Discourse Discourses and Promoting Identities in Classrooms for Literate Learners. A Task That Helps to Bring Readings Home

Many of of the readings for Best Practices in literacy and writing instruction address the big D / little d discourses often upheld and/or held down in academic settings and yesterday we read Dr. Delicia Greene's great work about literacies of Black girls in digital spaces. The examples she deconstructs and promotes were fantastic, especially while discussing the super diversity in U.S. classrooms and the failure of many to accept them, celebrate them, and to teach the academic discourses often favored by school institutions. 

To hit a point home, I simply ask students to give me a topic people talk about and in pairs, talk at their table as if they are different people. Last night's crew said, "Vacations," which seemed relevant as our University's spring break is next week. I then flip through a series of couples and have them become individuals at their tables, drawing on their assumptions, their change in dialect, the items they talk about, the stereotypes, and the comedy that comes from any writer who pushes against such constructions (I remember vividly loving Pfifer's People, a play, when two old ladies on a porch we're discussing the boredom of senior citizen living and the need for excitement in their life - comedy works this way). 

The point I was making, drawing on Gholdy Muhammad, Beers & Probst, and Greene, is that we have assumptions all the time about our students, their literate lives, and the way they read their words and worlds. Academic literacy (especially writing) is a 2nd language to us all (thanks, Mr. Austin, for that quote from my dissertation days). 

The activity works with teachers, with elementary-aged students, with older students, and with college students. In bird-like parroting, we're conditioned towards assumptions and our ears are attuned to themes/topics/vernaculars, etc. that comes from the diverse language practices of human beings. 

The question posed to them is what do you champion and/or police in your room and why? What stories are allowed, celebrated, and coached? Which ones aren't?

My students do textual lineages because of Dr. Alfred Tatum, and I often position this conversation with the languages/literacies promoted in school. You can guess the books they've been taught and the lacking diversity in prose or representation.

That's the point. And we deconstructed my whacky teaching styles, choices in texts I teach, and intentionality in what I assign with reasons why. 

Not many of us could hit the private jet couple, even though we did discuss what might be discussed amongst them. Then we played with mixing conversations with different populations and wondered why would it make us laugh? 

Nuns playing football. Now that would be a great game to watch.

I Suppose Another Word for Exhaustion is Bird-Brained, and That Has Become Rather Synonymous with How I Operate Normal (So There)

I slid into third base successfully last night, and now just need to steal home. My intent was to be a billion times more productive than I was, but I ended up spending most of my day in the grant office working through fortunate dollars that are coming our way with a quick turn-around....a wonderful, but difficult problem to contend with. 

I went with The Tale of the Mandarin Duck by Bette Midler, which I paired with feathered influences of Greek and Roman Gods, mostly Hermes, Demeter, and a little of Auspices (non-fiction stories of why birds might be of interest of the Gods and early humankind and their need to define the world around them. Wings are flight and flight forwards the idea of wondering, mystery, and magic. 

Funny, early on one of the students discussed that birds are a distraction, just like nature and I was able to ask what are modern distractions, which led to cellphones, which was a major point of Midler's tale. We discussed about contemplating life and what distracts us while making meaning. What are the wonders...

...which led to Percy Jackson, the winged shoes given to Gabe, and the mischief of the book (oh, the lure of the Roman Gods and Hades). 

At first, I guessed the students posited it was another nutty Crandall evening (which it was), but at the end of the evening we discussed the entire movement from beginning of class until the end and what takeaways they had. I was impressed at all the learning that occurred, and we named the moves....

...those moves are what beginning teachers need to start working with as they think about their own classrooms. 

Then I drove home in pouring rain, miserable driving, and the need of a fluffy pillow.

One more 14-hour day ahead. We got this. 

Random Act of Kindness Alert - a Postal Hug (and Thank You Note) from author @AngelaStockman. We're All In This Together

I returned much later than planned from Austin, Texas, because of a screw in an airplane. Better safe than sorry, so what is a few hours on a tarmac? This meant that I brought in the mail, including packages, to be dealt with when I came home at 8 p.m. last night (yes, I'm teaching additional courses to replace faculty who have left their positions). I loved that I had a box from author Angela Stockman, especially knowing her latest book is now in print. 

Ta-Da. It wasn't that gift, but a thank-you gift for being open-resourced with my syllabi and Padlets. Yes, I'm an open book. I always think, "In a court of law, people would simply need to search for me online." I leave everything out there for others to utilized if they wish.

My precious colleague sent a box of chocolates from Buffalo, an unexpected gift to welcome me home from NCTEAR. I did as most educators do...I took them to meetings and classes and shared them with as many individuals as I could until they were devoured. 

Better than the chocolates, however, was the wrapping delicately done with love. I didn't want to open the gift because it was so professionally crafted. I shook it and heard rattling. What kind of book has Stockman written? Ah, it wasn't the book - it was kindness from a good spirit (and I'm flashing back to the days when I attempted to address manners and etiquette in a freshman English class where we'd have mocktail parties and act like mature adults. Thank you notes and gifts are rare, but GREATLY appreciated). If only more of us were appreciative of others.

So, it's Tuesday (and already feels like Friday). It's my first time eating sponge candy from Buffalo, and the truth is, I'm simply excited to get anything from Buffalo. Although I'm a Syracuse guy, Rochester and Buffalo are sister cities. We get each other, even if we're separated by Snow Globe Awards. We're upstate New York and that matters entirely. I'm now in Connecticut, but I'll always claim what I claim. We are who we are.

Yesterday was day one back to the ground and it was a 14-hour a day. There are five of them this week, in fact, and I hope I have the energy to sustain all needing to be done.

Thank You, Angela Stockman, for the Thank You package. You are 100% appreciated and I spent the entire day learning from others about their experiences with Sponge Candy. Apparently it's popular in Ireland, too. I had to read articles about the history asI've never heard of such a treat. The smiles it made for many  demonstrate why it is popular. 

I always love when an act of random kindness is thrown my way!

I am a better man because of it.

All Was Smooth Sailing, But Of Course There Was a Dangling Tile in the Cockpit that Needed Attention. But I Am Now Home

I was rather alarmed at how smooth the day of travel went. I Ubered to the conference, did my presentation, then walked to meet Jen Dail for lunch, Sushi, before heading to the airport together.

