Wow, what a day.
The bike ride was super hot and muggy. The last mile was all uphill. Long and steep. 'nuff said.
The institute was once again much more socially engaging then pedagogically informative. We covered pre-literacy strategies, but it was all rehashing my prior education. Meanwhile I learned so much more about what teachers experience in their states.
The Hawaiian teachers are being furloughed 3 days a month. Can you imagine? The Virgin Islands schools are federally funded. They report that they have tons of funding and materials.
After the conference I had a exploration adventure trying to find the Spy Museum http://spymuseum.org/ Oh my god is that place freaky! It is next to the FBI building. I was touring it with a secondary boy scout troop, jr. para military. I would guess that 1/3 of the bad spies that they covered were Jewish. They spent a lot of time and space on the Rosenberg’s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_and_Ethel_Rosenberg and said the KGB put forth the misinformation that they might be innocent. Another interesting thing was the presentation of female spies. With the exception of Julia Childs and Garbo they were presented of sex workers http://spymuseum.org/programs/calendar_pages/2009/q3/2009_07_29_prog.php
Yikes.
After the museum I wandered the neighborhoods till I found an appetizing restaurant. I saw a huge transition in architecture. New buildings squishing old buildings and old buildings sitting on vacant blocks like that last tooth that hangs on before a full set of dentures.
I found a wonderful restaurant http://www.postodc.com/ where I ate a beautiful meal. The I sat on their patio for over an hour enjoying my meal and reading my book http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400067114 It was so relaxing and delicious.
BI was exhausted by the time I got to bed.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
D.C. Day 2
I wrote this on the phone two days ago but just got to posting it.
Well, the conference was as interesting as yesterdays bike ride. It is an ESL Reading institute, but not everyone is an ESL teacher, some are administrators, others are grade level teachers, they are from everywhere: Western Samoa, Hawaii, Wyoming...and different states have different ESL standards. Dude, we spent the whole day defining ELLs, breaking down reading processes, and teaching methods so we have a common language for tomorrow. Some things that I thought were intro to ESL, like the difference between semantics and pragmatics took half an hour, but the conversations were interesting.
Also interesting was what is happening in other states. DE, which doesn't tax, is furloughing teachers! Can you imagine? "Oh, sorry Ms. K, we need you to not come in once a month in order to save money. ". In Boise they put all 1st ans 2nd year ELLs in a 7-12 school together.
After the institute I went for apps at a delicious restaurant, Scion. My scallops were perfect. I had a funky Japanese white ale too. Later I went to Kramer's Books, it is a cool little bookstore/ restaurant.
Now I'm sitting on a patio outside of the kastle tennis open eavesdropping on a tennis open.
Not a bad little work trip.
Well, the conference was as interesting as yesterdays bike ride. It is an ESL Reading institute, but not everyone is an ESL teacher, some are administrators, others are grade level teachers, they are from everywhere: Western Samoa, Hawaii, Wyoming...and different states have different ESL standards. Dude, we spent the whole day defining ELLs, breaking down reading processes, and teaching methods so we have a common language for tomorrow. Some things that I thought were intro to ESL, like the difference between semantics and pragmatics took half an hour, but the conversations were interesting.
Also interesting was what is happening in other states. DE, which doesn't tax, is furloughing teachers! Can you imagine? "Oh, sorry Ms. K, we need you to not come in once a month in order to save money. ". In Boise they put all 1st ans 2nd year ELLs in a 7-12 school together.
After the institute I went for apps at a delicious restaurant, Scion. My scallops were perfect. I had a funky Japanese white ale too. Later I went to Kramer's Books, it is a cool little bookstore/ restaurant.
Now I'm sitting on a patio outside of the kastle tennis open eavesdropping on a tennis open.
Not a bad little work trip.
Monday, July 20, 2009
D.C. Day 1
For now this is starting as a travel blog. It might convert into a travel in MN blog.
Today was my first day in D.C. I am staying at the http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/ while going to the CAL ESL Reading Institute http://www.cal.org/services/workshops/strategies.html
Exciting stuff. The cost of the hostel and the bike for the week are the same as one night in the hotel that the institute recommends!
So, to liven it up, I rented a bike for the week and toured around D.C. this afternoon. It is a super deal, $60 for the week including helmet, bike lock, maps, handlebar bag, spare tubes, and air pump. It is a newer model Trek aluminum cruising bike. http://bikethesites.com/
I was blown away by how considerate and helpful people have been. I was pulled over on the curb, out of the way, looking at a map when a pedestrian walked up and asked if I needed directions. He assured me that it is okay to bike on that thing that looks like a highway.
For linner I stopped at the fish wharf that the bike people sent me to. I got shrimp and oysters. http://www.yelp.com/biz/maine-avenue-fish-market-washington So good. The vendors hawk their fish, for eating now and for cooking at home, by calling at people who walk by. It is kinda like the Seattle Fish Market, if it wasn't an overpriced tourist hellhole. (which I like) The smell was PUNGENT and the oysters were super fresh. The guys were so taken with my tattoos and bicycle that they killed the oysters for me, rather than selling me the ones that were sitting out.
After linner I biked to the Jefferson Memorial, my hands were shrimp shell stinky so I asked the lady at the concessions stand for a wet nap. She brought me Purell, a bucket of fresh warm soapy water, and a clean towel. I felt like a princess. Sorta like when my folks would take me to Nankin and I'd have a hot towel before my ribs.
The under 21 set is dominating the general area of the hostel and talking politics. I'm off to the http://www.capcitybrew.com/index.php just 3 blocks from the hostel.
Today was my first day in D.C. I am staying at the http://www.hiwashingtondc.org/ while going to the CAL ESL Reading Institute http://www.cal.org/services/workshops/strategies.html
Exciting stuff. The cost of the hostel and the bike for the week are the same as one night in the hotel that the institute recommends!
So, to liven it up, I rented a bike for the week and toured around D.C. this afternoon. It is a super deal, $60 for the week including helmet, bike lock, maps, handlebar bag, spare tubes, and air pump. It is a newer model Trek aluminum cruising bike. http://bikethesites.com/
I was blown away by how considerate and helpful people have been. I was pulled over on the curb, out of the way, looking at a map when a pedestrian walked up and asked if I needed directions. He assured me that it is okay to bike on that thing that looks like a highway.
For linner I stopped at the fish wharf that the bike people sent me to. I got shrimp and oysters. http://www.yelp.com/biz/maine-avenue-fish-market-washington So good. The vendors hawk their fish, for eating now and for cooking at home, by calling at people who walk by. It is kinda like the Seattle Fish Market, if it wasn't an overpriced tourist hellhole. (which I like) The smell was PUNGENT and the oysters were super fresh. The guys were so taken with my tattoos and bicycle that they killed the oysters for me, rather than selling me the ones that were sitting out.
After linner I biked to the Jefferson Memorial, my hands were shrimp shell stinky so I asked the lady at the concessions stand for a wet nap. She brought me Purell, a bucket of fresh warm soapy water, and a clean towel. I felt like a princess. Sorta like when my folks would take me to Nankin and I'd have a hot towel before my ribs.
The under 21 set is dominating the general area of the hostel and talking politics. I'm off to the http://www.capcitybrew.com/index.php just 3 blocks from the hostel.
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