Stimulate the pedegogy

I had to get up WAY too early for Saturday today to go to an ESL conference that was requested of me of my principal in the Bronx. I hemmed and hawed about it, but luckily Kate had also signed up, so we made the ridiculous trek up to the Bronx at stupid o'clock in the morning together. It was considerably colder than I had anticipated, so we really didn't walk to walk far. We ended up getting there a few minutes late because the 4 train we were on originally decided it wasn't going any further than 141st St. Bah. Bah on crap-o train service on the weekends.

Anyway, with all the grumbling going on, I was surprised to find out that I was actually really engaged in what Dr. Kate Kinsella was saying. She's from San Francisco and had many interesting and applicable things to say about teaching vocabulary to English Language Learners (ELLs). Good stuff. Felt like I was back at NYU, which was a good thing cause ya know, sometimes you just have to turn your brain on a little bit. It's so easy to just get caught up in the routine of teaching and not reflect and actually USE all the wonderful things I practiced last year. It's overwhelming this year, and I think that's part of it. Either way, it was good to think, and she did inspire me to teach in better ways.

As we were walking out of the campus of Fordham University, I took this picture of Keating Hall, which is actually been a popular filming location in the past. It's a beautiful campus, and I really enjoy going there actually because it seems like such a perfect escape from the city and surrounding Bronx areas full of shops with clothes that are ALWAYS on sale, and all the electronics stores that you could ever want for. Very nice indeed.