Good Friday morning. We’re piloting our first discussion thread, a new feature to invite all readers into a conversation.
Ready or not, a fall like no other is here. After the triage and uncertainty of spring and summer, it presents opportunities to make some changes and set our intentions. What is one thing you want to experiment with this fall — personally and/or professionally? (A new practice in your virtual classroom, self-care strategy or spiritual practice, anti-racism or social justice work, changing up meetings or office hours, cocktail recipe or new hobby, etc)
For the class I am teaching, I am inviting some of my friends and colleagues to record conversations with me about the week's topic - this is something that I am excited about, but also nervous about! I think it will be great, though, and I am excited to bring more experiences and perspectives into the classroom!
I love that you are amplifying voices and modeling positive restlessness as you approach your class, Michael. And on a personal level, I look forward to seeing the results!
My body and mind thrive on routines so all this uncertainty had me never feeling settled. Now that I know that I'll be working from home through January I'm looking to build a routine that includes time for movement, work, and quiet reflection and reading and less time in front of a screen. While it's easier to do this when it's nice outside to go for a walk or run I know building this now will help me as we get into winter and there are fewer daylight hours for outside time. Also, looking to use weekends for road trips to areas that I normally wouldn't see as vacation destinations just to get a change of scenery.
I relate to all of this, Nicole -- especially the need for less time in front of a screen and wanting to build a better routine. I am already getting up earlier to make time for reading and reflection. Do you have ideas for weekend getaways?
Current spots are Harper's ferry with a bike ride on the canal tow path and something around Virginia beach or the Delaware beaches when the regular summer vacation season ends, or Lake Anna. Somewhere close to water.
I am striving to be more creative in my student engagement planning--not simply doing the things that have always been done, but using this time & all of these circumstances to be creative, try new things, and try to be innovative. If we are adjusting things for a new environment anyway why not take it a step further and be really intentional about what we're doing? But at the same time giving myself & my team grace if all doesn't go as planned or we don't accomplish as much as we thought we would. Also, personally trying to settle into a weekday routine that includes time away from my desk! (phone meetings instead of zoom so I can move around while I talk, lunch breaks for exercise, etc.).
Where is the retweet button, Liz? This is exactly the conversation I've been having with folks recently. It truly felt like spring was crisis and triage... then all of the uncertainty of summer. A (mostly) virtual fall is here. Let's be intentional and reflect upon all that we have learned in the last nearly six months. And, as you suggest, giving ourselves grace remains essential. I also highly recommend phone meetings (a few folks have experienced the cicadas in the background recently).
I totally relate! Trying to find ways to plan with a virtual element in mind, rather than just using the software to host the normal programs. Definitely is pushing the boxes of creativity in my mind, but I'm excited to find new ways to get students excited and to engage with one another and our content. And always trying to remind myself (and my students) that it's okay to fail right now :)
It's funny, Ben...I feel like my whole world is an experiment right now. All of the programming we are doing at The Clarice is virtual and it's new territory for me. Figuring out how to eat right, not drink too much, keep up the physical exercising, stay with my wee bit of Spanish instruction, read my big pile of anti-racism books...this is a time like no other. I can't name the one thing as it all feels like an adventure/experiment. I will say that the thing that is top of mind right now is figuring out how to maintain optimism while also being mindful of the risks that lie ahead with the return-to-work planning. I was thinking about creating a hand signal or some kind of movement to indicate to people I'm talking to that I'm smiling. With our faces covered, communication is challenging. So maybe that's my experiment...creating a way to indicate to others that I'm smiling. I'll let you know how it goes.
"My whole world is an experiment right now..." Indeed, Jane. I appreciate you acknowledging all of the many ways you are navigating this time. I love your idea! It seems like a great prompt for students or groups of colleagues -- both from a creativity perspective, but also in developing norms around our communication. Please do keep us posted!
My self-care strategy as of yesterday is to delete all of my social media apps off my phone. I spend too much time engulfed in the news and daily happenings, that I become defeated and don't feel like there's a way out. For me, it's a balance of staying in the know but not getting sucked in. So I started last night by doing something nice for my wife and started painting. These are things, believe it or not, that I have lost motivation to do when I am on my phone all the time. I already feel better!