Although lines were long in Austin, it was smooth to get to my gate and the flight went without incident, until that silly tile thing in Charlotte needed to happen. Stuck on the tarmac while a man in an orange vest investigated the ceiling piece for a while, before putting a screw in it and sending us on our way. Of course, this caused me to return home an hour and a half later than scheduled even if I did love the fact that the Merritt was empty and I drove the 34 miles in 34 minutes (in the morning, that can take 2 hours). I pulled in my driveway at 12:40 a.m.. Karal was excited to see me, and that was what I was looking forward to most (note: photo credit: Rebecca Selander...the dog sitter).

I ate a piece of bread with peanut butter on it, then went immediately to bed and slept a solid 7 hours.

I'm very thankful to Rebecca, Shirley's niece, for caring for Karal. She doesn't smell like skunk (Karal, that is), but the house still does. It's going to drive me nut for another months, I believe. 

But now I have to make up for the four days I lost in Texas as the lists of things to get done are enormous. This too shall pass. All will be well. 

And I do need my rest. 

When In Austin, and You Only Live Once, Chris Goering Says You Need to See a Live Show so We Went to Jason Boland & The Stragglers

I can do bluegrass, and sometimes country resonates somewhat. I do know, however, that when in Rome you do as the Romans do, so we went out for live music, which happened to be Jason Rolands and the Stragglers. The crowd loved them, as did my company, and I was just rolling with the day. After presentation one, some meetings, many reunions, I was like 'do with me what you will...take me where you will.' Lots of tacos. Julios....phew. Delicious.

I simply love experience and to say I've lived once and I didn't deny myself any adventure along the way (I'm sure my credit card will attest to that). The NCTEAR conference was good and meeting with old friends was also great. 

I'm not sure I connected with music much, but I attended the stadium and pretended like I understood country music and the joy everyone else shared with one another (I absolutely don't get it, but I'm in Texas, so I did what I could to pretend everything was making sense). 

I have one more presentation this morning, then I am basically free to finish out the conference and await flights until late in the evening when I return home (in the cold)(with high winds). It will be another day of flights and I have to admit, "I'm just not into air travel much any more." 

It seems so outdated, but I don't know how to transport myself in a faster way. I will finish a book, try to sleep (or catch up on sleep) and I really should grade if I can). 

To be honest, I look forward to being home with Karal, going for walks, and sleeping in my own bed (although I wouldn't mind bringing the big pillows back with me - they're really great to pile up and sleep upon).

Okay, NCTEAR...this was wonderful. I need to find a way to process all the excellence. But first I need to catch my breath. 

This is the Real Deal, World. @traceyhabla...Her Brilliance and the @GTGrizzlyBears Hospitality (not to mention Administrative sneker game). Phew. A beautiful day.

There is one word for #NCTEAR24 and it is the incredible vision of Dr. Tracey Flores....Communidad... and the beautiful investment her team and Guerrero Thompson Elementary made for day one of this year's gathering. It began at 8:15 a.m. and carried all the way through until 8:15 p.m. at the campus opening event with Dr. Tonya Perry. 

So often at these gatherings, there is so much stimulation flying in strereo that it is hard to take in and process all the greatness that is happening at once. Every second of working with pre-K-5 students today was brilliant - there is nothing like working with and listening to youth.

No matter what corner you turned, what step you took, or what hallway you walked down, there was Dr. Tracey Flores doing as she does best: hosting, teaching, guiding, smiling, coaching, and moving. She is a national treasure...the real deal...the type of human being we should desire to be.

I caught her writing with students in my Writing Our Lives workshop, participating, sharing, and encouraging as she does best. 

This morning, I'm walking over for another 12-hour day, although I'm not sure I'll be able to make it the entire day (I have an afternoon presentation with the Divergent/Initiat(ED) team which I'm excited about and several session I can't wait to attend, too).

Wiping the yawn away and beginning again. This, however, is for Tracey. I see you. We all do. 

My introduction for Dr. Tonya Perry.

Hello, Scholars. Friends. Colleagues, Mentors, and NCTEAR family…

 

It is an absolute honor to bring forward tonight’s Keynote Speaker, Dr. Tonya Perry, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Miles College, and champion for young people and teachers in whatever setting she serves. I am sure when she heard I was asked to introduce her she rolled her eyes and thought, “Oh, no…they invited Crandall for this, but I assure you, Dr. Perry, there’s nothing to be afraid of with my introduction…

 

I mean, you’re NCTE President Elect, a mentor, a colleague, a fellow National Writing Project teacher leader, and more importantly a dear friend. I promise to behave.

 

While I have the Mic, though, I absolutely wish to applaud like others the hard work and excellence of Dr. Tracey Flores and her leadership team for bringing us together in Austin, Texas. Today’s visit to Dr. Janis Guerrero-Thompson Elementary School was both inspirational and stunning. Community. Community. Community. Education. Education. Education.

 

For over a decade I was a classroom teacher in Louisville, Kentucky, where I first learned of THE, one and only, Dr. Tonya Perry of Birmingham, Alabama. At the time, I was a member of the Louisville Writing Project, cohort XXI and legally writing.  Not only was Dr. Perry the first African American to be named teacher of the year in the State of Alabama, she quickly to beame a familiar face across the National Writing Project’s teachers-teaching-teacher network. Like Many, including Dr. Flores, I became a super fan and sought her expertise as I moved along my own academic journey.

 

I’ve been fortunate to work with Dr. Perry through the Red Mountain Writing Project, both in 2013 and 2019 through the NWP urban sites network and NCTEAR, and with teacher online workshops during the trying, and frustrating days of teach-from-home Covid. 

 

No one does it better than Dr. Perry – In fact, I’ve used her greatness as a template to my own work, and shared her advice with author Kwame Alexander when he inquired about hosting conferences for young writers: First, find great people you know, trust, and love, second: gather as many teachers and kids as you can, and third: throw a memorable party. 

 

If you’re Dr. Perry, you also bring a marching band.

 

Dr. Perry models for all who know her integrity, compassion, and grace. I still cherish a friendship created in 2013 with the Sudanese artist, singer, actor, and activist, Emmanuel Jal, author of War Child who I met because of Dr. Perry’s NWP leadership and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute she partnered with. For those who don’t know him, he would later go on to star in The Good Lie with Reese Witherspoon. And I also cherish a photograph of one of my boys sitting with Dr. Richard Milner on a school bus as we traveled to the Legacy Museum. the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. For her, it’s always been teachers and young people first.

