I'm Producing a CD!

James

2011-10-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

A quintessential local musician:
loves the land
loves people
loves his family
loves his friends
LOVES MUSIC

In a field coated with fresh straw, next to a corral of horses, a pot - cauldron - of peach cobbler smoldering - James speaks of past generations and their presence in our lives today.

In the music.
In the recipes.
In our hearts.

Music Here in my 'Hood

2011-10-16T21:23:00.000-07:00

If you drove by Jo's house Saturday night, even during the afternoon, you would think you'd come upon a mini- Live Oak Festival. Fiddlers, a dulcimer, guitars to beat the band (ouch), a penny whistle, banjos, drums, harmonicas, a frickin' accordian - making love to melodies, all of 'em, on the deck. Singers singing harmony.

Late into the night, musicians upstairs now, water in their cups instead of beer from the keg, Cohen and Dyan mixin' it with old time, bluegrass, and original tunes about Starbucks, the tide, and good-bye fishin' industry in Morro Bay.

Food in the kitchen. Candlelit conversations.

These musicians. They play for hugs.

Sound Check

2011-10-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

Check. Check. Tap, tap, tap. Testing?

They nixed my idea to record at the Santa Margarita house.
Ok, so it's a mobile home, not a house.
But it's remote enough so the only uncontrolled sound might be a rooster crowing.
Okay, so it is at the end of a long and bumpy dirt road but a rooster crowing?
That is cool.

The long and bumpy road
that leads to your door
will never disappear.

Moving on.
Letting go.
Letting it BE.

Check. Check. Tap, tap, tap. Testing?

Hello?
Where are we gunna record this thing?

First Meeting Behind Us

2011-10-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

We gathered here tonight to make our plan.

How to plan? Is it true it's never been done before? I'm no music/cd producer and here I am PRODUCING A CD.

Not just producing a cd, I say in ALL humility. Promoting the amazing original music that is right here right now on the Central Coast.

Fucking A.

We ate bruschetta on TOAST and played with my new Venturi wine aerator. Discussed the documentary.

Susan O'Leary. Maker of Documentaries. Will be filming.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The plan, let's remain calm, is to produce a feature length documentary that will be entered into whatever you enter music documentaries in to.

The plan, let's remain CLEAR, is to promote Central Coast music.

Absolute vs Relative Truth

2011-09-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's that time in Critical Thinking class.

Teaching Is a Come as You Are Reality

2011-08-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

Due to classroom management issues - in college, of all places - I took to wearing manly jackets with my jeans. I tried not to be too friendly or, god forbid, motherly.

This approach succeeded with my parrot, Paco, a "used" yellow-throated something or other, who was as mean as he was beautiful. My forearms turned black and blue from his bites. He'd grab flesh and bear down, one eye glaring at me. One of the many books I consulted said parrots liked the color red so I put on my red cotton jacket when I took him out of his cage in the morning. Like the feather in Dumbo, the jacket gave me confidence. Over time, Paco and I became friends.

So, did the manly jackets I bought at thrift stores help with classroom management? I'm guessing it was more my intention than their perception of me as formidable in my manly jacket. I mean, even college students eat teachers alive, no matter the costumes they wear.

It's who you are inside the jacket. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable about your subject? Able to say, "I don't know," when you don't know? Capable of enjoying the learning that comes with conscious teaching? Are you trying to provide opportunities for classroom learning, not just providing information? Do you like your students?

No matter what style you put on, it's a come as you are reality.

Rule # 1: Critical Thinkers Know to Know the Audience

2011-08-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

In The Echo Maker by Richard Powers, a character refers to My Antonia (by Willa Cather) as a right “sexy story.” My thinking exactamundo when, as a new teacher, I chose it for my college reading and writing course.

Like Mark, a brain-damaged character, the students did not feel the sexy between the “immigrants and farming and drought and shit.”

From The Echo Maker:

He stuck with the story, to protect his investment, throwing good hours after bad. The book’s ending confused him. "You mean he goes back, after they’re both married and she has all those fucking kids, just to hang out? Just to, like, be her friend, or something? Just because of what happened when they were little?”

Barbara nodded, her eyes filmy.

I assumed, with genuine enthusiasm, that I could teach that book.

2011-08-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

I met a man in a pub last night who flunked Critical Thinking not once but two times. A handsome, tan, happy man, he lives out of the country on an island with his wife and 12-year-old son. A professional photographer he travels – spent a month horseback riding in Ecuador.

“I couldn’t not smile,” he said, as he and his family rode from ranch to ranch.

Until he registered for an art class – in college – he pulled a 1.8 gpa.

I guess this might be what some folks mean when they say we need politicians who have common sense. But this man would not make a good politician. He’s too interested in having fun and enjoying a rich, full life with his family.

Anyway, this blog is not about politics. It’s about teaching.

Sugar free

2011-06-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

Heard some talk of no sugar today. No white flour, no simple carbohydrates. I'm a believer.

