Learning

I'm in two classes right now, although one ends soon and that will leave me with just one until our brief summer break in August. One class is on middle school curriculum and the other is on teaching history (content pedagogy). It's no secret that I've been disappointed in this program (and if it is, then I need to complain more), but dare I say it? I love these classes. Especially the one on content pedagogy. I LOVE it! It's taught by a very young gentleman who has been teaching middle school for 4 years. This is his first time teaching grad school. When he introduced himself in the first class, I almost laughed out loud, but I quickly realized that Sensei knows a thing or two. It's fantastic. He's fantastic. The last few classes have been killing me softly - to the point that I've been wondering if I took a seriously wrong turn somewhere. But this class has me feeling like: this feels right.

For the past week, I've been listening to my textbook on audible (how do we say this now? I almost typed "book on tape." Jesus.) while cutting out fabric for projects. It is so relaxing and fun. I leave my Mac Book open so I can type quick notes as I listen, but other than that, I go about my business, engaging my hands and my mind.

(Side note: as I'm fully absorbed by the mid-life crisis I'm having, I have to mention that I don't know how, but this process is helping me. Something about mid-life feels like a tiny relief. You really do get to stop caring about a lot. I don't know exactly what's going on, but I appreciate that it doesn't all feel like shrinking or grief.) (Side note to the side note: my new hair dresser is about to turn 29 and she had the nerve to tell me she had her "mid-life" crisis at 25. Isn't that cute? I didn't punch her when she said it. I thought I had my mid-life crisis at 25, too, until the real one started. Mon dieu.) (Last side note: my new hair cut is just ok. She took a ton of hair, which is good, but I was hoping for something a little more edgy. My new look firmly says: Soccer Mom. Crap.)

The text I'm listening to is so wonderfully subversive -- so radical -- that occasionally while listening I start looking over my shoulder and wondering if I may get a knock at the door any minute. The book is Lies My Teacher Told Me by J. Lowen, and it will rock your world. Must read. Now. But don't count on ever being able to sit down for another Thanksgiving dinner afterwards.

Last night while listening to Lowen describe Helen Keller as the die-hard socialist that she was, I tried another zipper pouch. I love the fabric, but man, I messed up that zipper. I cannot seem to figure those out. 

Tonight while learning about Christopher Columbus, the Jew, I decided to cut out several tote bags and iron on the interfacing so they're almost ready to sew. Could this material be cuter? That one with the bikes is organic, and it's so soft that you immediately want to strip off all your clothes and wrap your body in it. Or so I've heard.

This is me working it out. It's going pretty good.