Sunday, May 25, 2008
I have been wanting to clear out my closet of all my library books for a couple months to get some space back. I did just that last week. The crazy part: I actually got sad to the point of tears because it was like a chapter closing in my life. Ah, the bittersweet feelings…Yesterday they went back to Hyde Park to be of service to someone else. (Let's not forget that it was 1968 since one of them had been checked out!)
Some of these books I have had since last summer.
(sigh)
Friday, May 9, 2008
Pebble in a Pond
I am feeling a bit reflective so...
(I tend to reflect a lot during completion times in life such as graduation.)
In February 2005 (I write my date of purchase inside my book covers—geeky, huh?), my Research Seminar teacher, ongoing coach, and friend said to the class something to the tune of “If you want a readable volume of Western Civilization, go out and get Richard Tarnas' Passion of the Western Mind.” So I did. I take on good coaching.
I engaged in the text, not ever knowing that I would use it so much. I used it for my Advanced Project. I used it for my Paul lecture. I used it in almost every class and paper during my U of C degree. I use it again in Critical Thinking.
Fast forward three years.
Last night I was grading CT journals. Using the coach's journal assignment model, I came up with one of my own for Journal #3:
In February 2005 (I write my date of purchase inside my book covers—geeky, huh?), my Research Seminar teacher, ongoing coach, and friend said to the class something to the tune of “If you want a readable volume of Western Civilization, go out and get Richard Tarnas' Passion of the Western Mind.” So I did. I take on good coaching.
I engaged in the text, not ever knowing that I would use it so much. I used it for my Advanced Project. I used it for my Paul lecture. I used it in almost every class and paper during my U of C degree. I use it again in Critical Thinking.
Fast forward three years.
Last night I was grading CT journals. Using the coach's journal assignment model, I came up with one of my own for Journal #3:
In Tarnas part II, we read about astronomy, astrology, Rome and the emergence
of Christianity. Please write 3 questions or 3 comments that reflect your own perspective on this section of Tarnas. Be ready to use these in class as small group and/or large group discussion.
of Christianity. Please write 3 questions or 3 comments that reflect your own perspective on this section of Tarnas. Be ready to use these in class as small group and/or large group discussion.
In response, one student commented, “I really want to go to Rome!!!!!”
Another student commented, “When I began reading Tarnas, I thought it was very difficult to understand and believed I’d never make it through the text. Now that I’m starting to make some sense of it, I find that I really enjoy the historical perspective it offers. History has never been one of my favorite subjects but I find that I want to learn more about Alexander the Great, how the Romans conquered parts of the Mediterranean and Europe, and the influence the Byzantines and Moslems had on the West after Rome was defeated by the Barbarians.”
The moral of the story? Teaching is a pebble in a pond. I hope to make the same impact one day for students with a simple comment such as "Buy this book."
Another student commented, “When I began reading Tarnas, I thought it was very difficult to understand and believed I’d never make it through the text. Now that I’m starting to make some sense of it, I find that I really enjoy the historical perspective it offers. History has never been one of my favorite subjects but I find that I want to learn more about Alexander the Great, how the Romans conquered parts of the Mediterranean and Europe, and the influence the Byzantines and Moslems had on the West after Rome was defeated by the Barbarians.”
The moral of the story? Teaching is a pebble in a pond. I hope to make the same impact one day for students with a simple comment such as "Buy this book."
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