May 2008
Monthly Archive
In the Yard, at the Desk
Posted by gls on 11 May 2008 | Tagged as: Diary, General, House
Yard work is much like paperwork — it tends to pile up and overwhelm. Unlike paperwork, though, I can’t just toss yard work into some draw to make it go away for a while.
Yesterday, I played catch-up.
- I finished digging out our antiquated, slow-draining, often-overflowing drain.
- I mowed.
- I trimmed.
- I changed the oil in the car (for a change of pace, I guess).
- I raked.
And then the oddest thing: I was filled with energy. That’s another crucial difference between yard work and paperwork: working outside energizes; working inside drains.
Tomorrow, at school, I dig into the pile of work that awaits — some of which I’d promised myself I’d do this weekend.
- Make-up work to grade.
- Reports to fill out.
- APS plans to finalize.
- Final exams to create.
And you’ll find it, at 2:45 in the afternoon, when my last class has padded out, sitting at my computer, hardly able to hold my eyes open, dreaming of a shovel.
Billy Collins
Posted by gls on 07 May 2008 | Tagged as: Literature
I have not been “into” poetry for some years now. I once thought I might be a poet at heart, but I can’t even write compelling blog entries, so that is a dream long lost.
I do have to teach poetry, though, and I discovered, while teaching a unit on imagery, my new favorite poet: Billy Collins. Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003, he is accessible, witty, and charming.
The poem we read in class was “The Country.” While searching for an online version, I found an animated version of the poem. Then, I discovered “Forgetfulness.” It has all the elements of a poem of genius: enlightening observations, a uncommonly commonplace topic, perhaps even a cliche turned inside out.
Co Powie Tata?
Posted by gls on 06 May 2008 | Tagged as: LMS
L loves music. One of her favorite albums is a CD of Natalia Kukulska’s childhood songs. When I listen to them, I feel like I’m at a Polish wedding, for the music has that ’80’s, canned-music sound in which wedding bands tend to specialize. I’m not to crazy about it, but L loves it — and that’s all that matters.
One of the songs on the album is “Co Powie Tata?” — “What Will Daddy Say?”. (The English version of the song translates it “Please Tell Me, Daddy,” but that’s really only to make it fit the melody — literary license and all that.) It’s a song about all the questions a little girl has about ladybugs and whether it’s possible to love a snail. Cute lyrics, like all most children’s songs.
K tells me that today, when they got home, L was listening to that and recognized one word: “tata.” She looked at K, asked quizzically “Tata?”, then began the search. She looked in the bathroom, peeked in the shower, and generally wandered about the house looking for me.
Before we know it, she’s going to be demanding to know where I was when she finally sees me after such a search…
(As an aside, this is what Natalia’s up to these days.)
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Third Maximum Break at the Crucible
Posted by gls on 03 May 2008 | Tagged as: General
From the first shot, you know this is going to be a special game; the shot for 49 points proves it.
And then 104.
Ronnie’s ninth maximum in competition — a record.
So O’Sullivan now holds two records: the most and the fastest.
Free Will and the Middle School Soul
Posted by gls on 02 May 2008 | Tagged as: Education
“You can’t make me do that! You can’t make me do anything!”
I’ve heard this only a few times, from students who don’t particularly want to do something and resent the fact that I’m trying to “make” them.
“You’re right. I can’t make you do that,” I respond, and then explain what the student’s choices will influence my choices. Sometimes that motivates, sometimes it doesn’t.
Free will is a tricky thing in the middle schooler. It exists — rather, it flames — and then it disappears in a whimper — rather, in flash. Suddenly, I am making students do all sorts of things.
They shout out rude things because I made them: I unjustly accused them, you see.
They lash out at me because I made them: I asked them to do something they didn’t want to do, you see.
One has even threatened me because I made him: I told him to get up and leave his group of friends because of excessive talking.
If only I could figure out a way to make them do what I want them to do…
