Northern Noise

Today I had a chance to hear Richard Lavoie speak and it was great.  I don't know when I first got to watch his video FAT City - How Difficult Can This Be? but it seriously changed my teaching life.  In the video, Rick manages to make the audience feel the frustration of being learning disabled.  I remember a few "a-ha's!" when I first saw it.  The first was when he says something to the effect of, "You all have been learning disabled for 10 minutes and you've shut down; imagine being disabled for 16 years."  The other was that fair doesn't mean everybody gets the same, it means that everyone gets his/her needs met.  After that, I did a "lesson" every semester in every class explaining that in my class, not everyone got the same thing all the time.  It was a basis of my teaching philosophy that students got used to that idea. Every class that Bob and I have ever taught together, and many we've taught individually, have been required t...

Sundays are nice.  Sleep in a little, read the paper in bed.  The boy wakes up early to watch some cartoons, thinking he's pulling one over on us.  Get out of bed, feed the dogs, drink some coffee, eat some eggs. I don't mind doing work on Sundays because it's my choice, my pace, and I'm in my pajamas.  Today I'm watching the water drip off the roof, listening for the next chunk of snow to fall.  Feels more like April than January.  The boy is out shoveling poo, wearing ice cleats and short sleeves.   The sunlight points out the dog nose prints on the windows to the deck; above dog height they're relatively clear.  So that's some cleaning that can wait until April.

I just spent  6 hours talking about math.  Luckily I was surrounded by a group of engaged, passionate math educators who were able to keep the train on the tracks, chugging forward (but don't ask me what time it will reach Chicago traveling at 60 mph).

My dad was a smart guy.  Not only clever, quick-witted but he knew a lot of "stuff."  As I mentioned, he's responsible for my love of Robert Service.  Here's another gem that he shared with me.  I used it in class from time to time, and it was always fun. The War-song of Dinas Vawr BY THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK The mountain sheep are sweeter, But the valley sheep are fatter; We therefore deemed it meeter To carry off the latter. We made an expedition; We met a host, and quelled it; We forced a strong position, And killed the men who held it. On Dyfed's richest valley, Where herds of kine were browsing, We made a mighty sally, To furnish our carousing. Fierce warriors rushed to meet us; We met them, and o'erthrew them: They struggled hard to beat us; But we conquered them, and slew them. As we drove our prize at leisure, The king marched forth to catch us: His rage surpassed all measure, But his peopl...

I love poetry.  I don't necessarily sit down and read big chunks of it,  but when I need it, I can open a book or find a poem online and then I feel better. The first poems I ever remember really wanting to learn and love were Robert Service.  My dad used to read the "biggies" like "The Creation of Sam Magee" and "The Shooting of Dan McGrew."  In 4th or 5th grade my friend Lara and I performed the humorous poem "Bessie's Boil" at the forensics competition (and won first place!).  I also memorized his poem "My Madonna" after my dad read it to me and I could tell he liked it.  I didn't understand it for a long time, but I remember it to this day.  I also remember the book Hailstones and Halibut Bones filled with poems about color, and the poem tale of Winkin, Blinkin and Nod. In middle school we had an odd teacher and he read us "The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock."  It made no sense and was just weird but I remem...

I've been without my dad 5 years today.  I'll never forget the sound of my brother's voice when he called.  I'll always wish I could have spared him having to find our father.  I'll always wish I could have spared everyone the pain.

It's hard to come by sometimes.  Even those who say "I'm a positive person" and look for that elusive half full glass have to struggle sometimes, yes?  I know I do. I'm a lucky gal.  I have a job I generally enjoy, a family that I love and usually like, good friends, financial stability, lots of books and two big, goofy dogs.  I wake up thankful in the morning and I go to bed happy.  Most of the time. But do you ever read the news, or see some idiot on tv who makes you question why one would even try to make it in this world?  The Alaska State Legislature's House Sustainable Education Task Force spent over five hours last Saturday talking about a return to boarding schools for rural Alaska natives. Because that was so successful the last time we tried it?  And let's not forget that they think native corporations should fund these schools because native students will attend them.  I thought it was the responsibility of the state to educate all ...