In our classes thus far, I’ve really enjoyed the discussions we’ve been having. We’ve started to touch a bit on who we are, both as writers and as people, where we all are on our educational journey, and where we hope to go. The image gallery check-in activity, for instance, helped me to see that I’m far from the only one who’s nervous about the start of grad school or feeling a bit lost right now regarding the general trajectory of life.

It’s been interesting starting our deep dive into pedagogy surrounding writing studies. I have no intentions of teaching, but I still find it really insightful to take a look at how we learn how to write, what teaching strategies are most effective, and the rationale behind those methods. Reading about theory can, I think, help you to become a better writer, as it gives you strategies for learning how you can improve your own writing.

I really enjoyed the spiral journal activity that we did last week. Even though I think I wound up making my spiral way bigger than it needed to be, I had a good experience with the journalling. I always mean to journal more in my day-to-day life but almost ever actually get around to doing it, so it was really nice to do it in class as a way of centering and decompressing. It helped me realize that being away from campus as a commuter this semester has really been on my mind lately and that I’m having some difficulties adjusting. When I decided to commute, having dormed all through undergrad, I didn’t truly think about how different it would be not being on campus so much and having everything so close by. The spiral journal helped me to see that this was becoming a source of worry for me on top of other things and has made me realize that it’s something I need to keep an eye on and focus more on making a true adjustment to.

Overall, I’ve had a very positive class experience and I’m looking forward to deciding what I’d like to do for my presentation, which is sort of my next big step in this course. I’ve been looking at aspects having to do with the grading of student writing, and I think I may focus my presentation there.

I have to admit that this reading was quite helpful and insightful. It was interesting to read and get a better understanding of the history of rhetoric and composition writing. It was cool to see how writing has changed and new things came into affect to help readers over time. From scholars to Louis Phelps term of “human science,” rhetoric writing was a method that was what I understood to be changed and adapted as time went on. In my understanding a little bit of trial and error to see what works and what doesn’t work.

What I also found to be interesting while I was reading was that now in the new millennium, there are seventy four programs focused around Rhetoric and Composition writing. Where people network and can conduct writings. I also found it insightful that the reading also mentioned features of writing and teaching writing. I found it interesting how over the decades the curriculum for writing was also changed.

In all, the text was interesting to read. It was a lot of information and a lot of history but it was insightful to read how things have changed and developed over time to be what they are today and be those changes that are our norm and what we have always used.

In case you couldn’t tell based on my first blog, I tend to write better when my thoughts are organized in list/category format. (The Reminders app on my phone currently has seven different ‘to do’ lists, and I have even more running lists in my classroom.) So, here are my thoughts about our first class meeting, in no particular order in the exact order they appear in the prompt.

Our Start Together: I know I’ve said it multiple times already, but I really am so excited to collaborate with everyone in our class. Even though we’re all at different stages of our lives – as people, and also as writers – I already feel a sense of camaraderie in our little group. None of my undergrad classes at TCNJ were smaller than 15 students, so I can’t wait to see where this group dynamic take us. (Also, I think I’m the oldest of the six of us, and as such should probably let you all know that I am 100% the mom friend of my friend/colleague groups, and am fully prepared to take on that role here, too!)

The Short Articles:

1. (Maria Papova’s article) I find the idea of a visual journal fascinating in the way that people are fascinated by watching other people do things that they themselves cannot do well. I can draw exactly one thing that is recognizable, and that is a cartoon dog face. (I will happily share my dog drawing secrets with you.) A few years ago I attended a professional development workshop called Visual Notetaking, which highlighted a lot of the same ideas as Lynda Barry’s Syllabus. I love the idea of visual notetaking, and if any of my students wanted to take notes that way, I’d totally support it. I gave it a shot, but in the end, two things keep me from using visuals while I’m writing or notetaking: my perfectionist tendencies, and the fact that I can think and write faster in words than in doodles. I actually tend to use shorthand more than anything when time is of the essence and I just have to get the words down before they fall out of my head.
2. (Bud Hunt article) Brief as this article was, it made me thing a lot about some of my current frustrations as a teacher. At the height of the pandemic when we were teaching virtually, we relied on technology more than ever. I found so many new digital resources that I knew I would keep using once things returned to “normal.” On the other hand, I will always be a pen and paper gal, and I know some of my students feel the same way. Last year, our school district FINALLY went 1:1 with student devices, and now every student has their own Chromebook. And yet, we’re now getting very mixed messages from administration about how students shouldn’t be in front of their screens all day. How do we find the balance between using devices and relying on good ol’ pen and paper, especially when all of the following are true: every student has their own learning style that works best for them; people are statistically more likely to remember things they write down; my district has terrible Internet service; and we frequently run out of toner and paper in the copy rooms. (This is not a rhetorical question, I would input!)

