Day #297 Writing Through COVID-19: Grading vs. Learning

What a week.

I set aside the planned curriculum in my journalism classes Thursday. Instead, we reflected on Wednesday's attack on the Capitol through the lens of the journalists on-site covering the story. 

We read stories from writers assigned to cover Capitol proceedings who--on a dime--turned from political reporters to war-zone journalists. 

We analyzed the gripping photos snapped in the midst of the bedlam.

We then examined the Poynter Institute's explanation of how journalists must weigh their word choices in reporting the events of Jan. 6.

Students discussed which words they felt were most accurate and journalistically responsible in describing what had transpired.

Note: There was nothing to grade here. Nothing to memorize. Nothing that will be tested on ACTs or SATs. Rather, it was 47 minutes of shared consideration of the press, democracy, and language. We struggled to make sense of a complex, multi-layered national experience. 

Don't confuse testing and grades with genuine thinking and learning.
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Today is Saturday. Dan and I fought through round two of our Ping-Pong series. I lost in two, which ties us 1-1. 

Our family has played a lot of Ping-Pong over the years. It's a great Iowa winter game that invites heavy smack-talk in our house. I'm a gloating winner but also a generous loser. 

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My dear friend and neighbor Kathy received her COVID vaccine this week.  She's a retired nurse who has volunteered to be on the inoculation team for Cass County. 

I am grateful for her contribution: reason #10,827 I'm happy to call her my friend.

Enough.
Be well.
Write. 

Wolf had his first taste of solid food this week. Here he enjoys his first banana by chewing on a 
 mesh teething ring.