Yesterday after lunch I decided to talk a walk. I'd brought my lunch, it wasn't blisteringly hot, and with a half hour before the next session, I thought a short walk would be great - maybe find a mail box too, to mail more postcards.
Now I did know the Folger is on East Capitol, and we do drive by the Capitol daily from several angles, but since we spend most of our time indoors, and don't do much exploring, I was totally unprepared to walk two blocks and find myself at the plaza in front of the Capitol Building. Right in front of me! Supreme Court to my right, the Library of Congress to my left. What could I do but the tourist thing and walk around taking pictures from all sorts of angles. It really is a beautiful building and quite imposing. I stood there just thinking of all the important events that have gone in that building. As I took pictures (directed up the stairs which are roped off) one of the guards popped his head behind the pillar so to not spoil my picture. More pictures at the Supreme Court (not much activity there nor many protesters - I have seen more action there) just two people with red tape over their mouths.) One very nice view of the Washington Monument in the distance, but I think it was too hazy for that picture.
This is a pretty impressive neighborhood!
One of the TSI-ers saw Clarence Thomas walking down the street, followed by three staffers. And we realized we aren't out of our building enough to even think of who we might see walking around. On the Metro bus later last evening (went into Tenley Town for a Z-burger) heard three young men who must be summer interns who were comparing where they work - one was in the Rayburn Building, one of the Senate office buildings I walked past just earlier today! Pretty cool.
Work - My research paper comes along - up to 6 pages I think. It's due Monday. My curriculum proposal was fine, now I have to finish that lesson, create a rubric and handout, and a pod cast for next Wednesday (I think). Have to memorize 4 lines from Henry IV part one for tomorrow. (I'm the king). Have to create a scene for next Friday. (lots of time) what am I forgetting? Oh, I'm sure there's something, but it will all get done.
It's 7:08 - humid, today in the 90's but that no longer feels too hot to me. Amazing. (By the way no mailboxes - security? -thank goodness for the Folger's outgoing mail box).
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
oh yes, dorm life
Haven't quite figured out how to edit posts, which is why no titles in previous have italics, but wanted to share some of the pleasures of dorms... Thursday we came back to no water from 9pm to 4 am - found out when I attempted to flush ... enough said (maybe too much). That night also air conditioning was minimal to none. Yesterday no hot water - took a much needed tepid shower. Not loving it.
American University does not make much of any attempt to warn us of changes. Moving cars for Obama's visit was told us via a piece of paper stuck with masking tape over a sign in the entry way. Water turn off was same, though the sign said Anderson was affected not Centennial where we dwell. So we found out by usage (or lack of it) only. I'm assuming AU likes making money from renting dorms to outside groups, but they are not making much of an impression on me. I'm also guessing options in DC are limited. Apparently TSI used Georgetown U in the past but the reports were the dorms were dreadful. The room is fine, but it's getting messy and I have no way to clean it - no vacuums at all. When I asked if there was one I could borrow for 10 minutes, I was told I could ask the cleaning staff to come in and vacuum, but I am not here when they are. I share a bathroom with one person and we are both pretty fastidious, but guess what? Neither of us brought any equipment for cleaning bathrooms! It's getting a bit well-used, but there is nothing I can do about that either. And most of the campus is shut down for the summer, so there are very few options for eating. Library closed much of the time. Not easy to find info on hours either. I learned last night there is a computer center below us, in our dorm, with printers and other equipment - this I learned from another TSI er, who found it by accident. No one at AU thought to tell us what services are available. And their own bookstore is never open when we are here! We would all spend lots of money there! This place is a little nuts.
However there are very sweet undergrads working the desk. It's their bosses I would like to have a few words with.
Now, time to get to work (or get more coffee). It is Sunday.
American University does not make much of any attempt to warn us of changes. Moving cars for Obama's visit was told us via a piece of paper stuck with masking tape over a sign in the entry way. Water turn off was same, though the sign said Anderson was affected not Centennial where we dwell. So we found out by usage (or lack of it) only. I'm assuming AU likes making money from renting dorms to outside groups, but they are not making much of an impression on me. I'm also guessing options in DC are limited. Apparently TSI used Georgetown U in the past but the reports were the dorms were dreadful. The room is fine, but it's getting messy and I have no way to clean it - no vacuums at all. When I asked if there was one I could borrow for 10 minutes, I was told I could ask the cleaning staff to come in and vacuum, but I am not here when they are. I share a bathroom with one person and we are both pretty fastidious, but guess what? Neither of us brought any equipment for cleaning bathrooms! It's getting a bit well-used, but there is nothing I can do about that either. And most of the campus is shut down for the summer, so there are very few options for eating. Library closed much of the time. Not easy to find info on hours either. I learned last night there is a computer center below us, in our dorm, with printers and other equipment - this I learned from another TSI er, who found it by accident. No one at AU thought to tell us what services are available. And their own bookstore is never open when we are here! We would all spend lots of money there! This place is a little nuts.
