Transitioning to Workdays and an Extended Weekend without Having Meetings or Students. Learning to Breathe Again and Get the Other Work Done

And there's a Cadbury bunny laying chocolate weekends in the near Friday and I just learned that both Thursday, Friday, and Monday are good (please don't play an April Fool's joke on me, Monday. I need you to be a day off, too, because I have a dentist appointment.

Yes, I'm a fool, but I'm okay with that.

I have five days to breathe and I'm thankful for them: Zoom conversations with National Writing Project folk, grant work, grading, my own writing, applications, and dreaming. I need the space to do all of this, especially since fasting is what it is. 

I'm learning to respect self-control and the way the mind focus on what is most relevant when you deny yourself life's luxuries and privileges. Good being one of them. 

So much of this life-gig is rethinking and repurposing your faith in the world, your philosophy for living a good life, learning (and relearning), questioning, and contending with the hypocrisy of bureaucracies. I maintain my believe in teachers and young people in U.S. schools but grow skeptical of the adult games played by politicians, corporations, Universities, and "non-profit" education groups preying on the vulnerability of schools, especially urban ones. 

I need exercise. I need fresh air. I need my own mind and vision. And I need a break from the nonsense. I welcome the leave, albeit short, and the chance to catch up and rethink my everything. 

Lesson Plan III - Giving Undergrads the Opportunity to Put Their Work Into Action (Because Preparation Never Results in Actuality)

Students in my Expanding Literacy course learn literacy development, grades 3 - 6, and with an eye on student teaching ahead, I pick up the art of lesson planning to give them a transitional idea of how one works with design before they actually set out for action. The problem, however, is that it's hard to see/learn the pacing of a lesson on paper until they implement it with others.

To fix this, each student had 30 minutes to put their design into action. The vast majority of them them finished in 15 minutes and then had 15 minutes of inaction, which was the point I wanted to make with detailing EXACTLY what will occur in a given block of time. Max and his table, however, made it all 30 minutes, which was the model I could then share with others. 

Lesson III needed to be on an independent book they read, with a lesson all the class could implement or think about with the other 15 independent readings that occurred. Max chose to do a lesson for both English and Spanish speakers, which is a mission he has with his own research. 

I remember my own lesson planning days and, if truth be told, nothing teaches you development or pacing better than having a room full of 30 active learners keeping you on your toes. These students aren't there yet, but I'm trying to mentor them for the days that are ahead (I honestly don't know how anyone who doesn't go through a teaching program survives in their first years of teaching - there is so much that can be, and should be, taught in preparatory classes. In fact, I imagine a lot of faculty members could benefit from such instruction as they design college lessons.

This crew is moving on to Easter, though, and I'm ready to have a few days of grading/writing/preparing myself. There's only a short window left when we return and at this time in the semester I feel like I'm drowning. 

Ah, but good news came in stereo yesterday, only adding to the amount of work being done. So, ram horns down and charge. That's the only way I know how to survive. 

They Know When They Are Getting Unexpected Quality Time and Soak It Up When You Find Your Workday Shortened (& Can Watch NCAA Basketball)

I had to remind her that I got home earlier, but this meant that I could also watch Syracuse Women play UCONN for the regional match. After watching both teams on Saturday, I didn't think Syracuse would bring their excellence in the way they did. They fought hard and proved they have excellence that they should be proud of. It was a loss, but I think the Orange win, too. They proved themselves in the circuit and have much to be proud of.  

Karal stayed in my lap the entire time, wanting belly rubs and my attention, even as I kept directing her attention to the television to cheer on the Orange. She could care less. She had her needs, so watched the 2nd half, when I got home early, completely on my lap. She would not have it any other way. 

Great to still have love in the home and a companion for making the work world a little easier. 

Today, I grind for two nights of classes, setting in place the fast pace of the semester when all the students return from Easter break. Blink of an eye and it's over. 

Karal, though, will benefit from more walks, warmth, and companionship from me. Congratulations to the Lady Huskies...I hope they continue to prove their worth in the tournament.

Broke Fast with Creamy Tortellini, Spinach, & Sausage Soup. A Wonderful Break Following a Full-Day of Grant Work & Organizing

I love to cook. I suppose, if I could take a mini-vacation, I might like to spend a week cooking, or in the kitchen, and/or learning new techniques. The problem with living to cook, is not having time to cook. I'm a cheese and box of crackers guy...meaning, I often grab whatever I can when I'm ready. This is a bad idea, I know, but there's only so many seconds in a day.

