My Personal Inquiry Blog

A few blogs ago I shared 2 concept maps that I had constructed, using ideas by Tony Buzan. (Callison, 140-141). I must admit I was doing it to fulfil the assignment and get Weaving done and out of the way. That has proven to be the most useful activity with this project. I have narrowed my focus down completely on my inquiry and have even decided to reword some of my questions because my final project focus has shifted. It all started because I organized my information for that concept map. I downloaded the Inspiration software and that's when I really started focusing on what I really wanted to do. I have done so much research on the Transcendentalists and the area of New England where most of them lived near one another, were friends with one another and were even buried. There are even more authors from that time period that aren't necessarily Transcendentalists, but they wrote such great stuff and they, too, all are in or near the New England area. The frustrating part for me is that I haven't really had time to read a lot of stuff to get a feel for the volume of what these people have written except for the literature I have read in school or what I have taught in the classroom. I would love to be able to provide information on Thoreau's books, Letters to a Spiritual Seeker and A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, but I just haven't been able to find the time to read in addition to the research and just dealing with the rigors of life: a three year old, a husband, other classes, and housework. So, I'm a lot bummed that this project is due tomorrow, but I didn't accomplish answering my original essential questions.... It seemed as though the research I was doing was not finding the answers to my essentail questions. Why was that? Perhaps it was because I became more interested in other topics to explore! So, just as Annette has encouraged us to be flexible, I'm finding myself examining my essential questions yet again and changing them. Again, Kuhlthau rings true: feelings of satisfaction, but disappointment because some needs are not met! Callison, 29)

How did American authors during the Romantic Age support one another emotionally, spiritually, and financially?

Catherine had emailed me the link to American Transcendentalism and I spent hours on that site reading about all the people and they places they had lived and loved. What I found most intriguing was that they were so connected to one another. A lot of them are even buried in the same cemetery on the same hill. Wouldn't that be cool to visit? I know in a weird kind of way, but to visit these places that these authors have lived and to see how their lives were so entwined is so intriguing to me.

How did an author's sense of place affect his or her writing?

This kind of goes with the other question because the fact that they all lived in New England and were sounding boards for one another did affect their writing. I can't overlook Walden Pond, of course, either. Thoreau's two year sojourn to Walden Pond is immortalized in Walden. Walt Whitman's poetry about Brooklyn speaks for itself, too. Check out the website if you are interested! (look at previous blogs for link)

What can I do in the classroom to give students a sense of these authors and Transcendentalism?

There are great ideas within these websites that I can use in my classroom. I can't wait to go back to school in the fall and try them out. Probably the most important thing that has happened with this project is that I am so much more comfortable with the philosophy of Transcendentalism, the authors and their lives. I feel as though I could easily talk about any one of the authors I have for my project and not bore the kids with general information... Well, maybe I'd still bore them, but I'd be enthusiastic and they would be able to see that. : )

Wrapping

In the back of my mind, I've always been thinking about my final project and just what in the world I am going to do. I had hinted from the beginning that I might like to use this information to help me when someday I apply for the Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship. I had asked Dr. Lamb if my final project could be the application for the grant. She gave me the O.K. to do that. But I still wasn't sure. When I downloaded the brochure to see what the application entailed, I knew that I would not be able to complete a proposal for Monday. Well, I could have, but it would have been horrible. The largest part of the grant is filling out your Timeline of what you will do for the 6 Weeks of the grant. You have to have everything completed, including costs. No easy task considering it was Friday when I finally looked at the application. It wasn't until I was completing my Inspiration template that I had my epiphany. Instead of completely writing out the grant, doing it half way, and feeling like a failure, why not use the Inspiration web as my final project with a tentative timeline of my six weeks plan for when I am awarded the Lilly grant! Notice I said WHEN!

The Inspiration software is really awesome. I have used it in my classroom for different writing assignments and it really is easy to use and it allows a lot of flexibility when mapping. If you don't like something, delete it. If an idea fits better with a different word, just move it. But, I really like how I can add hyperlinks. This is what makes my web so great for the Lilly project. This map, long after this class is over and I am starting school in the fall, will still be on my blog. The 30 day trial period will have expired, but since it is on my blog, I can still access it! Then I can still use the information to complete my grant proposal! whoo hoo! Kuhlthau didn't address the feelings of elation!

Next is waving!