 

Dr. Perry’s book Teaching Racial Equity: Becoming Interrupters co-written with Steven Zemelman and Katy Smith has become a staple for the professional development I lead with teacher sin Connecticut, and more recently, her article When Teachers Write and Heal Together: Using Critical Race Theory and Historically Responsive Literacy in Digital 3^rd Spacecowritten with brilliant teachers who also do the work in Birmingham, has been a go-to piece for me as I try support educators doing the work, fighting the systems designed to destroy them, and operating with a kid-up framework. Time for a shameless plug: you can check out two features on NWP’s THE WRITE TIME, including her unforgettable interview of Felicia Rose Chavez, author of The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop, and the discussion of her own book.

 

Yes, Dr. Perry is legendary. Not just that, she’s a visionary. I know, personally, I am a better man because of her, and we’re all better literacy scholars and teachers because she leads the way. I couldn’t admire a person more. 

 

This is for you, Tonya,

 and the children of lacrosse, 

         the teachers of the cradleboard

                  & the speakers of dugout canoes

         as our imagination grows

                            in the race & restoration of human rights,

in the belief of sincere peace-making, 

and the desire for more simplicity,

It is your care that leads towards hope and sparkled dreams.

 

As you taught me,

we are the warriors, those who are sincere, sequined with beliefs,

ready to restore silver linings from memories,

to believe in the finesse, the human togetherness -

         of Ubuntu, you, me, them, us

discovering how to love

without destroying,

or harnessing grudges

...without hurting ourselves,

You help to keep us from falling victim

to the slippery wreckage of these systems

that hold us down.

 

I wish for us to sing, NCTEAR,

to bring instrumental hues

to our villages, to our youth

to all gearing up for success,

& to be the melodies of evening moon’s moods-

         She is the serenity of John Coltrane’s smoky-bourbon blues,

whoprojects possibilities and pedagogical dreams.

 

And that is my introduction…friend. So, it seems. So, it seems.

 

Thank you, Dr. Perry, for being you and for helping so many of us. We are honored to have you with us as our keynote this evening. It is a true honor to introduce you tonight.

Found a Mid-Century Mexican Farmhouse to Stay in While in Austin, Around a Mile from @NCTEARorg. It was the Colors that Lured Me In.

Mom would say, "Those are you Eastman colors or your Clarksville colors, and she'd be right. I like the bright colors, and I'm lucky to have Chris Goering, University of Arkansas, sharing the space with me (and we're hoping to talk Dr. Dail into hosting a party in the home. We want to be the cool kids. We're on a dead-end street, lots of stray cats, and I imagine other critters, too, but the inside of the space looks good.

I'm off to a school to do a Writing Our Lives conference and to share/show my love for the incredible Dr. Tracey Flores, University of Texas-Austin. Seriously, she's worked tirelessly to pull the entire occasion together. I'm looking forward to meeting the kids and, I hope, to learn some Spanish, 

The six hours of flight was a bit rough, but only because the seats have know cushions, so it was like sitting on monkey bars. I slept where I could, read when I couldn't, and simply prayed the plane would land sooner than it was scheduled, too. 

Karal is in good hands with Shirley's niece, Rebecca (I love the photo updates) and I'm hoping I'll find my way to the bus without much difficulty. Shoot, I don't want to be late to school!

It was also 87 degrees when I landed. Phew. Been a minute since I felt those temperatures. Of course, that is abnormal for February in Texas and we'll dip back to the 70s the rest of the weekend. 

Thankful to have a place to return to for the next few days, although most of my time will be spent at the conference. I already had barbecue twice (for lunch and for dinner) and now wish for a salad. I say that every time I come to Texas....how can they eat this all the time? Of course, they probably don't do the tourist drive for brisket like we Yankees do. 

Okay, time to close the laptop up and walk to the University to fulfill the mission. Day one - here we go!

I'm Heading to Austin for the First Time, and Made a Slide to Explain Why I've Operated the Way I Have for 30 Years: The Brown School

It's funny to leave K-12 teaching, do a doctorate, play the academic game of publishing or perishing, and maintaining my ties with K-12 classrooms through workshops, youth conferences, and professional development. I try my best to stay on top of new publications and to follow national trends, but when it comes down to it, I simply am Brown School to the core. Some of the elementary school teachers had students commit the shared values to memory and from time to time the high school folk would build projects to revisit the mission so that we felt the work in all that we did. 

I always loved the photographs taken my Alice because she put into camera work what I wanted kids to do with writing. This was a scene of a graduating class I never had (because I left) and their hand in hand walk into the Atlantic Ocean on the Senior Trip in St. Augustine. Kids from all backgrounds, multiple zip codes, with all sorts of talents, united as a cohort who just happened to be aligned in the same grade. 

Each. And. Every. Year. Scenes. Like. This.

And it's funny to me because this mission began in 1972, the year I was born...long before authors scripted the texts I'd read and review in journals, calling for the importance of diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. Fortunate for me, it was written into the foundation of the K-12 school where I taught. High standards for all kids. Respect for humanity. Self-directed learning and accountability. Differences used as bridges rather than barriers. 

I always thought the United States was a larger replica of what we were accomplishing at the Brown School, but as so many of our graduates reported to us for years -- out there, is not like inside here. 17 years later, I see what they mean. The world should be more aligned to democracy, dialogue, cultural histories, and a blending of many people, but it has gone the other way...almost turning its back on integrity and dignity. 

Yes, I cite many articles and stay true to the mission of doing good work for all kids, while trying my best to close opportunity gaps as Milner names them. 

In the end, though, I always returned to the intentional design of one particular school in Louisville, Kentucky, which I was fortunate to call family for so many years. If I had one wish for others it would be to experience such love, commitment, and hope in what is possible when working together. 

I Don't Go to Walmart Often, But When I Do, I Expect to See Vehicular Phenomena Like This in the Parking Lot

Over the weekend, while seeking Pooph spray for de-skunking (they didn't have it), I followed advice to head to Walmart as they always keep the spray in stock (or so I was told). The skunk-smell has pretty much gone from Mt. Pleasant, but there's the occasional sniff of it so I wanted to invest in a last-minute resort. No luck, but I did see this car parked beside my own and had to snap a photo. It's quite the display of information. 

I wonder how such a vehicle moves and if it causes accidents from rubber-necking and distracted drivers wondering what they are seeing. At first I thought it might be a carnival setting up, but then I remembered it's cold, so it was doubtful that such bonanza would be in the area. 

Wow, this Wednesday snuck up fast and it is a whirlwind of meetings, teaching, arranging, packing, and making sure all will be taken care of while I spend the weekend in Austin, Texas. I'm hoping the American Airlines plane isn't decked out with such fancy display. 

