tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256116581506142962024-02-20T08:11:36.640-05:00Ms. Pignataro's Adventures in Writingand other things.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-70094393619105270952009-02-12T13:46:00.002-05:002009-02-12T13:49:31.196-05:00Teaching on Your BirthdayI don't normally publicize my birthday, and I definitely don't purposely tell students when it is, so today, when one of my students returned from the bathroom and said, "Today's your birthday?" my response was, "Who told you?"<br /><br />Turns out Ms. Teacher-Down-The-Hall told Student L, who told Student M when they saw each other in the hallway.<br /><br />This was followed by a very nice rendition of happy birthday and utter chaos in the classroom.<br /><br />It was very nice.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-44971910698198447272009-01-30T22:04:00.004-05:002009-02-01T10:43:43.434-05:00good teaching daytoday we actually got through everything in my lesson book. i think it is the first time ever that<br />i didn't over plan, and for some reason, even thought it was a friday, the students were, for the most part, great -- of course, there are always a few exceptions.<br /><br />what i like about this teaching position is that i don't leave on fridays feeling so defeated that i just want to sleep all weekend. i'm looking forward to the weekends for things other than sleeping, and that makes me happy. it makes me more relaxed and able to enjoy what i do even more, knowing that i'm totally okay returning to work on monday.<br /><br />thanks to you, students.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-4953026657398334882009-01-28T19:58:00.002-05:002009-01-28T20:02:48.370-05:00TimeI'm so excited about this semester that I'm actually spending some time every day working on the novel. In the past, I've squished all of my writing time together. Lately, though, I find myself thinking a lot more about the actual writing part of writing, and not just thinking about the thinking part. I'm trying to write something every day, no matter how tired I am at the end of it. We'll see how that goes.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-17299240463935946352009-01-26T11:50:00.000-05:002009-01-26T11:51:22.744-05:00Woo hoo!!Yay Kathi! Yay Tobin! I feel so honored to know these people. And congrats to all the winners!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-56364037087751193482009-01-25T12:15:00.001-05:002009-01-25T12:17:03.605-05:00Tomorrow...The ALA announces the awards. It's very exciting, if you're into that sort of thing. Last year I was in Vermont, at the residency, when this happened. We were all pretty psyched. Except for Leda, when she found out the Caldecot winner. This disappointment would haunt us throughout the rest of the residency. We can't all be pleased, now can we?dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-72007320281412325112009-01-24T18:34:00.003-05:002009-01-24T18:37:36.671-05:00Leda and I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXul6NqB0PI/AAAAAAAAACU/uUHRK0ePuNE/s1600-h/DSC_0060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXul6NqB0PI/AAAAAAAAACU/uUHRK0ePuNE/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295008206421086450" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a quick picture of myself with Leda Schubert. Leda was my third semester advisor and held my hand through my critical thesis. Without her, I probably would have never gotten through it. I cannot express with words my gratitude towards and love for Leda. She rocks!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-52558322727196919942009-01-22T20:05:00.006-05:002009-01-22T20:16:05.662-05:00Montpelier Walk PicturesCollege Hall; Frozen Tree<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkaAGZJrOI/AAAAAAAAABY/wRRiLY4ZqHY/s1600-h/DSC_0895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkaAGZJrOI/AAAAAAAAABY/wRRiLY4ZqHY/s320/DSC_0895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294291425969155298" border="0" /></a>Fire Box at College St and E State St.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkZpd5qZ0I/AAAAAAAAABQ/cJA6tkGtiBs/s1600-h/DSC_0887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkZpd5qZ0I/AAAAAAAAABQ/cJA6tkGtiBs/s320/DSC_0887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294291037142542146" border="0" /></a>Some dangerous looking wires on State St.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkZPLPjY2I/AAAAAAAAABI/hltenqemM28/s1600-h/DSC_0885.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkZPLPjY2I/AAAAAAAAABI/hltenqemM28/s320/DSC_0885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294290585457484642" border="0" /></a>Crazy Icicles on West St.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkY6pq1HxI/AAAAAAAAABA/mPL6PNU3wNw/s1600-h/DSC_0839.