Here I Am Again

I barely had a chance to shake off the remains of one semester when I found myself at the end of the second week of the second semester. I've taken to saying that I'm not going to give my students any more assignments, so I don't have to grade any more assignments, but that's just silly. And I know it. The end of the semester papers, essays, portfolios and mid-year exams bled right into the English Regents Exams and before my eyes could rest from all the reading, I was reading the new essays from my new classes. Thus, the English teachers dilemma. There were some disappointing reads, to be sure, but for the most part I'm pretty pleased as to the energy and expression from so many students. Even those who don't like or want to write are pretty good at having their say. There is a certain economy of words being employed and while I generally chalk it up to laziness, after all who doesn't just love to write, I've come to realize that much of it comes from the multitasking habits of the students. Say it, move on. Do it, next. Here today, gone tomorrow.

I have quite a few really talented writers in my classes and reading their stuff is just plain fun. Most of them write about things that I no longer deem important, but to them even the slightest awareness is billed as epiphany, stuff of import, neon lights blazing, the end all...that kind of thing. I must have been like that, but can't remember. It seems I've been like this forever.

I'm acting as sponsor for a former student on his independent project for college. He's writing a collection of short stories and has discovered that what he wanted to do is quite different than what he has been able to do. Writing takes time. His frustration at not knocking out as much as he had anticipated, and signed up for, has taken a turn towards desperation. I am trying to get him to understand that while he hasn't written as much as he thought he would, he hasn't failed. I've asked him to write a process piece, which he wasn't familiar with, that could help round out his project. I hope he can do it. It will make all the difference. Plus, writing about writing is always enlightening. I think.