Let me focus on what went well in yesterday's classes.
In my Advanced Creative Writing class, we did some collaging. I brought in a variety of magazines and had students cut/tear out words and images that appealed to them without analyzing why they chose them. I was happy to see how focused they were on this part of the process. Often when I do a collaging process, there's one student who finishes in 3 minutes, where everyone is just getting started. That didn't happen yesterday--hurrah!
I had a piece of poster board for each student, and we finished the class by gluing the materials to it. I gave out the 4 page document that we did on Thursday and had them think about the collage and see if there were connections. It might be about either the long term project or the shorter projects.
On Thursday, I'll put the collages out around the room and have a bit of studio time. Between now and Thursday, I'll develop more of a class plan (in addition to checking the weather maps).
In my English 102 class, we continued our discussion of what makes a good story and the ways we can tell a story. This week, I'm using Bible texts, Matthew 1:18 - 2:23. I gave them two translations of the text, the NRSVUE and The Message. I used handouts, because it's easier. Then I showed the same text presented by Biblical storyteller (and my seminary professor) Tracy Radosevic (you can view it here).
I had created a worksheet where for each version, they wrote the strengths and weaknesses of each version. Then I divided them into groups to discuss. We had a brief time discussion as a class, and then they answered question #4 on the worksheet, choosing the one version they liked best. I urged them to think about this work as a text, not as a sacred story, which I acknowledged might be easier said than done. They seemed able to operate at this level.
Although the energy level was low at the start, the class went well, and I ended up feeling good about it all, a good thing, since I'm teaching the same material twice today. After class, one of my students from last term who has continued with me this term talked about how strange it was to encounter the material in English, instead of the Spanish of her home church--a wrinkle I hadn't considered, but will mention today!
But first, a stop at the Spartanburg stores on my quest for small propane tanks for the indoor heater--which means I need to get ready to leave a bit earlier than usual.
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