For now, I'm simply thankful to all behind hosting literacy conferences because I know the work is stupendous and there's much that goes into a smooth-sailing occasion. 

Humpday, folks. I hope you are still finding a way to dance. 

@TDVietnamPalace for a Presidential Day Dinner - Delicious. New Ownership, Incredible Pho, Wonderful Service, Happy Stomach

When I first moved to Stratford in 2011, I discovered a Vietnamese restaurant nearby that brought memories of Vietnam Kitchen in Louisville, Kentucky. On good occasions, I'd bring friends to my Stratford find, but then they relocated, moved, and went under new ownership. I haven't been back until last night where I ordered Pho and spring rolls, knowing I wanted to bring absolute joy to my tummy.

Runny noses, tightening chests, and the usually February crud was matched by the deliciousness of TD Vietnam Palace. It is a Stratford gem, right by the train station, and worth the trip to find it. I can actually walk to it, but should someone read this who lives along the Metro, it's a great evening out in a different town. 

I'm thrilled to rediscover the menu, and have to say that the new owners bring love to each table, good conversation, and a pride in what they serve you. It's one of those meals you swear you could eat every day for a year. 

I also loved the decorations and ambiance that worked perfectly with the food. I know when the boys return next summer or friends/family come to visit, I'm definitely going to suggest we eat here. It was the perfect choice for a cold, Monday night, and I'm definitely keeping it on top of my list for take-out, dine-in, and just good karma. 

But now I have to think about a busy work week, staying organized, planning, grading, and the conference ahead. The evening out was definitely a fantastic kick-off. 

YUM!

Working on Presentations for @NCTEARorg and Thrilled to Be Reunited with Brilliant Minds, Educators, Scholars, and Visionaries

I remember my first NCTEAR conference in Wisconsin. It felt like flying into an episode of Roseanne, and I remember being intimidated by being in the presence of all the great minds I was reading and all the literacy mentors I only knew on paper. Actually, not a single person showed up to my presentation and I asked a custodian who was cleaning up the lobby if he wouldn't mind me talking about my work with Refugee-Background youth for 45-minutes. He was very patient and asked wonderful questions. 

Then a blizzard came. We were all trapped by the midwest whiteout, but I had job interviews I needed to get to, so took a bus to Chicago in hopes to beat the storm and make the right flights. We were probably 20-minutes ahead of the storm and all flights were cancelled by the time I got to the Windy City. I used the opportunity on the Greyhound to write, and write, and write. My paper was actually published in a book on the proceedings and, although it took a lot of stressful flight arrangements, I made it to NYC in time to make it for the interviews on the calendar. 

And I got a job. A year later I successfully defended my dissertation, and over a decade later I've been fortunate to do my National Writing Project job and collect years and years of data. This weekend, I'll present on 10 years of the data and it will be wonderful to return to NCTEAR in Austin, Texas, spear-headed by the incredible Dr. Tracey Flores. 

I've attended many NCTEARs since and each and every time it is an inspiring, and life-changing opportunity. Yesterday, I spent several hours reflecting on all that has come since then, including awards, publications, promotion, grants, and the chance to publish teachers and student writing (ten years in ten books, to be honest). 

More than the scholarship, however, I'm simply excited to be reunited with the minds and brilliance of so many who have guided my path. It's a walk toward the rising son (to reference Ger Duany) and the intent of the presentation. Just a week of classes stand between me and the gathering. It is exciting, indeed. 

Throwback to Childhood Birthdays with Cherry Chip Yellow Cake and Cherry Frosting (Usually Cupcakes, But This Time a Layered Bundt Cake)

Cynde found the ol' treats online, and sent me the ingredients to make my own cake. It was a day of vinegar, Skunk-B-Gone, Axe body lotion, and incense, but I still manage to make a cake to go with Kris and Dave's jambalaya to match their new kitchen floor. I managed to NOT bring the skunk smell with me and poor Karal is tired of being bathed and without daily rubs and hugs around the house.

That is what happens when you take a skunk-beating in your mouth.

I also had good time to plan ahead for Austin and to put together 10-years of CWP data in support of the programs that will be featured at NCTEAR. I awarded myself with the dinner and cake, of course.

And that cake...sweeter than I remember, but Cynde's advice to make a cherry ganache actually worked. It doesn't necessarily lend itself to chocolate, but I did find dark chocolate with cherry innards, so I added that at the last minute.

That jumbalaya, though: shrimp, chicken, sausage, spices, and rice. That was perfection. When they head to PA, I'll miss their cooking for sure.

We finished the evening with a few games of Spoons and I came home to smell the faint remembrances of the skunking. It will go away, because it eventually has to go away.

In the meantime, it's Sunday followed by a holiday. Let their be rest.

Definitely Ate Too Much Cake, But Enjoyed Dance Marathons with Patrick and Stephanie's Kid and the Good Company of Friends

Social media birthdays are intense ... hard to keep up with all the wishes, but I appreciate each and every one of them. I began the morning going for a long hike and de-skunking Karal with bath time, before heading into folders for another day of portfolio scoring. In the afternoon I finished, ran to get a couple of things for my next door neighbor who had a baby girl then went to Pam's for La Catina beef burritos, followed by a night on the chair wondering how I ate so much. 

Pam made a chocolate cake, too, with frosting from a can (so good). That toppled me over. 

It was also a fun time dancing with the lil' guy who is all bounce, energy, curiosity, and sillies. I can't believe how fast these kids grow up. A total fusion of Patrick and Stephanie, and all the personality in the world.

But today is Saturday. I can move my 52-year-bones onward, hopefully with more of last night's foods digested and easier movement. Why do we eat more than we have to? Oh, because it was a celebration.

In truth, I just look forward to my coffee and another night of food with friends. In the mean time, I need to prep for Austin, Texas. time flies when we're having fun.

So, This is 52. This is the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Age of Aquarius, Aquarius! Aquarius!

I'll take my water sign any day, its fluidity, its eccentricity, and its joy in the cold months. We are a month of Presidents, of love, of pre-March Madness, of 2nd semesters, and post-Holidays recovery. Yes, I am 52 this year and feeling it in my bones, but thankful to have another 365 days around the sun. Should I have predicted any of this as a young boy, I'd still be pleasantly surprised that I've been able to live the wonderful, if not complicated and perplexing, life.

I am not sure what I'll do with my day as so many of the days this weeks have been taken by obligations, responsibilities, happiness in K-12 schools, and dreams of a better day for teachers and youth. 

