“I don’t view Shakespeare’s work as intimidating anymore.” — midterm reflection from college freshman

“It has made me more confident in myself, and I don’t view Shakespeare’s work as intimidating anymore.” –freshman student reflecting on the first half of my “Shakespeare in Context” course. In lieu of reading comprehension quizzes, I have students post informal responses. They respond to an orientation lecture and each act of the play as…

The difficulty is the point (teaching critical thinking skills differs from teaching facts to memorize)

In the past few years I have seen more students who are very bright, hard-working, and grade-conscious, who are very comfortable when they have a list facts to memorize, or a formula to follow. Rather than thinking of a revision as an opportunity to develop, these students think more transactionally than organically about their learning, and prefer to see revision as a punishment for not getting it right the first time. I see it instead as an integral part of the critical thinking process.

The Woman in Black

Last night’s preview was a layered treat. A theatrical framing story, the story being dramatized, and a story being uncovered. twists and chills at every level. Well done. Similar:A pallet of cabinet fronts and structural elements to flesh out #neovictorian #steampunk i…PersonalDownsides of being a convincing liarTest subjects whose test papers “acciden…AcademiaSo many dials to…

"The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind." –David Orr, Earth in Mind #empathy #ethics #humanities #aesthetics #science

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The Scarlet Letter (Prime Stage)

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They both reached for the gun.

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Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.

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A dinosaur and an octopus are among those doing a speed-writing workshop in my journalism class.

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Next up for the girl: Amy, the youngest sister, in Little Women: The Broadway Musical. Nov 21-24.

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The Fantasticks closes today at 2.

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The boy plays chess with his uncle before seeing The Fantasticks.

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Rehearsing for Little Women Tuesday (Carolyn plays Amy)

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Yeet with Emily Dickinson (according to my auto-correct}

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She was a musical ingenue Sunday, filmed a slasher movie past midnight Monday, and was prepared for dance kinesiology class Tuesday morning. #youshallprevail

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Faces the girl makes during her Luisa monologue. (Four more chances to see The Fantasticks.)

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Their faces when another dad joke drops. See The Fantasticks today at 2 or next week Thu-Sun.

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And again I ush.

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My big brother and my son facing off in chess. I am totally outclassed here.

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