I have nothing to write about

I am sick of this blog and I am uninspired to write about anything. I did so much reading this week, especially, because Wallowitz thinks that we should read as much as she does, that my head is spinning. I did find all of the strategies that I read for teaching English worthy but come one, that is not  my only class. In fact, I feel like all of my professors think that we are only enrolled in one class, THEIRS. I am sick of this blog right now because it is 10:00 p.m. at night and I am supposed to have it done by 11:00 p.m.  I don't know what to write about and I don't care.

I don't want to complain that I never feel like my work is done, however, I can't even have a peaceful dinner with my husband. When I come home from class I slam some food down my throat and get started on my schoolwork. This occurs after I have worked all day at a low paying job that doesn't even cover my tuition for a job that may not even exist when I graduate. So I am so sick of this blog as it is another thing to do hanging over my head, mocking me because I know my teacher reads them. I know I am undermining the importance of this assignment, it's just ugh to me right now and I just want to say f*** it.

On top of that we are supposed to read our classmates' blogs. Yeah right. If I had free time that would be great, but my time is limited, as I am sure time crunch is familiar to everyone in this class. I know I am supposed to make time, but life can get in the way. I am sick of this blog because it represents what I still have to complete in order to be done for the day. I don't want to have to come up with a topic to write about or think about my audience or anything else for that matter. 

I want to be doing other things like having a glass or two of wine and staying up late without worrying about what I need to complete for my classes tomorrow. I hate this blog right now because I could be sleeping, but instead I continue on and am annoyed that I am completing this at 10:30 at night with not really much of anything to say. I am sick of this blog, especially tonight. 

Revision

Revision is something we do in many areas of our lives. We revise anything and everything that we believe needs fixing. People try to revise things like their boyfriends or girlfriends, their relationship with their parents, the mistakes they make at work, how they cook lasagna and any outcome they are unhappy with. They feel uncomfortable so they seek out a change that will make them feel more content, like a new girlfriend or boyfriend, not involving difficult parents in their lives or asking an acclaimed chef how to make the world's best lasagna. Their discomfort with their current situation acts as a catalyst for change or revision. 

For students, knowing when their writing needs revision is not so clear cut. Often there is no level of discomfort or feeling like the writing assignment could be better. If students do feel like their writing could be improved they frequently have no idea how to take it to the next level. In addition, they rarely think about how they can push their writing to its limits and, then once they reach that, go even further. 

This is a difficult balance to reach for educators and students. How do students know when they need to revise their writing? How do teachers motivate them to make changes? What kinds of revisions are teachers supposed to make without being overly critical? How do teachers guide students through the revision process without doing it for them?  How do we get our students to realize they have exhausted their energies on a paper and it is complete? 

When I look back at my own writing that I thought couldn't use any more revisions, I can find more that I think needs to be corrected.  I always feel like my work can be improved and that it is unfinished. However, when I can't think of anything else to do with a piece of writing, after it's been poked and prodded a million times, I concede to being finished. Teaching the skill of revision to my students seems like a lofty goal but the end result will produce independent writers who can be proud of their writing. Now, I need to learn how to revise better,  so I can effectively teach revision to my classes.

New Beginnings

Life is full of new beginnings and starting over. We can begin a new school year, a new career, a marriage and even divorce proceedings. New beginnings can be positive transitions or negatively impact us until we get through the obstacle that hinders us. For something new to start we either build on what we have or we start over by ending what we're in. This can be challenging, scary and exciting all at the same time. The fear of the unknown that may come along with changing, even if we are on the right path, can lead to self-doubt, indecision and anxiety. It can also make us feel confident that we are doing what is good for us and will end up better for it in the end.

As a future educator of adolescent students I will be responsible for changing my students into better readers and writers on the surface, and into better people on a deeper level.  I hope to grow and make informed decisions in their best interest. Teachers have an opportunity for starting over every day in the classroom. For example, when we are at a loss for words or knowledge in a particular area we will research it and get back to our students. We should give the same opportunities to our students and view each day as a starting point never a total drop off. The classroom is a place of new beginnings as teachers and students learn from each other. Change is a central theme in education and we will see it all of the time if we look for it in ourselves and our students.