So I will be teaching all seniors and have a son who is a senior this year. I like to think at the beginning of each year about something to pay attention to, perhaps take notes on or otherwise observe.
Would like to focus my blog primarily on the story of this year, these kids, my own son, and the journey we'll all take. The idea of "senior moments" is intriguing for other reasons: reflections on my own senior year, turning 50 this year (AARP, really, already?), caring for a senior (my wife's mother).... Seems like too many stars aligning themselves for a writer to not pay attention to for the year.
Will try to post regularly but with short impressions that give us all, myself included, something to think about as we help these kids through this liminal moment.
Yes, having all seniors does change the game. I always say two things to them-- 1. recognize that you are afraid and thus may do anything to resist the threshold; I reteach the hero cycle in terms of this all important quest to graduate, that the boon to their community is celebrated in June with great pomp and circumstance for a reason. And 2. Forgive your parents' resistance to your next stage in life; they have never done this before either. Even if you are the baby of the family, they have never lost YOU before. I think especially in this all too contracted economy, money issues and parents' inability to promise them the world is important to put right out there. I look forward to reading your insights.
Posted by: Margo Kipps | August 11, 2011 at 08:22 AM