The Podcast: Circling back to the idea that everyone has their own learning style, I have to confess that I am most definitely not an auditory learner. I need to physically see the person who is talking in order to remain focused. Otherwise, I get distracted and unconsciously tune out the voices. (This may be due to the fact that as a child I frequently listened to books on cassette tape as I fell asleep each night.) That being said, I was excited by some of the things Dr. Zamora talked about in the podcast, especially the details about the writer’s retreat. The idea of writing out in nature really appeals to me for reasons I really can’t explain. I am not an out-doorsy person at all, and any time I venture out without taking a Zyrtec, nature tries to kill me. I guess the idea of writing outside just seems so peaceful and serene, and since I don’t really have a designated place where I write consistently, that idea is very appealing.

The Spiral Journal: I’ve mentioned before that I find it hard to turn my brain off, so I just wanted to share my thought progression as we drew that spiral in the middle of the page. Keep in mind, this was all within that one minute time span. It went something like this: Why are we drawing a spiral? How tight should the spiral be? Is my spiral smaller than everyone else’s? Stop it, Theresa, this is not a spiral drawing contest. There’s no prize for the tightest spiral. This spiral reminds me of the center of a rose. Or rolling pinwheel cookies. Oooh, I should make those apple petal cookies. And go apple picking! Hmm, my spiral is getting kind of oval shaped. Why is it bigger on the bottom? Wait, what am I supposed to be thinking about right now?

The Image Gallery: I just want to say that I loved this activity so much, and I’m going to use it as an ice breaker/poetry prompt for my first poetry club meeting this year. I thing the students will really enjoy it, so I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!

Pic 1: Lilly & I waiting in line for front row; Pic 2: In El Salvador, my village below me; Pic 3: My cousins, sister and I; Pic 4: Mindlessly crocheting on NY subway; Pic 5: Photo walk in NY; Pic 6: Treehugger in Maine

Since I could remember, I’ve stood in shadows watching the world go on and on and on around me. People watching is what they call it, but I’ve only recently realized it had a name. I was the shy kid in class with all the answers sitting in the back of my throat choking me up when I spoke, but I’m working on it.

That’s not to say I’ve always been on my own. Platonic relationships are what keep my world turning. My best friend of 10+ years was attached to my hip once we simultaneously found our love for music &, later, the live shows that came with it. We’ve been to over 150 (+counting, it’s a problem) concerts together. With that, we’ve also gradually become apart of each other’s families.

Coming from a Salvadorian household, I’ve placed family at the forefront of my world. Both my parents were immigrants in the 1980s and came to the US seeking refuge from the war in ES. My mom was pregnant with my oldest brother, making my siblings & I first-gens, making me the first to graduate college.

I graduated with my BA in English from Montclair State University in Winter 2021, started my MA in Fall 2021, and quickly realized I was no longer benefitting from the same chunk of classics being read over & over again. I also began working for a non-profit that aimed to highlight Women of Color literary voices and I knew I wanted a more diverse learning experience. So, I took a leap of faith and transferred into Kean’s Writing Studies Program with nerves & an itch to start new.

Im excited to venture into a new side of literature. I’ve always gravitated towards poetry because of the endless avenues it can take you on and from the looks of it, electronic lit is just that. I can’t wait to see what I, and others, create. 

My name is Ricki Everett. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teacher and most recently a student…again. I am extremely anxious about starting my first semester of graduate school. I have never really been good with change but lately I have been trying to make a conscious effort to relax and take everything in stride, easier said than done of course. I have also recently been interested in reintroducing myself to hobbies I had when I was younger. Last weekend I took a dance class for the first time in 10 years and this weekend I am going to a boxing class. I was always really athletic growing up and honestly enjoyed doing so many things that I have not made time for in a while. One thing I did realize while being in a brand new dance class is how shy I actually am. I felt so uncomfortable. I had to remind myself that being uncomfortable because something is new again is not a bad thing to feel. It is not something I have to avoid or run from, but rather accept and invite in. That is what I am now telling myself about my higher education journey as well.

