Day 25; Post 24: The Little Things.

I'm back at the airport and am still enjoying FREE internet as I wait for my plane. My conference ended up being pretty great. The speaker was a very prominent educator who I tend to geek out over. She also happens to be a Williams alum.

The conference was about Writing Workshop and throughout the session, she would have us go through some of the strategies for generating ideas that teachers could present to their students. The overwhelming effect of these role plays was that I am no very inclined to write. Not just write in a blog -- where apparently grammar doesn't matter to me -- but an actual, thought-out personal narrative. It was all pretty inspiring and I wish I had a way to implement it with our students as soon as I get back.

At one point, when Lucy Calkins was demonstrating one method of generating ideas for personal narrative, she was making up a story about dropping her son off at college. She described opening the heavy fire door to the hallway, staring down the long, cinder block corridor of her son's new dorm, and questioning the amount of the tuition. I started to get excited because it was clear she was describing our alma mater. Eventually, she mentioned that she was describing Mission at Williams and I felt very triumphant.

I have a connection with Lucy Calkins and it excites me. I am a nerd.

Another thing that excites me is the prospect of 1 - 3 inches of snow tomorrow in D.C.! Never mind that it was in the 60s yesterday...I'll take the snow! Cross your fingers...