Fifth full week of Summer Break...This week found me working with one of my best friends in the WHOLE world...Sally! She and I co-facilitated a week of the Summer Invitational for the UNC-Charlotte chapter of the National Writing Project. We worked with 8 amazing educators for 5 days. In that time we had them reading, writing, thinking, and discussing what it means to be a writer and a teacher of writing. We started each day with something we call; Writing into the Day. Translated...this literally means writing for about 10 minutes. Sometimes this writing takes the form of a “free write” where the writer is “free” to write whatever is on her mind. Other times it can be more formal starting from a quote or an idea that the person leading the group uses to guide the writing in a certain direction. Sally wanted to use this time to guide the group and created an amazing trajectory of thinking for us to explore throughout the week.I have decided to create a post based on what I wrote in my daybook (the notebook we use to capture our thinking) for the first 4 days. In this post you will get a glimpse of my thinking from my actual daybook along with the amazing handouts that Sally created which provided the inspiration for what I wrote.Day One...
On day one Sally had us think about what it is we wonder about. I spent time thinking (wondering) about why I have had a negative outlook on my job. The fact that I call it a job implies that I do not see what I do the way I did say 10 years ago. I know it comes down to the choices I make (mentally) that result in the way I see what I do each day in the classroom with students. I have spent the better part of 10 months posting entries on this blog thinking (wondering) about the choices I make, the way I think, etc. Thinking (wondering) about such things during the Summer Invitational proves that the manner in which I think about my work is never far away from me.Day Two...
Day two saw us thinking about what are motives are as writers. It was nice to take the time to think about my motives. I chose to write a list. In that list I mention how writing calms me. I can quantify this...as I have in the past...with my heart rate. I have started writing with my heart rate at a certain point then measure it during the process and seen that heart rate go down. I am the most present with my physical, mental, and spiritual existence when I write!Day Three...
On day three we were asked to think about what we read and why. Great writers are very much readers so I was happy to slow the morning down and think about some of the things I read and why I read them. If you have followed this blog as of late you know I am a Grateful Dead fan. I have read several books about the band and the culture that surrounds it including Steve Parish’s book about his life being a roadie for the band. One of the reasons I read these books is to learn more about the group and the culture that surrounds it. I guess to a certain extent I too am a part of that culture. There are certain aspects of the culture that I will never take part in and as I wrote this entry I realized...as you can see in the picture...that I read to experience textually that which I will never experience first hand.Day Four...
On day four Sally had us write about what our definition of writing is and what it includes. My definition...now that I look back at it...seems very local and personal. I know that I do experience some of the things I’ve mentioned here...some more than others. For example, I don’t know that I am more patient as a result of writing yet I know for a fact that I am more present (see above).I am sad that the week is over. We did a lot in a very short amount of time. I am very grateful for many things. Sally leading the group with her writing into the day experiences is at the top of the list!