timna

achingly hard

to leave people. to say goodbye to my family -- those who live with me, and those who live 6 hours away. just can't seem to get past the lump in my throat.  I know that part of my reaction to Stefanie's rapid decline and death this week has to do with my leaving. adding to that is knowing that one of the fulbrighters last year lost a brother while he was in Dhaka.  

her funeral is on Saturday.

too much going on inside.

answer the question that *is* on the exam

some really good exams and some spectacularly bad ones. too many people answered questions as they wanted them to be: yes, tell me the criteria for good illustrations in children's books, but then answer the part about 2 examples from our class, too. don't skip that!

or if you have to answer one from each section, don't answer 3 just barely and hope something is right. I only read the first one.

or if the question asks what an article was about, it's really not answering the question to cut-and-paste someone else's discussion questions and your answer on that board. it's true, you answered the discussion question, but it is not  the question on the exam.

if I ask for examples from the fairy tales section, don't give me realistic fiction, unless you want me to think you're really confused. and when you discuss fairy tales, I really don't want to see any fairy tails at the end of a semester-long course.

other than that - class average 85% with some in the high 90s and some in the 60s. I guess that's the way life is.

Pooh quotes

For my student who wrote in a panic after the exam: I got it wrong when I said "you know more than you think" -- but I was close.

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. I’ll always be with you.
-- Winnie the Pooh*

 

also for almond joy.

and maybe thinking about stefani.

and I do too have tear ducts.

*http://www.great-inspirational-quotes.com/winnie-the-pooh-quotes.html

Stefanie died this morning

May her memory be a blessing.

she's fading

my colleague's cancer took over with unbelievable speed. two weeks ago she was still walking and planning ahead. I didn't say goodbye to her beyond the leaving town goodbyes.

she's slipped into unconsciousness tonight. odd to be getting most of the information online.

I wasn't very close to her outside of school, but she's been a strong influence over the past nearly ten years. she's the "department veteran" in this entry. a generous soul and I'll miss her greatly.

yes, I did like USC

I guess I didn't say that yet. It's a beautiful campus and I'm very impressed with the academics. Looks like a place almond joy will really thrive. She met people she liked and registered for classes she's excited about. Plus she's starting with sophomore status!

 

I liked that we took the bus to a friend's in Santa Monica -- aj had very little patience for this adventure, but found that the beach and Indian restaurant were good ways to end the visit.

last class ends on Monday

I can hardly imagine not having an online class to check in on for the next year.

This class is great. They have not complained about the workload or the "over-analysis" of their beloved children's books. They have done the homework and engaged in pretty solid discussions. Their feedback is lovely.

I think I've improved immensely as a teacher since last summer's class.

I've already graded the drafts, so I don't expect to get bogged down in the final papers. The exam is written. So by the time I leave for Chicago to pick up ben t. (returning from Israel) on Thursday, I expect grades will be in.

last quilt is finished (pictures of all 3!)

 

not sure if I have pictures of the other two...

here's one:

 

I'll get a picture of the other...

ben t: summer vacation in Israel

rafting on the sea of galilee.

suddenly speeding through

should have known that if I go away, suddenly everything will pick up speed.

the contract came and I have to fax a signed version back in order to get money. yea.

the department (there) is suddenly sending me syllabi of courses they'd like me to teach. yea.

my amazing laptop came up for sale at woot for about 50% of what we've ever seen it sold for. yea. decisions, decisions.

I'm away and occupied an unbelievable 16 hours a day in an orientation/immersion. wait, I'm the parent. why am I getting this information overload? it's almond joy going to school out here in this sunny place. I guess when tuition is this expensive, they go all out?

not speeding through the drafts. must get the last 7 back to students.

getting a phone call from a colleague meant not good news about another colleague's cancer.

back to work.