I am the oldest of 4 girls and feel as though that statement reflects my personality in the most honest way. If you were to ask my sisters what kind of person I was they would definitely say I am serious, strong, structured, private and maybe even a bit bossy. That would not exactly be a lie. My grandma always says “Bossy parents make bossy kids” and although she meant it as more of a dig to my mom; I have to admit the shoe fits. What my family probably do not realize is how much I love them and how responsible for them I feel. A lot of what I do is to make my mom proud and I am constantly ensuring that the choices I make reflect those of a good role model for my sisters. The hard exterior I give off is nothing more than a girl that strives to be the best she can be for the people she loves, which I can admit does not make me the most warm and fuzzy person.(Its a work in progress lol)

I wholeheartedly think my personality is what led me to teaching. I really cannot see myself doing anything else. I feel like when I tell people I am a teacher they immediately assume I am warm and fuzzy and spend my days singing nursery rhymes. In reality, I am gearing up everyday to take on the scariest enemy of them all… middle school kids. Whats interesting about me is the oddest things warm my heart and make me love what I do. Yes, I find the cute and fuzzy moments adorable but what really tugs at my heart strings is having the student the everyone has labeled as “bad” or “a waste of time” and I look at them and see nothing but someone who needs someone that cares about them. I love the growth I see in them and building relationships in the most unexpected ways. I am always the teacher, leader or counselor that gravitated towards the kids that were “more difficult” and in turn I am labeled crazy for preferring that child. But its something about them that I cannot help but see all the potential in the world. It takes an intelligent child and big personality to be the most difficult in a classroom.

I wanted to be a part of this master program to match my skills with my heart, be someone that my family can be proud of, and most importantly prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to . I have been so nervous about teaching full time, going back to school, and integrating that all in my “very much still 24 years old” social life. I often forget that I have accomplished difficult things before. I have overcome obstacles before and I do not need to be intimidated by anything.

My name is Ricki Everett. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teacher and most recently a student…again. I am extremely anxious about starting my first semester of graduate school. I have never really been good with change but lately I have been trying to make a conscious effort to relax and take everything in stride, easier said than done of course. I have also recently been interested in reintroducing myself to hobbies I had when I was younger. Last weekend I took a dance class for the first time in 10 years and this weekend I am going to a boxing class. I was always really athletic growing up and honestly enjoyed doing so many things that I have not made time for in a while. One thing I did realize while being in a brand new dance class is how shy I actually am. I felt so uncomfortable. I had to remind myself that being uncomfortable because something is new again is not a bad thing to feel. It is not something I have to avoid or run from, but rather accept and invite in. That is what I am now telling myself about my higher education journey as well.

I am the oldest of 4 girls and feel as though that statement reflects my personality in the most honest way. If you were to ask my sisters what kind of person I was they would definitely say I am serious, strong, structured, private and maybe even a bit bossy. That would not exactly be a lie. My grandma always says “Bossy parents make bossy kids” and although she meant it as more of a dig to my mom; I have to admit the shoe fits. What my family probably do not realize is how much I love them and how responsible for them I feel. A lot of what I do is to make my mom proud and I am constantly ensuring that the choices I make reflect those of a good role model for my sisters. The hard exterior I give off is nothing more than a girl that strives to be the best she can be for the people she loves, which I can admit does not make me the most warm and fuzzy person.(Its a work in progress lol)

I wholeheartedly think my personality is what led me to teaching. I really cannot see myself doing anything else. I feel like when I tell people I am a teacher they immediately assume I am warm and fuzzy and spend my days singing nursery rhymes. In reality, I am gearing up everyday to take on the scariest enemy of them all… middle school kids. Whats interesting about me is the oddest things warm my heart and make me love what I do. Yes, I find the cute and fuzzy moments adorable but what really tugs at my heart strings is having the student the everyone has labeled as “bad” or “a waste of time” and I look at them and see nothing but someone who needs someone that cares about them. I love the growth I see in them and building relationships in the most unexpected ways. I am always the teacher, leader or counselor that gravitated towards the kids that were “more difficult” and in turn I am labeled crazy for preferring that child. But its something about them that I cannot help but see all the potential in the world. It takes an intelligent child and big personality to be the most difficult in a classroom.

