Assigned Topic: ALL CLASSES

I hope everyone's had a good first week and a half of school, and that you're all settling into your academic routines. It's always harder to start up in the fall than in the winter term because summer breaks our school routine. But summer's nice. It's a much needed break for many of us. SO, the first official assigned topic for the semester, which should be posted by this Sunday, 9/5, is: What did you do this summer?

I spent the summer teaching online, readings (read all 7 Harry Potter books, all 4 Twilight books, Eat, Pray, Love, and The Glass Castle) writing (essays and short stories), and spending time with my son. We went to Disney, the zoo, Music Time (a music program for kids). I also started a new endeavor: bookmarks! It's not something I planned; it just sort of happened. One day, I'm at Barnes & Noble in line, looking at cute bookmarks, and the next, I'm creating designs. I decided to incorporate hand-painted, thin wood with beaded jewelry and charms. Some have quotes on them, while others have decorative "gemstones." It's nothing fancy (as in, I'm not working with real gemstones, etc.), but they're cute and unique - no two are the same. You can check them out on my personal blog.

I also started taking an online course through UCLA's Writer's Extension program. I'm loving it, and I have two weeks left before I submit my final portfolio. I love it because it's been a great way for me to stay focused with my writing, and I'm hoping to get some of the essays published. One of my areas of concentration is creative nonfiction, and more specifically, the memoir. So if you're interested in that, we can chat!

New Academic Year, First Assigned Topic!

Welcome all! It's going to be a great semester; I can already feel it. I hope you're settling into your classes nicely at the wrap of this first week of classes.

Our first assigned topic - for all classes - for the semester (for the blogs, that is) is this: Tell me something interesting you did this summer. One paragraph. Go. ;)

Writing and the Philosophy of Harry Potter - Fall 2011-1

I've updated my Course Preview blog to include information on a very anticipated course. This fall, I will be teaching an ENC 1101 course (paired with PHI 2010, taught by Professor Mayberry) titled Writing and the Philosophy of Harry Potter. In the Course Preview blog, you will get more information, including books and, when done, the syllabus. If you haven't taken 1101 yet and you love the Harry Potter series, think about it! It should prove to be a fun semester, I think! Even better is that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 comes out in November! Woohoo! I'm excited.

On a side note: I finally gave in and indulged in reading the entire Twilight series, from Twilight to Breaking Dawn. And I loved it. I also watched New Moon and Eclipse on film (not crazy about the films OR the acting). I succumbed to its allure and will be writing a review on my personal blog (see the link to it on the left). I have yet another obsession. But that wasn't the point of this side note. The point is that I'm considering using this somewhere in a future class. There's so much material with which to work in this series, especially thematically. :)

Checking In

Well, it's already the end of June. In less than two months, fall term begins. Man does time go quickly. Teaching in the summer, even online, makes it go faster. It's been nice, though. May went by quickly and I enjoyed some quiet time while my son was still in school. We went on the Disney Cruise and it was fabulous! It was nice to get away with the my husband, son, and two moms. It was the perfect blend of fun and (much needed) relaxation! June also went quickly. My son got out of school and we've been hanging out, going to the pool, the zoo, and mommy-and-me play dates. I'm enjoying spending this time with him and I keep getting astounded at how quickly he's growing. I'm sure July will be here and gone just as quickly as May and June. I'm set to start an online writing class, to which I'm looking forward. It's titled Postcard Memoirs: Crafting the Bite Sized Essay. It should be fun and interesting. I miss being in school (gasp!); funny, I know, seeing as how many of you are anxious to get OUT of school!

Before the fall term begins, I will be taking down the blog links to make way for the new classes. If you want to keep in touch, and you still keep up with your blog, let me know here by replying to this post. I'll "Follow" your blog that way and you can "Follow" mine. lol.

If you're interested, you can also see my other blogs on the left-hand side of this one. One is my personal blog, the other my course preview blog. You can see what courses I'll be teaching when, if you wanted to.

Well, I hope everyone's having a good, and safe, summer!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I wanted to thank you all for a wonderful semester. I enjoyed having you all in my classes and I have to say you all put up with my craziness rather well. :) I hope that throughout the semester, I was able to show you how important writing and communicating well are, but more than that: I hope you all never stop learning. Learning is a process that happens with everything we do. We begin learning through play as children and later move on to more formalized learning, but it doesn't stop at school. We learn in our everyday lives, in our interactions with others, and in our traveling through daily routine. In our jobs, with our friends - we learn. Even when we're old and gray (cliche, yes, I know), we are still learning. Heck, I am constantly learning new things from you guys! So I challenge you to never stop learning because it will make you a better person.

College is an experience that is meant to enrich us; take advantage of that. Start what you finish and never give up. You will be stronger for that. Today's quote of the day is perfect: "Success is a journey, not a destination" (Ben Sweetland). Success also takes many faces, so don't settle for a simple explanation. Aim for success in every aspect of your lives, and remember that success is more than just money, fame or recognition.

I was honored to have you all in my classes and I wish you the very best. I hope you will continue to stay in touch, either via email or this blog. If you plan on keeping your blogs, let me know. I can "follow" you that way. One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is seeing students of mine graduate and continue, succeeding in both their personal and professional lives.

So good-bye, farewell, and in words from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet: parting is such sweet sorrow.

ASSIGNED TOPICS: ALL CLASSES

We're nearing the end of the semester. In a week and a half, classes are over and we're left in the disarray of finals week. Then, it's officially summer (well, not officially in the sense of the season, but officially in the academic world). So what do you have planned for the summer? Are you traveling anywhere? Are you taking classes (and if so, what classes)? Are you relaxing, heading to the beach? Is there a special even planned?

For me, I'm looking forward to relaxing, writing, and spending time with my son! I will be teaching, but it will be online, which means that my days will be free! I hope to enroll my son in music and swimming classes, and I'm looking forward, in May while he's still in school, to spend some hours in a Starbucks, writing, reading, and drinking my caramel macchiato. I also hope to sew. Yes, you read correctly. I'm hoping to sew. On my to-do list for sewing are sheets for my son and Halloween costumes! I also want to practice some photography techniques. AND I'm looking at possibly taking a class online. Oh yea, I still want to go to the pool/beach and get some sun! Who knows if I'll have enough time to do everything, but the biggest thing is that I'm hoping to relax. I do have one "vacation" planned, and that's a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. =p I'm SO looking forward to that, especially because the grandmas are going so that means we can truly relax! This will be my second summer off since I was seventeen! I plan on squeezing every second from it!

Some Pictures

View of Disney's The Contemporary Resort

Morocco Pavilion at Disney's Epcot
"Hey Guy" He was looking right at me.

Goofy in front of USA Pavilion at Disney's Epcot (Flower & Garden Festival)

NYC Scene from Disney's Hollywood Studios (Formerly known as MGM Studios)

Not Disney - this was taken at Florida Gold Coast Railroad Museum where they had Day Out With Thomas the Train.