I hate myself when I get these mind-numbing journals to grade. Just can't figure out how to get students to read for real comprehension and analysis without them. Note to self--at least cut down the number from all readings to key readings. ::sigh::

The bright side of the day was upcoming opportunity to cross-train. I've wanted to learn on-the- ( Read more... )

I've tidied in preparation for the parents, whom I see the 10th and Saturday morning. Tidying meant I needed to do something about the tools strewn around I used in a vain attempt to get a broken bolt out of my scooter, so I could attached the replacement left mirror (broken in the move and part just arrived). When my scooter place suggested ( Read more... )

Oh yes! I just finished my first aikido class here. There was a 4th kyu, someone ranked 5th kyu or unranked, and two newbies besides me. It was fun and included new ways of doing things, including more leading with the opposite foot from the grabbed wrist than usual for me. The sensei is a good teacher, clear, kind, and (after class) used the word ( Read more... )

My teaching demo. went well Tuesday. The students gave me high caliber anonymous evaluations, including some very good advice on improving the clarity of the Power Point slides. Not surprisingly, I suffer from chocking too much onto each slide. I will have to work on that, but I hope it won't take gobs of time.

Although I was pretty wiped Tuesday, I ( Read more... )

Teaching "advanced" aikido went well and raised my spirits. We did testing techniques for the first and second tests students take. I interspersed counters for the attacker to use in order to protect self from harm or thwart a defender's not-good-enough technique. So I introduced reversing ikkyo, sankyo, and shihonage. I didn't have time to mess ( Read more... )

Sunday I went with a friend to an early Jewish music concert. The choir was Musica Sonora, and they do a range of late-medieval through maybe baroque. This time they had learned specifically Jewish music and performed at a reformed synagogue in town. It was a neat experience on a number of levels. Fun to be with the friend, realize I knew two ( Read more... )

From aikido testing it is clear that students need work on dealing with multiple people doing successive attacks, so sensei started teaching that. He showed a couple easy, fast, non-joint-lock techniques. He demonstrated by defending himself against me and two other guys (each attacked after sensei had finished with the one before). One technique ( Read more... )

OK, so I've served my time finished my duties teaching kids aikido for the time-being. For the first time it included a degree of fun. Today was 45 minutes of 5-8yo and an hour of 9-11yo. Both groups were far better than the 13-15yo--not noticeably more squirrelly and definitely more enthusiastic. It helped that sensei started with a demo. for both ( Read more... )

Today was the first of 4 days trying to teach aikido to 13-15yo's. OMG! Most of them have the attention span of gnats! How do they become young adults who sit through college lectures? I dutifully uke'd for Sensei and will do so Wednesday, Friday, and Tuesday the 8th, but I was literally begging other aikidoka to help us. We desparately need to up ( Read more... )

Coopting the term "fantasy relationship" from a friend, I'm applying it to my propensity to be interested in a university as soon as it shows any interest in me despite any misgivings I would have had before. Why I think an initial interview will lead to a campus interview and a job when it never has before, I don't know. Eternal optimist? Anyway, ( Read more... )