I wanted to be a part of this master program to match my skills with my heart, be someone that my family can be proud of, and most importantly prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to . I have been so nervous about teaching full time, going back to school, and integrating that all in my “very much still 24 years old” social life. I often forget that I have accomplished difficult things before. I have overcome obstacles before and I do not need to be intimidated by anything.

Hello everyone! I’m Gianna, but you can call me Gi, or PG ( which is tentatively a part of my pen name) and my pronouns are she/they. I’m a first-semester graduate student working towards one day being a published author. And if that doesn’t work out…uh…well, let’s hope it works out, because I don’t exactly have a Plan B.

Near the end of August, I finished writing the first draft of what will, fingers crossed, be my first novel. It’s a YA novel that’s partially romance, partially a coming-of-age, and discusses religion, mental health, LGBTQ+ topics, and family issues. It’s called Retrograde and I’m currently taking a break from it before I have to go back in and enter editing hell.

I’m pursuing this MA in Writing Studies not only to improve my writing but to continue to grow as a person. For me, I feel like it is through learning and direct experience that I’m able to do the most growing, and I know that pursuing a master’s degree offers the potential to do both. I am eager to learn from professors and classmates as I enter yet another new phase of my writing journey as well as my life.

Aside from writing, I also like reading, though I can’t do so nearly as fast as I was able to when I was a kid. Seriously, when I was in grade school I was powering through several books a week, and now it feels like it takes me weeks to get even halfway through anything (unless I’m on a time crunch reading something for a class.) Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to dedicate to a lot of reading anymore, and it’s become more of a luxury that I take part in when I want to relax., though I’ve been trying to read more again. Some of my favorite books to read are actually graphic novels. I love the use of art and words together to tell stories.

I’m a huge fan of Dungeons & Dragons, which you can probably tell from the title of this blog. My friends and I play it every Sunday, pretty much all day. I love to create and inhabit characters in the game and create a collaborative world and story with friends.

I love animals and nature, and though I’m not currently the most “outdoorsy” person in the world, I’m starting to take up hiking more and I love going for walks, especially if I can find a nice park to wander around. I have two dogs, Cody and Sadie, and a leopard gecko named Dog (dee-oh-gee.) I was born on February 29th, which makes me a leap baby and, if you go by the actual date, I’ve therefore only had 5 “real” birthdays.

I look forward to the semester and to getting to know everyone! Have a good day

Fun Fact #1: I collect pandas. Pandas are my favorite animal, and I’ve been collecting them ever since I received my first stuffed panda bear at the age of 5. My home is littered with pandas in every form – calendars, magnets, figurines, pillows. Every time you think you’ve seen them all…you spot a new one.

Fun Fact #2: Disney is my happy place. I love Disney movies and going to Disney World. My favorite park is Epcot, and I’m a Disney pin trader.

Fun Fact #3: I’m an amateur baker. I’ve always loved to bake, but when the pandemic started, I had a LOT of extra time on my hands. I tried over 100 new recipes in just a few months, and delivered goody bags to my family and friends every week.

Fun Fact #4: I love to travel. Pre-pandemic, I had mapped out a two month-long, literary-themed road trip, planning to visit at least one literary destination in each of the 48 contiguous United States. Then Covid-19 crushed all my hopes and dreams. This summer, I was finally able to visit some of the destinations on my list, road tripping all the way to down to Key West, and later cruising to Alaska. I’m planning more mini road trips for the future, and I’m always looking for travel buddies!

Fun Fact #5: I’m crafty. I have found that crafting can be a great stress reliever and a very relaxing hobby. The trick is accepting that not everything you make will be perfect, and having fun anyway. I run a craft program once a month at my local library, and we’ve made everything from wine glasses and tote bags, to magnets and bookmarks.

Fun Fact #6: I’m a teacher. I teach high school English, and I also advise poetry club, the school newspaper, and our chapter of NEHS. I’m excited to bring things I learn in grad school back to my own classroom.

Fun Fact #7: I’m a board game enthusiast. My roommates and I have an entire closet filled with board games (and also craft supplies!). Board game nights with our friends are epic, and I’ve been told my competitive nature is terrifying.

Fun Fact #8: I’m an avid reader. I’ve completed the Popsugar Reading Challenge every year since it first started back in 2015. It’s led me to picking up books I never would’ve chosen without a specific prompt, and I’ve discovered some of my favorite books and authors this way.