A Working Weekend: Collaborating on this Literacy Tools Book

"What is literacy? Why is literacy important? How do we assess anyone's literacy? (How do I know if I am literate? ....Who am I?!)

These are some of the initial questions* I asked myself back in March, when Rick Beach wrote inviting me to co-author a literacy tools book for educators with Gerald Campano. I think back on that day in March, and my head spins.....I think a lot of things are still spinning....(I write this and chuckle.)

Ahhh! But seven months later: we have a contract from Teacher's College Press, we have an outline for this text, and we have our first weekend of collaborative writing, thinking, working, under our belts! Amen!

What follows are some pictures from our gathering at Professor Beach's home in south Minneapolis, and a meal out with Nancy Beach and colleague Cynthia Lewis. What a privilege to hold space with these lovely people! What a privilege to be invited into this work, to spend time in meaningful questions and theories and stories -- in an attempt to make an impact on the critical literacy of all students -- including ourselves!

Enjoy the photos! Stay tuned....
Melissa

Note the light reflecting on the table...

Rick always providing structure, an outline...

Source Materials: including some of the "books" produced at North High

Dinner at Peninsula (From Left to Right:)
Rick Beach, Gerald Campano, Nancy Beach, Melissa Borgmann, Cynthia Lewis

University of Minnesota Literacy colleagues in discussion...

Dr. Campano happy with this fine menu of Malaysian cuisine...

In conversation with one of our lovely hosts: Nancy Beach

Fed on so many levels...

Rick gives us a tutorial in PBWiki navigation (our collaborative, online writing tool.)

More instruction...

Our ensemble at the weekends' close...

*Posted to the PB wiki sites' notes (thank you, Dr. Beach!)
Grounding Questions (Melissa, 3/8)

What is literacy?

Why is literacy important?

How do we measure and assess anyone's literacy?

(How do I know if I'm literate? Who am I?)

What does literacy look like? Sound like?

Who cares?

What do we want students to know?

What is good teaching?

What are the tools that good teachers use?

What are tools for good living?

What is empowered living?

What does an empowered, emancipated human being look like? Sound like?

Is this something we want on the planet? In our society?

Does honoring all voices, all intelligences matter? Does it happen? How?

What happens if we don't honor all people?

What happens if we do?

What assumptions am I making in posing these questions?