Now, with that noted, I made soup for the week, thinking ahead to all the days before the mini-Easter break. I'm fasting in support of those celebrating Ramadan and doing my best to complete a fast yet again. On Sundays, though, the call for good food is more forefront, because I'm thinking about what to cook for the week.

I returned to the creamy soup, trying to master the right thickness of broth. The flavors are out of this world and I'm good to go for the week, unless I share with friends (which I'll likely do). 

The bowl above is just a tasting, as I needed more time cooking the soup, but I wanted something to go with the left overs from La Cantina on Saturday. 

I'm in good shape for the week. I teach late three nights in a row, but I can come home to dinner already being made. It does need to thicken up, however. That's for sure. 

It Wasn't Until the Last Quarter that the Lucky Socks Kicked Into Gear (Not Mine, But Chitunga's Girlfriend, Alyssa's - She Brought the Magic)

What a miserable day driving to Gampel Pavilion to and from Storrs. It was a downpour the entire way and we were soaked going into the game, but absolutely DRENCHED coming out of the game. Prepare the head colds. We drove home damp, but happy, the entire way...Pam won $21 in a bet, so she was happy. Arizona State came to win that game and their defense (and offense) was spectacular, but in the end  Dayaisha Fair's 30 points sealed the deal. They looked like Cuse in the last five minutes, but it was a tough battle to move on against UCONN.

The Huskies have the hometown advantage. 

Connecticut, however, is under water. It's almost like we haven't stopped having these downpours since September. The ground can't hold any more and it was fascinating to see all the creeks and ponds saturated and flooded to the game and back (that is, when you could see out the window). 

March, though, is made for the madness of grading and that is what today is all about. That, and hoping my sump pump keeps doing what it has been doing for months.

In the end my socks (and presence) wasn't the lucky charm. It wasn't until Alyssa texted Chitunga and me that she was wearing her lucky socks that the game turned around. Best Christmas gifted ever...so glad I sent them her way for the season. 

Now, for another day of basketball. I teach Monday night, but I hope to catch the 2nd half of the Syracuse/UCONN game on Monday night. 

Wonderful to visit Storrs again, but phew....that rain was something. Could be worse...it could be snow in Syracuse. 

Haven't Filled Out Brackets in Years, But Doing My Part By Heading to Storrs Today to Cheer On @CuseWBB & @CuseCoachJack

We'll be bringing our rain gear and cheer as we head to UCONN today to watch Syracuse Women's Basketball in the first game of their tournament. UCONN plays first against Jackson State, which follows with Syracuse against Arizona. I figured, "I might as well see at least one game since it's in the same state," and the entourage will be heading out soon. 

The Lady Cards were upset yesterday and are out of the tournament, so now it is time to be 100% behind the Orange. I've been cheering on my alma maters for years, and always bite nails when they play each other.

I spent all day yesterday in my writing chair watching the first round of men's and women's games, all the while working through grants, organizing National Writing Project work, and setting to-do lists ahead for the wonderful investment I'm able to make with writers in southern Connecticut.

Karal and I did get our walk in. I need such therapy. 

It's been a minute since I've been to Storrs, and a few years ago the Huskies played in Bridgeport during tournament time, and I did catch those games. There's nothing better than being in the arena and I'm hoping for a great day of action...leaving the Sunday games for the television (as I'm guessing the Monday games will be that much better....yikes, likely with the home crowd of UCONN).

Go, Syracuse! You got this! Your season has been wonderful to follow from afar, and I'm glad I got to live a few of the games through Chitunga's girlfriend, as I got her tickets for Christmas. They one each and every time, and I'm hoping the same will be true for my crew today.

Took Me a Minute, But I Have Moved My Transportive Means to My @initiative211 Bag Gifted By The Incredible Shelbie Witte

Last summer, I had the honor of working with fellow Initiat(ED) colleagues in Nashville, Tennessee, where Dr. Witte offered us Digital Literacy swag to move about town. I had another bag bringing my digital tools from this and that location, but this semester I've been using my new bag which has been a wonderful addition to the work I do (most importantly for conversational purposes).

The work of the Initiative of Literacy in a Digital Age is immeasurable, because it unites so many thinkers, doers, writers, organizations, scholars, and change-makers. This beats a water bottle which I typically store with other water bottles, because I already have too many water bottles. A backpack...now that is something. A backpack designed for digital movement with all the adaptions needed to go location to location...now that is something else. 

Here's to Dr. Witte, her vision, and her moves ahead. It's always a blast to follow the light of visionaries and I know many of us are super excited of all still to come.

Keep on making the magic happen for K-12 schools: writing, communicating, and envisioning all that is possible. 

Yes, it's TGIF, but I'm also TG4SW - thanking God for Shelbie Witte. Woot Woot.