Less intensity with work. More enjoying life. Giving the Fall transition my intimate attention. Playing more with our new Kitten! Going on mid-day runs...
At work we're hoping to have the theme of our retreat be "Moving from Surviving to Thriving." Knowing that we'll likely be mostly virtual for the next 9+ months we want to think (individually, in small groups, and all together) about how we can help ourselves thrive in a work from home world. I already have a few small ideas like ending zoom calls 5-10 minutes early, figuring out a rotation to check in with folks in the office who I don't usually see, and moving a few new projects forward and I'd love to hear anyone else's suggestions too!
You can't escape the thriving workplace, Deborah ;) I appreciate your attempt to end calls early. I am consistently amazed at how we fill the container of meeting time (if it's an hour, it's as if we *have* to fill it)... so I'm being extra mindful of (1) how long does each "meeting" need to be -- and trying 15, 20, 25 minute timeframes, (2) pushing for some meetings to be phone calls... and thus walk/talks, (3) checking in with folks at the beginning to see if they're having a zoom-heavy day.
(I'm not very good at ending calls early, my hope is as an office if we were all on the same page we'd be better at it.) And yes! I have a standing call that's a walk and talk and it's so great! I love the 15, 20, and 25 minute time frames too. I'm having more 30 minute meetings which I appreciate. It is so like a fillable container and in true American fashion it must be full to the top no matter its size!
I want to work on integrating how the mind/body dichotomy inherent in a lot of Western thinking contributes to racism into my classes. While this separation can help us step back and see things from a distanced perspective, it also promotes the objectification of other. This could be other ethnics, but also non-human nature. The mind/body dichotomy alone has led to a lot of exploitation of other, often in the name of science. I guess I would like students to be able to appreciate this. But this is a difficult thing to point out because "objective" thinking has led to many advances. So learning how to balance different ways of knowing and using them as checks and balances against harmful othering is the ultimate goal.
David - I have been doing some study along these lines. I am so glad you are sharing this with students. Humanity is connected through your body not so much your mind.
Western ways of knowing and being. I continue to be in awe at all the ways you are constantly iterating and imagining new possibilities to teach and challenge your students -- and grateful at your humility in sharing with the rest of us, David. Keep us posted.
More namaste, less negativity. But please check back after November 3
Oh yes, Bob... November 3 hangs over all of this. 67 days!
For the class I am teaching, I am inviting some of my friends and colleagues to record conversations with me about the week's topic - this is something that I am excited about, but also nervous about! I think it will be great, though, and I am excited to bring more experiences and perspectives into the classroom!
This is a great idea! Please let us know how it goes.
I love that you are amplifying voices and modeling positive restlessness as you approach your class, Michael. And on a personal level, I look forward to seeing the results!
My body and mind thrive on routines so all this uncertainty had me never feeling settled. Now that I know that I'll be working from home through January I'm looking to build a routine that includes time for movement, work, and quiet reflection and reading and less time in front of a screen. While it's easier to do this when it's nice outside to go for a walk or run I know building this now will help me as we get into winter and there are fewer daylight hours for outside time. Also, looking to use weekends for road trips to areas that I normally wouldn't see as vacation destinations just to get a change of scenery.
I relate to all of this, Nicole -- especially the need for less time in front of a screen and wanting to build a better routine. I am already getting up earlier to make time for reading and reflection. Do you have ideas for weekend getaways?
Current spots are Harper's ferry with a bike ride on the canal tow path and something around Virginia beach or the Delaware beaches when the regular summer vacation season ends, or Lake Anna. Somewhere close to water.
"Somewhere close to water" <--------- YES!
I am striving to be more creative in my student engagement planning--not simply doing the things that have always been done, but using this time & all of these circumstances to be creative, try new things, and try to be innovative. If we are adjusting things for a new environment anyway why not take it a step further and be really intentional about what we're doing? But at the same time giving myself & my team grace if all doesn't go as planned or we don't accomplish as much as we thought we would. Also, personally trying to settle into a weekday routine that includes time away from my desk! (phone meetings instead of zoom so I can move around while I talk, lunch breaks for exercise, etc.).
