I’m a Writer-Reader-Teacher

Ok…you asked for it…I was asked in class tonight what I feared…it was hard to come up with something on the spot but I did think about it all the way to the car before I left campus…there are obvious things…like losing my wife and my parents…even my first dog…he’s really old and it won’t be long now…

Some of you know that I am studying Buddhism right now…one of the main concepts in Buddhism is the concept of impermanence…look it up…my wife, parents and dog all will die someday…that is a fact…their deaths…like my own…aren’t something I really fear although the thought of it happening is a bit scary…

So…what do I really fear?? Besides my wife…TEACHING IS MY LIFE!!! I’ve taught for almost half of my life…helping students (of all ages) learn is something that brings great amounts of joy to me!! I fear the day that I will no longer be able to go into a classroom and engage students in the act of learning!!!

Teaching isn’t something I do…it’s what I am!!

Fellow writers…

Thanks to everyone that gave the Writing Marathon a shot!! You’re all writers so I wanted you to have a chance to hang out and do what writers do…eat…drink..write and be merry!! :-) If you shared during our “open mic” thanks!!

Looking ahead…next week…December 6th…bring your materials and be ready to spend class time putting your portfolio together…I’ll answer any and all questions as you work.

Looking further ahead…I double…no triple checked the schedule and I’m pleased to announce that we will meet at our regularly scheduled time (and place) to take the “final” on December 13th…

I have really enjoyed working with each and every one of you this semester…I’ve learned a lot from you about the teaching of writing. My mission was to create a community of writers and thanks to everyone’s efforts…THAT’S JUST WHAT WE’VE BECOME!!

I look forward to our last 2 weeks with each other…feel free to post any comments or questions about the portfolio right here or email me…

See ya next week!!!

Whatever it is you do for the holidays next week…be thankful for all that you have. When I got home last night…we got a phone call from a very good friend of ours to tell us that his wife died in a car accident on her way home from a recent trip to Florida. My wife and I have been friends with this couple for 9 years and we consider them both to be our best friends!! Her son and father-in-law were in the car as well…her son broke both of his arms and the father-in-law was injured as well. In all of the chaos that consumed his afternoon…my friend found the time to call us to tell us the news as he prepared to leave the state to go to attend to his son, father and now dead wife…

Why am I telling you all of this??? I want you to find someone you love over the holidays…look them in the eye…and tell them you love them!!! Be thankful for all that you have…I am very thankful to have known my friend Rachel and I will miss her greatly!!!!

Next week we do not meet due to Thanksgiving…I hope everyone enjoys the holiday…we will meet the following Wednesday, November 29th…on November 29^th, our class will embark on an exciting adventure…a Writing Marathon!! I’ve had the pleasure of participating in 2 Writing Marathons…one in Lake Tahoe and one right here on the campus of UNC-Charlotte. Please read the article at the following link http://www.writingproject.org/cs/nwpp/lpt/nwpr/315 to learn about what a Writing Marathon is and why we are taking class time to experience this!! Come to class on the 29^th with your Daybook, a pencil or something else to write with and an open mind!!!

I have two documents of interest to you…one is a calendar of what will be going on for the last 3 classes and one is a document that outlines the expectations for Folder #4 of the portfolio you’ll be turning in for your final grade on December 13th…

Between now and the 29th…please do the following…

1. Read the Writing Marathon article

2. Download the calendar for our last 3 classes and the Folder #4 document.

Any revisions for the 4 papers that will be turned in must be given to me at the beginning of class…November 29th as this will be the last time that I can provide feedback prior to you putting your portfolio together.

Thanks for everything you’re doing and I’ll see you on the 29th…ready to write!!!

engl-1103-proposed-weekly-calendar-final-block.doc

english-1103-section-090-folder-_4-reflective-work.doc

Thanks to everyone for another really good class this week…our discussion went well…I’m so impressed that so many of you have so much to say about these issues…

Moving forward…please complete the following by 11/15…read chapter 15 of Rottenberg/Winchell (take notes and be prepared to discuss the chapter during next week’s class) Complete 1 of the Thinking and Writing activities (1-8) on pp. 597-598 in your Daybook for next week’s discussion. Post comments or questions about chapter 15 to the blog…this will help all of us see what we’re bringing to the discussion on 11/15/06.  Also, please bring something to workshop for next week’s class. Below you’ll find the notes related to what’s expected for Folder 1 of your portfolio. If anyone has any questions about any of this…blog me or email me!!

instructions-for-folder-1-print-doc.doc

Thanks to everyone that came to class tonight!! I appreciate you letting me share my podcast and I hope you get a chance to respond to my 4th graders. The workshop for the revised piece you brought went really well too…I heard some great discussion going on…I was amazed at how well you took to the dialectic journal response and was even more impressed that several of you used it as a reference during our Reading Workshop for chapter 12…remember…if you have anything else to say on the topic…we’re all ears!!

Moving forward…next week we’ll be workshopping the draft you bring in for your Position Piece…we’ll also be discussing chapter 13 of Elements of Argument. Please post comments and questions about chapter 13 here prior to coming to next week’s class…

Again…thanks for the great class tonight!!!