Life on an Island

Okay, now I've survived Second Life. It was as much fun as I expected! I'll never be a great gamer...and I read an article about the problems in Utopia...but I'm still intrigued. I must truly be an optimist down deep inside, to believe that we could create paradise where people could get along. Hmmm - it hasn't worked so far on any known planet.

One student today reported 19 new inches of snow. Meanwhile, we enjoyed lunch outside in short sleeves. Texas has a few days of nice weather. Unfortunately, since I felt obligated to read drafts of ethnographies so that everyone could move ahead with their research, I spent most of the day inside wishing to be outside.

I'm interested in hearing fun spring break plans from anyone who wants to share. I think we'll go camping in Big Bend and enjoy the stars, silence, and lack of internet connection. I haven't finished reading Wikinomics, so I'll save that for break. Any other reading suggestions?

Post Valentine's

Just in case anyone is reading this and is curious about an update for my son's experience in 2nd grade, here's an update. He reported that it went well, except for a few details. The room mothers (still the label used, excluding many family members who might want to help out) brought little gifts for each child. Instead of the cupcakes we would have had when I was little, the children received pencils. The boys got pencils with basketballs on them while the girls got pink pencils with flowers. No one got to choose. Even my son thought there were some problems with that. He did enjoy reading The Little Ballerina (as assigned) and showing some ballet positions. I'm learning much about the current state of schools through his perspective.

Meanwhile, I finished my portfolio and learned much more about TaskStream. It is do-able! I'm also taking an online course for the first time and have truly learned a lot. My first quiz score was disappointing; I've agonized over the questions marked incorrect. Now I have new perspective on online quizzes and their format. I've also learned that the work takes much more time than I anticipated. Does that sound familiar?? I have enjoyed the course and am eager to apply my new skills...but will also be relieved in a few weeks - if I pass. It's hard to fit in the time to do my coursework and real work and family work. You really have to be motivated!

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm not sure how February has gone so quickly. Instead of reading more book reviews, I'll post a few thoughts here. I read a very informative article in the NY Times on February 5 entitled "On Race and the Census: Struggling with Categories that No Longer Apply." The author, Brent Staples, addresses the issues we talked around in one class DB. My afterthoughts focused on an interesting research topic - the impact of the racial categories on sense of personal identity. How does that label influence my attitude toward self? How fluid is that identity? Any doc students out there looking for a research topic? or just a little fun research activity? I think my privilege as a white person would inform my answers to those questions differently, but what does the research literature say?

On another topic, my son is substitute teaching in second grade today. Are there still valentine parties in schools? Does anyone else remember decorating a shoe box to take to school? Is that a ritual that has died completely? I almost wish for a box to put outside my office door today to see if any valentines appear. I'm celebrating tonight with husband of 32 years and a concert by Ruthie Foster, a great gospel/blues/jazz singer. I hope you have a good day, even without receiving any commercial messages.

Happy February!

In working on some questions for the current board, I spent lots of time at tolerance.org. There are some excellent resources and suggestions for Black History month (do's and don'ts for classrooms that are especially helpful). Thinking about double consciousness also made me get out an old favorite, Ellison's Invisible Man. Let me know if anyone else appreciates that as much as I do. It always makes me think and never seems out of date. Some of my doc students will relate DuBois's concept to qualitative research (I hope!). I'm also hoping an ECDE major might apply the concept to teenagers and think about research along those lines. Maybe that would even tie into current research by two doc students on adolescent identity development.