Today is a district PD day. I specify "district" in that I get the opportunity to mix and match with other teachers who I only normally get to chat with during these events. Like some others, I struggle each morning there's a PD day (professional development). Here's another day I lose teaching my students, marking my papers, etc. However each time I go I am blown away with the abilities of my fellow teachers, or even my own abilities. I have tools that I can share, or ideas on collaborations that I can now find a partner for. It's brilliant, and of course the exact reason why we have all of these opportunities, right? Just today I was able to meet up with another drama teacher and talk about student created plays, and will even be getting copies of scripts of his. I was with a group of English teachers, thematically organizing novels to create reading groups and lists of new and old books to increase interest and even allow for cross-curricular opportunities. For those non English teachers out there, this is a very fricken cool thing. Books already pre-approved by both teachers and students. That's Christmas for me. Finally I was part of a group where someone talked about a Poetry Smackdown (think March Madness, but with poetry). This is a great way to introduce poetry and create a competitive process in which students utilize a criteria, of their making, to eliminate poems that they don't like, and continually analyze poetry they do like #winning (does this still exist?). With that in mind I'm gonna link a youtube video for some spoken word poetry that we talked about and that I really enjoyed. Hope you do too.
Another week, another Writing Wednesday. With tomorrow being International Women's Day I decided to use today as an excuse to bring women to the forefront of our writing. I'm always fascinated with what the youth today think. The writing prompt was "Women: Who is the greatest female role model in your life? Why is she so important to you? Write either a story about her or a journal entry" My response is below: International Women's Day.
I think it's great when we have special days throughout the year, like International hot dog day (July 18th) or International talk like a pirate day (September 19th), or of course my favourite International kiss a ginger day (January 12th). However there is one that always perplexes me. International Women's Day. Shouldn't we be recognizing and commemorating women all year long? I mean without women we wouldn't be here, like literally. Yet it's sad that we forget, or tend not to notice the accomplishments of women. I've never needed to fight for my right to vote. I've never needed to explain myself if I am single. There are no negative comments made towards me if I happen to have dated more than one female in my life. Fatherhood is a bonus, not a requirement. I am ambitious, not a bitch. I am determined, not bossy. I am passionate, not emotional. The words "don't you think those shorts are a little too revealing" will never be uttered while I play rugby. If you can't be smart you better be pretty, does not apply to me. These are just the first examples that come to the top of my head, and there are so many more. I have to thank the many strong females in my life who have opened my eyes to these facts. My mother who came from a very traditional society with strong gender roles. However she was the sporty one, playing on a national field hockey team. A sister who kept the bullies at bay and is paid to teach people how to be super heroes on stage and in film, but is also strong in her femininity. And a wife who is every bit my equal, and in many regards my superior. She plans the lives of my children, my legacy. What do I do? Work and give horsey rides. Fun and important, but not to the point of giving me a throne to look down on the lowly female peasants. I hope things change. Equality is not a bad thing. When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. Let's change that thought.
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Keith Miller"I'm sure you've read something about me already, now for you to do some writing" Archives
February 2020
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