excitedly following along on <a href="http://instagram.com/of.air.and.earth" target="_blank">her Instagram account</a> and plotting which air plant design I'll pick out for myself and my favorite people soon.</div>
Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-87867736077636777762017-09-30T10:47:00.003-04:002017-09-30T16:52:29.176-04:00PILESI was chatting with a first-year teacher who said he realized this week that the honeymoon phase of the school year is already over.<br />
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I replied that I think of this as the piles phase.<br />
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PHASE 1: H O N E Y M O O N</div>
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Includes: Rearranging the classroom furniture, hanging up crisp new posters, setting up a gradebook or a seating chart or a folder full of documents, planning and fantasizing about the culture you'll create, the lives you'll change, and the learning that will take place.<br />
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PHASE 2: P I L E S<br />
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Includes: Piles of submitted assignments to be graded, piles of emails, the spread of sticky notes on your desk forming into a pile, piles of people you were supposed to call back, piles of dishes in the sink, piles of things you've been meaning to say to your person, and so on, in every area of your life.<br />
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I mentioned this feeling to the 12th graders in my class.<br />
Actually, the exact conversation was more like:<br />
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Me, after a pause and a sigh: <i>Do you lately just feel -- ?</i></blockquote>
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Student, cutting me off in the best way: <i>Yes.</i></blockquote>
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They of course have different piles: piles of college applications to process, piles of personal essays to edit, piles of recommendations to awkwardly ask for, piles of new classes that aren't easing up on them during senior year, piles of feelings related to being ready to transition into that next phase.<br />
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I feel you, kids. We're all in this boat.<br />
And I admit that your suggestion to just close the blinds, turn off the lights, and collectively put our heads down for the rest of the period did not fall on deaf ears.<br />
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But I guess we all know that's not why we're here.<br />
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Your hard work is truly going to pay off.<br />
I believe that.<br />
(If I didn't you know I'd take that nap.)<br />
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And even though this pile is taller than I am, reading through your projects with my coffee and the windows open on this Saturday morning is secretly lovely.<br />
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And there's really only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.<br />
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So goodbye, September. Here we go.<br />
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<br />Amalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11254881553385634666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1847007868131844219.post-10865416854803215052017-09-14T19:36:00.000-04:002017-09-14T19:36:21.903-04:00Swimming Pool<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I can't get over photographer <a href="http://www.mariasvarbova.com/swimmingpool-gnkl" target="_blank">Maria Svarbova's "Swimming Pool" series</a>. It's currently my favorite thing on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maria.svarbova/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and I find my brain returning to its faded pastels, potent reds, the haunting symmetry, and the tension it creates so beautifully between stillness and movement.</div>
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