Comments for MayaWest Writing Project http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt Conversaciones sobre este proyecto y todo relacionado a la escritura Fri, 5 Dec 2008 03:38:13 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/?v=2.6.3 Comment on June 6, 2008 Scribe: Angela P. Cabrera by E-okul http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/06/07/june-6-2008-scribe-angela-p-cabrera/#comment-55 E-okul Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:28:32 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/06/07/june-6-2008-scribe-angela-p-cabrera/#comment-55 I am very admirer this blog..Nice to share this things I am very admirer this blog..Nice to share this things

]]> Comment on reunion el 10 de mayo by peter http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/05/11/reunion-el-10-de-mayo-2/#comment-13 peter Fri, 16 May 2008 22:14:58 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/05/11/reunion-el-10-de-mayo-2/#comment-13 Nature abhors a vacuum. And so do I. That's why I wanted to respond to the comment about our last meeting. But technolgy abhors me even more. Or at least is more successful in doing something about it. I sit here, humilliated once again, pounding the keyboard with my head, because I failed in my efforts to enlist myself as a "contributor" for the MayWest blog. HA! I should have known better. Those creepy little binary digital sticks and circles (llOlO) may mock me now but one day I'll learn to shut them down. I'll even figure out how to turn off those little red or green glow lights that every electrical gadget seems to have these days, even when you turn them off with the control. alright, alright, you guys aren't reading this to hear me groan and rant about being digitally challenged. But I did try to become a contributor according to the rules afforded to me by the system. But the system rejected me. First it rejected my username: it said that it was already taken. Come'n! then it rejected my e-mail address. "you can't use the that address the way it was written." Now you know that that doesn't make sense. I'm telling you, the system discriminates against me. Just because I was born before the first 64 Commodore computer was marketed and I can remember a whole, unified world, free of the reductionist philosophy of digitalization; the system is out to get me. So I have to adapt, I have to live like a rebel, an outlaw. Yep, me and my buddy Osama. Down with the system! But about the meeting on May 10th. I really looked forward to it. It's almost embarrassing. And I'm so glad that there are more Spanish Teachers present. We really have to work on a mission statement that is targeted to Puerto Rico, and that includes some projects. I just can't wait. I am telling you, for me, this is more exciting than getting my MA. It is on the par with my community activisim in Chicago, when the Puerto Rican community fought for its rights against the ... against the system. There I go again. But for real, did you catch revealing moment when the younger generation explained to us older guys, OK, OK to me, how they could just ignore unsolicited e-mails so easily. It was as if they were speaking another language. It's a new generation. I wouldn't find mental peace if I tried to ignore someone's e-mail. Just the thought that some poor schlop, who has no one better to write to than me - you know he's got to be pathetic - has spent all this time finger poking the keyboard to deliver to me a personal message about the benefits of Viagra and Cialis - and I shouldn't respond? I just don't understand this computer savvy generation. You know, I was raised that you respond when spoken to, you write thank you letters to your aunts for your birthday gifts, and when the phone rings you answer it. Alright. I admit, it's a little Pavlovian. the salivating dog at the dinner gong. But that's who we, this older generation, are. We were trained. Like that character in Sunshine's Cafe, I hear a RING_RING and I say ALO?-ALO? I think that it's generational, but maybe not. maybe it's me. When my son tells me Knock-Knock jokes my first answer is "Come in!" peter Nature abhors a vacuum. And so do I. That’s why I wanted to respond to the comment about our last meeting. But technolgy abhors me even more. Or at least is more successful in doing something about it.
I sit here, humilliated once again, pounding the keyboard with my head, because I failed in my efforts to enlist myself as a “contributor” for the MayWest blog.
HA! I should have known better. Those creepy little binary digital sticks and circles (llOlO) may mock me now but one day I’ll learn to shut them down. I’ll even figure out how to turn off those little red or green glow lights that every electrical gadget seems to have these days, even when you turn them off with the control.
alright, alright, you guys aren’t reading this to hear me groan and rant about being digitally challenged. But I did try to become a contributor according to the rules afforded to me by the system. But the system rejected me. First it rejected my username: it said that it was already taken. Come’n! then it rejected my e-mail address. “you can’t use the that address the way it was written.” Now you know that that doesn’t make sense. I’m telling you, the system discriminates against me. Just because I was born before the first 64 Commodore computer was marketed and I can remember a whole, unified world, free of the reductionist philosophy of digitalization; the system is out to get me. So I have to adapt, I have to live like a rebel, an outlaw. Yep, me and my buddy Osama. Down with the system!
But about the meeting on May 10th. I really looked forward to it. It’s almost embarrassing. And I’m so glad that there are more Spanish Teachers present. We really have to work on a mission statement that is targeted to Puerto Rico, and that includes some projects. I just can’t wait. I am telling you, for me, this is more exciting than getting my MA. It is on the par with my community activisim in Chicago, when the Puerto Rican community fought for its rights against the … against the system. There I go again.
But for real, did you catch revealing moment when the younger generation explained to us older guys, OK, OK to me, how they could just ignore unsolicited e-mails so easily. It was as if they were speaking another language. It’s a new generation. I wouldn’t find mental peace if I tried to ignore someone’s e-mail. Just the thought that some poor schlop, who has no one better to write to than me - you know he’s got to be pathetic - has spent all this time finger poking the keyboard to deliver to me a personal message about the benefits of Viagra and Cialis - and I shouldn’t respond?
I just don’t understand this computer savvy generation. You know, I was raised that you respond when spoken to, you write thank you letters to your aunts for your birthday gifts, and when the phone rings you answer it. Alright. I admit, it’s a little Pavlovian. the salivating dog at the dinner gong. But that’s who we, this older generation, are. We were trained. Like that character in Sunshine’s Cafe, I hear a RING_RING and I say ALO?-ALO?
I think that it’s generational,
but maybe not.
maybe it’s me.
When my son tells me Knock-Knock jokes my first answer is “Come in!”
peter