I got a fresh cut, hosted a wonderful event with Dr. Michelle Farrell, Chair of Modern Languages and Literature, and even dined on scallops and shrimp over linguine (one of my favorite meals). 

I even broke a fast and had an old fashion (which I'll likely repeat a few times this weekend). 

All I really want to do is take Karal for a walk, rest my brain from another taxing week, and reflect on what it means to have lived five decades and an additional two years. 

I'll keep my focus on the collective and the good of humanity...not the bad, working to counter the hate and ugly, with love and empathy.

So, 52...here go. Thankful to Mimi Sue and Papi Butch for having me, my sisters for tolerating me, the boys for making me who I am, and my friends who remind me of the importance of laughter, being silly, music, and a good meal.

Birthday Happy, to me. 

Aquarians rule!

Until they don't. I got home last night in anticipation of today and at 10 pm let Karal out to pee. I knew while washing dishes, a skunk did its thing....in Karal's mouth. It was awful night, cleaning her, bathing her, doing all I could to remove as much of the smell as I could because I knew when I awoke this morning, I'd have to do it again. I'm so glad I had a bottle of Skunk-Be-Gone. I'm having flashbacks of CNY and Baby's big spraying while doing my doctorate. It took months to get the smell out of my house, and here we are again...on my birthday.

You just can't make this up. Nope. 

Call Me Anti-Hallmark Holidays, But Yesterday as I Scored Junior Portfolios I Pulled out My Skeletal Sweater (K-12 Classrooms are Freezing)

I have several ritual each year that I love...the 5K races with a cause, all the CWP summer work, Writing Our Lives conferences, and scoring student portfolios at Joel Barlow High School. I remain in awe by the district-wide commitment, the excellence of their writers, the traditions of nurturing composers across many genres, and the network of dedicated literacy experts who are loyal to their investment. Yesterday, Dave Wooley picked me up at 6:45 a.m. and we were off. Luckily, I was home by 3 pm, could walk the dog, and still had time to prepare for class.

I also received an email from our Foundations department that a grant I wrote a year ago was awarded, and now I have $25,000 to create more youth writing conferences. I love this particular grant because each kid gets approximately $100 to buy books to inspire their own writing. That, and I can invest in teachers who offer extra learning after school to mentor them. It's a win-win-win in my opinion. 

This morning, I'm hosting a ZOOM for an hour, attending a ZOOM for an hour, then prepping for information meetings on campus, followed by interviews, followed by a dinner with a friend to celebrate her promotion to Full Professorship. 

I probably should wear a dead-animal skull two days in a row, but I'm tempted. It was a great clearance find that I rarely wear, except for special occasions.

Okay, Thursday. Time to stop putzing around and begin hosting this meeting. Be well world.

 

Celebrating the Artistry of @SonyaHuber by Gifting a Piece to Sue McV, My Louisville Sage and Mentor for the Past 32 Years

It's not until February 27th, but when writer Sonya Huber posted her latest jewelry collection Facebook I contacted her and said I want to make a purchase. In all my teaching years with Sue, I always admire her way of making every outfit artful, colorful, zesty, and full of positive intention. She sent me a photo and said, "Look. It matches my Seattle sweatshirt." 

I added the background, of course.

Yesterday was a gift because the Sate closed down due to a snowstorm (even if I did teach online and night) (and most of my meetings were national and, hence, online). Even so, I had time to work on other minor projects and to get ready for class. If it wasn't cancelled, I would have been at a school all day, which I have to attend this morning. It's a bit too much (and Sue asked, "What would happen if you didn't go?" Well, I would simply feel terrible)

By the way, she's hate me for posting this on my blog as she hates any and all attention thrown her way. I can't help myself, however, because all the magic and purpose I feel in this world partially result because of her mentorship, guidance, impeccable listening skills, and teaching. I knew in 1997 when I met her that we were in this for life. After all, she said, "Taking on a student teacher is adding an additional marriage to the equation." 

Yup. Glad to have her partnership all these years, because most of what I do as an educator was influenced by her...my moon is Pisces and I'm Aquarius so it's logical that we hit it off since our first meeting...at Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve, of all places.

As much as I'd like for another snow day and/or delay, I imagine that will not be the case, so I'll post this and head towards the crazy commitment (as I always do).

Wishing me and every other educator luck in their work today. 

Oh, look. It's Valentine's Day. Sending love, too. 

I Wouldn't Believe It If I Wasn't Experiencing It. Money-Making Bureaucracy at Its Best...Reminds Me of What K-12 Teaching Has Become (Teaching to the Test)

It came to NY, but they got rid of it. It came to NJ, but they got rid of it. It came to CT, they got rid of it, but didn't replace it, so still have to go forward with it. Pearson's taking over of teaching certification and making hard-working, exhausted, well-prepared pre-service teachers stop everything to meet the needs of a 'test' without the substance of mentoring the next generation of educators. 

Phew. More NCLB/Race to the Top gone amok.

Where do you make money in education? Testing and the companies who run the assessments. It's something. 

With all of that noted, props to my colleagues, Associate Dean Josh Elliot, and Special Education Director, Alyson Martin, who worked calmly to settle the nerves of 38 anxious pre-service teachers working through student teaching, meandering through new relations in a new school, balancing the need to stop everything to upload materials to a testing company that, although based on best practices, has taken the support away from K-12 schools and teacher education programs. 

As an English education student said, "They are trying to push us out of teaching before we actually get there." Yup. It's why other states simply pushed it out of the way.

But for now, we have to do it because we have no choice. My lord, it shouldn't be this taxing.

Got My Super Bowl in with Chicken Wings, a Run for Refugees & Immigrants, and a Fantastic @CuseWBB @CuseCoachJack Win

Yes, my legs are sore, but worse is Hubert the hernia, who didn't enjoy much that I pushed this middle-aged body to run a 5k in my annual New Haven Run for Refugees. It was a great reunion party and I made it home in time to watch the Syracuse/Louisville Women's basketball game. My two alma maters and I'm always torn, typically for the underdog in each match-up. Daisha Fair was outstanding, as usual, and it made for a fantastic afternoon. 

At night, I went to the Silvers for wings, chili, guacamole, and the first half of the game. It's been a minute since I had such table food, and I forget how much a beer can fill you up. Definitely left at halftime feeling stuffed, satiated, and thrilled by a rather eventful day. 

