Se Hace Camino Al Andar

film – peanut butter no jelly productions: I’m down with this.

I’m spending the day at Helix Charter High School. It doesn’t take much to impress me because my standards are pathetically low but the kids here seem great. From what I’ve seen so far, they are totally on task, they know how to behave in a classroom, and they seem to take their work seriously. Of course, there are anomalies here and there but every school has that, except mine where the anomalies are the norm. My original purpose for visiting Helix was to look at how the pedagogy is influenced by the region, in response to the idea that we, as a nation, should have a universal curriculum. When I did my preliminary research, I found that all the information on national curriculum is pre-NCLB, which sort of deflated my interest in the topic. I thought I had read a quote attributed to some politician recently about reviving the national curriculum movement. You know I’m kicking myself now for not clipping the article, because I can’t remember the politician named. Anyway, my purpose for being here has changed. I took a ton of notes during Tamara’s first period class (which is a block period) and my new plan is to take these notes back to my school, to see if any of it can be applied. More on this idea later.

Spruce Street Bridge
Originally uploaded by NaniRolls.

This is the aforementioned Spruce Street Bridge. Click on the photo for more pictures.

Tamara took me to see the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge. I’m borrowing this picture because the sign now has grafitti all over it, including a couple of swastikas. At one end of the bridge is an old area of San Diego with big houses called Banker’s Hill, where all the rich bankers had their houses, directly up the hill from Downtown San Diego, where all the banks were located. The bridge is built over a valley that divides Banker’s Hill from the street where the trolley was located. The bankers walked over the bridge to take the trolley to work. The bridge moves with the wind and bounces when you walk on it. It overlooks a gorgeous natural trail and the backs of the houses in the area peek out onto the canyon, partially hidden by big trees. I’ll post more pictures later.

Seal Colony
Originally uploaded by NaniRolls.

In La Jolla, there is something called the Children’s Pool. It is an walled-off section of the coast that was built to create a safe playing space for little kids. It turns out that it is also a safe harbor for seals, especially during pupping season. So, the seals took it over and the kids had to find somewhere else to play. There are people here who say that it should be reclaimed for the kids, and so these people want to dredge the water (it does smell, I can tell you that!), effectively displacing the seals, which have been there for years and years. Then, there are others who say leave them alone. I agree with those others. How often can a city claim a natural phenomenon happening like this right in their front yard?

DEF
Originally uploaded by NaniRolls.

I would like you to know that the irony of being in the DEF aisle was not lost on me.
I’m in San Diego, waiting for Tamara to come rescue my ass from this hotel. More pictures to come!

Olivia
Originally uploaded by NaniRolls.

I spent the whole day with my three old niece. First, we went to the Maurice Sendak exhibit at the Jewish Museum, then we hung out at a playground in Central Park. Before heading home, I took her up to the roof at the Met to see the Sol LeWitt exhibit, which she loved.

By the way, my school is looking for an ESL teacher to replace one who resigned last week for medical reasons. If you’re interested in a job, email me for details.

172 Chestnut Street
Originally uploaded by NaniRolls.

Click the picture for my trip down memory lane.

Last night, I found a Passover song called Ten Plagues In Egypt Land, at the Hot Shabbat website. Some of the lyrics:

“Blood in the water made the river run red.
10 Plagues in Egypt Land
Pharoah Shoulda listened to what G-D said

“Filthy Flies, So Dirty and Vile
Not Exactly Pharoah’s Style.

“Dark Descended in the Light of Day
Pharoah Was Lost, Couldn’t Find his Way”

The chorus goes: One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Plagues in Egypt Land (2x)

It’s catchy and addicting. I can’t read sheet music so I just made up my tune…then again, when you’re deaf, you’re always making up your own tune. Ha ha.