I am a writer. Here is a sample of my writing.

Hello fellow bloggers and/or blog readers:

It has been too long since my last post.  For the past few years, I opted to write in my 'actual' journal, so I could undoubtedly write every thought that came to my mind without thinking twice about the potential consequences. Looking back, I suppose I could have walked through the fear of opening up to the Internet; at the time, the thought of my students pondering over my most intimate thoughts didn't feel my mind with pleasant images. So instead, off I went to writing in my colorful and personal hard back journal.
What does writing do for me? Writing for me is the ability to express my most inner thoughts and not hold back. Consequently, writing is purely authentic and inspires me to move forward from whatever may be holding me back at that particular moment. 

So one might be asking why am I posting in my blog now after all of these years? Well... I have been asked to submit a writing sample for a potential position at a nearby college. Thinking to myself, I wondered, how often do I really write in a professional sense? Beginning to inventory my creative and academic writing papers from the past, and reviewing the multitude of short stories I began over the years, I was perplexed as to what writing sample I should use to impress this potential employer. 

Of course, there is always the occasional social media post on my personal Facebook page or my Writing Made Simple page.However, I'm not sure this accounts for much developed writing.  Additionally, I write prose for fun, complete lots of grading as an English instructor,(my comments are detailed-this counts as writing, correct?) and I am constantly writing with my tutees as I give them personal journal prompts and/or lists to complete. Writing collaboratively with these students and sharing our ideas together ultimately motivates each student. After all, their tutor is completing the same assignment as them. 

Let us look at the bigger picture here. Writing takes up a huge chunk of my life. Whether I am writing in my journal, grading papers, reading books and then responding on paper, creating syllabi for my courses, drafting up writing assignments for my students, writing collaboratively with my students,the list goes on...Although I may not have a specific writing sample in mind right now, I am hoping this blog post accounts for a 'sample' of how writing defines my livelihood in so many ways. 

I will continue to write on my own, and I will continue to instruct others on how the writing process-both academic and creative- can be a fantastic learning experience. Sometimes it is not only about the actual writing process, but also what we are writing about: the topic.  Each assignment and/or goal allows each of us to grow in a particular area including, but not limited to, social and political issues, historical outlooks, spiritual fulfillment, scientific research, etc.

Feeling inspired, I just may post another blog tomorrow. 

Feel free to check out my Writing Made Simple website at
www.writingmadesimple.weebly.com   

Dartmouth - David Shipler '64: "The Working Poor: Invisible in America"

The Glogster Tool.

I have enrolled in a certification program called Illinois Online Network(ION) through the University of Illinois. Once I finish the program I will receive a certificate in the Master of Teaching Online. At first, I decided to participate in the program because I was able to take the courses for free and I had wanted to be a "student" again ever since I began teaching over six years ago. This was my opportunity to be a student and even better, get the courses for free! Finally! I thought to myself.

To my surprise, after completing the first introductory course I wasn't sure if the program was for me. My thoughts included: What's the point? Am I really enjoying this program? Do I even want to teach online? Most of my fellow students already teach online; I don't. What am I learning thus far?

Although these questions and doubts consumed my mind, I decided to push forward and continue on in the program through the advice of my mother. She reminded me of how great the opportunity was and more importantly, how much I had wanted to be a student again before I enrolled in the program. I had almost forgotten.

I'm thankful I stuck to the program because the second course I participated in was fantastic. I learned a lot about the content area (tech tools) and over the duration of the course, felt that the contents we explored could enhance my face to face classes, as well as online courses I may teach down the road.

I thought I'd post a link to one of the projects I completed for the course. The Module we were working on was related to the students(us) creating their own content. The idea behind this project was to "play around" with several tech tools(glogster,auidioboo,jing,screencast, screenr,prezi,etc...) and then eventually choose one of them to create our own content with, based on the subjects we teach. In my case, English Composition.

Here is a link to my Glogster Project: http://www.georgjean.glogster.com/english-101-argumentative-paper/

If you have never heard of glogster, you should check it out. It's a fun tool. It reminds me of a blog for the fact that you can insert links, videos, write journal entries, add pictures, etc... but the method in which you display these messages, links, videos,etc...is creative and definitely a bit more vivid and colorful!

Take a look!

A Night Out With the Girls Leaves Me Feeling More Mindful Than Ever.

It's been awhile since I stayed out until 1 in the morning. I mean,wow, I can't remember the last time I went to bed intentionally at 2AM.

A few girlfriends and I checked out a dance studio last night, and although we were nervous because we had little experience with "this" type of dance, these nerves transcended into a fantastic energy that left us all feeling exuberant, refreshed, and mindful.

It isn't often I feel exuberant, refreshed, and mindful simultaneously, instead, I may feel only refreshed or only mindful.

