A couple years back this very writing project produced a book about first year teaching and shared some thoughts about “Things I Wish I Would Have Known” during that first year. One thought I had was that the book could
Tag: 9x9x25
Practice Random Emails of Kindness
Last Friday I woke up to a really nice email. I know, is that even possible? Well, yes, it is. It was the first interaction I had with “work” that day. The first thing I was tasked to do for
I Got Stoned & I Missed It
For those Shel Silverstein aficionados out there, you’ll know of his wonderful collaboration with the equally wonderful Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Well, while I missed last week’s post not cuz I was stoned, but cuz I forgot, I
Here is the Thing.
Here is the thing. You are writing about your teaching and as you write, you are learning. Maybe a little, maybe a lot, but writing is thinking. As my Prescott College mentor Jim Stuckey often says, you are “wrinking.” Writing
A Day at the Improv
The current of the class is driven by the sway and swerve of student questions and interests that are smashed upon the rocks of my authoritative guesses at what they need to know related to the course content and in
My Favorite Modality
My favorite modality involves having my feet in a cool creek after a long hike. My favorite modality is the one where everyone is excited to share their ideas and expressions of learning. My favorite modality is when everyone closes
This Badge of Wrangler of Writing
I cast my 9x9x25 vote for Terry Greene and pin upon him this badge of Wrangler of Writing. Perhaps it can go by his other notable badges. Particularly, the True Friend badge from the infamous Talky Tina. He used his
KitchenAids, Cookies, and the LMS
We have a wonderful cobalt blue KitchenAid mixer. It is well used. And it is well loved. It matches the hand towels in the kitchen, the antique blue vases and glasses, some of the art on the walls and our
This “Doing” of the Work
What are we doing here? As we share these grand visions of learning or terrible stories of woe, what are we doing? I remember when I changed my mind about how all this writing was all beneficial to me, or
More Songs about Buildings and Food
Not only is the Talking Heads album “More Songs About Buildings and Food” one of my all-time favorite collections of music, but it reminds me of many of the challenges I come across in my work with faculty. And administrative
Personal Acquisition and Private Possession
In 1933, John Dewey, wondering how an alien race might see the American educational landscape pondered, “The Utopians believed that the pattern which exists in economic society in our time affected the general habits of thought; that because personal acquisition
Adrift – Somewhere Between Silly and Serious
I have lost a lot of listeners. My arms waving around wildly as I talk is just too damn distracting. In headshot videos, I blink so often that certainly people watching are just counting all the blinks knowing I am