Meeting+Notes+-+November+14

But not before some email discussion We’re going to cancel today’s meeting. Here are a few things to think about/do:
 * Our meeting was canceled so that we could get stuff ready for the work day.**
 * email exchange - from TC**
 * Please, PLEASE, if you still have papers out, return them to the classroom teachers so that grades can be updated and the revision process (if needed) begun.
 * Get thee to the Wiki page and comment on your plans for tomorrow, AND on the grading of the papers. There is significant discontent among the junior class about our procedures and expectations (why didn’t they get a rubric ahead of the paper? Why are the papers put into English grades and not the Community Connections Pass/fail grade? What exactly does it take for a student to get a “Pass” for Community connections?) This is an opportunity for us to “make the stuff more concrete for the kids.”

Why are we canceling our meeting? I’d prefer to have a face-to-face conversation about this than go to the wiki page…a central goal of this program is for us to engage with each other, not with our keyboard, and I’m reluctant to have Wiki stand in for deliberation that I think is important and valuable. I’d like to meet unless there’s some reason that I don’t know about. --JPB
 * Response from JPB**

From AK I too want to meet. If there are occasional reasons why some people can’t attend, I understand, but for me, these meetings are a high priority, and I don’t want to give them up.

I’m happy to have a little time back today; I feel overwhelmed with college stuff (recommendations and essays), so today would be a good day for me to have some time. At some point, I feel that we do have to talk about the writing component of what we do.
 * From MM**

All— First, Shanti was feeling slammed and was “maybe projecting (her words)” the notion that others of us were feeling the same way. Kate and I could certainly use the time to plan our day tomorrow, but if the majority wants to meet please do weigh in.
 * Final Response from TC**

As for the Wiki idea, and to address your comment, Jeanne, the intention is not to have the keyboard stand in for deliberation, but to use the Pensieve as a space where we can get some ideas out in a space where everyone can see it before we have a conversation—was that not the purpose of the Pensieve to begin with? In other words, in a week where some are feeling inundated, perhaps the Wiki can/should be a space for us to visit in absence of conversation and in anticipation for a future conversation for which we all feel prepared. I think we are all aware of the central goals of the program; we also, however, have to be mindful of all of the everything that we all do in this school to make its central goals work. Of course we should have a conversation—timing seems to be the issue of the day. Here are some items for discussion, which are flexible and which can be re-prioritized as needed: · The grading and return of papers—reactions from students? Reactions from us? · How can we make “the stuff” regarding the papers and grading in this program more concrete (one of our central goals from an earlier meeting) for the students so that there is less discontent with our process/procedures? To this end, should we make our syllabus more explicit with regard to course requirements? In other words, should we explicitly define what it takes to earn a passing grade? · The history assignment is on the horizon—what needs to be done, how/when will it be introduced, and what can the rest of us non-History folk do to support the material? Please weigh in—