I'm learning quite a bit about the differences between the two classes 70 and 103.
Last semester all of my English 70 students passed the departmental exam. I am realizing more and more that the role of instructor as participant observer is crucial to success in the classroom. I believe the consciousness of both positions means that the weaving of theory and practice, praxis, happens. This idea of weaving theory and practice, or writing theory as it connects to practice, is a form of praxis. I think this can also connect to the idea of creating and building knowledge through dialogue; it is what it means to create. Again, here, I can connect the seven intelligences theory. Maybe, we don't pay enough attention to the connection between the physical and the mental; they all speak to each other when it comes to engaging, growing into knowledge, becoming,
The participant is engaged; their is a certain amount of meta-cognition that allows for flexibility and change.
Going into the summer program the awareness that was sharpened last semester became even more astute.
FALL 2013
I have a 1:30 and a 4 pm class. I find the population different that the 103. In the earlier class they all seem to be engaged. In the 4 p.m. class I seem to be contending with students who feel the need to look bored; I have one student who claims he suffers from anxiety and who is coming to class high. Many students seem tired and therefore take as much chances to sleep as they can.
