Today was my turn to be the scribe at the MayaWest Writing Project. This job is not as easy as it seems. I was to observe and take notes on what happened throughout the day, and then write a report to read to the group tomorrow. There has been this competition between the participants to “out do” each other when it comes to reporting to the group. Each scribe making each report better and wittier than the one before. The phrase “Raising the bar” has been used to describe each report so far, but I think I’m going to “lower the bar” since I went out for a couple of drinks and my creative juices are a little alcohol laced.
Here we go. Today was a late start day. We were to have started at 10:00 am, but I did not get there until 10:20 because finding parking late morning at the University is virtually impossible. I had to drive to a couple of parking lots before whining to a security officer about the parking situation, and he radioed another officer at the parking lot near the Agriculture Machine Shop. It was a little bit farther than the lot near the auditorium where I normally park.
Well, I hurried to the room and was surprised to find the room a bit empty. Many people were missing. I excused my tardiness with Melissa by telling her about the parking situation. I went to my spot and unloaded my bags. I took out my binder and found a place at the table. Yesterday’s scribe, Aida, arriving late also, takes out her report and a finds a spot at the table. We both wait patiently as Melissa and Ellen try to round the troops. The group ignores their pleas to gather around the table. Finally, Ellen pleads to Hector, our official timekeeper, to gather the troops. It is 10: 45 when the group is around the table. A discussing about the day’s schedule takes place. Alma suggests that each of us pitch in some money to order pizza. The group agrees to the idea, but Alma, embarrassed, cries out that she does not have any money. Abi comes to her rescue and offers to pitch in on her behalf.
I better hurry and get this report written. I’m tired. I wish I could write on of those “50 Word Sagas” Dr. Saciuk, a professor at the Inter, had us write once. I think I’ll just list the times and write a one to two sentence summary for each, another Saciuk trick.
A Brief Look at a Day in the MWWP:
10:50Aida reads her take on the previous day’s events. She brings a vibrating Barney to help her shake up the crowd.
10: 57Participants comment on the contents of the previous day, and about how smart it is to have a mascot like Barney to help control unwanted talking in-group situations.
11:15Pourqoi Tales Demo debriefing. Comments were made to Madeline about the demo and how to integrate history, social studies, and research in a fun writing activity.
11:20Conversations turn to planning next week’s presentations to principals and other school personnel, and topics for the radio interview.
11:45A tentative schedule was planned and discussed further. See the end of this entry for details.
12:00noonWilfredo gives his book talk on “Electronic Literacies”. Let me sum up his book talk in four words: Culture, Language, Internet, and Empowerment.
1:00Lunch. I noticed that money was not collected to pay for the pizzas. I must pass the hat during my reporting time.
1:30Abi did his writing Big Books demonstration. An extension of his now famous phrase: Picture - Message. The participants made storyboards on what would happen when we meet again in October. They storyboards were hilarious!
2:35Roselyn gives her book talk on “Writing Our Communities: Local Learning & Public Culture”. This topic stirred the memories and emotions of those at the table. Let me relate some powerful statements made by several people:
“No hay barrera, to se puede.”
“Se le dá vida a nuestra comunidad.”
“You can’t go outside of yourself if you don’t have a self.”
The discussion on this topic was heavy which turned the discussion about what we, the MWWP are going to do with all the learning we have. How are we going to share these great ideas with other teacher? How are we going to convince the education Big Shots of the importance of writing? Many made great suggestions. Angela reminded everyone about the Grant Writing Workshop on July 22 -23 in Isabela. This is a way to fund workshop for teachers.
3:18Not being quite 4:00, Ellen suggested that we take the remaining time to break into our writing groups, or to write independently. Not! People did what ever pleased them. Some talked, some ordered underwear online, some left, but some did write quietly. Mayra, still emotionally impacted by the day’s activities, cried out “Trujillo, Trujillo, has me una vez mas! Hmm…?
4:00Madeline and I decided to leave since we have children in summer camp that closes at 4:30. Overall, today was an intense day. Lots of fun, lots of work, and lots of learning took place.