In just a couple of days I will travel to England for the first time in my life -- which is kind of amazing given that I have studied British Literature for decades. Other destinations had priority -- Ireland, Germany, Turkey. But this is a trip just for me which I am taking alone without family or friends. Why? To learn and to rejuvenate. To see and experience. To visit and remember all the places I have imagined for these long years.
Tentative Schedule
First day: find my B & B near Trafalgar Square
Second day: explore London -- Globe Theater? The Tower? Westminster Cathedral? Parliament?
Third day: Canterbury, the destination of Chaucer's Pilgrims
Fourth day: more London
Fifth day: travel to Cambridge
Sixth day until twelfth day: learning art history
Twelfth day: return to London to a hotel
Thirteenth day: fly back to States
And find two knitting shops in order to find presents for my mom, sisiter, and a dear friend.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
An application to attend the Teacher Seminar
My school encourages faculty to become students again every summer by providing funds for teachers to study and travel.
Below is a lightly edited copy of my application.
December 8, 2009
It is with great excitement that I submit a petition to represent Episcopal Academy this summer by participating in the Cambridge Teacher Seminar, July 4-11, 2010.
The Cambridge Teacher Seminar is an opportunity to actually live at the college and attend workshops on various topics such as World Histories, English Literature, Science and Philosophy or Visual Experience: Art in History and Literature. Of these study groups, I wish to attend the one on art history especially after reading John Medina’s book Brain Rules. In this book, he argues that the current generation of students learns best in highly interactive environments rich with visual imagery. This year I am trying to integrate more visual images into each class, but I am finding that my deficit of knowledge about art, art history, terms, and methodology is limiting my lessons and ability to vary focus questions and class discussion. I think after attending the Cambridge Teacher Seminar, I will return to the classroom better able to engage and excite the students about the literature we are reading by integrating more visual material into the classroom.
The description of “Visual Experience: Art in History and Literature” says the study group “is specifically designed for teachers in various disciplines…to consider creatively how the visual and aesthetic dimension can be used to enrich their respective subjects” (quoted from the Oxbridge brochure). Led by Dr. Sophie Pickford, teachers will get to explore the following areas: portraiture and the novel; landscape painting as commentary on social values; religion and divine in art; representing the past visually; and, architecture as a definition of space. I don’t think we will be sitting in a room looking at slides of the art work. We will actually be walking to see the art held by Cambridge University. They will take us into galleries and spaces not normally open to the public so we can see the true colors and brush strokes of the paintings. For example, when we discuss religion in art, we will actually get to see some of William Blake’s engravings! I have studied his watercolor engravings for the Songs of Innocence and Experience for years in facsimile, but to actually be able to see those engravings would be incredible.
In addition to the study groups each morning, the Seminar also has plenary sessions. These would be terrific opportunities to listen to recognized authorities talk about other topics such as the history of Cambridge University, how poets helped to end slavery in England, the impact of Oliver Cromwell, and educational theory and practice.
While the Cambridge Teacher Seminar would be a great intellectual experience, it would also be an even greater social experience. Teachers from all over the United States travel to Cambridge to meet British colleagues equally committed to teaching and learning and promoting the life of the mind. I would love to have a chance to spend time devoted to conversation and dialogue with other people and hear what they have to say about teaching and the world. It is rare in the typical busy day at Episcopal Academy that folks have an opportunity to have an in-depth discussion about a piece of literature that lasts beyond the ring of the next class bell. I long for a chance to be in a historied place where the primary focus is starting and continuing a conversation with other like-minded people.
I would be so honored to be selected to be an Oxbridge Fellow. I promise you, the selection committee, that I would take full advantage of every opportunity presented by this program.
Below is a lightly edited copy of my application.
December 8, 2009
It is with great excitement that I submit a petition to represent Episcopal Academy this summer by participating in the Cambridge Teacher Seminar, July 4-11, 2010.
The Cambridge Teacher Seminar is an opportunity to actually live at the college and attend workshops on various topics such as World Histories, English Literature, Science and Philosophy or Visual Experience: Art in History and Literature. Of these study groups, I wish to attend the one on art history especially after reading John Medina’s book Brain Rules. In this book, he argues that the current generation of students learns best in highly interactive environments rich with visual imagery. This year I am trying to integrate more visual images into each class, but I am finding that my deficit of knowledge about art, art history, terms, and methodology is limiting my lessons and ability to vary focus questions and class discussion. I think after attending the Cambridge Teacher Seminar, I will return to the classroom better able to engage and excite the students about the literature we are reading by integrating more visual material into the classroom.
The description of “Visual Experience: Art in History and Literature” says the study group “is specifically designed for teachers in various disciplines…to consider creatively how the visual and aesthetic dimension can be used to enrich their respective subjects” (quoted from the Oxbridge brochure). Led by Dr. Sophie Pickford, teachers will get to explore the following areas: portraiture and the novel; landscape painting as commentary on social values; religion and divine in art; representing the past visually; and, architecture as a definition of space. I don’t think we will be sitting in a room looking at slides of the art work. We will actually be walking to see the art held by Cambridge University. They will take us into galleries and spaces not normally open to the public so we can see the true colors and brush strokes of the paintings. For example, when we discuss religion in art, we will actually get to see some of William Blake’s engravings! I have studied his watercolor engravings for the Songs of Innocence and Experience for years in facsimile, but to actually be able to see those engravings would be incredible.
In addition to the study groups each morning, the Seminar also has plenary sessions. These would be terrific opportunities to listen to recognized authorities talk about other topics such as the history of Cambridge University, how poets helped to end slavery in England, the impact of Oliver Cromwell, and educational theory and practice.
While the Cambridge Teacher Seminar would be a great intellectual experience, it would also be an even greater social experience. Teachers from all over the United States travel to Cambridge to meet British colleagues equally committed to teaching and learning and promoting the life of the mind. I would love to have a chance to spend time devoted to conversation and dialogue with other people and hear what they have to say about teaching and the world. It is rare in the typical busy day at Episcopal Academy that folks have an opportunity to have an in-depth discussion about a piece of literature that lasts beyond the ring of the next class bell. I long for a chance to be in a historied place where the primary focus is starting and continuing a conversation with other like-minded people.
I would be so honored to be selected to be an Oxbridge Fellow. I promise you, the selection committee, that I would take full advantage of every opportunity presented by this program.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Well, here is a picture of the latest member of the family. I tried to send the photo through picasa and it did not work. I had to click a link to get the pic. Bogus.The dog is a mutt by the name of Merlin. He is a rescue dog and loves to chase squirrels, chew rawhide bones, and go for walks.
A couple days ago he somersaulted while treeing a squirrel. He limped for 3 days but now he is much better and gambols through the wabe.
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