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SXkY6pq1HxI/AAAAAAAAABA/mPL6PNU3wNw/s320/DSC_0839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294290232847703826" border="0" /></a>dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-35038121718839963062009-01-22T18:21:00.003-05:002009-01-22T18:25:52.192-05:00Home, FinallyIt took me 5 hours and 20 minutes to get home. It would have taken less time but someone (me) missed the exit for 15 (the Wilbur Cross Pkwy). So I had to detour through New Haven to get to 15 before 91 merged with 95. I did not want to get on 95; that would have been a disastrous. I hate 95.<br /><br />But I'm home now; sitting on the couch, being lazy. I should be:<br /><br />1) doing laundry<br />2) making dinner<br />3) making lunch for tomorrow<br />4) grading papers<br />5) finishing unpacking<br /><br />but I'm not. I'll save some of that for this weekend.<br /><br />Can't wait to get back to work tomorrow!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-21804666359500360942009-01-21T07:27:00.001-05:002009-01-21T07:29:51.759-05:00Test DayDear Kids,<br /><br />I will be thinking about you all morning as you take the ELA test. I know you are well prepared and I know you will do your best. Remember to pay attention to what the question is asking and always look back in the passage for details. I have faith that you will succeed!<br /><br /><br />Ms. Pignatarodphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-67677865636113243652009-01-20T22:36:00.002-05:002009-01-20T22:44:34.722-05:00Tomorrow...Tomorrow is the last day of the residency. I'm actually super excited to get the semester going! I had my meeting with my advisor, Margaret, this morning and I think this semester is going to be the most productive for me in terms of finishing the novel for one main reason -- No CRITICAL ESSAYS at all!!!<br /><br />Last semester, when I worked on my critical thesis with the amazing Leda Schubert, I struggled. I didn't finish it until packet 4, so I only had 2 packets of creative work to submit. Leda gave me abundant feedback, which, along with my workshop critique, gives me enough to work on revisions of what exists of the novel before I hand my first packet in to Margaret. I want it to be good. I feel so lucky to be working with Margaret that I want to take advantage of it as best as possible.<br /><br />I also went back and looked at the short story that I want to include in my creative thesis, "The Signs," and revised it a bit. I'm curious to see what Margaret has to say about it.<br /><br />I'm tired this evening. I think it has to do with the inauguration hype that's going around. I cleaned off the car this morning (a huge task in itself, but it was good to be doing some physical labor) and went to Morse Farms and downtown for a while. I bought some awesome wool socks! I also got some treats for my coworkers.<br /><br />Graduation should be nice tomorrow. It's the last one before mine!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-72340905837526451732009-01-19T23:03:00.002-05:002009-01-19T23:12:08.104-05:00Why My Class Is Awesome...As fourth semester students, there are a lot of things that need to be decided before the graduating residency. These things include, but are not limited to, graduation logistics (speakers, presenters, music, receptions, etc.), gifts, and other things I shall not name, for fear of giving away too much.<br /><br />Our class of 12 met twice this residency to make these important decisions. These are some reasons why my class is awesome:<br /><br />1. We had a meeting like real grown-ups, with a moderator and system of voting that seemed to please everyone.<br /><br />2. We did not yell, fight, or insult each other if we had a disagreement.<br /><br />3. Each person's feelings were taken into account when decisions were made. Alternative options were presented if someone wasn't comfortable with something.<br /><br />4. We were never mean. Even on laundry day.<br /><br />5. We always have chocolate.<br /><br />These are just a few reasons why we are awesome.<br /><br />The residency is almost over, and I am glad to be going home soon since I am not feeling too well and am missing everyone. I actually look forward to going back to work. That isn't to say that I won't miss being here. I wish I could have both. I miss my family, my apartment, my bed, my dog, my kitties, and my job.<br /><br />At the same time, I'm super psyched to begin my semester, finish my novel, and graduate this summer.