]]> Comment on April 19 Meeting Log by Ellen Pratt http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-8 Ellen Pratt Sat, 03 May 2008 14:37:39 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-8 Me da tanta alegría saber que ya empezamos nuestro diálogo sobre educación, lenguaje y redacción. Estoy segura que en verano vamos a tocar muchos temas de importancia y que sí! vamos a cambiar. Peter, I agree 100% with your ideas and I am sure we will get there. And Janice, it was wonderful to hear you speak about the need to write. Writing opens us up and allows us to see ourselves and our world. IN fact, some theories of writing are based on the Vygotskian principle that writing, a form of language, is a form of cognitive development. Reflecting on who we are, what we do, and what we think about things, helps set us straight and we learn, and change. I know we will have time do all that very soon. thank yo all for your wonderful contributions and for what is yet to come... Me da tanta alegría saber que ya empezamos nuestro diálogo sobre educación, lenguaje y redacción.
Estoy segura que en verano vamos a tocar muchos temas de importancia y que sí! vamos a cambiar. Peter, I agree 100% with your ideas and I am sure we will get there. And Janice, it was wonderful to hear you speak about the need to write. Writing opens us up and allows us to see ourselves and our world. IN fact, some theories of writing are based on the Vygotskian principle that writing, a form of language, is a form of cognitive development. Reflecting on who we are, what we do, and what we think about things, helps set us straight and we learn, and change. I know we will have time do all that very soon. thank yo all for your wonderful contributions and for what is yet to come…

]]> Comment on April 19 Meeting Log by Aida Rojas http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-7 Aida Rojas Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:44:57 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-7 Saludos a todos/as y qué bueno que tengamos este foro disponible para expresarnos. No puedo esperar (bueno, en realidad puedo, pero no me agrada hacerlo) a que llegue el verano para que todos podamos exprimir esta gran oportunidad que tenemos en nuestras manos. Que podamos ser mejores escritores y desarrollar mejores escritores y pensadores. Me llena de alegría y entusiasmo poder compartir con todos ustedes y saber que ésta será otra experiencia de crecimiento profesional y personal magnífica. Peter, I liked your Declaration. Maybe we can get together as a group and make it grow. Profesora Pratt, gracias por toda su hospitalidad y por hacernos sentir como familia sin conocernos tanto. Hasta la próxima. Saludos a todos/as y qué bueno que tengamos este foro disponible para expresarnos. No puedo esperar (bueno, en realidad puedo, pero no me agrada hacerlo) a que llegue el verano para que todos podamos exprimir esta gran oportunidad que tenemos en nuestras manos. Que podamos ser mejores escritores y desarrollar mejores escritores y pensadores. Me llena de alegría y entusiasmo poder compartir con todos ustedes y saber que ésta será otra experiencia de crecimiento profesional y personal magnífica. Peter, I liked your Declaration. Maybe we can get together as a group and make it grow. Profesora Pratt, gracias por toda su hospitalidad y por hacernos sentir como familia sin conocernos tanto. Hasta la próxima.

