Saturday, August 30, 2014

Paducah on National Geographic Traveler

While reading National Geographic Traveler online earlier today, I found an article that mentions Paducah, KY, for its National Quilt Museum and arts district. (I'd like to add the architecture to the list.) It's interesting that Paducah is number five on the list of fifty. It took me a little while to figure a few things out, but eventually I did, so I'm posting the short piece here. By all means, follow the links and read the entire article for kicks.

The 2014 Traveler 50: World's Smartest Cities

Essential places, people, trends, and ideas that have turned the world’s most intelligent cities into travelers’ hottest tickets.

From the October 2014 issue of Traveler magazine

By George W. Stone

5 Common Threads

Paducah has us in stitches. This small Kentucky town was recently named a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art for its efforts to sew together world-class fiber arts assets (the National Quilt Museum is located here) and to attract creatives (potters, painters, jewelry makers) to its LowerTown Arts District.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Common Core Kicks Butt

My butt, that is.

We're getting it. Well, the kids are getting it. I, however, am struggling with it.

The time that Common Core (CC) takes from my life is beyond measure.

I wake to CC, work on CC, teach CC, stay late for CC, come home to CC, and sleep to CC. I do not exaggerate CC. It's real. It's hard. It's time-consuming. It's slow death.

Louisiana Dept. of Ed. has chosen to use Common Core and to "help" us the DOE put out a CC example. Our parish chose to use the La. version of CC and we are not to deviate from that example. We do, however, have to write lesson plans, prepare those lessons, write tests, grade student work, and mentor others on how to use CC. I am drowning.

What does that mean for my life?
Well, I haven't made one stitch since school started. My remodeling has been abandoned (my poor husband has been left to his own designs). I haven't cooked or done housework (but ~~wouldn't~~ couldn't anyway). I've not been in a vehicle for longer than 30 minutes unless someone else is driving so that I can work, read, annotate, plan, create tests, etc. I've even worked on the computer while Richard drove to Rayne to visit the grands.

All images from Google Images

Yes, absolutely, Common Core is kicking my butt. And I have 24+ years of teaching English (and a few other subjects) from eighth grade to college courses.

All that means I can fly--by the seat of my pants, on wings and magic carpets, on stories and literary works I have never read, and with students who do not want to be in an English classroom. That's just how I ~~roll~~ used to teach. Now I just struggle. Thank you, Common Core.