Today, however, it's a doctor's appointment, the dermatologist, and a grad class, knowing that we are to wake up on Tuesday with a significant amount of snow...which throws off all of Tuesday's in-school plans (which also follows with a graduate course). Ah, February. Doing as you always do...work with unpredictability. 

Hits both free-throws....BOOM!

What a game. The Syracuse/Louisville one. Not the Super Bowl. 

Sorry I missed Usher, but I wanted to make it home for the 2nd half to let the dog out. Not sure about the Super Bowl commercials or if I want my feet scrubbed by a total stranger, but the day is ritualistic and I loved seeing William, Jessica, Oma, Akbar, Arcadius, Will, and Abonga. The old crew was back in town for another great fundraiser for Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services. It's one of my favorite runs each year, although my body wishes I'd just give it up already. 

Okay, Monday...you've brought me another work-week so work it shall be. Here's to the week. 

I'm Dizzy and Cross-Eyed from a Saturday Spent Getting Ahead...My Lack of Planning Cannot Constitute My Own Emergency

I live for having opportunities in K-12 schools and with the work of kids. This week, I have two full-days in a high school from 8 a.m. to 2 pm, and they just so happened to be on two of the days I have classes until late in the evening. On Monday, I have two doctor's appointments followed by my Monday course, and Thursday is meeting, followed by meeting, followed by meeting followed by meeting, all the way until 7 p.m..

Knowing myself, I had to think ahead. How can I be ready for teaching at night if I don't have the opportunity to plan during the day. Coupled with this is Karal, who I hate leaving home at all, so I need to factor coming home in-between to let her out and keep her less panicked than usual. 

What does this mean? I spent all day yesterday working through plans for Tuesday and Wednesday night, so I can roll onto campus and to my thing, and then roll back home. I would be absolutely panicked if I didn't have goals, purposes, print-outs, and an agenda for the students, especially as this is a particularly important night of lessons.

Because I'm covering courses for colleagues, I'm am being indoctrinated with the land of EdTPA hell. For those that don't know, it is Pearson's money-making scheme to assess pre-service teachers on their lesson plans and although parts are familiar to lesson planning as I learned it in the past, it is also repetitive, wonky, and simply silly. So many of us are finding ourselves 'teaching to the test' on a college campus. There is no joy in any of it and it is not the kind of instruction I like to do.

Alas, it's also important to model what you're asking for, so this week's lessons need to be metacognitive of the thinking behind the lessons, so as I have the entire evenings planned out, I also chose to model the entire evening in a EdTPA lesson plan template...which meant double the work. This is my strategy for killing multiple birds with one stone. 

College professors who don't prepare teachers, you are allowed to feel fortunate that you don't need to bow to the shrine of Pearson, as K-12 teachers do, as well as those preparing teachers. I suppose it's equivalent to write a plan for a surgery, every step/every mishap/every needed fact and strategy and have that typed out for a board before you do the surgery, so they can judge your surgery by the paper content, and not the actual surgery. 

And what's my lesson on teaching a lesson for an elementary text...well, we're reading Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, so we'll be going towards the Gods of Olympus. Of course, I can add to the frenzy by stating many of us in my department are also being told, "As you do this, you also need to justify your jobs and build your programs so that your work is viable to the University at a time when teachers are leaving the profession and very few are entering it."

You can't make any of it up. Just when you think the work is impossible, powers that be make it even more impossible.

That is what it means to be an educator.

And That's a Wrap. Sliding into Saturday with Bags Under My Eyes, but Absolute Joy That Another Youth Leadership Academy was Achieved

There isn't much better to fuel the heart than to see 82 8th graders engaged, writing, enthusiastic, and full of promise for a better tomorrow. Rony Delva recruits the best students, teachers, and schools to participate in the MLK Youth Leadership Academy and I can't imagine a better guest speaker than Dr. Yohuru Williams. His brilliance as a speaker is out of this world and his civil rights knowledge is like no other. I am forever thankful that he shared his time with Bridgeport youth and helps me to fulfill my mission as a National Writing Project director to reach all its goals. 

But now it is Saturday. I need to unwind. To Walk. To take advantage of these abnormal temperatures and to find away to get ahead on a rather tight schedule this upcoming week with no breathing room. 

We had numerous guests at the event, including Dr. Williams, President Nemec, the interim Dean of the School of Education and Human Development, Yolehema Felican, the incredible Don Sawyer, and legacy Deb Chappell who represented the MLK Essay contest. There were also several photographers and news reporters, so I look forward to the press that may (or may not) come out of it. Always interesting to be interviewed by such folk, trying to guess the angle they're going to take. 

I'm also thankful to two of SEHD's undergraduates, Meghan and Madeline, who are miraculous in the work they do and the support they show. They are the next generation of educators and I love when they come at it with passion and commitment. The real deal is what our schools need. 

I should share a story, however...an elevator one. While bringing books on a cart to the event in an elevator by my elevator, I thought I might lose my life. Not sure what happened, but it sounded like cables snapped and I went flying down rather quickly, before I was suddenly jerked back up. I fell to the ground, and then it jerked back up, only to crash again. Then the door wouldn't open. I thought for sure it was my demise (even after a smooth drive to work and successful preparation in the days ahead...I thought things were smooth but it was all over). After 15 minutes, the door opened and the first person I saw I asked, "Am I alive, or did that elevator just kill me." 

Needless to say, I reported it then did my four hour workshop. 

Phew. But it messed up my hip and back. I need to keep an eye on that.

Aways something. 

Excited to Host my 11th MLK Youth Leadership Academy @FairfieldU - Writing Our Lives and Dreaming with a Purpose (Spreading the Greatness of @yohuruwilliams)

Yesterday, I unloaded 125 copies of Dr. Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long's More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom for the young people who will be attending the 2024 MLK Youth Leadership Academy at Fairfield University. In 2012, Dr. Yohuru Williams invited me to attend the academy and a year later, Rony Delva - winner of a 2024 MLK Vision Award - asked me if I wouldn't mind taking over the hosting role.  It remains one of my favorite days of each year.

I simply adapted the traditions of Dr. Marcelle Haddix's Writing Our Lives platform from my days with her at Syracuse University and the rest has been history.

This year, in addition to More Than a Dream, we will be highlighting the work of Nikki Grimes, Kwame Alexander, Gene Luen Yang, Ger Duany, and Kelly Baptiste to inspire the next generation of innovators, thinkers, writers, creators, activists, and dreamers. The books and prose are inspiration for the young people to find their own way into textual lineages (thanks, Dr. Tatum, for helping me to invest in such tradition by offering that language). 

