“how to be in a circle with people who don’t travel in the same circles” Gorgeous. Thank you for all of this. I’m convinced that magic happens in circles of community when we make space for our words to be witnessed.
I often feel the same way at the end of the year. This is why a few years ago, I started a tradition of having my students write me reflection letters (instead of doing a more traditional course style survey) to let me know what helped and didn't help them develop their English skills and to give advice to future students in my class. Our community circles are frequently mentioned as their favorite and most meaningful activity. Many of them also surprise me by mentioning activities that I thought had been ineffective or boring which reminds me that my perception of what works isn't always what the students find valuable. And I just purchased Ross Gay's new book yesterday at Aunties and am really looking forward to reading it this summer!
I love this idea. And yes, I think it is important to hear what students think is valuable. I like to get feedback from them mid-semester too to make changes based on their feedback. I might grab that book this week. I have only listened to him being interviewed a few times. I haven’t read his books yet. Did you read The Book of Delights?
You are an amazing teacher, Mary. Learning how to be in a community and communicate with others is a life skill that will take your students further than knowing how to cite in MLA. Both skills come with practice and you should feel proud of your students’ growth wherever they are in the process.
Thanks for your kind words. I think you are amazing too. I’m thinking my goal going forward is to shoot for both - cultivating civil discourse and teaching correct citations. In the latter, I just mean being consistent with how I use formative assessment. I agree that the conversations are more important but I can also reflect that I sometimes miss some things that matter because I’m more lofty in my thinking and I don’t always sweat the details, plan enough in advance or follow through completely.
Your poem gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. What is more important to teach young people than how to be heard and listen to others and how to be a meaningful contributor to community? You are a wonder.
That is so kind. Deep listening is a big part of Indigenous wisdom. Joy Harjo writes about it in her poetry. I’m still honing those skills in my every day life, and I do think if we did that culturally, our world would be better. Thank you for your support. It means so much.
Why are you making me teary-eyed at 9:00 a.m.? NC’s book club has been a source of community for me. Since I’m not a teacher, I don’t have many opportunities to form relationships with students. Book club has allowed me to get to know them and hear their wisdom. This is a lovely post, Mary!
Thanks. Book club is the best. In the Ross Gay interview I mentioned, he talks about laughter and why it brings people together. I think it speaks to why it’s sometimes important to play a silly game or to hypothetically spend all your budget and then some on Trevor Noah tickets. This will be my line of reasoning when I’m asked why we were slightly over budget this year, a year from now.
This is beautiful!! Thank you Mary for writing it and for contacting me to say that you and I were sharing the same wavelength about creativity and community!! Hello kindred spirit!!! 👋❤🍪🖍 I send you love and offers to share crayons and cookies in this life together!! Keep writing and creating!!
Just listened to the Poetry Unbound episode featuring Rungs. Wow, has me thinking back to circle time with my kindergarten peeps and later with second graders. The beauty of kids holding each other up. Thanks for drawing it to my attention. 💜💜
I worked for 13 years as a research assistant doing diabetes and immunology research, before going back to school to get my teaching credentials. I took a few years off to be with my boys, then started teaching as a sub when my youngest son was in kindergarten, got the kindergarten position in the tiny k-8 grade school where my boys were students. Taught k for 8 years before moving up to second grade for 2 1/2 years. Retired early when I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. My meds keep my immune system dampened down, so being in a school seemed too risky. I retired one year before COVID. Now I volunteer a few hours each week in our local library in the children’s room. 💜
That is a beautiful journey. Kindergarten teachers have a special place in my heart. Mateo’s K teacher was a gift from God. She made big challenges feel more like bumped to growth. That library gig sounds like a gift for you and those kiddos. Good for you!
I started realizing how much community feeds me when I started my newsletter last year and almost every thing that fed me was community based: the public library, the campus of our state school in town, the community center where I like to work out that offers art classes and other classes, and of course all my friends. I started realizing how incredibly important it is to being “here now,” to seeing the ground beneath my own feet. These little things are, to my heart, the biggest things, cornerstones of happiness, wholesomeness, and connection. How far my mind was from understanding that in the past! As I age, I see the connection so clearly. Your workshops sound so wonderful 🌹 I’m a fan of Natalie Goldberg wisdom, too. Congrats on your great turn out!
This is beautiful Kara. I also have gratitude for these spaces. One of the reasons I love teaching writing is also because of what Natalie Goldberg says, that it keeps me writing. Thank you. It was a joyous event.
“how to be in a circle with people who don’t travel in the same circles” Gorgeous. Thank you for all of this. I’m convinced that magic happens in circles of community when we make space for our words to be witnessed.