<br /><br />Any questions?dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-57035926291933687222009-01-18T07:06:00.002-05:002009-01-18T07:16:30.445-05:00Awards, Parties, and Broken HeatingYesterday, after receiving the VCFA Alumni Gift Award (for dedication and personal and critical growth), I returned to my room to find it approximately 92 degrees even though the thermostat said 68. Turns out there was some boiler problem and the entire dorm was like this. <br /><br />No sweat. I just opened the window, and the storm window, and left to go set up for the party. Our class put together a CLUE themed party for the graduating class, the Revisionistas. Not to brag or anything, but it was awesome. Everyone there seemed to be having a great time, and when the music went off at midnight, there was much disappointment on the dance floor.<br /><br />About 4.5 hour after I left my room, I returned, and the temperature had gone down. By 6 degrees. I dug out the fan left in my closet and got it down to about 80 before going to bed.<br /><br />And the boiler must have died last night because I woke up freezing at 6:45 this morning.<br /><br />But yesterday, my friends, was so worth the sweating and freezing.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-72905189040104432352009-01-16T23:27:00.003-05:002009-01-16T23:40:38.970-05:00Advisor NightDear Students,<br /><br />I have some great news.<br /><br />Each semester, we each work with an advisor. An advisor is a teacher who helps us to improve our writing -- and I'm not talking about speling, grammer, or punctuasion. The advisor gives us constructive comments and suggestions on how to improve the craft of our writing.<br /><br />Remember when I told you that revision and editing are two different things? Well, the advisor reads work that we have and helps us to revise it -- re-visit it, or re-vision it. A piece of writing may start off one way, and then through the revision process it may change completely. The point of view may change, the tense may change (past or present?), entire sentences, paragraphs, or chapters might be added or deleted. Students in my creative writing workshop have heard the two different beginning to my novel. They are very, very different. In my case, went from a very distant point of view to a very close third person. I went from starting out with description to beginning in the middle of action. Revision is a scary thing, and I know that's why so many of you out-right ignore any comments or conversations about how to make your writing better. It takes a lot of work, but I promise, in the end, it will be worth it.<br /><br />And now, for my advisor announcement. Thus far, I have worked with Sarah Ellis, Sharron Darrow, and Leda Schubert. This semester -- my last semester -- I will have the pleasure of working with Margaret Bechard! This is exciting to me for a number of reasons, but I think that this is probably exciting to a number of you because <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hanging On To Max </span>is really popular in the classroom this year. In fact, many of you spoke about it at Book Bistro.<br /><br />I can't wait to get home now and start my semester.<br /><br />I miss you!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-43218872300371663432009-01-15T19:19:00.006-05:002009-01-15T21:09:40.878-05:00Some PicturesHere are some pictures:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SW_S955FlHI/AAAAAAAAAAo/X1S8Z3t61PU/s1600-h/DSC_0207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SW_S955FlHI/AAAAAAAAAAo/X1S8Z3t61PU/s320/DSC_0207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291680048137737330" border="0" /></a>College Hall, the haunted building on campus, during snowfall, at night.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SW_TUF_GaxI/AAAAAAAAAAw/SmMZgPdJb58/s1600-h/DSC_0326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SW_TUF_GaxI/AAAAAAAAAAw/SmMZgPdJb58/s320/DSC_0326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291680429341305618" border="0" /></a>The top of the organ in the chapel in College Hall.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SW_UtP12IhI/AAAAAAAAAA4/AB3WU1hs4x4/s1600-h/DSC_0329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AxMaXEQImX4/SW_UtP12IhI/AAAAAAAAAA4/AB3WU1hs4x4/s320/DSC_0329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291681960995201554" border="0" /></a>Myself, with Carolyn Coman. She's awesome!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-18505920765100884002009-01-15T11:47:00.002-05:002009-01-15T11:49:37.097-05:00QuestionsEvery time I sit in a workshop, so many questions arise. This residency, even though I haven't worked on short stories in a while, all of my questions have to do with short story structure, the move from tradisional structure to the more obscure, and the combination of falling action and resolution that we find in the short story.<br /><br />That makes me hungry. Time for lunch.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-78366725440542127332009-01-14T22:23:00.000-05:002009-01-14T22:31:45.688-05:00OK, Maybe I Was Overreacting...Maybe I was overreacting when I was talking about the food...It's not <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> bad. It's totally edible. I'm just a creature of habit and my habit's have been disrupted. I need to have a more open mind about it.