pedablogical

Creating another blog identity

Finally created a second site for a different blog that I want to write. There’s some thinking I need to do about my messy existence that just doesn’t go in this blog, so I created a second one elsewhere, and have spent most of the evening trying to get the format to do what I want. It’s still not quite perfect, but I’ve finally taken the first step and done something anyway.

August 9 Writing Projects

I turned in the draft for Chapter 3 on Monday afternoon. It ended up at 45 double-spaced pages, and near the end, I’m sure that I started repeating things. I know that the last list of criteria used the verb “Include” in about 8 of 12 bullets. I decided it was time to just get rid of it for a while, and turning it in seemed like the best option.

Next I’m supposed to come up with a short piece for the Snapshots column in EJ. Here’s the call for that section:

Snapshots: What do the key moments of teaching and learning
look like? When did you know that you had made a difference?
What did you learn from a mistake or difficult situation?
For this feature, we invite you to capture one particular
moment in words. We are seeking reflective stories, drawn
from all types of classrooms, that reveal insights about teaching
and learning. Stories accepted for the feature will be published
with the author’s photo and may include other photographs as
needed (1,000 to 1,500 words).

I thought it would be a relatively easy thing to write when I put it on the schedule. It’s just a short story about teaching really, but I’ve been wondering now what story I have that is significant or relevant. I’m feeling as though I may not be able to come up with anything that matters. Maybe something will come to me.

In the meantime, I’ve been editing other people’s writing for the site. Last night, I came across a gem that included the instruction to post students’ final projects in the classroom “even the ones that aren’t so good.”   o.O   I’m trying to focus on the fact that at least she didn’t say “even the ones by the slow kids.”

Magic blog publications?

Is it wrong that I keep my blog in a tab and refresh it periodically to see if I wrote something that I don’t remember?

Composting versus Composing

Why is it that when I’m in the middle of writing, typing furiously, I spell writing writhing and composing composting?

Baby Bird Grows

Here are this week’s baby bird pictures. He’s very uncooperative and
well-camoflauged. Silly darned bird.

A Writer’s Procrastination

Feeling like a writer means that your writing process accomplishes the following things when you’re trying to finally finish chapter three:

• rewrote deadlines on the whiteboard
• erased deadlines and rewrote them as a calendar
• cleaned up the desk
• cleaned up the old PC desktop
• burned 2005 server logs out to backup CDs
• downloaded Jan-Jun 2006 logs
• figured out how to copy songs from ipod to work machine w/o wiping out ipod, because i’m really tired of the options on the weekend and need my own music to survive
• foraged around for and ate many snacks
• Wrote Belief #9

That’s how real writers work, right? So I really have to get #10 and #11 written tomorrow. I have to turn them in on Monday. I guess I’m going home to write some more (which I hope doesn’t mean that I have to clean the sink and load the dishwasher just yet).

Drafting “Teaching Language Experts”

After two days of crazy writing in the office this week, I finally managed to finish an article for Classroom Notes Plus. It’s actually really long, so I’m sure that there will be rewriting to bring it down to the right size. But I met the deadline, and that’s what I’m focusing on right now. It’s title right now is “Teaching Language Experts,” and it works through 5 language-focused writing assignments.

In a month I’ve written two different articles for print journals. Who knew I could be so prolific? Oh, and Kathi Yancey, who is at NCTE for the Executive Committee meeting, mentioned that she’d seen my Kairos piece (my C&W2006 presentation). I feel almost like a real writer :)

Baby Bird Update

Baby bird (only one is in the nest) is growing. He’s exceptionally uncooperative and moves when I try to take his picture. He’s now able to hold up his little head, and his eyes are open. Mama was hanging around tonight, when the last picture was taken, so I only got one shot. The other photos are from Friday the 28th. More pictures…

Beliefs About the Teaching of Writing: 7, 8, 9

Belief #7: Done
Belief #8: Done
Belief #9: Started :)

Nine is harder, but it’s about language and the complexity of social relationships. Still maybe I’ll manage to get this done on time. Did well in the office this afternoon anyway. #9 will have some possible connections to a short manuscript that I need to write for Classroom Notes Plus by Friday (at least I think it will have some overlapping sentences; if not I’m in big trouble as I have a MS due on Friday and another due on Saturday).

Beliefs About the Teaching of Writing: 5

Belief #5 done. Thank God. And now, on to #7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. It’s going to be a long week, and yet also incredibly short, as I have to have this done by Saturday, along with an article for another journal. I expect more red anxiety patches and bad dreams in my future. :( But before that starts, I’m getting out of the office and going back home.