Text complexity and Spin Class...

Half way through our Spin class this morning...which focused on different elements of cycling in the Olympics...I started thinking about the class as a site of text complexity. I'm participating in a professional development workshop this week and we are learning about how to identify elements of text complexity as well as the text complexity we bring to our experiences. So...here's what I'm thinking...how text complexity and Spin class are mashing up to me...through the language I heard this morning...from our instructor and the songs/music that provided the informational and persuasive backdrop to our ride...

"Turn up your RPM's so they are between 65-70...get up...sit down...burn it...It's the eye of the tiger...We can be heroes--just for one day...We are the champions...You can do it...Go for the gold...30 seconds to go...If I could reach, I'd reach much higher...I'd be stronger...Perfect pedal strokes...2 minutes 'til the top of the mountain...GO!!"

It's all in there. Structure->simple, Language Conventionality and Clarity->literal, clear, conversational/domain-specific, Knowledge demands->simple theme...Olympic cycling, Cultural/Literary knowledge->high intertextuality...in that the instructor made several references and illusions to other texts...text that we needed to have an understanding of in order to respond to her during the ride.

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Another day...more PR's...

In 5 weeks of walk/jogging...we've gone from walking most of the time to jogging for 20 sustained minutes!!! Our distance and pace were awesome as well...especially for such a longer jog. We really focused on proper technique this morning...no leaning forward, no thumping, landing soft...on the ball of our feet...proper breathing...we were very mindful of it all!! The process...the journey...that's what it's all about.

In my writing...I try to focus on my process all the time. Whether its freewriting or revising...I attempt to remain mindful within the process...to enjoy the journey! As I mentioned in a previous post...I'm thinking that reflection after the "event" is as important as mindful engagement within the "event." It is only through reflection that we become mindful and appreciative of our efforts...our PR's.

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Post write reflection...

So...earlier this morning I blogged about the importance of looking back at what I accomplished during my writing and feeling good about it. In 30 minutes time I...entered into a conversation with two of my thinking partners...members of my writing community. The conversation comes in the form of comments I'm making to an email that each of my thinking partners sent me last night. The comment function in a word document provides...in this case the opportunity for others to see what you are thinking about their thinking. My comments included defining some terms, revising research questions, attempting to clarify ways I see myself revising the work I've already complete as well as a promise to read some mentor text that will help with the revisioning of the very important thinking I've already engaged in. My thinking partners will read over my comments and comment themselves. This exchange helps me clarify what I am trying to do and why it is important. All of that in a little more than 30 minutes after a long day professional development training!

Some movement is better than no movement at all.

Another morning...another PR...

This morning's walk/jog involved another personal record...16 minutes of jogging! Our pace was better by nearly 2 minutes! Small steps forward. I'm wondering what it would be like to think of my writing the same way I am thinking about running. I've never had an issue with amount of time spent writing...I do tend to get "lost" in it...and the time does go by very fast. I'm not usually concerned with the amount I write in that time nor do I think I should be. In my writing it's not about "the distance traveled" it's more about "the journey" the thinking...making of meaning and revising that thinking/making into something that others will understand. When I finish these writing sessions...why don't I feel the same way I'm feeling after a run? If you think about it, each writing session offers space for PR's. I'm wondering what might happen if I spent a bit of reflective time after each write thinking about why it represents a PR? Even the smallest movement forward deserves mentioning...some movement is better than no movement all...someone famous said that once...maybe Henry Ford. We ran one more minute longer today than yesterday and shaved almost 2 minutes off yesterday's pace. I'm excited to carry this thinking over into my afternoon write!

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Summer coming to a close...a reflection...

Like most of my summers...this one was busy! Spent most of it working with my National Writing Project colleagues. In and around that work I found time to continue thinking about my dissertation and am currently working on my proposal. This past weekend however saw work "put on pause." I went to the mountains with friends and family and did several things for the first time...I biked the Creeper Trail, rode a 4-Runner, kayaked the New River and...went fishing. Each of these new experiences produced Zen-like...in the moment feelings where I was focused and enjoying every moment of that focus! I totally surrendered myself to each experience! I am bringing that Zen-like mindset "down the mountain" as I move into the next turn on this path that is my life. Starting this morning with a great walk/jog with my wife...continuing to the campus of UNCC with my DC colleagues...engaged in a great professional development session that will last all week long. It's interesting "being Tony the teacher" in this training...watching my NWP colleagues work the room. I'm so happy my DC peeps are here "breathing the NWP air." It's getting me excited to start the school year!

Re-programming the daily narrative and reaching new PR's...

Last day in the Windy City...didn't get to see much of it...too busy doing amazing work with amazing people for amazing reasons!!! In between all that amazing-ness...I found 35 minutes each day to walk/jog...today I decided to push myself just a little more...to see what was possible. I recorded a person record for distance and time per/mile! I desperately want to "bring this" passion and momentum into all aspects of my day and truth be told...it's probably already there to some degree. Not to "blow my own horn" but...I don't know many other people that can get as much out of a day as I can. Yet...I spend the micro-moments "in between" beating myself up because I'm not doing enough! I need to fill those moments up with other thoughts...like the thoughts that pass through me while I run...thoughts like, "This is amazing!" or "You are doing great...keep it up!" or "Keep going...you can do it!" Re-programming the micro-moments of my daily narrative is a life long journey...I get that. So...let's see where that takes me today!

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The Importance of Intervals...

I had a sort of "ah-ha moment" this morning while walk/jogging. Some of you know that I'm trying out this Couch to 5K thing and as a result...running has found me. I'm doing the program with my wife for several reasons...it's a part of my "balanced approach" to working on my Phd, it gives me 30 more minutes of activity each day and most importantly...it gives me 30 more minutes of quality time with my wife! We're in a holding pattern right now...between "weeks" due to my travel commitments. However, we did promise each other to remain active while apart from each other. For my wife, that's resulted in extra Spin classes. For me...that's resulted in trying out the treadmill at the hotel I'm staying at. I'm walk/jogging the routine my wife and I just finished prior to me having to travel. I thought it would be a cool way to revisit that workout...get to know it and myself as a novice runner--better. So...where's the "ah-ha moment" you ask? During this morning's workout...I started to see the importance of intervals...whether you're running...cycling...or in my case...working on my Phd...writing. Allow me to explain. There have been moments in my writing where I've "jogged" (attempted to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time...writing creatively about my research). There have been other times when I've "walked" (slowed it down...thought critically about what I did while "jogging"...this mostly in the form of revision). I'm not sure I'd be where I am...as a novice runner, would-be cyclist and emerging scholar if it were not for intervals. I consider "this"...blogging...one of those "slowing it down" moments...necessary...if I intend to "finish."

 

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