Where is the retweet button, Liz? This is exactly the conversation I've been having with folks recently. It truly felt like spring was crisis and triage... then all of the uncertainty of summer. A (mostly) virtual fall is here. Let's be intentional and reflect upon all that we have learned in the last nearly six months. And, as you suggest, giving ourselves grace remains essential. I also highly recommend phone meetings (a few folks have experienced the cicadas in the background recently).
I totally relate! Trying to find ways to plan with a virtual element in mind, rather than just using the software to host the normal programs. Definitely is pushing the boxes of creativity in my mind, but I'm excited to find new ways to get students excited and to engage with one another and our content. And always trying to remind myself (and my students) that it's okay to fail right now :)
YES, David! Leaning into failure as an opportunity to learn, iterate and grow...
It's funny, Ben...I feel like my whole world is an experiment right now. All of the programming we are doing at The Clarice is virtual and it's new territory for me. Figuring out how to eat right, not drink too much, keep up the physical exercising, stay with my wee bit of Spanish instruction, read my big pile of anti-racism books...this is a time like no other. I can't name the one thing as it all feels like an adventure/experiment. I will say that the thing that is top of mind right now is figuring out how to maintain optimism while also being mindful of the risks that lie ahead with the return-to-work planning. I was thinking about creating a hand signal or some kind of movement to indicate to people I'm talking to that I'm smiling. With our faces covered, communication is challenging. So maybe that's my experiment...creating a way to indicate to others that I'm smiling. I'll let you know how it goes.
"My whole world is an experiment right now..." Indeed, Jane. I appreciate you acknowledging all of the many ways you are navigating this time. I love your idea! It seems like a great prompt for students or groups of colleagues -- both from a creativity perspective, but also in developing norms around our communication. Please do keep us posted!
My self-care strategy as of yesterday is to delete all of my social media apps off my phone. I spend too much time engulfed in the news and daily happenings, that I become defeated and don't feel like there's a way out. For me, it's a balance of staying in the know but not getting sucked in. So I started last night by doing something nice for my wife and started painting. These are things, believe it or not, that I have lost motivation to do when I am on my phone all the time. I already feel better!
Doomscrolling is so real. Good for you!
Less intensity with work. More enjoying life. Giving the Fall transition my intimate attention. Playing more with our new Kitten! Going on mid-day runs...
"Giving the fall transition my intimate attention..." <--- I love that...
At work we're hoping to have the theme of our retreat be "Moving from Surviving to Thriving." Knowing that we'll likely be mostly virtual for the next 9+ months we want to think (individually, in small groups, and all together) about how we can help ourselves thrive in a work from home world. I already have a few small ideas like ending zoom calls 5-10 minutes early, figuring out a rotation to check in with folks in the office who I don't usually see, and moving a few new projects forward and I'd love to hear anyone else's suggestions too!
You can't escape the thriving workplace, Deborah ;) I appreciate your attempt to end calls early. I am consistently amazed at how we fill the container of meeting time (if it's an hour, it's as if we *have* to fill it)... so I'm being extra mindful of (1) how long does each "meeting" need to be -- and trying 15, 20, 25 minute timeframes, (2) pushing for some meetings to be phone calls... and thus walk/talks, (3) checking in with folks at the beginning to see if they're having a zoom-heavy day.
(I'm not very good at ending calls early, my hope is as an office if we were all on the same page we'd be better at it.) And yes! I have a standing call that's a walk and talk and it's so great! I love the 15, 20, and 25 minute time frames too. I'm having more 30 minute meetings which I appreciate. It is so like a fillable container and in true American fashion it must be full to the top no matter its size!
I want to work on integrating how the mind/body dichotomy inherent in a lot of Western thinking contributes to racism into my classes. While this separation can help us step back and see things from a distanced perspective, it also promotes the objectification of other. This could be other ethnics, but also non-human nature. The mind/body dichotomy alone has led to a lot of exploitation of other, often in the name of science. I guess I would like students to be able to appreciate this. But this is a difficult thing to point out because "objective" thinking has led to many advances. So learning how to balance different ways of knowing and using them as checks and balances against harmful othering is the ultimate goal.
David - I have been doing some study along these lines. I am so glad you are sharing this with students. Humanity is connected through your body not so much your mind.
Western ways of knowing and being. I continue to be in awe at all the ways you are constantly iterating and imagining new possibilities to teach and challenge your students -- and grateful at your humility in sharing with the rest of us, David. Keep us posted.