]]> Comment on April 19 Meeting Log by peter http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-6 peter Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:23:42 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-6 Wow! Did we do all that? I'm exhausted just reading about it! Funny, I wasn't tired when I left the campus: I was charged! I hope I don't tire people with trying to mesh the English and Spanish departments into onw bilingual effort. Maybe we could create a set of parameters in our efforts, a sort of Declaration; 1) We want to create a bilingual country, 2)Spanish is the native/maternal language of this country, 3) Spanish and English must be taught interdependently and in co-ordination, 4)we must seek out theories, theorists, and approaches from all over the world to help us, 5) create a do-able approach tailored made for Puerto Rico and its linguistic needs. This is just boiler-plate stuff that needs to be rehashed and reformulated, after debates, I assure you. Also we should keep alive the promise to create a bilingual "bank" of meta-linguistic information, materials, lesson plans, in order to create bilingual lessons, or at least co-ordinated lessons, for bothe English and Spanish teachers. In the future we should think about a way to publish or create a market for bilingual work, for students, teachers and anyone who wants to promote literacy. We must also think about how to integrate with the other National Wrtiting project in San Juan. BUT THE BIGGEST and most important thing that we have on our plate to consider is weather or not we should attack this issues immediately or weather we should wait until the summer institute is over. I look forward to interchanging lesson plans with one another this summer, but I can also see the benefit of going straight for the jugular and advance our agenda. I believe it will fall within the purview of NWP permeters. Thank yoiu for listening. peter Wow! Did we do all that? I’m exhausted just reading about it! Funny, I wasn’t tired when I left the campus: I was charged!
I hope I don’t tire people with trying to mesh the English and Spanish departments into onw bilingual effort. Maybe we could create a set of parameters in our efforts, a sort of Declaration; 1) We want to create a bilingual country, 2)Spanish is the native/maternal language of this country, 3) Spanish and English must be taught interdependently and in co-ordination, 4)we must seek out theories, theorists, and approaches from all over the world to help us, 5) create a do-able approach tailored made for Puerto Rico and its linguistic needs. This is just boiler-plate stuff that needs to be rehashed and reformulated, after debates, I assure you.
Also we should keep alive the promise to create a bilingual “bank” of meta-linguistic information, materials, lesson plans, in order to create bilingual lessons, or at least co-ordinated lessons, for bothe English and Spanish teachers.
In the future we should think about a way to publish or create a market for bilingual work, for students, teachers and anyone who wants to promote literacy.
We must also think about how to integrate with the other National Wrtiting project in San Juan.
BUT THE BIGGEST and most important thing that we have on our plate to consider is weather or not we should attack this issues immediately or weather we should wait until the summer institute is over.
I look forward to interchanging lesson plans with one another this summer, but I can also see the benefit of going straight for the jugular and advance our agenda. I believe it will fall within the purview of NWP permeters.
Thank yoiu for listening.
peter

]]> Comment on April 19 Meeting Log by Janice http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-5 Janice Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:13:16 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/04/23/april-19-meeting-log/#comment-5 Blessings to all of you! Ellen, thanks for this wonderful narration...it was like living it again. This first meeting was a very exciting experience for many of us. Being a "colegial" and meting old friends was "priceless". Everything happens for a reason, and to me this a fortunate destiny. Writing has always been something I have done in order to release an exploding thought. I usually don't plan what I write and almost everything I have written is around in small pieces of paper. It is not much, but it has always been of full of intense emotions. It's been a while since I realized that the only way to leave a permanent legacy is through writing. Two weeks ago, while attending The Diary of Ann Frank in Caguas, it felt like a message from above. I need to write, I have to write. There are so many thoughts that slip by, unwritten. I know that this summer experience will give me more than tools to better my skills as a teacher, it will lead the way for another stage in my life. Hasta pronto... Janice Blessings to all of you! Ellen, thanks for this wonderful narration…it was like living it again. This first meeting was a very exciting experience for many of us. Being a “colegial” and meting old friends was “priceless”. Everything happens for a reason, and to me this a fortunate destiny.
Writing has always been something I have done in order to release an exploding thought. I usually don’t plan what I write and almost everything I have written is around in small pieces of paper. It is not much, but it has always been of full of intense emotions.
It’s been a while since I realized that the only way to leave a permanent legacy is through writing. Two weeks ago, while attending The Diary of Ann Frank in Caguas, it felt like a message from above. I need to write, I have to write. There are so many thoughts that slip by, unwritten.
I know that this summer experience will give me more than tools to better my skills as a teacher, it will lead the way for another stage in my life.

Hasta pronto…

Janice

]]> Comment on Welcome! Bienvenidos! by Ellen Pratt http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/02/26/welcome-bienvenidos/#comment-3 Ellen Pratt Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:24:58 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/02/26/welcome-bienvenidos/#comment-3 There is still time to apply for the Summer Institute, which is a professional development program for teachers at all grade levels. It runs through June. If interested send an e-mail to mwwp@uprm.edu There is still time to apply for the Summer Institute, which is a professional development program for teachers at all grade levels. It runs through June. If interested send an e-mail to mwwp@uprm.edu

]]> Comment on Welcome! Bienvenidos! by Welcome! Bienvenidos! — Planeta RUM http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/02/26/welcome-bienvenidos/#comment-2 Welcome! Bienvenidos! — Planeta RUM Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:22:30 +0000 http://blogs.uprm.edu/epratt/2008/02/26/welcome-bienvenidos/#comment-2 [...] Original post by epratt [...] [...] Original post by epratt [...]

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