Special Visit from Cousin Mark - a One Night Stop-Over, Mini-Reunion for Not Only Us, but the Dogs. Great Night.

I hunkered around another 24 hours because my cousin Mark was in Boston visiting his daughter at Northeastern and hopes to stop by for a night on his way home. It seemed like a good idea to me, as I was able to get a few on-campus pieces checked off before he arrived. 

It was a quick trip. A walk, dinner, some college basketball, sleep, and departures. He's heading back to Amagansett and I'm heading up to Syracuse. 

Mark arrived with Webster and he gets along marvelously with Karal. The best part of having both is the amount of play time they get with one another. When we went to Bin 100 for dinner (tuna, mussels, pasta...all good) for dinner, we came home and both dogs were good and settled. 

Been an interesting run, thinking about our 20s, 30s, 40s, and now 50s. Interesting to think about the youth work we both do and how we stay true to the ages we love, we have gotten old. It is fascinating to reflect on this history as it has happened....time...changes...the stories. He updated me on Babs, my Aunt's sister, and his cousin in Utah. Babs moved to Utah when she couldn't maintain her own home in Seattle. Nope. The stories don't sit still.

Today, I hope to travel to Syracuse where I'll reside for a few days to regroup. 

Last night, I found comedy with Mark and the dogs as they all fell asleep. I ended up watching the gams on my own. Always great to catch up. Always. 

More Than Six Years Ago Ger Duany's WALK TOWARD THE RISING SUN Arrived for Feedback. And Yesterday a Collaboration Arrived in the Mail.

A super shout-out to Drs. Steffany Comfort Maher and Alice Hays for their outstanding vision for creating Identity, Criticality, and Advocacy in Young Adult Literature: Training Teacher to Empower Students in the ELA Classroom. When I saw the call, I pitched the idea to Ger Duany, author of Walk Toward the Rising Sun, to share ways I've used the book in my own teaching and to offer hope to young people who arrive to the United States from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. This work arrived in a much different period of history, when classroom teachers sought all the ways we could find to support the young people we work with and teach. Chapter 14, our chapter, is entitled "How to Become the Sun - Walking with Ger Duany," and highlights not only the incredible life journey he's lived, but all the curricular modifications made with students as I taught it several times across multiple courses. 

Advocating and out of the classroom is central to my life mission. 

Fortunate for me, I was able to utilize a friendship and Ger's work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (he is an ambassador) and to tap on the identity framework offers by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad to highlight identify as a location for hosting conversations with young people. I framed the writing in the Jesuit traditions of human togetherness: Who am I? Who are you? Who might we be together?

I was out with students (celebrating their presentations at a national conference last Friday) and came home to the arrival of the publication. Projects such as these are years in the making and I'm always happy to see them in print. 

It's now time to transition thoughts to CNY celebrations, including Papa Butch's birthday (which I'll be late for because my cousin Mark is driving through town and we have much to catch up). Bring on the Pepsi cans, coin purses, snow blowing, and lawn mowers. I'm looking forward to cooking meals for the parental units and laying low on various chairs over the next week. Hoping the warm weather predictions are true so I can walk several miles to make up for the delayed steps from blizzards, ice, and rain. I just need to move. 

It's Friday...I'm in over drive getting as much prepared for the weeks to come, as grant work takes planning, time, much energy, and tremendous foresight. I'm using my arrival to Amalfi Drive as inspiration.

In the mean time, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

In Celebration of Staff Who Do the Work of Giants - Retirement Worth a Lunch and a Heart-Felt Hug

If you serve as Chair of Rank & Tenure, you become of any and all who support the process and work with incredible integrity. The legacy of incredible staff is also passed down, so when you hear such a hero is retiring, you stop the world and you take her lunch.

Lucky for me I had a mother who did the work of giants, even as administrators made more money, created the work, and took the credit. I've always been the behind-the-scenes fellow, recognizing the on-the-ground labor of who makes things work. 

I'm so happy for Joan Millen who will work her last day on March 9th. I got lucky and was able to take her to lunch yesterday with my friend Dr. Michelle Farrell. Molto's. What an incredible lunch meal. 

I left for schools soon after and got to spend the day dreaming up possibilities with administrators and teachers. There will be more of that today, as I try to find away to work in grading.

Woke up to delayed schools because of supposed frozen rain yesterday, giving me an unexpected two hours. With released time, my imagination runs wild and I get myself into trouble.

Also had a ZOOM meeting with an intellectual and National Writing Project mentor. It's hard not to love the work we're fortunate to do, even at times of educational disparity. Go, Teachers Go! I see you.

Motivating Adolescent Learners with Literacy Night: Course Readings, Lesson Plans, Theory, and Well, Little Red Balloons to the Rescue

First of all, I rarely frequent Family Dollar, but they have balloons. The contact high was also palpable, as the store had that special stench in every aisle I perused in search of the balloons. It was a $1.50 well spent, and a special shout-out to the Class of 2006 who were only motivated by keeping a balloon in the air and learning conversationally, rather than with a text. You do what you have to do to keep kids engaged and curious of the content to be delivered. 

Students came to class last night, across a variety of content areas, and began the night with questions to be answered, all the while keeping the red balloons in the air. I liked the carnival atmosphere and enjoyed the smiles they had on their faces and the fact they didn't want to end the activity (I've found this to be true with most audiences). We moved to course readings, more textual lineages, and then the content-specific lessons they created for reading Victory Stand: Raising My Fist for Justice.