However there are very sweet undergrads working the desk. It's their bosses I would like to have a few words with.
Now, time to get to work (or get more coffee). It is Sunday.
Happy birthday To Kill A Mockingbird!
Here it is Sunday again. So much goes on each day, our schedule is so filled. This is one of the few times in recent years I have done virtually no personal reading (up to page 54 of young adult novel our school librarian gave me to read, and that I thought I'd take a day to read- taken me two weeks to get to page 54). I feel guilty just writing emails during the day. Shouldn't I be doing research?
The Teaching Shakespeare Institute (hereafter TSI) is really great. Though I had a low moment or two Friday afternoon, feeling tired and wanting more than anything just to go home, real home, not dorm home, my home - missing my family and yes, creature comforts) I recovered and at this point I am glad we still have two weeks to go. I feel in a way that I am just beginning to see all the possibilities inherent in performance-based teaching and I need lots more practice. Many of us have said this in the past few days - there is so much info being given to us, we worry we have no time to process it and worry about how we will remember it and use it; but I'm starting to think about my classes and things I teaching (beyond our darling Will) and see ways I can use this throughout. It's like my teaching possibilities are expanding, though I know that sounds a little silly. So many professional developments -even the few (very few) I have liked give us no time to practice and start to personalize for ourselves. So with all best intentions we don't make any changes because there's no time to figure out how to incorporate the new, and no one to work with us on it. Teaching is usually so solitary, which is another awesome part of TSI. I am surrounded by professionals who are passionate about Shakespeare and their students and really want to grow and work with others. And that is not something teachers can easily connect with.
So today I slept until 7:30 am. Laundry is in dryer. Had a cup of coffee and might get a second soon. Going to forgo any sightseeing today to think about our next play, Measure for Measure, reread some if not all of it, work on my research paper and final curriculum project. If I get a good start on these items, I think I will be in good shape as far as deadlines are concerned, and be able to sight see next weekend.
Past week was Twelfth Night. Great lectures by our scholars, Jay Halio, Margaret Maurer and Stephen Dickey, who talked about bearbaiting and applied it to the actions of the characters in the play. Not as much time in the library as any of us would have liked, but I was able to redownload the documents (all from 1580 on an earthquake and a comet) - somehow I messed up the first time. Finished my first lesson plan (no feedback yet). Posted on voxopop, started playing with audacity - two podcast programs - one I had used before but not in a while. Presented our box set for the final scene of Macbeth. I was responsible for costumes and I was sort of happy with what I did, but had no real art supplies and my group had some real problems working together (but not for publication). I can understand my student's objections to group projects more than ever! Doesn't mean I won't still use them, but I do like the way this one was established, clearly defining jobs, and it does give me another perspective on the whole topic
We met Peggy O'Brien, the first head of the education department at the Folger, and she began TSI. She is amazing and a pleasure to listen to. She and her husband, Michale Tolaydo, who is one of our faculty, had us all to their house on Friday night. Great time, wonderful people.
Yesterday was our trip to Staunton, Virginia to see Othello at Blackfriar's Theatre, which is a recreation of Blackfriars in England. I admit it, I was dreading the bus ride (even though it was on a coach bus) as we were leaving at 6:45 am, and returning 8:30 pm. 3 hours to Staunton. It was a great day. Staunton is adorable and I would love to return to 'shop it.' Very cute crafts shops- but not time. The ride was pleasant, slept a little, talked alot (mostly about WS). We saw Othello, which was nowhere near as great as the performance we saw in Lenox (I think that performance will be tough to ever beat - and one of the women here saw it too, so we compared notes) but it was good. Before the performance, one of the directors of Blackfriar's gave a lecture on Othello on the 'geograhpical, historical and local ' aspects of the play, which was excellent ( and I took lots of notes). One of the local issues he discussed was the tensions inherent in performing Othello in a town in the south, a town that has a movie theatre called "Dixie" where they used to do minstrel shows in black-face, a statue of Stonewall Jackson and a hotel named the same. Thought provoking, and followed by a discussion of how realistically the concept of 'color blind' casting can ever be.
