Synchronize your watches

Last weekend, I spent several hours gingerly turning the pages of photo albums that my Nana maintained throughout her life. The ones that fascinated me the most were those that captured the childhoods of my mother and my beloved Aunt Sue. The picture that seems to have burned itself into my memory is the one that depicts two young girls, elbows propped up over the side of the public swimming pool, squinting into the sun, their hair swept back into thick bathing caps each adorned with a single flower that looms over one ear, threatening to throw off their center of gravity. This picture is proceeded by another that reveals only two pairs of legs kicking over the surface of the water. My mother later explained to me that she and Aunt Sue were prone to engaging in synchronized swimming attempts during their trips to the local pool. 

To be honest, synchronized swimming has always stirred up quite a bit of confusion in my mind. For one, Ihave never understood how they manage to keep their make-up on during such performances. Overall, I would have to say that I am generally baffled by what it is that motivates synchronized swimmers to become synchronized swimmers in the first place. However, the thing that blows my mind completely out of the water is their ability to be synchronized. Just imagine: one errant leg or arm throws off the entire performance. Don’t even get me started on all of the work that’s happening under the water so that the performance appears effortless to us, the ignorant and wowed audience. The point is this: Synchronized swimming is about working together. 

This notion of togetherness is central to the Summer Institute experience. The Writing Project is about recognizing the hard work of fellow educators that is often concealed behind seemingly “effortless” performances. It is about lifting each other up spiritually, emotionally, and academically so that we can all move forward together. We are a learning community with a wide range of singular experiences, perspectives, and working knowledges to pull from as we work toward enriching our own writing lives, our teaching lives, and, by extension, the writing lives of the students we teach. The synchronization of our talents, ideas, and perspectives can only result in an elegant and graceful success. 

The sharing of those talents, ideas, and perspectives begins with the book groups. Fortunately, we have but two weeks before we meet again! We also have some reading and writing to do before we come together on June 23. 

First, try to get with your group members to choose a name that suits your group. Sun Belt Book Group 1, 2 and 3 is rather boring. Your name might some from a conversation or online exchange that you have, a favorite quote about reading, or you might simply name the group for a mascot that you feel represents some desirable quality that is important to your group. Once you get your name squared away, start making these blogs your own. As a contributor, you have the power to change the design of your blog, change your blog’s name, or even…

              wait for it…

                               wait for it…

                                               POST something brilliant of your own!! 

I can’t wait to read about the books that you are reading together. You are a truly dynamic group of educators with many experiences, perspectives, and ideas to contribute to our learning community. So c’mon and take a dip in the blogging pool… the water is delicious!

As always, please contact me if you have any problems posting. I am more than happy to help.