Comments for Capital District Writing Project http://cdwp.org Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:27:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Light in My Eyes, Fire in My Soul by Olivia http://cdwp.org/2011/07/light-in-my-eyes-fire-in-my-soul/#comment-575 Olivia Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:27:18 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=391#comment-575 It's been a pleasure becoming friends with you too! Your poetry has inspired me to keep going with my own again, thank you :) It’s been a pleasure becoming friends with you too! Your poetry has inspired me to keep going with my own again, thank you :)

]]> Comment on Light in My Eyes, Fire in My Soul by Olivia http://cdwp.org/2011/07/light-in-my-eyes-fire-in-my-soul/#comment-574 Olivia Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:26:34 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=391#comment-574 Thanks Shannon, hope to see you at a poetry get together soon :) Thanks Shannon, hope to see you at a poetry get together soon :)

]]> Comment on Light in My Eyes, Fire in My Soul by Brandon http://cdwp.org/2011/07/light-in-my-eyes-fire-in-my-soul/#comment-426 Brandon Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:54:29 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=391#comment-426 Olivia it has been such a pleasure knowing you as well and I look forward to our journey together as educators, writers, members of the CDWP, NWP, and as friends. Keep the hope alive and I will as well. Have a great summer and see you soon. Olivia it has been such a pleasure knowing you as well and I look forward to our journey together as educators, writers, members of the CDWP, NWP, and as friends. Keep the hope alive and I will as well. Have a great summer and see you soon.

]]> Comment on Light in My Eyes, Fire in My Soul by Shannon Clegg http://cdwp.org/2011/07/light-in-my-eyes-fire-in-my-soul/#comment-417 Shannon Clegg Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:29:04 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=391#comment-417 Olivia, What a beautiful piece and you are NOT alone! I think we all understand that now. And we will also never be fooled again! -Shannon Olivia,

What a beautiful piece and you are NOT alone! I think we all understand that now. And we will also never be fooled again!

-Shannon

]]> Comment on Democracy, Writing, and the Summer Institute by Brandon http://cdwp.org/2011/07/democracy-writing-and-the-summer-institute/#comment-388 Brandon Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:31:42 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=384#comment-388 Thank you for sharing Sean. After the Marine Corps I sought long and hard for direction and purpose. I found that purpose in teaching but still felt I was not doing enough for my country, my colleagues, my fellow Americans, my friends. The CDWP gave me hope that others still believe in America and want what is best for it and its citizens. I felt renewed unity and purpose in my new band of brothers and sisters. I am forever grateful for the friendships we have forged and for knowing I am not alone in my determination to see we have a democratic country and our children feel even more freedom and hope than we do today. Thank you for sharing Sean. After the Marine Corps I sought long and hard for direction and purpose. I found that purpose in teaching but still felt I was not doing enough for my country, my colleagues, my fellow Americans, my friends. The CDWP gave me hope that others still believe in America and want what is best for it and its citizens. I felt renewed unity and purpose in my new band of brothers and sisters. I am forever grateful for the friendships we have forged and for knowing I am not alone in my determination to see we have a democratic country and our children feel even more freedom and hope than we do today.

]]> Comment on A Community of Practice by Kevin Hodgson http://cdwp.org/2011/07/a-community-of-practice/#comment-265 Kevin Hodgson Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:19:35 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=368#comment-265 I love your six words. They capture so much. Kevin Hodgson Western Mass WP I love your six words. They capture so much.
Kevin Hodgson
Western Mass WP

]]> Comment on Education in Action by Brandon Hakulin http://cdwp.org/2011/07/education-in-action/#comment-258 Brandon Hakulin Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:55:31 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=354#comment-258 Thanks for your feedback Kevin. It is interesting that you mention time and space. I am an Earth Science Teacher and I try to teach kids the importance of freeing up space in their minds or schedules to free up time for reflection and practice. I read pages 1-35 last night of "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg and it changed the way I thought about practice writing. I often approach my book writing with a purpose and topic in mind. I add to my book without freeing up space first. Last night I realized that my creativity has been clouded by resentments. I followed Goldberg's suggestions and "freewrote" first without censoring any of my thoughts. After several pages and several "F" words my mind cleared and I wrote two fairly good poems. Thanks for your feedback Kevin. It is interesting that you mention time and space. I am an Earth Science Teacher and I try to teach kids the importance of freeing up space in their minds or schedules to free up time for reflection and practice. I read pages 1-35 last night of “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg and it changed the way I thought about practice writing. I often approach my book writing with a purpose and topic in mind. I add to my book without freeing up space first. Last night I realized that my creativity has been clouded by resentments. I followed Goldberg’s suggestions and “freewrote” first without censoring any of my thoughts. After several pages and several “F” words my mind cleared and I wrote two fairly good poems.

]]> Comment on Education in Action by Kevin Hodgson http://cdwp.org/2011/07/education-in-action/#comment-239 Kevin Hodgson Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:03:33 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=354#comment-239 One of the things I love about the Writing Project is the time and space it gives us to reflect on ourselves as teachers and writers. I think your post here does that nicely. Take care Kevin Hodgson Western Mass Writing Project One of the things I love about the Writing Project is the time and space it gives us to reflect on ourselves as teachers and writers. I think your post here does that nicely.
Take care
Kevin Hodgson
Western Mass Writing Project

]]> Comment on Budget Deficits and Teacher Bashing by Math teacher http://cdwp.org/2011/03/budget-deficits-and-teacher-bashing/#comment-211 Math teacher Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:42:31 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=304#comment-211 For business man-power planning, it is assumed that 2,080 hours is full time, 80 hours of that is a two-week vacation, AND then you have to subtract holidays. As a teacher, I work between 60 and 80 hours a week every week (even though I only get paid for 40 -- how often do you work 50% to 100% more for free?). Picking the middle, that means in 32 weeks I work: 32 weeks * 70 hrs/wk = 2240 hours 2400 hours > 2000 hours To put it another way, in 32 weeks, I work 20% more than a "standard" worker does in an entire year. I get paid *barely* more than minimum wage to teach the next generation of American high tech workers. AND THEN: I have to come up with alternative employment to cover my expenses during UNPAID summers. Is it any wonder that so many teachers also moonlight as restaurant servers and retail cashiers? Yeah, if I didn't love my students, you can bet your sweet bippy I would not be teaching! For business man-power planning, it is assumed that 2,080 hours is full time, 80 hours of that is a two-week vacation, AND then you have to subtract holidays.

As a teacher, I work between 60 and 80 hours a week every week (even though I only get paid for 40 — how often do you work 50% to 100% more for free?). Picking the middle, that means in 32 weeks I work:
32 weeks * 70 hrs/wk = 2240 hours
2400 hours > 2000 hours

To put it another way, in 32 weeks, I work 20% more than a “standard” worker does in an entire year. I get paid *barely* more than minimum wage to teach the next generation of American high tech workers.

AND THEN: I have to come up with alternative employment to cover my expenses during UNPAID summers. Is it any wonder that so many teachers also moonlight as restaurant servers and retail cashiers?

Yeah, if I didn’t love my students, you can bet your sweet bippy I would not be teaching!

]]> Comment on Budget Deficits and Teacher Bashing by Linda Grimes-Picarazzi http://cdwp.org/2011/03/budget-deficits-and-teacher-bashing/#comment-33 Linda Grimes-Picarazzi Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:25:43 +0000 http://cdwp.org/?p=304#comment-33 erudite as ever thanks Bob erudite as ever thanks Bob

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