Ethnography
Ethnography June 14, 2007
We find our way back to the common room, some less apprehensive, while others are still wandering. Conversations come to an end as Peggy starts the day. “Good Morning,” she says as she looks around the room.
“Morning,” some moan.
“Let’s try that again. I said Good Morning.” Peggy stated.
“Good morning.” We answered in a much better tone.
Sacred writing begins and the silence is broken only by the pen scratches as we pay tribute to influential teachers and mentors.
Melanie goes first – “He teaches me still today, about things such as the printer. My husband rocks. He has a fan club and that is the reason I have a ‘My Space’. He and my son watch “Wilbur” which is a show where they read to solve problems.”
Going around the room to the right, Heather shared second. Both parents are teachers, but Mr. Cline, killer Cline, was her turning point in the decision to teach. “Dr. Lumpkin would not whip me. I stayed up one time for four days in order to turn in a paper that she said was still not good enough. She made me a better writer (after hospitalizing me).” Heather takes molding children’s lives seriously.
Next Bonnie spoke about her first full year at Huntington High. “I was so nervous and my mentor took me under her wing telling me “Don’t let them push you around” and only after being blamed for a kid having porn, did I take matters into my own hands. After that, I became known as Betty Bad Ass.”
Amy’s turn: She was the typical good girl who found herself writing off topic for today’s response. Bonnie had said previously that “teaching was in her soul” and it stuck with Amy. She played school, as a child, and even had a chalk board. They were trying to save her from “the curse”, but she did not buy into that. “I enjoy my work. I work my ____ off and expect others to as well. I will not let things go. It is not a curse, it is a calling and there is nothing better”.
Dolores S. is up and she can’t narrow it down. From her aunt that said “She is so bright, she should be a teacher” to her favorite high school teacher that opened up literature and all its greatness, Dolores said they were all uniquely different and influenced her more than they know. “You can learn something from every teacher-even if it is how not to do it. Thank you.”
(I love that line)
Nora followed in true free writing form. “What about Bible school…? What about outside the profession?” Her daughter, Kim, said she was bored, so Nora offered the words, “Be their friend, then talked (to us) about the many quotes that she had learned but was still lost and finds herself lost here, too, stating, “I hope to be an influence. I need a highlighter. Many family members are teachers…getting combat pay- family oriented combat pay.”
Diana began with “Happy Flag Day” then, clued us in that this is a favorite topic of hers. She wrote about her head feeling as if it had been opened and her brain being squeezed. She wanted to learn. She remembered a big woman with a big laugh and noted that someone could have negative as well as positive influences. “I wanted to read and she limited me. I finished and wanted to check out other books, but we had to exchange because she did not like checking out the books and what the teacher said was more than gospel.”
Greg liked the teacher that “made the events seem like they were current affairs that happened just down the street”. That teacher could keep their attention until the bell and that makes Greg envious. “At times, I am torn between thanking him and cussing him out.”
Karen missed the memo that it was not cool for girls to take science. She liked the teacher that treated her like an adult. “He made me realize that I was intelligent and I even wrote him a thank you letter.” Karen then reminded us that Dolores J. was always willing to answer any question and introduced Karen to the Writing Project. “The rest is history.”
Ian took his turn quickly and remembered someone that he idolized told him that he was doing a good job. Ian also mentioned Sharon Stone and said he got what he needed from both mentors.
Mike gushed with positivistic words about the woman who was totally supportive even when he was at a lose. “She had my back and I am who I am because of her” –his wife.
Half way through the line up and still moving counter-clockwise, Kathy shared about a woman that was unkind and insensitive – maybe frustrated. “She gave us sheets to color and cut, I accommodated and modified (and was only five). She walked around – good example of an effective teacher, but said I was stupid. I had learned from my mistakes I hated being called Kathleen.”
Angela wrote about the most organized person. “Totes all in a row, everything ran like a well oiled machine. Angela was made to go back because this teacher had well established rules and routines.
Peggy had positive and negative in her life. The person she hoped would take her under their wing, did not. Looking back Peggy knows that teacher helped her. “She still has calm wisdom. I wish for calm wisdom. I admire that.”
Bart with nods to his teachers and having been influenced and mentored by many, remembers one that effected everyone with her smiles and enthusiasm. No one had ever explained it like that. “She made me promise to teach in her place – but her spirit is all that’s left.”
