I've made it a habit in recent semesters to perform my poem about teaching, "School of Thought" (accessible as an audio file under "Some Poems"...note to self to get the text up there) to my classes on the last day of class. They always love it, but I usually get the comment that's somewhere along the lines of: "Man you were holding out on us!" I think this is because my classroom persona and stage persona are pretty different. I've done the poem on the first day of class before but that felt like showboating, so I changed it. I had a student today though (who is about my age, and we developed a rapport and chatted after class several times this summer) who suggested I do that earlier. I do teach a spoken word poetry unit in my developmental writing classes and my literature classes. I've been using The Spoken Word Revolution Redux, but this semester I am switching to Write Bloody's new Learn Then Burn to get some fresh poems and check out their suggested lesson plans. Plus I know Write Bloody publishes really high quality spoken word poetry. Although I liked the other book because it comes with a CD, and the quality was great, too. I just want some new poems to dig into for my own sake, mostly, and wanna check out the hot new ticket! :)
At any rate, I think I'm going to present my poem ("School of Thought") somewhere in the poetry unit. It might be a useful and powerful thing to do in every class, and perhaps the last day is the wrong time, even though it's kind of a fun send-off.
This was a good group. I genuinely liked most of them, and they got a long, a good vibe. Doesn't always happen that way. It wasn't the *most* bonded chummy class I've had, but it was solid and fun.
Now I have three weeks "off..." Off to do other things really. Finish packing and moving. Reading and commenting on 300 pages of other Lambda fellows fiction for the workshop by August 8. Excited by that, but a bit daunted.
I got a sublet at the San Francisco Writer's Grotto for the next couple of weeks where I plan to get much of this reading done, my own writing, and planning for the fall semester. I feel very blessed to get to do the Lambda Retreat/Workshop. And I am lucky to do a job that I enjoy most of the time. Still, I need to schedule in a day at the beach or hiking or something in the next couple of weeks! This "time off" idea is a bit misleading. I mean Lambda will be fun, and it doesn't FEEL like work, but there is something to be said for like, actual vacations. There will be the weekend before in LA. Make time for days full of just fun and relaxing. Second note to self.
I decided to cut down my classload from four to three this fall to make more room for my writing, developing my writing career, and other creative projects. It'll make money a bit tighter--loans still in deferment--but I think it's worth it. I can always go back to four in the spring if I want more cash.
Freeway flyers (or anyone else really) who may be reading this, please feel free to comment on my scheduling dilemma:
What would you do?--
option A: have tuesdays and thursdays "free" and work-from-home flexible, but make wednesday ridiculously long and full of driving
option B: have commitments M-Th, but Wed afternoon and TTh mornings free
At any rate, I think I'm going to present my poem ("School of Thought") somewhere in the poetry unit. It might be a useful and powerful thing to do in every class, and perhaps the last day is the wrong time, even though it's kind of a fun send-off.
This was a good group. I genuinely liked most of them, and they got a long, a good vibe. Doesn't always happen that way. It wasn't the *most* bonded chummy class I've had, but it was solid and fun.
Now I have three weeks "off..." Off to do other things really. Finish packing and moving. Reading and commenting on 300 pages of other Lambda fellows fiction for the workshop by August 8. Excited by that, but a bit daunted.
I got a sublet at the San Francisco Writer's Grotto for the next couple of weeks where I plan to get much of this reading done, my own writing, and planning for the fall semester. I feel very blessed to get to do the Lambda Retreat/Workshop. And I am lucky to do a job that I enjoy most of the time. Still, I need to schedule in a day at the beach or hiking or something in the next couple of weeks! This "time off" idea is a bit misleading. I mean Lambda will be fun, and it doesn't FEEL like work, but there is something to be said for like, actual vacations. There will be the weekend before in LA. Make time for days full of just fun and relaxing. Second note to self.
I decided to cut down my classload from four to three this fall to make more room for my writing, developing my writing career, and other creative projects. It'll make money a bit tighter--loans still in deferment--but I think it's worth it. I can always go back to four in the spring if I want more cash.
Freeway flyers (or anyone else really) who may be reading this, please feel free to comment on my scheduling dilemma:
What would you do?--
option A: have tuesdays and thursdays "free" and work-from-home flexible, but make wednesday ridiculously long and full of driving
option B: have commitments M-Th, but Wed afternoon and TTh mornings free
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