I spent most of yesterday organizing the event in my office, including snacks and copies, so that all will ready to move forward in the MLK Youth Leadership Academy tradition. Time to pack the coffee and muscle up the goods.

It is always wonderful to make Kings and Queens of middle school writers and to shout out the MLK Essay contest winners. There are so many schools, teachers, community leaders, and Fairfield University staff and faculty that make the week of celebrations possible. I'm honored to do my part each year with he leadership academy.

Here's to the kids! Here's to the writers! Here's to the brilliance of Queens and Kings who make such a day possible. 

Google Scholar Nerd Wordle - Thankful for @SR_Tolive...Not Only Brilliant & Powerful, but Creative & Playful, Too. Fun to Get a Result

It took me a minute, because I'm slow and I tend not to care about my Google Scholar page. I tried to use my BePress page because it's more thorough, but the Wordle machine didn't care for the link, so I stayed true to the mission, figured out the right link, and WOLA! 12 years of publications summarized with Word frequency to focus of what I've published most. Like my sister-in-the-work, Tracey Flores, posted, WRITING obviously moved to the forefront. Hello? National Writing Project influence much.

21 books/anthologies of teacher/student writing, 25 peer-reviewed articles, 8 professional blog posts, and 104 peer-reviewed conference proposals resulted in the image that accompanies this post. Naturally, writing is prominent in what I choose to publish about.

Education, youth perspectives, male youth, and literature are closely behind, with literacy, literature, and ubuntu tagging behind. It could be teaching. It's a nice summary, but what's to be done with words like 'mostly' - I have no idea. I chose a diamond shape because that's sort of a philosophy...doesn't matter the kid, if you work hard enough to build a relationship, the glimmering of a jewel will arrive. I was surprised community/communities didn't come to the forefront, as the vast majority of what I write about is their imporance. In fact, I would think it'd be tied with writing.

Ah, it's an algorithm. Too bad I can't make one for the words that come out of my mouth while driving I-95. Now that would be a fantastic piece of art.

Yes, it's Thursday morning and I'm coming off three 14-hour days so I don't have much of a brain left. I need what little I have to get ready for the MLK Youth Leadership Academy on Friday. Yes, we'll be writing in a community and dreaming with a purpose. I live for any and all opportunities to write alongside kids.

It's All of Us. It's Our Humanity. It is the Excellence We Choose to See and Not See. Yesterday Was a Great Day & I'm Fortunate

I've been a lucky guy since I was 19 years old and Carol Boyce Davies took me in, mentored my mind, challenged me, pushed me forward, and asked me to think. 33 years later I'm thankful to have the wisdom from Tonya Perry, Marcelle Haddix, Alfred Tatum, Mark Lamont Hill, Ernest Morrell, Gholdy Muhammad, Yolanda Sealey Ruiz, David Kirkland, and Betting Love pushing me even further through their professional mentorship, intellectual guidance, and genius that has allowed me to do the work I do, shape the scholarship in action I aim for, and put history into the center of it all.

B. Love. Don Sawyer summarized it best. B. Love, but Be Joy, too (that's a natural nod to Gholdy and Stacey...I see you, poet and NWP friend). 

Yesterday was the Fairfield University convocation and because of the vision of the MLK committee they brought Bettina Love to campus. Her talk was timely, important, brilliant (what else would it be) and beyond necessary. I especially appreciated the drawbridge exercise she did for faculty beforehand because it helped me to see the arguments I've been trying to make for a long time. Who's to blame? Who's at fault? It's all of us within a system that shames us, builds upon our fear, and needs consequences that sometimes are the results of the systems, themselves...the institutions...the power structures...the traditions. 

Who has ownership of property and the constructions for how the land is used and understood? They are usually the ones that have the power over policy, laws, economics, and justice systems. 

I'm a CNY guy, and that has to be extended to the Rochester world, too....parallel cities with varying histories and interactions with wealth...both with schooling systems that deserve so much more from our government and institutions. 

Zip code apartheid. Gold Coast chess board. Inequities. Opportunity gaps designed and maintained because it's at the core of American history. 

Prudence Crandall. Reuben Crandall. Frances Scott Key. MLK. bell hooks. James Baldwin. Thomas Jefferson. Columbus. 

Narratives and how the truth unfolds. 

Keep me on the ground doing the work. That's the only solution I've ever known. 

I Always Anticipate an Alien Abduction, but Didn't Anticipate It Would Come from a Dog Toy Intriguing the Terrier (Terrorist) Side of Karal

Three aliens squeak. They are hidden in the space ship and the dog love to pull them out and squeak them to their death (and my ears). The holiday tree toy with the ornaments, which did the same, was a favorite of Karal's did the same. She loves sticking her nose into holes to get the treats out.

The little things that entertain me on a Tuesday. 

Tonight, I'm looking forward to an evening with Dr. Bettina Love, after listening to Punished for Dreaming on road trips last Fall. I've always loved hearing Dr. Love speak and I'm impressed our university secured her for this year's MLK Convocation. All props to the hard workers that make this happen across our campus. There is a silent army of many who work tirelessly to make sure the celebrations go as they should (and I look forward to my part on Friday - a tradition that keeps me fueled each and every year. 

I finished a good book last night and debated starting another, but as typical for Mondays, my catch-up/plan-hard weekend had my brain mush for any thinking, so I put it off for this morning. Finishing my coffee, then grinding once again

Nanu. Nanu. 

May the force be with us. 

As usual, January crept forward very slowly, but then February hit and now the days are blending and blurring. It'll only pick up more as the sun stays out longer (that is, if we have sun).

It Pays to Have Veterinarians as Good Friends Because They Introduce Me to New Worlds & Insight I Might Never Know

Ladies and Gentlemen, and all variations in-between and beyond, I am now cognizant of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. I officially have a pin, which will likely look nice on my lapel next to my Universal Life Church pin for marrying couples wished to join forces. Patrick said, "It is my job to get you as much Frog paraphernalia as I can." 

The pin is a step in the right direction. 

So glad he thinks of me while at professional conferences. Just look at that pin...I feel so official.

Of course, all the frogs in my house are ceramic, stuffed, plastic, clothed, photograph and/or painted. It's not necessarily a creature that actually hops and lick-lashes flies. Funny, too, because he was one of the recipients for the toilet fishing game I spent money on last week. What comes around goes around. I love good karma.

