This has been an insane two weeks at my day job. Let me first clarify that I truly love what I do. And we have fantastic, forward-thinking leadership in my building.I am charged with facilitating our middle school PBL program and a variety of "other duties as assigned" (although to be truthful, I volunteer for most of the duties).
Our staff is small (20 certificated staff, 12 Instructional Assistants) and our classes are small (right now the largest is 9 students).
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Like in "dog years," though, there is a calculation for our students that is a simple multiplier
- one boy at my alternative school = 5 boys at a comprehensive school
- one girl at my alternative school =
400 screaming hawks at a squirrel convention9 girls at a comprehensive school
So, yeah, I have been working some crazy hours since school started, and yesterday I was feeling an overriding exhaustion the cumulative impact. We are off today, a day
designated as "Fair Day" due to a local humongous agricultural fair that seems to have existed since the dawn of time. Last night, I also I worked at our nightschool program (AKA Twilight, believe it or not), so my day started at 7 and ended at 7.
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| Historic Grandstand at the Fair |
What does this have to do with Connected Courses?
In the midst of all of this at school, I checked my phone and saw that Terry Elliott had posted Iconoclasty 101. I told myself, "You have no time to read that," and immediately found myself reading it. "Damn you, Terry." I did not have time to write a comment. Yet I did.
You #Connectedcourses people are making me a little bit crazy.
Aside from Terry, the piratical iconoclastic modular-home blower-upper:
I have Simon Ensor, with his open, vulnerable, humble writing that I see alternately as beautiful sushi rolls or foaming steins of beer. Maha Bali making me think about Twitter as half eggs, and online trustworthiness. Howard Rheingold, self-professed online instigator, keeping us all connected. Kevin Hodgson, fellow non-higher-ed-ucator, making comics that intrigue and entertain. Mia Zamora declaring #ccourses a guilt-free zone. Alan Levine teaching us to be bona fide smartasses online. Helen Keegan, fellow #ccourses addict enabling my addiction. The list goes on and on. If you are not listed, it is only because I am trying to avoid over-wordiness.
My name is Susan and I am a #ccourses addict.
I feel your pain about #ccourses addiction, Susan -- and you are enabling it with your wild and wonderful posts. I DON'T know what it must be like to deal with middle-schoolers, but I do know that middle school is where we SHOULD be introducing young people to practical skills in attention, participation, (especially) crap detection, collaboration. -- Howard, the Unknown
ReplyDeleteHoward, your face makes you KNOWN, no longer UNKNOWN. Your words bring you to life. I agree that middle school is where we need to start....working on this day by day. Thank you for reminding me to Crap Detect regularly.
DeleteSusan. I fear there is no cure for empathy.
ReplyDeleteSimon, I seek no cure for this terrible empathy. I accept the pain it causes. Keep writing!!! Love it.
DeleteNext up ... stopmotion smoke signals ....
ReplyDeleteKevin, yes indeed, yes in deed.
DeleteI will not say anything smartass. I will not say anything smartass. I will not say anything smartass. I will not say anything smartass.
ReplyDeleteAlan....I am just glad you did not add a comma in there.
DeleteOops that was supposed to be a preview. Can't think of a better addiction problem to have, but just let go now and then and stuff pass you by. You should find that there is no penalty for "missing out" and in fact it's healthy treatment.
ReplyDeleteGood advice....but no worries, if I don't get outside enough, my brain rebels.
ReplyDeleteYes, today and tomorrow I am in "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's mode" i.e. marking some papers-is that the lowest form of connection available? Don't know, but there has to be a better, more connecting way. Until I find a better fit, I am in little old essay land. Reminds me of the original movie version of The Producers when he talks about entering into little old lady land.
ReplyDelete