schooled in coffee
Note: A few months ago now I was traveling, bouncing from one experience to another and all the while trying to stuff them into my head. This is extracted from my notes and attempts to…
Category: learning
writing teaches writing
When I started this project with the luxury of a sabbatical, I pictured what many others probably imagine. I would be sequestered away in an upstairs room — an image that now strikes me as…
on The Run
One of the side projects this year has been training for a marathon. This is relevant as well as pragmatic. “Learning” to run — whatever that might mean — is on the list of things…
on books in classrooms
This morning, reviewing notes I’ve stashed away (and realizing how important it is that I wrote things down), I came across this: In one day, I visited three different 8th grade classrooms, and in each…
note under my door
I’ve made a point of not visiting my office much this year. Occasionally I stop by to pretend that I’m doing accounting, check my mail, grab something or stow something. A sign on my door…
on any given Tuesday
It’s finals week of the last academic semester for which I have a sabbatical leave. For some reason I spent my Tuesday afternoon on the very campus from which I’ve been sabbaticalized. This visit served…
last dance
Today was my last day of dance class. I didn’t make that realization until I was walking in from the parking lot and toward the performing arts building. It struck me not so much as…
connection and mourning
Anna walked into the house, trailing slowly behind her mother as they came in from the car. When I saw the 15-year-old’s flushed face and tears being wiped away I automatically assumed there had been…
stardust
I’ve publicly stated that I’m in the midst of a series of essays about a recent trip. At last count, I had covered two of those five essays. And then I left again, giving me…