I want to like this,

but it feels a little too second-wave-y for my liking. Or something. Your thoughts?

Happy Women's Month, by the way.

Not unrelated, I re-watched Roman Holiday this past weekend, and I was struck, during this scene especially, with a tinse of regret at not haven taken any film classes at UIUC. I just want to sit around and talk about this scene, and the one before it, all day. Maybe I'll watch it with students one day.

I wish that

there was a radio station that just played poets reading their own work. I would definitely listen to that. Especially if they played a lot of Gwendolyn Brooks.

I'm having a crappy week.

You know, come to think of it, I have a history of having crappy spring breaks. Lame.

I know this isn't a very nice thing to say, but

I hope the record execs making money off this kid have trouble sleeping at night. Thanks a lot, motherfuckers, for helping to keep firmly in place the idea that young black men should think school is whack. Soulja Boy's fucking seventeen years old. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

hairy wong

Here's the thing about many of the professional development opportunities I've had as a student-teacher. They're insulting to our (student-teachers' and professional teachers') intelligence. They try to "teach" us shit they we've already learned. Today, a well-meaning district official "taught" us what a jigsaw activity is. We also "learned" that having effective classroom management strategies are an important way to enhance student learning.

I'm someone who's most certainly not in teaching for the summers off. I love teaching, and I really believe in the profession's importance. Teachers, I think, have the opportunity to create and nurture a space in which students can talk about the complexities in our communities and in our country (as Obama's speech this morning implored Americans to do!)

My point is, I am not a slacker. I like learning about teaching, and I like reflecting critically on my own teaching. And want to know what I thought the best part our professional development day today was? When the district official said that she was going to show us a clip from a video by a motivational speaker, Harry K. Wong, because the evaluation she received on her last workshop said, "We want more Harry Wong!," one of my colleagues whispered, "That's what she said."

At what point can we assume that everyone in the room, when the room is filled with teachers, knows what differentiated instruction is? Why the constant review of basic concepts in educational psychology? At what point can we move the conversation forward in more productive and creative directions?

I found this when I Googled Harry Wong (ha). Like, seriously? Why do professional development things always have to make teaching out to be the most boring thing in the world?:



I guess this is more of a post for the vlog, huh?

I've been wanting to blog about these since before blogs.

Are these or are these not the names of an elderly couple sitting on rocking chairs on the front porch?

I stopped and took Buckley's photo Saturday afternoon on my way up to Chicago, but I had to ask Katie and Moe to stop so that I could snap Onarga today on our way back to C-U.

They weren't happy; they don't think this is as funny as I do.

see what I mean:
[ellen (7:23:36 PM): i'm about to blog about your shit
moe (7:23:49 PM): what about?
moe (7:23:54 PM): my awesomeness?
moe (7:23:57 PM): or sexiness?
ellen (7:24:26 PM): no, your lack of a sense of humor
moe (7:25:00 PM): are you FREAKIN kidding me?
moe (7:25:11 PM): I am fucking hilarious
moe (7:25:15 PM): that IS my bag
ellen (7:25:31 PM): haha
moe (7:25:32 PM): so you can shove your blog up your ass
moe (7:26:33 PM): you really don't think I'm funny?
ellen (7:27:10 PM): moe, im blogging about how you dont think my photos are funny
moe (7:27:23 PM): the couple bullshit
moe (7:28:09 PM): blog about how our shower will not turn off
moe (7:28:33 PM): its freakin hilarious]

another Seinfield and another Johnny reference

Johnny has had many crazy/awesome ideas over the years, one of which was to have a news broadcast that only gave good news. For example, "On Main Street today, a young woman saw an old woman drop a ten dollar bill. That young woman picked up the money, and gave it to the old woman. : )"

This report, linked from the UIUC homepage, reminded me of that idea.

Also, the series-finale-of-Seinfield parallels seem too obvious to comment on.

"Be more constructive with your feedback, please!"

Why is the intersection of White people and hip hop so funny? "Did Steve tell you that perchance? Steve!"

duh?

There's a sign posted on the library door at my new school that says, "Right is right, even if no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it."

Like, really?

Oh, how silly of me, to have thought that shit is a little more complicated than that. Why do some educators think that what students need is a simple formula for how to do everything? What's wrong with coming to the (hate to use this word) conclusion that things are complicated, and that that's where the fun starts? Hm? What makes it even better/worse is that it's not even a real poster. Somebody just typed it out in Times New Roman, enlarged that shit, and then put it up to let student's know what's what.

I'm struck by the resemblance of that stupid sign to a conversation my Dad and I had one of the last times I was home about the rhetoric of infomercials.

Have a something important to say? Great: write a formulaic essay. It's simple, and easy, and anybody can do it in FIVE EASY PARAGRAPHS! Remember, tell us what you're gonna tell us, tell us, and then tell us what you told us! Don't forget your transition phrases!

But wait, there's more! If you accept that load of shit now, we'll also throw in cheesy, not-helpful advice. If you work hard, you will succeed! It's the American dream! (Some restrictions apply.)

How about, "Who the F knows what's 'right' and what's 'wrong'? Up for discussion in class today: this very question in various contexts. Answers will vary."

a message for my big brother Johnny

Yo! I don't know if you're still checking your email, so I figured I'd post this here for you. Look what showed up on my Google homepage this evening! Pretty sweet, no? I'll call you this weekend; have hella papers to grade. Love you, Nell

"Stay the FUCK out of here, you two!"

Seinfield series finale, anyone?

1 in 9

I think I'm going to be sick.

The ALS classes held a Presidential Election last week...

pretty sweet PowerPoint, yo

Came across this little gem while preparing Monday's lesson on the functionality and disposability of everyday writing like AIM conversations and hall passes. Click the image below to view.