Category Archives: Education

May 2 2012

Waving Bye to Students for Now, a Book Recommendation, a Writer’s Conference, and iPad Love

The end of the semester is knocking at the door…last university class tonight. It is always a time of mixed emotions for me as I perpetually get attached to my students. I will miss gathering, talking, sharing, and learning from each other. Sure we will be together again in the fall, and it’s just the end for now, but I miss them already. They’re amazing…the brightest and sharpest minds. Other teachers will understand this sense of loss and the sighing that goes with it while others…not so much.

What else is new? A writer friend recommended a book to me today, which is really hard to do considering my exhaustive library. It’s The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. She said it really kicks butt, so I bought it like right now. It’s on my iPad as a Kindle waiting to be consumed digit by digit. If it’s good, I’ll get the paperback, too. I’ve read just a tiny bit and will continue reading once this magnificent blog post is done.It looks a lot like this.

Image

After doing some reading, I’ll post the most salient points of it here to feed your writerly interest. Another friend, a teacher, called me today to pick up her educational books as she’s retiring. I think I’m about ready for another book case.

If you are in the Portland, OR area, the fall conference for Willamette Writers just opened up. I think I will go on Friday to the writing workshops on topics that interest me and, of course, hob nob a bit.I always benefit from these and come home completely jazzed. So how can I pass this up? It’s in my backyard…so to speak. Five minutes away is backyard in the Pacific Northwest. Cross the bridge and hello, Portland.

I have learned that my best writing tool/friend is now an iPad. I took a chance in thinking this could be useful but had no idea just how much. If you like to write and want the portability of writing anywhere anytime, iPad and the awesome apps available to writers. The battery life is well incredible. One charge lasts me an entire day. So light, so portable, and so easy to use. It’s lighter than a book and even easier to carry. Bless Apple for this one. It is the perfect writing tool. I’ve used it for instruction, too, by designing Keynote presentations for students,hooking it up to the classroom LCD project, and rock and roll! The hardware doesn’t impede creativity either but enhances it. It makes creating presentations so much fun! Is it okay to love yet another Apple product? I think I ask this every time I purchase one. Consistent quality and meeting the precise needs of people like me is what does it. If you’re on the bubble, and you write or present, just do it. So much to love. Until later. My book, that irresistible siren song, is calling my name.

Mar 12 2012

Busy Days: A Summary of the Blur That is My Recent Life

Friday and Saturday:

This weekend I went to training to be a National Board facilitator in the Seattle area which now  means that I can provide support for more teachers and comment on more writing for the National Board experience like I do for the ProTeach experience. I love working with teachers and writing, so it just makes sense to me. I saw a few familiar faces in training, folks I’ve worked with many times before in scoring writing for the state. It was good to see them, to exchange stories from the field, and catching up since our last get together. Funny how the same people turn up in the same types of places with the the same interests. Being a National Board certified teacher myself, well, I really understand teacher candidates’ challenges all too well and then some. It’s like the challenges of teaching and being student at the same time and then add my previous remote location and less than amicable working conditions, and you have layers and layers of challenges. It has been a very busy blur of a weekend that passed all too quickly with occasional bright and shiny moments in a somewhat gossamer dreamlike state due to the lack of sleep and, quite literally, exhaustion. After much sleeping in and napping today, my energy is returning and will soon be followed by an early bed time tonight with more sleeping. Sometimes…I wonder how I do as much as I do…but it’s usually after the fact. Mid-stream, I just go and figure out how to make it all happen.

Arriving are the almost-Spring and Spring activities that signal the end of Winter to me. It was Megaband weekend in Portland, the area’s largest Contra dance this year. The crowd was the largest I can remember as was the band with the addition of a few unexpected instruments. It was also one of the warmest nights for Megaband that I can remember. Just north of here at the end of May, Seattle will also have a large gathering of Contra dancers and musicians at Folklife Festival. It is such a fun weekend. I have been going to Folklife Festival for…wow…since 1997-ish. A long time. Those plans are pretty much made. Now to work on Spring Break. I need a personal writing retreat to the coast where I will have time to write to the rhythm of the surf and a warm fire, two elements that when experienced together inspire me the most.

