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Alexandra Kirby started the topic Hello from Cape Ann, Mass. I'm also late–but I'm not alone! in the forum 2023 Summer Seminar Participant Introductions: due MAY 15 6 months, 1 week ago
Hello everyone! I’m grateful for reconnecting with this online community with new and familiar faces. Apologies for my late arrival. I have no excuses! I’m connecting from Massachusetts, and have taught ELA in Salem, aka “witch city”, Massachusetts going on 10 years. It was juniors and seniors this year and I’m feeling the end of school year burn…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic On Austrian Soil Reflection #1 in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 4 months ago
Your post moved me–I too tend to show emotion in class and try to stay human. And you’ve gotten me to Google “Chauvet cave paintings”–I can see why you have this response!
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic 2nd reflection… in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 4 months ago
I agree! when you say: “We can all learn a lot from Sondra because as people and educators, we often need to be able to look inward and address/resolve things before we can truly help/teach others.” And I also appreciate that this is not an instant change but the work of a lifetime. I hope to be as willing, open, and honest to face whatever truths…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Andrea's Letter (pg. 117) in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 4 months ago
I share your struggle, and also appreciate Sondra’s distinction. I tend to take things on and have similarly experienced burnout–and have also had to stop and take care of myself. This past March was one of those cases between my own children/family struggling, students struggling, and well, myself struggling. I can only do so much, and I have to…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby started the topic Forgiveness in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 4 months ago
I’m struck by a couple occurrences towards the end of the text and hoping to flush out my thinking of both here: 1) Anna and Luis’s conversations and 2) Sondra and Margret’s “forgiveness.”
1) Regarding the dinner conversation with Anna and Luis, I can only imagine the courage that it took to have that conversation. I appreciate that while Ann…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Response-ability in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 4 months ago
Thank you for sharing your experience. What I take away is your and your colleague’s ability to reflect–and to be willing to open dialogue without needing to be perfect–and how important this is. The dinner conversation had with Anna and Luis comes to mind. Obviously we can’t read their minds, but it seems they engage in conversation more than…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Pedagogy of Discomfort in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 5 months ago
That is a beautiful visual reflection <3
I agree that “often as humans we want to drill down to who are ‘the bad and good guys’ and yet we fail to appreciate the complexity, complacency, and complicity that are woven in each situation.” I wonder if morally, this is easier–but it also doesn’t leave as much room for rich discussion or exp…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Eileen's First Post on *On Austrian Soil* in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 5 months ago
Eileen, I wanted to echo your comment, “how precious interactions with people from other cultures is. I pray that we will be able to continue to maintain these types of interactions, from which true friendships are built.” Yes! And I feel increasingly each year how certain public school requirements attempt to limit these types of interactions…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby started the topic Whole Teacher, Whole Student, Whole Classroom in the forum On Austrian Soil – 2021 Summer Seminar Responses 3 years, 5 months ago
I am blown away by the beauty and grace inherent in Sondra (may I call you Sondra?) and Margret’s interactions, by their mutual risk-taking and vulnerability, and by how their growing relationship challenges all participants. First off, it is evident that Sondra offers “voice and choice” in assignments (e.g. writing assignment and research task)…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby started the topic Whole Teacher, Whole Student, Whole Classroom in the forum 2021 Summer Seminar 3 years, 5 months ago
I am blown away by the beauty and grace inherent in Sondra (may I call you Sondra?) and Margret’s interactions, by their mutual risk-taking and vulnerability, and by how their growing relationship challenges all participants. First off, it is evident that Sondra offers “voice and choice” in assignments (e.g. writing assignment and research task)…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Greetings from Heather in the forum 2021 Summer Seminar Participant Introductions 3 years, 5 months ago
Hi Heather? Are there readings that you’d recommend around white privilege? Especially targeted at teachers?
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Greetings from the Land of Enchantment! in the forum 2021 Summer Seminar Participant Introductions 3 years, 5 months ago
I echo Mary Dea’s comment–and I am grateful for and would love to hear more about this: “helping kids navigate their own stories and experiences through stories of and from the Holocaust was empowering and important.”
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Alexandra Kirby replied to the topic Hello from Montana! in the forum 2021 Summer Seminar Participant Introductions 3 years, 5 months ago
I too resonate with the missing students and colleagues. I also taught high school sophomores/seniors, then went to 7th grade for 3 years, and am back to teaching Freshman/juniors, and think I share your sentiments exactly! I do miss 7th graders willingness to try something new too and on occasion, their brutal honesty…well, you get the latter…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby started the topic Hello everyone! in the forum 2021 Summer Seminar Participant Introductions 3 years, 5 months ago
Hello everyone! I’m looking forward to our work together. My name is Alexandra. I live in Massachusetts with my 2 children, Willow (16) and Timothy (11) and significant other, Bill. I’ve been spending a lot of time playing in the dirt in our garden recently. Last Friday officially marked the end of our school year, and I’m getting caught up on em…[Read more]
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Alexandra Kirby changed their profile picture 3 years, 6 months ago
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Alexandra Kirby became a registered member 3 years, 6 months ago