Thanks for being here Julie and thanks for being someone who cultivated those kinds of spaces.
I often feel the same way at the end of the year. This is why a few years ago, I started a tradition of having my students write me reflection letters (instead of doing a more traditional course style survey) to let me know what helped and didn't help them develop their English skills and to give advice to future students in my class. Our community circles are frequently mentioned as their favorite and most meaningful activity. Many of them also surprise me by mentioning activities that I thought had been ineffective or boring which reminds me that my perception of what works isn't always what the students find valuable. And I just purchased Ross Gay's new book yesterday at Aunties and am really looking forward to reading it this summer!
I love this idea. And yes, I think it is important to hear what students think is valuable. I like to get feedback from them mid-semester too to make changes based on their feedback. I might grab that book this week. I have only listened to him being interviewed a few times. I haven’t read his books yet. Did you read The Book of Delights?
You are an amazing teacher, Mary. Learning how to be in a community and communicate with others is a life skill that will take your students further than knowing how to cite in MLA. Both skills come with practice and you should feel proud of your students’ growth wherever they are in the process.
Thanks for your kind words. I think you are amazing too. I’m thinking my goal going forward is to shoot for both - cultivating civil discourse and teaching correct citations. In the latter, I just mean being consistent with how I use formative assessment. I agree that the conversations are more important but I can also reflect that I sometimes miss some things that matter because I’m more lofty in my thinking and I don’t always sweat the details, plan enough in advance or follow through completely.
Your poem gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. What is more important to teach young people than how to be heard and listen to others and how to be a meaningful contributor to community? You are a wonder.
That is so kind. Deep listening is a big part of Indigenous wisdom. Joy Harjo writes about it in her poetry. I’m still honing those skills in my every day life, and I do think if we did that culturally, our world would be better. Thank you for your support. It means so much.
Why are you making me teary-eyed at 9:00 a.m.? NC’s book club has been a source of community for me. Since I’m not a teacher, I don’t have many opportunities to form relationships with students. Book club has allowed me to get to know them and hear their wisdom. This is a lovely post, Mary!
Thanks. Book club is the best. In the Ross Gay interview I mentioned, he talks about laughter and why it brings people together. I think it speaks to why it’s sometimes important to play a silly game or to hypothetically spend all your budget and then some on Trevor Noah tickets. This will be my line of reasoning when I’m asked why we were slightly over budget this year, a year from now.
Teaching civil conversation is important for everyone. I am the proud mom of this prose.
This is beautiful!! Thank you Mary for writing it and for contacting me to say that you and I were sharing the same wavelength about creativity and community!! Hello kindred spirit!!! 👋❤🍪🖍 I send you love and offers to share crayons and cookies in this life together!! Keep writing and creating!!
Just listened to the Poetry Unbound episode featuring Rungs. Wow, has me thinking back to circle time with my kindergarten peeps and later with second graders. The beauty of kids holding each other up. Thanks for drawing it to my attention. 💜💜
Happy to share the love. I enjoy that podcast much and also really enjoy the Sunday Substack. Were you a kindergarten and 2nd grade teacher?
I worked for 13 years as a research assistant doing diabetes and immunology research, before going back to school to get my teaching credentials. I took a few years off to be with my boys, then started teaching as a sub when my youngest son was in kindergarten, got the kindergarten position in the tiny k-8 grade school where my boys were students. Taught k for 8 years before moving up to second grade for 2 1/2 years. Retired early when I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. My meds keep my immune system dampened down, so being in a school seemed too risky. I retired one year before COVID. Now I volunteer a few hours each week in our local library in the children’s room. 💜
That is a beautiful journey. Kindergarten teachers have a special place in my heart. Mateo’s K teacher was a gift from God. She made big challenges feel more like bumped to growth. That library gig sounds like a gift for you and those kiddos. Good for you!
I started realizing how much community feeds me when I started my newsletter last year and almost every thing that fed me was community based: the public library, the campus of our state school in town, the community center where I like to work out that offers art classes and other classes, and of course all my friends. I started realizing how incredibly important it is to being “here now,” to seeing the ground beneath my own feet. These little things are, to my heart, the biggest things, cornerstones of happiness, wholesomeness, and connection. How far my mind was from understanding that in the past! As I age, I see the connection so clearly. Your workshops sound so wonderful 🌹 I’m a fan of Natalie Goldberg wisdom, too. Congrats on your great turn out!
This is beautiful Kara. I also have gratitude for these spaces. One of the reasons I love teaching writing is also because of what Natalie Goldberg says, that it keeps me writing. Thank you. It was a joyous event.