The students also did a psychological questionnaire online to get feedback on what motivates them best, and what kind of 'doer' they are. I'm in the middle and tend to be motivated by joy (hence the balloons) and an intrinsic drive that isn't bothered much my extrinsic awards or being criticized. I just am who I am. I'm Popeye, I guess. 

This morning I'm out in schools. I will have a fantastic lunch to applaud an amazing staff member who is retiring, and I will come home to motivate myself to start grading the big projects that arrived this week. I will also try to find a way to unwind and sleep properly, as I'm spent.

It's Wednesday. And I hear the temperatures are about to climb. I can't wait to get out of the wet, cold cycle we've encountered throughout January/February. 

Cheers. Get yourself a balloon.

Um. Who Am I? What Day Is It? What Just Happened? Oh...Tuesday. Another Marathon Day with a Little More Stretch Time. Phew

The day really began at 6:30 a.m. and ran until 9:30 p.m.. My intention was to get home midday to walk and care for the dog, but there wasn't even a second where I could attempt to go to the parking lot. This is to say that a Nurse Search candidate was well-received, we passed many items at ESTP and at Academic Council, the dice I rolled with new instruction for Extending Literacy went exceptionally well. I wanted to shift them to reading non-fiction so paired a current event with a reading of James Bird's Wolf Club. 

First: a short PBS News Hour video about Punch followed by an article I found written in India: Why the Internet Can't Stop Crying Over Punch the Monkey, 

Then a distribution of several Grant Snider comics from Thinking About Thinking.

This followed with passages from Wolf Club that pretty much brought forward all the learning from the video, article, and the comics together as a theme for reading the James Bird novel. 

It was a nonfiction lesson to help enhance the reading of fiction. In that sense, a very Kelly Gallagher-esque article of the week. The better part...the graduate students could stop and think about their learning so they, too, could adapt to older kids in their elementary teaching. I love when everything comes together as if I'm a professional who knows what he's doing from time to time. Better yet, I love with lightbulbs go off in the heads of my students and they thank you for teaching them and stay after to discuss their thinking even more. It's fascinating when you have those days as a teacher. 

Of course, waking up this morning, I realize I have to start all over again tomorrow. But I'll get there...I just need the coffee to kick in first. 

They Tried with Brian, but the Good News with Plate Syrup is It is Easy to Correct. A Celebration Two Weeks Later

The problem with a busy schedule is there's not much time to celebrate the milestones. Dr. Michelle Farrell has been trying to get me out for weeks, especially since I said the one thing that makes me happy is to go to a diner and get an omelette. That finally occurred yesterday with home fries and rye toast. I was beyond happy. The surprise came with a slice of cherry pie and singing waiters/waitresses. Brian (equivalent to moron in Danmark) was celebrated, naturally. It was an easy fix.

I'm not even going to try to comprehend the schedule I need to keep today and tomorrow, so I will just say that most of Sunday was spent getting ready for evening classes, because there's no time to prepare during the days. Yes, I told my nurse colleague I could be at their job search because I cancelled my yearly checkup. She wasn't happy. I was honest with her. They will just tell me that my sugar is high, my blood pressure is high, and I need to do something to bring down the stress. I assured my nurse friend that cancelling a doctor's appointment was one way to subdue the stress. I know what they are going to tell me...I just need to find a way to keep up with the job I currently have. 

As I talked with her, she pointed out how silly that sounds. It's true. She's in the same boat, and she reminded me that they will replace us within milli-seconds should we no longer be able to work. I agree. I just need to pull away from the dysfunction and stop trying to fix everything (even though that is what I do because I love the job I do and my students). Stand back and let others see it all for what it is.  

Karal and I got a long walk in yesterday, although it was very cold on some streets where there was more shade. The warm sun didn't quite reach those areas. But when walking in the sun, it was really nice. 

I am, though, forever grateful for my birthday omelette and the numerous spices purchased for me from Pencey's. Yes, barbecue season is around the corner. 

I'm read for tonight's class and will make it around 5 p.m. - just in time. Tomorrow night's class...well, I need to figure that out some time on Tuesday. 

Happy Monday, folks. Hope there's rye toast somewhere near your horizon.

I Can Always Count on This Look in My Day-to-Day Routines. It's the Won't Leave Your Side Co-Dependent In-Your-Face Love of Karal the Dog

When I go to bed, there is no dog. When I wake up, there's a dog curled up behind my knees. Then, this dog comes downstairs with me and sleeps until noon. She wants a walk by then and returns with the need to be in my lap, on my shoulders, at my side, or playing a game. When you don't do what she wants, she growls, stares, barks, growls, and stares again. If it wasn't so cute, it would be outright creepy.

I used weekend day one to, well, review articles, grade, and attend funerals. I will be doing the same on Sunday, without the funerals. Monday, as typical, are loaded with meetings until I teach at night. I need the weekends to be ready for the week. Also had a long overdue conversation with a colleague who is missed very much.

(I need to point out that as I write this, I'm getting the 3rd degree from a growl-talking dog). 

I'm also looking forward to getting a diner omelette for lunch as friends are taking me out for a belated birthday. I'm inhaling and exhaling, as I need to be all-in this week, at the same time I need to find a way to ease up on the insanity.

Oh, snap. It's already March. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!