Staunton is also home to the Woodrew Wilson Presidental Library, which we did not have time to see - no real tears at that though another reason for a return someday. I would say that Shakespeare and Company does a better performance job, but Staunton is still pretty cute.
So that's that for today. I am going to try to download pictures today. Not sure if I can get them on here or my facebook page. Wish me luck!
The Teaching Shakespeare Institute (hereafter TSI) is really great. Though I had a low moment or two Friday afternoon, feeling tired and wanting more than anything just to go home, real home, not dorm home, my home - missing my family and yes, creature comforts) I recovered and at this point I am glad we still have two weeks to go. I feel in a way that I am just beginning to see all the possibilities inherent in performance-based teaching and I need lots more practice. Many of us have said this in the past few days - there is so much info being given to us, we worry we have no time to process it and worry about how we will remember it and use it; but I'm starting to think about my classes and things I teaching (beyond our darling Will) and see ways I can use this throughout. It's like my teaching possibilities are expanding, though I know that sounds a little silly. So many professional developments -even the few (very few) I have liked give us no time to practice and start to personalize for ourselves. So with all best intentions we don't make any changes because there's no time to figure out how to incorporate the new, and no one to work with us on it. Teaching is usually so solitary, which is another awesome part of TSI. I am surrounded by professionals who are passionate about Shakespeare and their students and really want to grow and work with others. And that is not something teachers can easily connect with.
So today I slept until 7:30 am. Laundry is in dryer. Had a cup of coffee and might get a second soon. Going to forgo any sightseeing today to think about our next play, Measure for Measure, reread some if not all of it, work on my research paper and final curriculum project. If I get a good start on these items, I think I will be in good shape as far as deadlines are concerned, and be able to sight see next weekend.
Past week was Twelfth Night. Great lectures by our scholars, Jay Halio, Margaret Maurer and Stephen Dickey, who talked about bearbaiting and applied it to the actions of the characters in the play. Not as much time in the library as any of us would have liked, but I was able to redownload the documents (all from 1580 on an earthquake and a comet) - somehow I messed up the first time. Finished my first lesson plan (no feedback yet). Posted on voxopop, started playing with audacity - two podcast programs - one I had used before but not in a while. Presented our box set for the final scene of Macbeth. I was responsible for costumes and I was sort of happy with what I did, but had no real art supplies and my group had some real problems working together (but not for publication). I can understand my student's objections to group projects more than ever! Doesn't mean I won't still use them, but I do like the way this one was established, clearly defining jobs, and it does give me another perspective on the whole topic
We met Peggy O'Brien, the first head of the education department at the Folger, and she began TSI. She is amazing and a pleasure to listen to. She and her husband, Michale Tolaydo, who is one of our faculty, had us all to their house on Friday night. Great time, wonderful people.
Yesterday was our trip to Staunton, Virginia to see Othello at Blackfriar's Theatre, which is a recreation of Blackfriars in England. I admit it, I was dreading the bus ride (even though it was on a coach bus) as we were leaving at 6:45 am, and returning 8:30 pm. 3 hours to Staunton. It was a great day. Staunton is adorable and I would love to return to 'shop it.' Very cute crafts shops- but not time. The ride was pleasant, slept a little, talked alot (mostly about WS). We saw Othello, which was nowhere near as great as the performance we saw in Lenox (I think that performance will be tough to ever beat - and one of the women here saw it too, so we compared notes) but it was good. Before the performance, one of the directors of Blackfriar's gave a lecture on Othello on the 'geograhpical, historical and local ' aspects of the play, which was excellent ( and I took lots of notes). One of the local issues he discussed was the tensions inherent in performing Othello in a town in the south, a town that has a movie theatre called "Dixie" where they used to do minstrel shows in black-face, a statue of Stonewall Jackson and a hotel named the same. Thought provoking, and followed by a discussion of how realistically the concept of 'color blind' casting can ever be.
Staunton is also home to the Woodrew Wilson Presidental Library, which we did not have time to see - no real tears at that though another reason for a return someday. I would say that Shakespeare and Company does a better performance job, but Staunton is still pretty cute.
