THANKSGIVING 2012: BEING THANKFUL FOR BLOGGING STUDENTS

HALLELUJAH'S TURKEY.  For me, Thanksgiving begins with feasting on a gorgeous sumptuous turkey. I am thankful to the TURKEY that feeds me on this great celebration! (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Dear FELLOW SOJOURNERS in LIFE'S FANTASTIC MYSTERIES!  I have been contemplating the BLESSINGS in my JOURNEY for the past week. What stays present in my mind right now is the new BLOGGING CLASS I have been teaching this session at the Georgia Tech Language Institute.

BLOGGING CLASS 2012. A class of 16 students willing to "jump in" and "take risks" exploring their missions in life and expressing those ideas in words and images on their newly minted blogs. (photo by unknown Language Institute student)

As a seasoned teacher, I have taught many writing classes in the last 30 years of my teaching career. This blogging class, however, has been the first time that I have seen so many of my students emerge quickly from the COCOON of SELF. It is as if each and every one of them has been waiting for this moment to metamorphosize. 

DEFINING VOICE.  In one class exercise, I have students color an image, listen to music, smell the scent of a candle, and contemplate themselves. We then look at visual representations of different "voices" coming out of people's mouths. I ask my blogging students to contemplate their own "voices." What makes your VOICE UNIQUE? What does it look like? Draw it! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

This metamorphosis has occurred in the form of establishing a theme-based blog that is driven by their purpose in life. Although they have cooperated spectacularly in writing teacher directed blog posts intended to teach them certain blogging skills and approaches to sustainable writing, they have also been self-directed. 

I am DEEPLY THANKFUL for the BEAUTY of these students' SOULS as expressed in their work for me, or more importantly--THE WORK THEY ARE DOING FOR THEMSELVES. I have seen distinctive "voices" flow from them in the abundance of their blog posts! I have never been so DELIGHTED with my writing students! I am truly GRATEFUL.

Hallelujah for CREATIVITY. Hallelujah for having a purpose or mission in LIFE. I proclaim that BLOGGING is BECOMING!

What are you thankful for today? How is your CREATIVITY emerging? What is your purpose in life and how do you express it?

GETTING READY FOR THE THANKSGIVING BLOG POST. Blogging is Becoming, and there are many ways to be ready to blog frequently and meaningfully. Writing begins in the HEART and SOUL of the BLOGGER. Listening to music, making art, dancing, playing, and blogstorming are ways to mention only a few. I have found that I stimulate my students by adding the dimensionality of art to their writing. Blogging is a visual medium and using images well is just as important as using words expertly! Here I brought in my turkey making project that I have used in recent years with different populations. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

ADDITIONAL THANKS: I am so thankful for the supportive people in my life--you know who you are. I am thankful to all of those I am connected with and who LOVE THE MYSTERY. 

MOST CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF ALIENS: HALLELUJAH TRUTH TEACHING "BLOGGING FOR A WORLD AUDIENCE"

ALIEN EXPERIENCE. Jumping into the unknown brings many opportunities to learn. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah Pilgrims for doing the things we LOVE and for the privilege of TEACHING what we know! Currently, I am in the CHAOS of TEACHING the first ever Georgia Tech Language Institute course, "Blogging for a World Audience."  It feels slightly like an ALIEN EXPERIENCE! Let me explain why I am using the word "alien" here!

The phrase, "most convincing evidence of aliens," appeared in the "search phrases" of the statistical information for my blog. It is delightful to see how viewers are brought to my blog! I kind of like the idea that someone was directed to "Coffee with Hallelujah" when in search of evidence for aliens!

MOST CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF ALIENS. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

HA HA HA! I got a good chuckle out of being the "most convincing" evidence! Now, to get back to my teaching experience feeling ALIEN! I am in new territory. I want to share my passion of blogging with the following student writers (look at the demographics of who I'm teaching)

VITAL STATISTICS OF MY "BLOGGING FOR A WORLD AUDIENCE" COURSE

Enrollment: 16 students
Nationalitty: 14 Chinese, 1 Taiwanese, 1 Japanese
Gender: 13 males, 3 females
Major: 14 mathematics majors, 2 professionals
Average age: 22

One male mathematics blogging student had written me the following email:

Hello Ruth (aka Hallelujah Truth), I'm considering my mission again. I found that I don't have too much to share with others about my life because I don't think my experience is special, and I don't have a deep understanding about life.  Maybe I should blog about math because I have studied about it for many years and I should have something interesting to say about math. My blog title can be "Fresh Math Breeze." My mission can be to tell my audience something interesting about math and how we can use simple math in our life. Is this better than before?

IT IS ALIEN TERRITORY FOR MANY TO GO DEEPER INTO THE SELF. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

I answered him with this in a handwritten note:

BLOGGING IS BECOMING! You write or blog to discover what you already know. This discovery is your foundation. Then you write or blog some more to integrate what you don't know or are learning with your foundation. Writing/blogging is a building process of constructing knowledge and erecting the structure that is the unique self.  Therefore, write about MATH plus LIFE. You chose a great title, "Fresh Math Breeze." What is your subtitle? Could it be something like this: Math is More Than Math--It is Life?

GROWING THROUGH PARTICIPATING IN THE UNKNOWN. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! The student decided to jump in and call his blog "Fresh Math Breeze."On another front in my ESL Improvisation class, a student from Indonesia reflected on his experiences in my class in this written statement: 

"Somehow I feel positioned in a strange environment, which is exciting in a way that I can learn completely new things that are alien to me." Somehow as a teacher that makes me feel positioned to teach!

Hallelujah for ALIEN EXPERIENCES! They allow us to grow!