5 Things We Know A Lot About

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. Today, Anne and I are talking about 5 things we know a lot about. Anne, when I pitched you this idea, you sounded like you weren’t sure there were 5 things you know a lot about. How did it go? 

In my courses at App State, we do an activity we call “Creating Our Writing Territories.” This “Things I Know A lot About,” is one of the prompts I use to help students get ideas about what they want to read and write about. 

The prompt has worked better after I shifted it to Things I Know Something About.

Bill’s Things:

1. Building Community

• I chose this more as a reflection. How does it work? On my teams? In my classes at App State? 
• Sounds silly: finding ways we can talk to each other. 
• Using Donald Murray’s concept of the daybook. 
• The really specific and personal note to each student. 
• With the team, it’s more difficult. Within the high school context, time is much tighter. I think I get buy with a really positive attitude, smiles, fun and competitive practices. 

2. Final Cut Pro X Editing 

• LOL, that might actually out me as not being much of a video editor. I took 4 free courses at the Apple Store in SOHO. 
• The workflow of this podcast is probably pretty strange: Zoom video conference, record the meeting, put the video file in Final Cut Pro X, edit, export, and then drag into the WordPress editor. 

3. Teaching Basketball

• I believe in the concept that players need three exposures to begin to understand a concept.
• I think reps are overrated. For example, I think six jump hooks five days a week for a couple weeks will transfer. 
• Guided finishes or live over “on zero.” 

4. Books by Nick Hornby:

• I’ve read 13 of his books. 
• My favorites ranked: High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, Juliet Naked, About a Boy, and Dickens and Prince 
• The voice. The lists. 

5. Teaching Writing 

• It’s about building and sensing an audience in class and not about finding error. 

Some honorable mentions: 

• James Paul Gee and Discourse Communities, Activity Systems, Coming up with original offensive and defensive basketball schemes, trip planning, moving, applying for jobs, and replacing Simplicity mower belts. I can send you a mower belt video if you need one. 

Anne’s Five Things She Knows Something About

1. Russian/Soviet History

• Vikings played a part in ruling what is now known as Belarus/Ukraine/Russia. Vikings were also known as “Rus”. Ruled around 840. Rus “men who row” Kievan Rus is a federation of principalities that survived for 400 years before the 13th century Mongolian invasion. Orgin of the the word Russia. Russian scholars disagree and consider the rus to be a slavic tribe.
• Stalin killed over 6 million of his own people thru gulags/famine engineered by state/political repression

2. Construction

• Do I know a lot? I would say no, but I do know more than you. You didn’t know what a bollard was (when I crashed my car against it). Spec houses, spec suites, city codes. I can do minor electrical work with book assistance lol even  though I am extremely low in craftmanship abilities.

3. Swedish pop groups ABBA & Ace of Base

• Both groups lead singers had a fear of flying and a general fear/anxiety about the spotlight. Ace of Base lead singer eventually dropped out due to  it. Ace of Base 2 sisters, 1 bro, 1 extra guy; ABBA 2 married couples who would both get divorced from each other.

4. The La Brea to Vine and Sunset Blvd to Wilshire square
5. Sports

• Basketball, Football, Baseball, Golf, Track & Field, Figure Skating, Cross Country Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Soccer

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!