Ponderings

Yesterday, I spent a few hours reading the manual for Atlas Ti. In working with the data for the Mission Cafes, I followed Jenny's powerpoint directions which allowed me to get the work done and explore some of the capabilities of Atlas. Reading the 400 page manual gave me a sense of the structure and organization of the program. I was also able to import the video of Nancy teaching for my critical literacy study! It took many trial and errors and husband time. We finally figured out that we needed to download a mjpg codec that we got free off the internet. Perhaps if I used a regular digital video camera I would not have had this problem (I used my daughter's digital camera, a Canon Sureshot, I think). I played with marking quotations and memos for the video....still don't have all of those kinks worked out but having fun!

On my walk today I was reflecting on work/school and the energy I got from visiting Nancy's classroom. By observing and talking to her, I have a renewed sense of purpose and focus in what it is I want to do in work/school/life. Focusing on critical pedagogy and how we as teachers and supporters of teachers might build knowledge on how to teach for the fundamental purpose of developing literacy through questions of how to change ourselves and society opens many possibilities. I know I am rambling a bit here. I am still trying to get my head around the work.

Questions are: what does it mean to invite student experience in to literacy instruction? how dow we build social literacy within a context of building literacy skills? what does it look like to build critical literacy K-12? for students? for teachers?

I would like to introduce these questions as we begin networks in the school district I work in through open space.