Kim mentioned endless good qualities in her mentor and admits to occasionally calling on her, still. “She found me a job that would even help me pay for a new degree. She gave me her address so I’m sure I’ll see her again.”
“She made one hour of my school day wonderful.” Eddy remembers that math was miserable but she rejoiced when it was English time. “I hope she is in some kind of teacher heaven where blackboards erase themselves and no one walks in to check on your classroom.”
Joseph said, “I had heard rumors, but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I walked in to Dr. Lumkin’s room armed with papers and pens. I wanted to know if I was going to fail but still sit in on the class. I ended with a B. She required conferences and if I could be half as good as she, I would be great.”
I was next and moved from Rena Allen (from the University) to Mrs. McConnell (from fifth grade) and expressed thanks to those who influenced me, whether they meant to or not.
Jen stated, “He let me hang out as a freshman with the seniors and express my thoughts. He inspired me to get a degree in special education. We both loved James Dean and when others thought I had reached my potential he encouraged me to show my talent. I see his kids today and we reminisce about what a great man he was.”
Robin’s teacher lifted her spirits and made learning fun. “We were encouraged to break the boundaries and be honest.”
Sarah wrapped up the sacred share with thoughts of the warmth she felt when pressed into a big hug (G rated). “She promised to dance with me at my wedding. She did not, but another teacher did. A teacher that told stories of being made fun of . I will not forget the never faded, never wrinkled polyester shirts. You know you wore them.”
Melanie delivered the Ethnography from June 13th. She reminds us of our words about being a teacher, which a calling. There is no time off. We are part saint and are in the ultimate sales position. Demos and E-portfolios were discussed as we perused handouts. This is a safe environment. Steal, steal, steal. Trust the process. Writing/reading groups, break and Third space were mentioned.
Peggy added that E-portfolio revisions would be deep revisions. Shop talk about the rubric would be put on hold. We need a ‘ZERO draft” on Monday.
Amy reminded us to sign up for “COACH” conference for our demo. (by twos is acceptable).
BREAK (where people commented on my outfit and then told me to mention that here)
Karen’s presentation was in the computer room and was accompanied by two handouts. She started with why she was presenting and the prep work involved. The book is on an elementary level but she adapted it to the college level. “I agreed and then wondered why am I doing this?….for selfish reasons”. Karen stated.
Feedback made Karen realize that writing was what was missing. She reworked her classes based on Katie Wood Ray’s book. As Karen stood in front of the class talking, I saw smiles and nods appear and fade from around the room. The interest was high (even if we were not concrete about the content). Laughter from the hall area prompted her to shut the door and yet she never strayed from the topic. (Example of a good teacher.)
Questions came from Nora, Joseph, Diana, Bart, Katy, Jennifer, and Amy. Each were answered.
Karen added that a 5-7 minute conference was sufficient. “Tell me about…Find one teach item…..Move on”.
Data festival was the partner work where we read memos and answered given questions about the content and the writing. Kim became the ‘handout helper’. Moments of silent reading were followed by whispers which turned into full-out quiet conversations. Kim and Nora spoke first about our findings and then were joined by Bart, Melanie, Amy, Ian, Diana and Heather. Karen seemed pleased with the remarks and thanked us for the time. She collected the samples with her ‘collecting helper’ Amy.
We took a quick twenty minutes, in our small groups, to discuss the lenses of focus for Karen’s presentation.
LUNCH (Provided by Kathy)
We filed back in after lunch, reporting to our morning seats. Side conversations fell silent as we began our whole group discussion about the phrase our small groups chose. We used the “Last Word” protocol while Diana and Peggy acted as task managers. The topics were as follows:
Group 1: Two types of writing, one for life and one to convey an idea
Last word: “Compositions were thought to be assignments and not to communicate. Drawing from resources is also to communicate”.
Group 2: Tools and supplies
Last word: “Let age and purpose dictate the variety of attractions.”
Group 3: We are in this together
Last word: “Start firm, and earn their fellowship. We can’t have rules and routines without reasons and relationships.”
Group 4: Choices for what they write about
Last word: “Age appropriate as well as classroom appropriate must be considered”.
Although the protocol was hard to understand and broke down, we still learned from the experience.
“Write to learn to write, as well as to write about the topic.”
BREAK
Third space
Joseph said third base because that is the last thing before going home.
We are filing in and logging on more confidently. “And the rest is history.”