So that's that for today. I am going to try to download pictures today. Not sure if I can get them on here or my facebook page. Wish me luck!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fourth of July, part 2
First goal achieved (clean laundry) I decided to head into the city, hoping to go to the Museum of National History. First time navigating the metro by myself, but luckily I had an excellent teacher, one of my fellow TSIers who explained the system, and actually it all made sense. (It is a great system) Station I wanted to get off on was closed, but no problem and I emerged into the wall of heat and began walking down to Constitution. Unfortunately many many people had the same idea as I. As I approached the Museum I was a little dismayed to see hundreds of people standing in line, on either side of the doors, waiting to go inside. Standing in the blazing sun. Line not moving too fast (checking all bags inside - security). So I continued on my way, seeing the same thing at other museums. Natural History didn't look too bad on the outside, but inside a sea of faces looking tired, sweaty, a little overwhelmed. Hard to enjoy exhibits when you're in such a crowd.
On the verge of deciding I'd made a mistake, and discretion is the better part of valor, walked a little further and found myself at the National Gallery. Not busy. Not empty, but not busy.
What a wonderful collection and a beautiful building. Large rooms, couches to sit on and contemplate paintings. Statuary and fountains and greenery as well. And so many wonderful paintings. I especially liked the current exhibit entitled The Little Ice Age- paintings by Hendrick Avercamp a Dutch painter whose lived 1585-1634. His paintings are small, and show detailed scenes, filled with life usually on ice, mixing skaters and people at play with people at work. I had never heard of him before, and after the time spent during my pilgrim days pouring over Dutch painters, I sort of thought I knew most of them. I bought the exhibit catalog, so you call all see what I am talking about one of these days.
Several hours in the West Wing (I wish) and then the East Wing which is a fabulous building.
I am so glad I was able to see it all.
Some strange odor of bad eggs pops up in the evening in the dorm. What's that about I wonder. Well it's time to get back to Shakespeare work - finish my rereading of Twelfth Night (play for this week) and then meet with my group (one of my many groups) about a project due Thursday. Spent several hours writing about comets and earthquakes today - that's another project. Just so you don't think I'm kidding when I say we have a lot of work to do.
It is hot - like a wall of heat outside. More later!
On the verge of deciding I'd made a mistake, and discretion is the better part of valor, walked a little further and found myself at the National Gallery. Not busy. Not empty, but not busy.
What a wonderful collection and a beautiful building. Large rooms, couches to sit on and contemplate paintings. Statuary and fountains and greenery as well. And so many wonderful paintings. I especially liked the current exhibit entitled The Little Ice Age- paintings by Hendrick Avercamp a Dutch painter whose lived 1585-1634. His paintings are small, and show detailed scenes, filled with life usually on ice, mixing skaters and people at play with people at work. I had never heard of him before, and after the time spent during my pilgrim days pouring over Dutch painters, I sort of thought I knew most of them. I bought the exhibit catalog, so you call all see what I am talking about one of these days.
Several hours in the West Wing (I wish) and then the East Wing which is a fabulous building.
I am so glad I was able to see it all.
Some strange odor of bad eggs pops up in the evening in the dorm. What's that about I wonder. Well it's time to get back to Shakespeare work - finish my rereading of Twelfth Night (play for this week) and then meet with my group (one of my many groups) about a project due Thursday. Spent several hours writing about comets and earthquakes today - that's another project. Just so you don't think I'm kidding when I say we have a lot of work to do.
It is hot - like a wall of heat outside. More later!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Fourth of July
Here I sit in our capital on the fourth of July, and my most pressing needs are a laundromat and a cup of coffee. Mundane concerns, yet important to me. I've been here a week and what a week it has been. Our sessions this week ended with a lecture, then lunch time discussion with Barbara Mowat, one of the two editors of the Folger Shakespeare Editions - the books I use in class, and the ones we are using this summer. Her perspective on Shakespeare is so filled with her deep, detailed, extremely close knowledge of all the plays. One of the last questions of the day was based on her years of reading his work, what does she see in William Shakespeare?
Here's what she said: (based on my notes)
Compassion as the greatest of virtues
Aberration for women - that the relationships between men and women are strange, and fickle but that the women in WS are amazingly constant
A sense of his own weakness as a man
A tremendous interest in the family structure
She said except for these patterns, there's no way to know this man. 'We can only get so deep"
She also sees - an openness of spirit, an understanding of evil (this was emphasized).
She feels he is showing us that we need to look at things the way they are; when we don't see what is right in front of us, things go bad. Trust will only take you so far, but compassion is what you need.
