.bouquets of newly-sharpened pencils.

So my fellow TA's and I survived our first week of training and Scott made it through his first two classes teaching undergrads (quite successfully even though he won't admit it).  Next week all the TA's will be team-teaching a writing workshop to freshmen who have signed up for the 4-day pre-quarter course.  Then, September 7th we will step into our Composition classrooms and begin teaching freshmen on our own (well, September 8th if you're MWF, which I am).


Our TA training basically walked us through what we will be teaching the freshmen in the workshop this week, so we went through all the writing activities and drafting, and I actually learned a little about my own writing.  I think the workshop will help ease freshmen into the college writing class.


The freshman read this year is A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah.  I am currently reading it and am very excited about hearing the author speak at the freshman convocation on Friday.


In anticipation of my busy schedule this quarter, I will say that I may not be able to update and write on my blog as much as I have this summer, but I've really enjoyed what this blog has been for me - a place to write and share what I've been reading, thinking, and doing.  Hopefully, though, I can keep record of some of my teaching experiences, both successes and frustrations.

****

One of my favorite lines in my favorite movie ("You've Got Mail") is:


 "Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms..."  


Fall is my favorite time of year, and although I'm going to miss seeing all the leaves change in the beautiful mountains of Virginia, I'm excited to be spending my first fall with Scott in Ohio.  It will be the first fall of our marriage, but it will also be the first fall since we've been together that the thoughts of long distance won't be looming over our heads! We met in the fall too, so that's one reason I hold this season so close to my heart.  Fall brings me comforting thoughts of wearing sweaters again, seeing leaves change, and listening to James Taylor songs. So today I leave you with one that always puts me in an autumn kind of mood!


"October Road" 


Well I'm-a going back down maybe one more time
Deep down home, October Road
And I might like to see that little friend of mine
That I left behind once upon a time

Oh, promised land and me still standing
It's a test of time
It's a real good sign

Let the sun run down right behind the hill
I know how to stand there still till the moon rise up
Right behind the pine, oh lord

October road

It's the big-time life that I can't abide
Raise my rent. Tan my hide.
Sweet call of the countryside
Go down slow. Open wide.

I did my time
And it changed my mind
I'm satisfied Oh.
I got so low down, fed up
My god, I could hardly move
Won't you come on, my brother
Get on up and help me find my groove

Keep me walking, October road.
Keep me walking in the sunshine, yeah
A little friend of mine
October road