<br /><br />Today I got a great report from Ms. Co-teacher, who is back at school handling our CTT class. It seems you kids are doing really well! I was especially pleased to hear that 745A was quietly and diligently writing while Ms. Co-teacher was on her prep and in the classroom. I'm really proud of them! And of Ms. C-T, for being a rock star teacher without me.<br /><br />KIDS, LISTEN UP: You'd better start leaving comments pointing out my incorrect grammar and spelling and punctuation or Im going to have to stop doing this. I don't want people to think I can't write, especially since I'm in a writing program!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-91441097598813981572009-01-14T18:28:00.000-05:002009-01-14T18:33:55.721-05:00Dinner With Carolyn ComanThis evening, my class had dinner with Carolyn Coman. She was really friendly and gave some great advice about writing and the publishing world. <br /><br />The food here, though, really sucks this time. I pretty much live on bread and butter while I am here, although I try to throw in a vegetable from time to time, and I've brought some apples. Tonight there was some weird goulash, something with sausage and chicken and peppers in rice (I HATE peppers), some cheddar grits (which was just a mush of mushy stuff and tasted nothing like cheese), and some corn bread (which I ate, with butter). I also had some pasta salad that had zucchini and tofu in it, so I got some protein vitamins, although there was WAY too much vinegar on it.<br /><br />Tonight Marion Dane Bauer (Killing Miss Kitty), Sarah Ellis (Odd Man Out), and some other authors are reading their work. I'm looking forward to it.<br /><br />Ms. Pignatarodphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-75523650490868575032009-01-14T08:01:00.000-05:002009-01-14T08:08:34.856-05:00Hey Kids! I Miss You Already!Yesterday I drove almost 6 hours to get to Montpelier Vermont, where the Vermont College of Fine Arts is. I pulled my car over in front of the dorm and who do I see? My awesome friend and author Varian Johnson, along with the amazing Sharron Darrow (she wrote TRASH -- a number of you have read it). It was so good to see them -- I haven't seen them since July.<br /><br />After I settled in, went to some meetings, and had dinner, I went to a lecture given by Carolyn Coman -- author of What Jamie Saw and Many Stones (both of these books are in the classroom library). Her lecture was very inspiring -- it mainly had to do with becoming a better writer and all of the doubts we have as writers that we need to overcome. <br /><br />Today I have my first workshop -- everyone submits work that gets read and talked about by a small group. It's called a critique, and it's a way to become a better writer by hearing what other people like about what you have written and also what they think could be better.<br /><br />Remember to read every night! That's the #1 way to do well on the test.<br /><br />Missing,<br /><br />Ms. Pignatarodphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-58311257585359747842009-01-12T11:42:00.000-05:002009-01-12T18:59:04.209-05:00STUDENT CHALLENGE UPDAATE!!!I changed the setting, so any one, even without an email address, can post comments.<br /><br />Also email me with any question you may have about any thing at all, or just to say, "Hi!" That would be okay, too.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-3299886734638828762009-01-08T13:03:00.000-05:002009-01-09T21:45:48.690-05:00STUDENT CHALLENGE!!!For each of my post, I'll put three or four wrong uses of grammer, punctuation, etc. Be the first to leave a comment pointing out the error, and you'll get to pick a prize when I get back! I'll have knew prizes, too.dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1125611658150614296.post-74068074147810401872009-01-08T12:57:00.000-05:002009-01-08T13:03:19.532-05:00Well, I leave for Vermont in 5 days. There are only 2 more school days before my trip and I have a lot to prepare. I've got to get all of my plans ready for the substitute so he knows what to give to my classes, and I have to get all of my things ready for the trip.<br /><br />I hope my students are WELL BEHAVED while I am gone. If I receive a good report, I will do something very nice for them. For example, maybe I will bake some cupcakes or give them a home work pass to use whenever they want. If I receive a bad report, I might just have to cancel the fun assignments I've got planned for the rest of the year.<br /><br />I have faith that they will do well without me, and I know I will be excited to see them when I get back. <br /><br />I'll be posting pictures of my residency while I am there, just to prove I'm working hard!dphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011091400360782989noreply@blogger.com0