(A good place to end) She also believes the conspiracy theories are nuts, for the most obvious reason - what would induce so many people to participate in a such wide spread conspiracy (because everyone would have to be in on it).
Yesterday all day in the Folger Reading Room, today need to start working on writing up what I am doing. Want to reread Twelfth Night and figure out a few more assignments (in my free time).
Still hoping to get into the city to see a museum, though I have kind of decided against trying to see the fireworks - fear the heat and humanity might be too much for me.
And I'm going to have to find a laundromat. The machines here at AU have not worked all weekend; nothing is open is campus (not even McDonald's). I suppose I can live without coffee, but clean clothes is not something I intend to forgo.
Happy Fourth!
Here's what she said: (based on my notes)
Compassion as the greatest of virtues
Aberration for women - that the relationships between men and women are strange, and fickle but that the women in WS are amazingly constant
A sense of his own weakness as a man
A tremendous interest in the family structure
She said except for these patterns, there's no way to know this man. 'We can only get so deep"
She also sees - an openness of spirit, an understanding of evil (this was emphasized).
She feels he is showing us that we need to look at things the way they are; when we don't see what is right in front of us, things go bad. Trust will only take you so far, but compassion is what you need.
(A good place to end) She also believes the conspiracy theories are nuts, for the most obvious reason - what would induce so many people to participate in a such wide spread conspiracy (because everyone would have to be in on it).
Yesterday all day in the Folger Reading Room, today need to start working on writing up what I am doing. Want to reread Twelfth Night and figure out a few more assignments (in my free time).
Still hoping to get into the city to see a museum, though I have kind of decided against trying to see the fireworks - fear the heat and humanity might be too much for me.
And I'm going to have to find a laundromat. The machines here at AU have not worked all weekend; nothing is open is campus (not even McDonald's). I suppose I can live without coffee, but clean clothes is not something I intend to forgo.
Happy Fourth!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Is it Thursday?
Last night, at the end of a very long and busy day, four of us were walking into the dorm, when I noticed a small sign taped to the wall, informing us that all cars need to be moved from the Nebraska lot before 8pm, due to increased security surrounding President Obama's visit, or they'd be towed. Yikes! Did I mention it was 10pm when we arrived back at the dorm? So despite being quite tired, we all immediately got over to the lot where happily no cars had been towed (yet). Cars all safely moved. And sad to say, no chance of a glimpse of the President, as our schedule kept us far from campus today.
And yes, it is Thursday, nearly 10 pm and I am running out of steam.
And yes, it is Thursday, nearly 10 pm and I am running out of steam.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday ...
Okay, it's Tuesday. I have been here since Sunday. In my dreams I was going to post something shortly after arriving at American on Sunday, but my dreams did not include having to figure out how to work the wireless internet. Or how tired I might be by Sunday evening.
The days are just packed -- was that sort of Calvin's line? Well, it is true for us. Today we were given a tour of the Reading Room - old and new - and the stacks (two floors below the main floor) and a glimpse of the vault (where those 79 copies of the first folio reside in air conditioned splendor).
Along the way we saw a card catalog (not everything is on Hamnet yet, but with all the book nerds in the group we were happy to see a card catalog, and a beautiful one at that) and lovely stacks of books, and books and pamphlets and more books.
Everyone at the Folger is so welcoming and friendly. Each morning the staff of the TSI is waiting on the steps as we arrive, waving us a welcome. They wave us off at the end of the day. Our bus driver is the most friendly bus driver I have ever met. He plays great music, and is totally obliging.
We have lectures in the morning, seminar groups for discussion, small groups for performance techniques, and groups for curriculum sessions. Lots of sitting but lots of mental activity. This week our focus in Henry IV Part I a play I would have said didn't say much to me, but boy has my opinion changed. I'm learning every day, and one of the things I am learning is how disorienting it is to be asked to change your mind, or try something new, or act in front of semi-strangers (things I ask my students to do all the time). It's good to remember what it is like to be unsure of what you are doing.
And today (Alex) I had lunch in the garden. I brought my salad and sat with my suite mate in the herb garden, admiring the statues. There was a nice breeze, and you could faintly smell the herbs.
Tonight walking back from dinner, fireflies helped light our path.
Tomorrow, a full day plus we view a movie of Henry IV then our monument tour.
The days are just packed -- was that sort of Calvin's line? Well, it is true for us. Today we were given a tour of the Reading Room - old and new - and the stacks (two floors below the main floor) and a glimpse of the vault (where those 79 copies of the first folio reside in air conditioned splendor).