Sunday:

I’m currently reading MFA in a Box which, so far, has some very salient points for writing in the narrative voice. It was written by Pacific University MFA grad John Rember and is a good read. I have just finished L.L. Barkat’s Rumors of Water, also on writing and also a good read. Books on writing by authors who are publishing are a valuable insight into individual author approaches to writing. Next, maybe some science fiction, poetry, or fantasy or yes to all.

I’ve worked up a collection of poems, Postcards from Mt. Adams, as a project, an online chapbook of sorts, on this lovely blog from my time on Mt. Adams. There’s one about a trip up to the summit when a lightning storm surrounded me that is still asking to be written. Soon. I’ve never seen so many flashes of lightning touching down around me at time one time. Frightening and beautiful.

Monday

And all too soon. It’s Monday, and I’ve got a little time before work to work on work. Noticing a theme here? Yes, me, too. Note to self. Finalize your Spring Break plans today. You’ll need it. A bright spot today is yoga tonight. I have been a yoga enthusiast for years and really enjoy the vinyasa flow style of yoga. This style of yoga is highly beneficial to a demanding life style. The poses, asanas, challenge the practitioner to engage in and hold poses that cause an internal reaction of holding on when it gets challenging. This has been described as creating an inner space that is calm, quiet, peaceful when the body and mind is under stress. I have found this to be true and a wonderful outgrowth of yoga practice along with a more toned physique. The depth of engagement in asanas is completely up to each individual which means that it is possible to practice yoga my entire life. If you’re interested in trying yoga, give it more than one session. The first month is the most challenging as your body undergoes changes quickly. Core muscles quickly respond to yoga. So when the initial early days seem a little challenging, persist. Core muscles will soon strengthen and make practicing a delight. Okay, this day is starting early. More later.

Oct 12 2011

Another Day in Paradise

So night classes are done for the week. Conversations with the girlfriend are done for the day. The moments before sleep are passing quickly. It’s an early rise tomorrow and half a day’s work, which is great since I really need some time for me. It has been a busy week, joyous, but busy. Tired, content, and home.

These days instead of waking up with shuddering breath, a racing mind, migraines, and aching body, I wake smiling from the inside out. I sleep and wake happy and content. Moving to Vancouver, I know I say this often, is absolutely the change that I needed. Driving home from the university this week, I was lost in thought, so thankful for little things like freeways, street lights, sidewalks, and businesses. It makes me laugh at myself, but I am so very thankful, so very happy to be out of the woods. Vancouver is a prayer answered in the most wonderful way. I’m incredibly thankful for life here. So much has improved, so much has changed, and so much to be thankful for.

Progress on an educational book manuscript is coming along. Chapter by chapter, I’m working on the voice and developing some materials. It’s my latest writing project. I’m getting antsy to get over the halfway point with it…which is typical of me. I’m anxious to finish and start another project.

It is a beautiful full moon tonight. Royal blue sky, silver white clouds, and a shimmering pearl of a moon. All is right. Now sleep.

 

 

Oct 8 2011

Taking a break from writing to write

Only a writer thinks this way. I am what I am. So I am taking a break from working on a manuscript for an educator who is concerned with the achievement gap. It is a good project and instead of just ghost writing on this one, I will get credit as a contributing writer. I’m pleased, very pleased!~ I think I will follow this book up with my writing strategies book idea that has been tossing around for some time.

I discovered my go to Indian restaurant in Vancouver. It reminds me of The Cedars in Seattle minus the road trip and traffic. The meal was definitely family style and very well done.  I had my usual Chicken Tikka Masala, garlic naan, mango ice cream, and chai tea. The fact that they had my favorites was a definite indicator of Indian om nom nom-iess. And it was good, great service, and a definite new favorite place.  I’ve been looking for that family style Indian restaurant here, and today was the magic day. Vancouver…awesome with awesome sauce on top. That’s what.

