Handwriting Course New Schedule ;-)

[Jonathan]

Valerie Sutton wrote:
> SignWriting List
> January 16, 2007
>
> Hello Kim, Stefan and Stuart!
> Thanks for your messages...see my answer below...
>
> Kimberley Shaw wrote:
>> Sounds good to me, Val - you do so much already! Better, I think, to
>> do a little, and thoroughly, then to plan a lot and need to drop it.
>> So glad handwriting interests so many folks.
>> Kim from Boston
>
> ------
>
> Stefan Wöhrmann wrote:
>> ....I am looking forward to see more of your own Handwriting!
>> (especially
>> Handwriting Priting SW)  To compare your way of writing the arrows, the
>> circles, the handshapes,..with my own exercises so far is most
>> interesting
>> to me. So please think about this and if possible think about your
>> coming procedure
>> a second time. Feedback to this posting is most welcome! Stefan ;-)
>
> ------
>
> Stuart Thiessen wrote:
>> I think Stefan has some wisdom here. With this many students, it is
>> too difficult to give individual feedback on all of our sentences.
>> But if you can identify some common mistakes or suggestions for
>> improvement, that might be a good place to start. I'm sure we will be
>> able to see what you mean and apply it to our writing. Thanks, Stuart
>
> ------
>
> Hello Kim, Stefan and Stuart!
> Thank you for your responses...I can see you really want to learn
> Handwriting! THAT IS NICE TO KNOW...believe me...that makes me happy ;-))
>
> Stefan's email painted such a nice picture of teaching Deaf children,
> and I admire your teaching skills, Stefan, and I also think your work
> with SignWriting, with so many students coming in and out of your
> class, is quite remarkable. I am happy to know that students visit you
> from other classrooms! That is a good development...they sound like
> they are interested in SignWriting too!
>
> And I realize that you are right, that it is important that I develop
> this new course, which I have never taught before, which goes into my
> own personal notes and shows you how I personally write by hand, when
> no one is looking - ha!
>
> Basically I write with the Shorthand blended with the Printing...that
> is the truth....and that blend, I believe, creates a Handwriting...and
> I believe it can lead to true cursive, connected writing too...but
> that is true development time needed...and is not something I have
> ever taught before...and it may just be that the Shorthand in its own
> right, should be taught as well...The old book SignWriting Shorthand
> for Sign Language Stenography should probably be updated and posted on
> the web...it was first published in 1982...and to this day, I use the
> Shorthand personally...so all these subjects need ongoing exploration
> and will not be abandoned...it just will take time...and cannot be
> accomplished this month!
Val, it would be nice to have a chart to compare SignPrinting,
HandWriting, Cursive and Shorthand.  Anyways I as thinking that if in
the future you would like some help compiling comparisons of the
student´s HandWriting or Cursive or Shorthand, I could help so that you
can concentrate on more important issues.  Of course it would be nice to
know ahead of time so I can pick them up and sort them out.  And also
have a bit of leeway as regards time because sometimes all of my
volunteering projects pile up all at the same time. But let me know  if
I can be of help.  Maybe you could mention things that the students can
volunteer to help out with from the start of each course so we know what
we can volunteer to help out with.

BTW have got around to comparing the student´s hand signs? 
>
> I truly hate to bring up my personal situation...but I did mention it
> in my last email a little...Three nights ago I was pretty ill. I am
> doing better now, but I have an infection... A normal person would
> have no problem with this, but unfortunately I have an immune system
> disorder, which means I do not fight infection in a normal way, and I
> have to be in bed half days now to be sure I can handle our Board
> meeting on January 27th...
How did the board meeting go?
>
> So my day-job is complex...I wear many hats...it is running the whole
> organization in my meager little way...and the teaching is when I feel
> I can squeeze it in, in-between doing the required paperwork I must do
> for the annual meeting...I got a grant, by the way, at the end of
> December, and I am so proud of that, but we have to discuss non-profit
> paperwork at the meeting and when I got ill, I panicked that I would
> not be able to handle everything by the time of the meeting on January
> 27th...
>
> On top of that, there are other pressures I am not going to detail to
> you, that are important for SignWriting too, in the long run, and that
> also has deadlines behind the scenes...and then so many students
> started to send in their homework...it did become overwhelming for
> me...but nice to know so many people are interested!
>
> And as soon as I wrote the email saying I was going to do less, I
> immediately felt better! Which makes me think that my health will be
> just fine, if I have less stress and pressure...
>
> So...ok...I understand what you are saying...
>
> The curriculum for the course is not developed yet...this is not a
> course that has been taught before...so there is some work to prepare
> the new lessons...
If there is any way for you to give us the general lines, then maybe we
could brainstorm and then you could give general comments overall
everything.  This way we would be helping you develop the lessons
instead of it all falling on you.
>
> I suggest that I finish posting the student's homework on the web
> today, and then go to bed again...Then tomorrow I should work on the
> paperwork for the Board meeting so I feel less pressure there...
>
> So here is my decision...
>
> I promise I will finish the course, but I cannot promise exact
> dates...It may get finished in February or March, but I cannot make
> any promises...I will need to squeeze it in, between other jobs and
> resting...
>
> I am afraid you will have to accept that, since I need to feel less
> stress now...
>
> I am fully aware that some of the students may lose interest, but that
> is ok...I don't blame you...I would too!
>
> Since I am posting everything on the web no matter what, the course
> can always be re-visited by students later...and in that way..the
> dates as to when lessons are posted do not matter as much - thank
> goodness!
>
> You may find that I will come through faster than expected, but I do
> need a week now to rest more...
>
> Thanks for your eagerness!
>
> Val ;-)
>
>
>
>
>
>

-- 

Jonathan & Yolaine Duncan
8-)  & ;-)

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