Along the way we saw a card catalog (not everything is on Hamnet yet, but with all the book nerds in the group we were happy to see a card catalog, and a beautiful one at that) and lovely stacks of books, and books and pamphlets and more books.
Everyone at the Folger is so welcoming and friendly. Each morning the staff of the TSI is waiting on the steps as we arrive, waving us a welcome. They wave us off at the end of the day. Our bus driver is the most friendly bus driver I have ever met. He plays great music, and is totally obliging.
We have lectures in the morning, seminar groups for discussion, small groups for performance techniques, and groups for curriculum sessions. Lots of sitting but lots of mental activity. This week our focus in Henry IV Part I a play I would have said didn't say much to me, but boy has my opinion changed. I'm learning every day, and one of the things I am learning is how disorienting it is to be asked to change your mind, or try something new, or act in front of semi-strangers (things I ask my students to do all the time). It's good to remember what it is like to be unsure of what you are doing.
And today (Alex) I had lunch in the garden. I brought my salad and sat with my suite mate in the herb garden, admiring the statues. There was a nice breeze, and you could faintly smell the herbs.
Tonight walking back from dinner, fireflies helped light our path.
Tomorrow, a full day plus we view a movie of Henry IV then our monument tour.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Just finished reading a very interesting book. Contested Will by James Shapiro is a look into the topic of 'who wrote Shakespeare?' or since the author is pretty convinced Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare, it's a discussion of the people who could not believe Shakespeare wrote what he wrote, and the individuals they advanced in his place. Among the people who doubted plausibility of Shakespeare were Sigmund Freud, Mark Twain, and Helen Keller.
I find this so amazing. And while I am condensing the book a lot, it seems that most of those who don't believe in Shakespeare do so because they can't believe a non-aristocrat from a small burg could write as he did; they can't believe he could have written what he did without having greater experience in life (discounting imagination I guess) and because the limited records from his day relate to financial transactions, Shakespeare is seen to many as being his own Shylock.
I am a total believer in Shakespeare, but the book made for fascinating reading.
Three days left! Friday is my last day of school, Saturday our street's annual block sale, Sunday is Washington!
The next voice you hear ... or message you read will be from sunny (I hope) DC.
I find this so amazing. And while I am condensing the book a lot, it seems that most of those who don't believe in Shakespeare do so because they can't believe a non-aristocrat from a small burg could write as he did; they can't believe he could have written what he did without having greater experience in life (discounting imagination I guess) and because the limited records from his day relate to financial transactions, Shakespeare is seen to many as being his own Shylock.
I am a total believer in Shakespeare, but the book made for fascinating reading.
Three days left! Friday is my last day of school, Saturday our street's annual block sale, Sunday is Washington!
The next voice you hear ... or message you read will be from sunny (I hope) DC.
Monday, June 14, 2010
13 days and counting ...
Well, I've read (and reread) the four plays, and the book about teaching Shakespeare in prisons, and poured over the schedule. I borrowed (or rather Tom did for me) three different travel guides to DC and decided on my favorite. Lots of lists, but no packing yet. I look at the calendar and the garden and the house, not to mention the family (and the cats) and think yikes! I'll be gone for a month. It's a little scary.
But the thought of spending four weeks surrounded by people like me who love Shakespeare, love teaching Shakespeare and want to learn more ways of connecting our passion with our students ... I can't wait.
I am a little disappointed that my elective isn't a go for next year. Funny how many students have stopped by in the last week to ask what senior course I'm teaching next year, can they sign up for it? If all who asked had actually registered I'd have at least two sections! Maybe next year -- maybe I need to do a better job of advertising and promoting the class. But maybe it's fine to wait another year. I'll have this coming year to play with what I've learned and more time to plan.
First though, got to finish up the school year, get my trip-tiks lined up, and away we go.
But the thought of spending four weeks surrounded by people like me who love Shakespeare, love teaching Shakespeare and want to learn more ways of connecting our passion with our students ... I can't wait.
I am a little disappointed that my elective isn't a go for next year. Funny how many students have stopped by in the last week to ask what senior course I'm teaching next year, can they sign up for it? If all who asked had actually registered I'd have at least two sections! Maybe next year -- maybe I need to do a better job of advertising and promoting the class. But maybe it's fine to wait another year. I'll have this coming year to play with what I've learned and more time to plan.
First though, got to finish up the school year, get my trip-tiks lined up, and away we go.
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