This was big for me, because there were around 70 people there, and I wasn't sure if I would freeze up or not. The vice dean attended, even though he doesn't speak English. It turns out I was full of pep and gave (what I think was) an interesting lecture on motivating kids to read and incorporating read aloud into elementary school English classes. The phrase that got the best reaction from the crowd was "harvested for his organs." This was to explain that teen novels (such as The House of the Scorpion) are not appropriate for nine or ten year olds, no matter how well they read.
One of the professors asked if I would give the same talk to actual elementary school teachers (instead of students that are about to become teachers) after the New Year. Another invited me to her methodics class that afternoon - it turns out she had put together a special lecture as a follow up to mine. I was flattered and pleased to know that I wasn't just rambling on for my own benefit.
Dan gave me a Kinder egg as a prize. He said eggs are a pagan symbol of new beginnings and now I have "academic gravitas." Kinder eggs (also known as Kinder Surprise) are like Cadbury cream eggs, but instead of being filled with gooey sugar, they have a prize inside! I got two little plastic ghosts. They're guarding my pencil cup.
Also, last night we had no electricity for a few hours. Not the first time this has happened, but it was the first time when we actually needed lights to see. We lit the one candle we had, made dinner on our gas burner, and went to bed early. Dan lit the candle with a flaming napkin that he ignited on the burner. Then, instead of putting the napkin in the sink and turning on the faucet, he waved it around in the air to try to extinguish it. Fortunately we did not burn the house down. Have added flashlights to the shopping list.
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5 comments:
Yeh teenage reading material is definately off limits to nine year olds. Although, teenagers are not totally mature, they are more capable of realising and appreciating fiction as an imagination turned into writing. Nine year olds may be totally freaked out by it all...
Dan, you are an idiot sometimes. It's a good thing you have a wife with so much academic gravitas. Maybe she should be in charge of all fire-related activities.
Congratulations on your very successful lecture, Meaghan!!! Can't wait to see you both in a few weeks!
Megs
NEVER doubt yourself. I watched you grow into a formidable force at NHM and you could run the place in a heartbeat.I think you should run for President of the USA. 1600 Penn Ave needs some 'academic gravitas'... none there since Carter. I am so proud of you. Love, dad
Hey Meaghan--fantastic. Did you get to use power-point and a laser pointer? These are the tools of a real academician.
Hopefully, your gravitas will not supercede wit and whimsy.
see you soon
Just catching up on your blog today. Talk about starting a fire! When Rob was about 8, he was lighting matches in the living room at Ballou St. When I came in the room he threw the match under a chair and set it on fire. So we know what waving fire in the air can do. I don't recommend it Dan.
E
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