Tomorrow I’m baking some pretty terrific blueberry bars from the blueberries I picked this summer. I was in a local coffee shop and had these and thought these are awesome and that I need the recipe. So I found it, made them, and they have been a blueberry favorite since then. Click here for the recipe.

Knitting is happening. I’m making a pair of fingerless mitts for me. Just finished a scarf. And am also making a dog sweater for a friend’s little dog. So lots of knitting action. And lots of photos that will need to be taken soon and posted here.

Other things in the news is that my sis, Cheryl, is appearing in the new tv show Grimm that is airing on October 21st on NBC at 9  pm. She made her first appearance in the first episode and has been called back for a second episode! Hopefully this will lead to something terrific for her. She is beautiful inside and out. They are filming in Portland, and she doesn’t live too far from Portland, so it’s an easy trip for her, too. She deserves every good thing that comes her way. Love her. Grimm will be about fairytales with a twist. Should be pretty cool. I love this sort of thing. I absolutely loved the recent remake of Red Riding Hood. Can’t get enough of it. I wish Cheryl and Grimm the absolute best of luck. Be sure to watch it. I bet it’s going to be good. I can hardly wait!

And this post would not be complete without honoring the passing of a legend…the innovative genius that is and always will be Steve Jobs. Your creativity, your insight, your artistic direction, and your view of the world will be sorely missed. Thank you for a life well lived. You touched the world in the most profound way. I will miss my brilliant Facebook friend. Happy trails and God bless.

Apr 16 2011

Terrific week and Life is Good

This week I have enjoyed wonderful conversations with educators who really value their teaching practice and enjoy talking about practice. It’s wonderful to be able to talk about methods of classroom management with younger teachers who are facing 25+ rambunctious kids in their classrooms each hour. The challenges are very real, but that’s one area of teaching that really is as much about experience as it is learned methods. One thing that I continue to encounter again and again is that the teaching culture here is very positive, energetic, inspiring, and hard working. The focus is on instruction in and out of the classroom.

I am currently reading one of the best books ever on differentiation, Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom by Carol Ann Tomlinson & Marcia B. Imbeau. This book presents ways to manage differentiation, making it a snap to integrate into instruction. It has usable ideas that are a cinch to organize and implement. Highly recommend.

And livability, Vancouver completely agrees with me especially the conveniences of daily life. The people are wonderful here, and I’m very happy to call it home. The main stream here is quite diverse, tolerant, and friendly/welcoming. What a terrific slice of  humanity. My only regret is not finding it sooner.

I went to a local favorite yarn shop this afternoon and picked up a skein of something lovely to knit this weekend. I watched Tron and started a new knitting project. It was great to just enjoy being home tonight, doing things that make me feel at home, that bring me comfort, and contentment.

This weekend is supposed to be dry, so…. I’ve been to the Chinese gardens on several occasions and really enjoy it. Now to investigate the Japanese gardens.

Getting late and lots to do tomorrow. G’night, virtual universe.

Patricia

Mar 11 2009

National Boards Box Packing, Closing WA schools, Spring, and Novel Writing

So the big, honkin’ writing project is being packed to ship. Yes, the National Boards portfolio will soon be but a memory. It has consumed my evenings, my weekends, my sleep, and my teaching in the most meaningful way that I couldn’t have anticipated. In other words..a real growing experience.  I’m looking forward to being able to sleep again although it hasn’t happened yet. So”the box” mails very soon. What to do? What to do?  I’m planning a nice road trip to Vancouver, B.C. for Spring Break with stops along the way in Olympia and Seattle at favorite places. Should be a blast.

Snow…stop….snow…stop….flurries…stop…snow…melt, melt, melt. This is how I know Spring is on the way to Mt. Adams.  The huge drifts are gone, grass is mostly visible, and I can’t be discouraged from smiling at bright, blue skies.

And soon, very soon, you will be reading the first chapter of my novel here. I have been plotting additional chapters, too.

So g’night to you. Take care and know that we are all part of a grander scheme of wonderful things.  Nothing is lost.

-Patricia

By Ms. Patricia Babbitt • Posted in Education
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