I'm awaking this morning to another Monday, MLK Convocation week, a series of tremendous events, and an amazing amount of responsibility to cover. Loved having a Sunday FaceTime call with the Eagle - he's doing mightily well in Iowa, albeit it intense for CPAs. I informed him I'm handing my finances over to him from now on. He didn't seem thrilled, but he'll likely feel fortunate when I, too, move into the Great Whatever (hopefully not any time soon). 

Ribbit Ribbit. 

And thank you, Sun, for being abundant this weekend. It makes all the difference in the world to have the brightness (even a little warmth) yesterday. As I was telling my Aunt Sue and Uncle Milford last night, I hit 50 and my bones take in the cold and whole new levels. It hurts.

Here's to the week.

I Suppose I'll Be Heading to a Place of Medicine Plastic Containers, But for Now I'm Still Taking Precautions in the Palm of My Hands

 I have been doing vitamins for Men over 50, as well as high blood pressure medicines and cholesterol pills as prescribed by my doctor. It was just yesterday, I realized, that the vitamin supplement is called Silver, which I told Kathy Silver is in her honor, because she's better therapy for the soul than any pill, but I take a dose of her every day.

I'm thankful to my English colleagues, Emily and Nels who also reside in Stratford, for treating me to a celebratory dinner at Cibus, where I had a latin-infused steak and egg concoction with rice, avocado, and plantains. It was, like the company, truly delicious. 

The day was rather calm...a walk along the water with Kathy, who I adore, some college basketball, and a good book on the couch. It is my mission to enjoy the every day happiness that presents itself. 

It's nice to take advantage of the weekend for weekend's sake...finding the little joys that come my ways as I head forward in the months of Aquarians and work towards my 52 year. 

I went to bed with just 20 pages of the book left to read, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. I will drink this coffee, post this blog, and begin my Sunday with a book completed. 

Here's to a day of rest...only hoping for the best. 

Going Into the Weekend, With Predictions of Sunshine & Blue Sky, Like Karal. Huh? What is That Strange Yellow Orb Bellowing from Above?

I'm not sure if I'm coming or going, standing up or sitting down, or merely just living like I'm some sort of semblance of being alive...I just know that I'm here right now to be witness to the way it all unfolds. Yes, I have some sort of stomach virus and I'm cognizant that the last year has been more than any one should have to endure, plus I'm aware that the crazy of the universe could be so much worse. But I love my dog, her silliness, and the fact that she's perfectly content under a blanket awaiting whatever the day will unleah for her. 

Hello, Saturday. 

It is true, I too am tired and exhausted. Give me Saturday basketball games and a book. You want to go for a walk? I'm good for that, too.

I did my run-arounds yesterday and all packages were delivered to the right parties. My bed is made, there are grades to be done, and another week ahead. 

All the rain has caused a little friction on Mt. Pleasant. My guess is the skylight in Chitunga's room needs to be replaced, because a portion of his ceiling has sprung a leak and I can see the brown water states that are somehow creeping in on the edge of his room. Palm to head. It must be fixed and it is beyond my wheelhouse (and I hear this is the curse of skylights). It's too cold to care for it now and I have an agenda, but coupled with my warped kitchen floor from a pipe burst last winter, I know there's another phase of home repairs. 

Ah, but I'd much rather be outside for a walk with the dog, which I'll do at 11 a.m. with Yellow, my principal-committed friend. 

It is simply so nice not to have a day of meetings. The same is true for tomorrow...and for that I'm most thankful.

You Know You are Cluckity-Cluck Cluck When It's Easy for You To Buy a Novelty Toy (Because Why Not) But Are Skeptical of Real Adult Purchases

They know how to get me. Potty humor. Last month I saw an add for games to play on the loo and knowing one friend is entering potty-training phases, and the other is forever 15 like me, I had to make the purchase. They arrived in the mail and will slowly be delivered. Who wouldn't want to go fishing while sitting still for so long?

It is Friday. TGIF, it is. And I have a zillion and one errands to run in preparation of the afternoon and with thoughts ahead to the anarchy that is next week. My lack of planning cannot constitute my emergency, so I'm heading around southern Connecticut today in preparation, and onto campus to get things going. 

Karal got two walks yesterday...one early, one later...only because I knew the day was going to be crazy. She also watched me put laundry away, which she thinks is a game. Whatever I grab, she wants to lay on. 

I'm very thankful to our campus's wonderful Margaret McClure for taking me to Mecha yesterday for lunch. Pho is simply healing and the broth is exactly what my soul needed. 

I'm very much looking forward to blue skies and sun this weekend, even if it remains cold, because the gray of January has become old really quick.

I didn't buy myself fishing gear, but am happy to know that two households in southern Connecticut will be able to host bathroom tournaments in the future.

Walking Toward the Rising Sun Again with @GerDuany - An Activity for the First Weeks of Classes For Adding a Little Shine

Once again I'm teaching content area literacies and in the tradition of choosing a book to model as a focus for the semester I chose Ger Duany's Walk Toward the Rising Sun. The class is heavy with history majors and language educators so I thought this would be the perfect memoir to go with as we read Muhammad, Beers & Probst, and Best Practices for Adolescent Literacy Instruction. Two weeks ago I met them with my usual "Dear You Letter" assignment, and asked them to respond in the epistolary tradition. Last week they read each others letters and decided on a single word to capture what the letter contained. I sketched a rising sun on the board and offered each of them a sun ray. 

My point....we all need each other and we need to see our community as a glimmer of hope. We need to walk towards literacy practices together. 

This week, I turned my dry-erase drawing into a visual for conversations as we also read Lopez Lomong's Writing for My Life and viewed a clip from CBS about the relocation of refugee-background individuals from Sudan in the 2000s. This is all to build the art of supplemental texts, applying reading and viewing strategies, and putting academic readings into practice when we discuss Ger Duany's memoir in the weeks ahead. 

I caught one of my students already reading Walk Toward the Rising Sun when I entered the classroom and she admitted she couldn't put the book down. She knows it isn't for several weeks, but she is learning so much about culture and history she never knew about before. AND she's a French teacher. I love bearing witness to this. 

I came home last night, picked up a pizza, and said, "There you go, Crandall...3 14-hour days in a row. You did it." This will be my Monday-Wednesday all throughout the semester. I awake today, however, simply working on the piles of other work that I haven't been able to approach, as it needs to be done immediately because....well...schools are waiting on me. 

But I love the graphic of a rising sun sharing positive qualities about a human collective...that is the way a classroom should be. 

Well, hello, February.