Here it is, the end of the first week. If the Institute were finished now and I was heading back to Long Island, I'd be ready to introduce new ways to present the material, not even just Shakespeare - all of what I, and you, if you're a teacher, teach. The people running this program are educators from all levels, from universities across the country, with resumes a country mile, who have taken time out of their busy schedule (our lead scholar is a professor from the University of Delaware and an editor for Cambridge UP) to be here with us, helping us perfect what we do, that is - teach. I don't seem to remember the course in my Master's program called "How to teach... (insert author here)." Sadly, there aren't many, and certainly not where I went. But here, that's what we're doing, learning how to look at materials, specifically Shakespeare, differently. If I were to head back tomorrow, I'd be a better teacher. But I'm not going back, I'm here for three more weeks.
Honestly, it's overwhelming. As I mentioned in my last blog, our schedule is jam-packed with activities. We have homework, we have a research project, we have curriculum development projects due, we are not on vacation. But of course, that's why we're here, and why we signed up. I'm not lamenting, or complaining, just explaining. The day moves along, but it's tiring. They've given us so much material, it's going to be disappointing when I realize that I won't be able to use it all next year. But if I get to use some of it, I know my students will benefit. It's really just a matter of remembering to apply it at the right moment. I'll convey some of the great things we've done in later blogs, things I can show you, even here, that you'll be able to use, improve, improvise, or use to spark other ideas. I've already learned tons of things just by hanging out with the other participants. Which leads me, of course, to briefly mention some of the people with whom I'm sharing this experience. We haven't come up with a collective nickname for ourselves just yet, but, knowing the group the way I do, I'm sure it's not too far off.
THE BUS
The bus rides are perhaps the most ridiculous times of the day. Crammed with immature antics, foul language, and unbridled raucousness, the commute is becoming our release/decompression. It's also a bitch session, gossip sharing session, and quite honestly, a bonding session. We learn about each other, personalities emerge, or in some cases, they leap right out of the seats. There's been professional ice hockey style chanting (and really the chanting is getting out of hand). There's been the ritualistic ridicule of a young man, seemingly out for a workout, who stopped in the wrong place to do some push-ups. Our bus was stopped at traffic light and the young man happened to be at that corner, when we decided to "count off" for him. Now, he was obviously not smart enough to move to the confines of the beautiful park not 50 feet to his immediate left, but he probably didn't deserve having a busload of teachers holler "One! Two! Three! Four! ..." at him. After all, he had done at least 10 as we were approaching the light. I'm pretty sure he's been damaged for life. But, on the other hand, it was funny as hell.
The bus is divided. It's simple really: those that sit in the front and those (of us) that sit in the back. Now, anyone who has EVER ridden the bus to school knows who sits in the back (me). And it's we that start the chants, it's we who counted off for the young man, it's now we who paraphrase Chevy Chase from National Lampoon's European Vacation - "Look kids, there's the Washington Monument, Capitol Building." It's also we that have a great freakin' time on the bus. This is not tosay that those who sit in the front do not have a good time, but have seen some of the looks tossed from the front to the back to where we sit. Sometimes it's annoyance, sometimes its confusion, sometimes it's disgust. I've also seen curiosity, interest, and want. By the end of these weeks I'm sure the whole bus will be "the back."
There's more. There's always more. Especially Albert, our bus diver. More on him later. Now, sleep, perchance to dream.
Mahalo
3 comments:
It's good to know that your style as has not been cramped- to steal a line from Back to the Future
"Mayor Goldie Wilson wants us to save the clock tower"
No relation to your blog- but a conversation starter-
Glad to hear you are enjoying your time at The House of Coffee (folgers joke) eh hm.... cough cough... (bad joke)
Thinking about putting together a welcome home celebration maybe around Aug. 3/4/5 - this way all of the travelers and Scholars will be home
I like the push up story- I know I would have enjoyed seeing it in person-- Till next time friend I look forward to your next entry - I'm reading your Dave Sedaris "Me talk pretty one day"- ENjoying it thus far
Bard Breath
I enjoyed the push-up story too and I am extremely excited to meet Albert.
Bard Fart
I would NOT be happy on that bus! In my later years as a Senior trip chaperone I'd carefully "stack" my bus with kids I knew so I wouldn't have to put up with such antics.
It's good that you're learning so much about Shakespeare's work. Though he no doubt took himself more seriously than almost anybody else during his lifetime, he'd be stunned that so many people spend so many hours studying him. "Why don't you just watch the plays?" he'd probably ask.
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