I was almost thinking of skipping the night out with the girls to settle down with my baby girl and husband right beside a warm, cozy fire (while inevitably watching Fringe-Season 3 is fantastic!) but with the guidance of a friend, I made the decision to take action; I changed into my comfy dancing clothes, applied a bit of tinted moisturizer onto my pale, blotchy face and headed out the door before I would change my mind and stay home. And thank God for this because last night, through movement and expression, I felt a kind of satisfaction with myself that I have not felt in at least 4 years!

I was once told by a spiritual guru that it would be imperative that I use the movement of dance when I did my so-called "cardio" workouts. I understand why she said this now. If I'm jogging outside or on a treadmill or even doing a typical cardio workout at the gym, it just doesn't do it for me; I get too bored and have to move onto something else.

However(!!!)in light of the therapeutic elements in last night's dance class, I think I should go back again and again and again and again.....and again...

from my nose to yours.

I have a cold;an annoying cold. I haven't had a common cold for years. I haven't written for even longer it would seem. Apparently it takes a runny nose to create some sort of an ache to write. I have a miserable nose just waiting to fall asleep but all I can think about is writing a long awaited blog which won't be viewed by many anyhow. Nonetheless, my ache to write has overthrown my achy nose.

Here goes...(sorry nose)

I talked to a good friend of mind today and she reminded me that I love to write. She reminded me who I was and the gifts I bring to my classrooms as I patiently teach them how to become better writers.

I'm on a break from teaching at the moment but I must admit I do miss it. As challenging as it is to attempt to get twenty-five 18 year olds to embrace composition,I'm always up for the challenge it would seem(well, most of the time...).

I was reminded today how much I care about my students and the success they have in their lives. My classes have always been geared towards the interest of the student, whether this be putting together an interesting collaborative assignment for their sake or extending the due date of a paper;however, I'm beginning to change my definition of "student's interest". For example, if a student deserves a B, they receive a B, no negotiations or extra credit benefits(particularly at the end of the semester). Setting boundaries for myself is what I strive for in my current position. I don't feel "being nice" or "popular" is the key to a successful classroom, only detrimental to student learning. I am there to facilitate learning. I am there to create a safe atmosphere where students feel free to become themselves as composition and rhetoric requires this of its students.

I will set boundaries for myself as an instructor and commit to them fully throughout the semester. This will require reminding myself that these boundaries exist for a reason: to create successful students and successful writing. Period.

I breathe a sigh of relief as I conclude this blog. good night nose. Feel better tomorrow.

A Little bit of prose for you...

I consider myself a writer, I do. However, this doesn't mean I always want to write. At times, my mind doesn't have a particular topic to discuss. After I had the baby, I assumed I'd have to pry my hands away from the keyboard,but this couldn't have been further from my reality these past few months. In fact, I haven't had the urge to write until tonight.

A bit sad, I am. A bit sad, indeed. No details necessary for my audience, at this point, but my inner drive to write was quite apparent. My night would be sleepless without it;writing. Sadness may not be the appropriate word, instead,lonely in my thoughts. I consider myself a writer, I do. I need these words to release my hinderance of a mind.

My baby is perfect, my job is perfect, my husband is perfect, and my home is not perfect but comfortable and satisfying, nonetheless;me, I'm imperfect in all of this perfection, alone in my thoughts, everyday, all day, invisible.

I consider myself a writer, I do.

I'm waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

I love my daughter. I love my life from a secondary point of view. I love my husband from a secondary point of view. I love you. Myself: I'm finally comfortable, this is palpable, but invisible too. I'm waiting.

I consider myself a writer. Yes.

On becoming a mommy...and purpose.

I had my baby girl, Anastasia, 7 days ago. My life is forever different, really.

For some reason I always remember this scene in Sophia Coppola's film, Lost in Translation, with Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansen (sp?). They are both lying on the hotel bed in Tokyo and Scarlet's character is asking him questions about being married and about the responsibilities of fatherhood, yada yada yada. Bill's character is attempting to explain the overwhelming feeling of fatherhood and he does this by stating specific words. He describes the feeling before the birth of the child and then explains how differently one feels after the birth of the child: (something like this, can't recall it verbatim) "Your life, as you know it, is over."
This particular dialogue in this particular film has petrified me for years! Well, at least for as long as the movie has been out. This phrase rang true with me on so many levels and I always came back to it when I thought about having children before I was married and even after I was married. I feared my life would be over in general, I suppose. Perhaps I believed my initial purpose in life would be non-existant? Who knows...

Presently, I definitely have a perspective that I didn't have those long 7 years ago...Having Anastasia (although only for one week) has changed my life: the life I lived before delivery is over (as Bill suggested), but much to my surprise, I'm kinda happy about it. There was essentially something missing in my life this past year, and the thought never occurred to me that it might be having children.
Having tried to explore who I was these past few years-and then some-I am now excited to see what I learn from this precious being who will shape and mold my life in the weeks and years to come. And as far as my initial purpose in life, it's still there. It might be on hold for a bit but I'm thinking Anastasia will catapolt me back onto that path and motivate me beyond my capacity.

Until then....