City Training

Slowly, very slowly, I am becoming a city girl. Or at least a girl who longs for the city.

I just spent two days in Chicago attending the National Conference for Teachers of English. I have to admit that being in Chicago was the best part. There is something about the hustle and bustle that excites me. It probably helped that I didn't really have anywhere really vital to be, so I didn't have to hustle as much as those bustling around me.

Don't get me wrong, there were moments of small town girl that came out, often getting me in trouble. Like the time I almost got hit by a cab. That was exciting. Or when I directed a 16 year old the wrong direction when she was looking for the modern art museum. I knew it was on Michigan Ave, I just wasn't sure which direction. Hopefully she found it...

The conference itself was great. I learned about using multi-media and technology in the classroom (which, let's be honest, I knew already), about how to teach Shakespeare to students on their feet (which was great, I loved it), how to use creative writing in everyday literature classes (also great, but pretty self-explanatory), and how to address LGBT topics in the classroom (which are also pretty self-explanatory -- it's already being talked about, don't skirt around the topics. If anywhere, the classroom should be a safe, open place to learn and think through such topics).

Plus, book publishers really like giving teachers away free books  in hopes that we'll someday buy 60+ copies for our classroom use. Mom, I need another bookshelf at home. :D

Add that to going to see a really fabulous play about the Great Chicago Fire, seeing the city at night, eating fantastic Greek food, writing in the park, and having really wonderful impromptu converstaions with the women I went along with, it was a truly fantastic trip.

And I miss Chicago already.

I did however make it home in time to help strike the theatre's recent show and take a journey to Sioux City at 1:00 a.m. for a Perkins run with some lovely theatre people. Today I should really do some homework. We'll see how it goes.

Until next time.