I'm a Writer-Reader-Teacher http://mreye.uniblogs.org A space to discuss all that matters!!! Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:54:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 en Final Thoughts…English 1103, Section 090 http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/12/15/final-thoughtsenglish-1103-section-090/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/12/15/final-thoughtsenglish-1103-section-090/#comments Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:54:01 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/12/15/final-thoughtsenglish-1103-section-090/ Wow…I can’t believe it!! I just submitted the final grades to the first class I ever taught…for the English Department…English 1103…what a semester…I can remember the first night of class…I had to have a very good friend “stand in” for me because I was at my “day job”…Open House with my 4th grade students…why was I about to put myself through this? Teach all day then go to the college once a week to teach for 2 1/2 more hours…was I crazy? Yes! Was it worth it!!! Absolutely!!! This experience will remain in my thoughts for a very long time…I was so nervous walking up the stairs to get to my class of freshman students…my good friend and colleague Shana…who “stood in for me” had the students writing their introductory letters as a way to respond to the letter I wrote to them that Shana had just finished reading a loud…was I ready for this?? YES!!

I quickly learned that the students before me were very fragile writers…damaged by years of torture in high school, middle school, and elementary school…they didn’t like to write weren’t quite sure what to expect from me either…as I took over and started class…I reminded myself…”just be yourself” and everything will fall into place…my goal…as I stated that night…was to help them learn to love writing and view themselves as writers…TALL TASK…but I’m here to say…

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

I just finished reading everyone’s portfolio which included a final reflective letter…each letter gave me a “window” into the heart’s and mind’s of each of the writers in our community…each writer talked about things they learned…highlights from throughout the semester…a-ha moments…etc.

The one thing that came shinning through each letter was that each student now enjoys writing…some more than others…but most impressive of all…each student now view herself as a writer!!! What a wonderful feeling to have at the age of 18…

I had to wait until I was 38 to experience that feeling and for each of my students to articulate in their letters was humbling…

Wednesday nights are going to feel really weird for a long time for I will truly miss engaging in the act of learning with this group…thanks to each of them for helping me along the path…I wish them all the best and would like to end by saying…

KEEP WRITING!!!

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/12/15/final-thoughtsenglish-1103-section-090/feed/ What I fear… http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/what-i-fear/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/what-i-fear/#comments Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:20:27 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/what-i-fear/ 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!!

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/what-i-fear/feed/ English 1103: Section 090…2 more classes left!! http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/english-1103-section-0902-more-classes-left/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/english-1103-section-0902-more-classes-left/#comments Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:23:37 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/english-1103-section-0902-more-classes-left/ 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!!!

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/29/english-1103-section-0902-more-classes-left/feed/ Be thankful… http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/16/be-thankful/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/16/be-thankful/#comments Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:04:49 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/16/be-thankful/ 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!!!!

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/16/be-thankful/feed/ 3 More classes left!! Where did all the time go?? http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/15/3-more-classes-left-where-did-all-the-time-go/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/15/3-more-classes-left-where-did-all-the-time-go/#comments Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:32:19 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/15/3-more-classes-left-where-did-all-the-time-go/ 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 29th, 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 29th 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

 

 

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/15/3-more-classes-left-where-did-all-the-time-go/feed/ English 1103: Section 090…What’s next?? http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/08/english-1103-section-090whats-next/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/08/english-1103-section-090whats-next/#comments Thu, 09 Nov 2006 01:52:34 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/08/english-1103-section-090whats-next/ 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

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/08/english-1103-section-090whats-next/feed/ And then there were 15… http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/01/and-then-there-were-15/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/01/and-then-there-were-15/#comments Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:53:30 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/01/and-then-there-were-15/ 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!!!

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/11/01/and-then-there-were-15/feed/ English 1103: Section 090…Next steps… http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/25/english-1103-section-090next-steps/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/25/english-1103-section-090next-steps/#comments Thu, 26 Oct 2006 00:53:40 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/25/english-1103-section-090next-steps/ What’s due next week you ask??

1. Read chapter 12 of Elements of Argument. Take notes that will help you be a part of the discussion that I have planned. Also, complete one activity at the end of the chapter on page 512.

2. Please post comments and/or questions related to the chapter and the activity you wrote about in your Daybook onto the blog.
3. Remember to bring something (a draft you’re working on) to workshop next week as well. As I mentioned in class…you don’t have to turn it in next week…just bring something that you can get some feedback on. If you do want to turn the draft in…that’s great!! I’ll read it and give you feedback on it.

4. Finally, here’s the updated calendar of the next 4 classes. If you have any questions about any of these points…post them here or email me.

engl-1103-proposed-weekly-calendar-block-4.doc

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/25/english-1103-section-090next-steps/feed/ Midpoint Reflections… http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/18/midpoint-reflections/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/18/midpoint-reflections/#comments Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:23:48 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/18/midpoint-reflections/ Just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for the effort and energy put into the midpoint reflection. I initially planned to read 1/2 of them tonight and the rest of them over the weekend…1/2 way through I decided to stay and read each one of them…all I can say is “Wow!” When I was asked to teach this class…I decided that one of my goals was to help create a community of writers…another goal was to help build confidence in the students I would teach…finally, I wanted you to see writing as something “WE DO” not a chore. According to your reflections…MISSION ACCOMPLISHED…so far. I wrote “golden lines” down from each of your reflections into my Daybook…I could barely fit my head through the entrance way of Ritazza’s on my way out and I think my car “hovered” home!! I’m so glad that you’re all getting so much out of the class and I really look forward to the work we’ve yet to finish…thanks for making my day and I’ll see you all next week…scroll down to see what is due for next week’s class!!!

]]> http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/18/midpoint-reflections/feed/ Rainy day rant… http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/17/rainy-day-rant/ http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/17/rainy-day-rant/#comments Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:17:00 +0000 mreye http://mreye.uniblogs.org/2006/10/17/rainy-day-rant/ This is a stream of conciousness entry…I’m bored…it’s raining…I’d rather be home relaxing then held captive in a coffeeshop waiting to attend yet another meeting…my life is too busy…I sure wish I could slow down…take a break…be something to me instead of everyone else…I teach…I teach…I teach some more…meetings…meetings…more meetings…I drove 500 miles this weekend for a 4 hour meeting…why? I’m not sure…I have a meeting tonight…why…I’m not sure…I had a meeting yesterday where all I did was sit and listen…why? I love listening to people insert their “feet” into their mouths…the English language is wonderful to listen to…I’m not sure that there is any other language where someone can talk for 15 minutes and say ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL!! It fascinates me to sit and just listen…I sure wish I could be out running with my dog right now…we went for a walk this morning at 4:30 in the morning…me and Thor alone with our thoughts focused on our walk…well…it’s about time to get to my meeting…a meeting that I thought I had to attend last week…there I was sitting there all by myself wondering why all of these idiots weren’t there when I realized…YOU’RE THE IDIOT…the meeting is next Tuesday not today…see what I mean…I’m all things to all people and nothing to myself!!! My coffee’s getting cold…that sucks!!! I need to go…but I don’t want to…wait…I take that back I do…just not to the meeting…I want to go home!!! Why do I do all these things…Red Pig…what the hell’s a Red Pig? Confused yet? Good!!

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