It Worked!

Good Morning! This feels good. It is so exciting to be with BAWP and learning digtal writing together. Probably it doesn't matter what we learn together. Being with "us" does it for me. I am amazed at how hungry I become to be in the midst of people involved in the Bay Area Writing Project. Regardless of whether you know each other personally, there is a nice spirit that exist among anyone involved in the project that is so needed. Funny how you can recognize a Bawp person at any time. What is it? Is it Carol's leadership? Jim's? How do you know that you are "related" to a person like Pat? Stacy? Claire? Chris or whomever? How do you know? What creates the identity? How do you explain "needing" to be with Bawp after working in the trenches for a long time "alone?" Again, it feels good.

I remember one time when ten of us were selected to do Urban Sites along with nine other sites in the country. We all met at the Chauncy Center in Princeton, New Jersey. Few of the ten from California had ever worked together, let along reside for ten days residentially on the opposite side of the country. When we all arrived, we just simply embraced and celebrated the moment and the opportunity to be with each other, just like I felt yesterday.

As our sites had to work on small group activities and discussion groups, I remember we were one of two groups who actually got along. This was the first time I knew there were such strong stereotypes about Californians, and although we got along, ironically, the some of the other sites called us weird and different. After five days with them, I was so proud to be "different" and from the Bay Area Writing Project. There was a site that was so brutal in treatment to each other, we had to explain how we got along so they could do some of what we naturally did relating to each other. This position was so strange to me. I couldn't believe I had to give a ten point description more or less on how we got along. Can you believe this? Anyway, we laughed it off and decided to perform our final skit highlighting their feelings about us. It was so funny to see Myron do the flower children bell bottoms and sunglasses, someone else overdosed on tofu, I ate fried chicken all of the time, etc. I will never forget this experience as I will treasure this weekend working with all of you.

Evaluation

Thank you for a wonderful experience. I am happy I came to the institute. Actually, I was supposed to attend the California Leagues of Middle Schools Conference, but I am so happy I came here. This is very specific and has longevity.

Digital Writing is another extension to my personal and professional developmental need.

I will practice at home and hope all will go well. Handouts do make a difference so one doesn't have to rely on memory so much. I am that kind of learner. I need something written next to me so I don't have rely on the confidence I don't have. I teach this way, too. I think if I have to teach this course, I would provide this that way struggling new learners won't get lost, they'll have a navigator to get them unstuck regardless of the presence of a leader.

It is 3:05 and I will end. Great job Chris and Patrick and thank you for your patience. I'm out.ice at home and hope all will go well. Handouts do make a difference so one doesn't have to rely on memory so much. I am that kind of learner. I need something written next to me so I don't have rely on the confidence I don't have. I teach this way, too. I think if I have to teach this course, I would provide this that way struggling new learners won't get lost, they'll have a navigator to get them unstuck regardless of the presence of a leader.

This Page was last update: Sunday, March 10, 2002 at 10:12:06 AM
This page was originally posted: 3/9/2002; 9:25:14 AM.
Copyright 2008 PatsyLockhart

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