Last night I indulged in a baguette. Can you make such a baguette from whole wheat flour? I will try and get back to you.

No sugar. No fruit? Apparently fruit is complex, thanks to fiber?

But no sweet? Sweet is one of the flavors, man. You gotta take the sugar with the salty?

Don't you?

What do you think?

World View and Story

2011-03-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Today I took books to class that represented influences on my world view up to the age of 20. I had students take notes on insights they might have about their world view as I shared mine.

Christmas Is Forever by Dale Evans Rogers - experienced more like a conversation with my grandma rather than just a book she gave me when I was 10. Black Beauty - That book taught me that actions have consequences, taught me values of responsibility and loyalty, kindness and humanity. The Little Prince, that loving someone means you are in some sense responsible for them, that in relationships, in choosing values, "What is essential is invisible to the eye."

To Kill A Mockingbird and the ideal father. Racism. Ship of Fools and tolerance. Genocide. The Once and Future King. Might for right. Merlon taught Wort to have empathy as great leaders must have empathy. And Arthur learned the lesson of intransigence - because of his, he lost his wife, best friend, and his round table. The Chosen and The Promise by Chaim Potok taught me about friendship, about what it means to mature beyond the world view implanted in our youth - to grow beyond conformity to it, but beyond rebellion from it, too.

Critical thinkers examine their world view. This process begins in teens as they begin to differentiate from family, look up to peers and cultural icons and make choices about who they are as individuals - the music, the stories, the substances, the activities. We may have certain propensities - nature/nurture - but freedom means (not nothing left to lose, Kris) capable of choice. Not imprisoned by the world view but keenly aware of it. Able to see through the Johari window panes, welcoming, inviting information, knowledge, curiosity, compassion and awareness.

On Civility

2011-03-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

The students in one of my critical thinking courses chose the recent protests in the Middle East and Northern Africa as a focus of concern. That is why I suggested to them they catch the president's speech online.

One guy says, He probably just says a bunch of crap.

I pointed out that by this time his college experience should have permeated him with some semblance of civility.

Why are you picking on me? he asked.

Ah, those teachable moments.

Budget Cuts

2011-03-07T22:28:00.000-08:00

Whatup? Almost 7000 students NOT planned for. Whereas a year ago community colleges were planning FOR students, this year they're figuring out how many NOT to plan for. Which classes to cut?

Which classes would you cut?

General Ed, otherwise known as transfer courses? Vocational classes? Online?

What say you?

False dilemma?

We could . . . fund them.

Does Happiness = Success?

2011-01-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

I've just discovered the Happiness Project. Apparently Wednesday is Tip Day. Plenty of information in this tip seems like it would be helpful with procrastination, too. And I'd just rather have happy people in my classroom. Wouldn't you?

Surprise, surprise: Community College Students Procrastinate

2011-01-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

I don't want to!

Easy to see why college students procrastinate. The trick lies in making sure, when that rush of adrenaline comes upon you, that you have enough time to do your best. Even at a two-year college, it takes more time than students think to complete an assignment well enough to earn the grade most community college students want - an A. Students rarely set out to earn a D, C, or B. But community college students must produce something extraordinary to earn an A. That takes time.

Accept procrastination as a human trait, and learn how to succeed in college anyway.

According to the University of Buffalo Counseling Services handout "Overcoming Procrastination," "William Knaus, a psychologist, estimated that 90% of college students procrastinate. Of these students, 25% are chronic procrastinators and they are usually the ones who end up dropping out of college."

Never fear. There are plenty of other studies to show that even chronic procrastinators can succeed in college. But first, you have to call yourself out.

Hey, even if you don't think you can do it, I know you can. I've seen students worse than you. I'm serious.

Step 1 to College Success: Assessment

2011-01-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

   Have you ever failed? I trust you answered "yes" to that question -- humility is an important character trait. But do you see yourself as a failure? Lots of my students do.
   Am I going to tell you to visualize success? Sure. Google success and see what Google thinks success looks like. But I'm more interested in you. Today. What's going on with you today?
   Can you get out of bed -- on time? Show up where you said you'd be -- on time? Speaking of on time, do you keep your word to yourself? How about to others? Unless you've already figured this kind of life stuff out, community college is for you. Learning comes cheaper at community college.

Step 1 Assessment Time to brush up on the writing and math skills before taking the assessment test.

This looks like a good site for math practice.
This looks like a good site for English if the college uses ACCUPLACER.

What if they don't use ACCUPLACER? Call or email

(if you email, make sure your email is clear and correct. I mean, come on, you're talking to an ENGLISH teacher. Just keep it simple.)

the English Department. Not kidding. Say or write, "Hi. My name is So & So and I'm preparing to take the English Assessment test. Do you offer tutoring or other prep services?"

They say yes. Make an appointment. Do not be late.
They say no. Call or email an English instructor. Not kidding here, either.

Seems reasonable that you understand the assessment test you are about to take, doesn't it? Yes, it does. And this is just the beginning of owning your college education.