Lists for when ‘not going to plan’ is the plan
I’ve started keeping two running lists to keep myself afloat as school day schedules change rapidly, rip currents of unplanned assemblies and lessons that need to dialogue with ongoing world events. A “just before” meeting agenda and a lesson sequence list.
Definitely missed some agenda items
I took to listing out meeting agendas at the top of my meeting notes pages last week. A rapid fire brainstorm of the items I need delivered, covered and set in motion at some point during an upcoming meeting. Simple, low-bandwidth tracking.
Minimal effort
The second lives in my weekly outline, which is the frequent target of quick glances in the transitions between activities. A morning review to ensure I have all the needed handouts and videos prepared for the day’s lessons. And a handy reference point to ensure I transition accurately from lesson 4.1 to 4.2 across work weeks. Even when schedules change at short notice or get dropped from the calendar for last-minute assemblies.
Smooth pedagogist
I keep both lists as simple as possible. My daily driver builds the line-item list. Azure Noir is a deep-grey leaning no-frills blue-black ink. Info without shouting in bright colors. All the better to ensure that teal highlighters and blue inks comparatively leap off the page.
This week’s Inked Tines update includes last week’s currently inked writing tools.
Toolset
Pens. This week’s standout combo is most definitely the Pelikan m805, with its F Architect nib grind (thanks, Custom Nib Studio!) and it’s serious stripey colorway. This combo extended beyond my intentions in pleasing versatility. I turned to this pair repeatedly for a variety of writing. Two separate lesson plan outlines. Meeting notes — one fast-paced and the other a more serious administrative meeting. The Pelikan’s black-grey colorway suited both venues. Also: drafting and journaling. 1/5 remaining.
Nakaya Neostandard (M Naginata-togi) — Empty. Vertical positioning provided reliable EF lines for detailed scribbling. Gentler writing angles brought out Meadow’s darker coloration and wider M lines. Multidimensional. Journaling, drafting, and lesson plans.
Franklin-Christoph 03 (B) — Empty. Wide lines that worked best for fast-moving meetings and for keeping teaching notes legible to me and my students. Scratch notes, teaching notes, lesson plans, meeting notes, and journaling.
Mr. Cypress Cone Micarta (EF) — Feed. My dominant list-making and brainstorming combo throughout the week. Clear, true-to-size EF lines in serious denim blue. Scratch notes, brainstorming, and lesson plans.
Kaweco Sport (EF) — 1/4. My pocket carry throughout the week. Unplanned bouts of notetaking in my pocket notebook: securing attendance during grade-wide kickball, modifying my shopping list while running errands, and likewise.
Platinum 3776 (F) — 4/5. The pair entered the week with a rare fully-filled converter. Rumors of shading while writing consistently narrow-F lines. Excellent for small and detailed letters while managing tasks, driving meeting notes, and structuring lesson plans.
Notebooks. Work bujo. Kokuyo Century (A5). I started the work week on page 301 of my bullet journal. A two-page weekly, five single-page lesson plan outlines, and two pages of meeting notes landed me on page 309. Only 59 pages left in the notebook.
Azure Noir and a teal Frixion highlighter are the only colors on my weekly. The Platinum’s F nib is an excellent line width for fitting clarifying details about individual tasks into the 15 boxes that comprise my task list column.
I used the Frixion highlight in my teaching calendar, which runs along the top of my weekly. Highlighted lessons are workshop days wherein students can make progress on their projects. Those lessons are driven by students’ in-the-moment needs. No lesson plans needed.
Patented “didn’t wait for the ink to dry” smearing
Journal. Kleid Notes Tiny Grid (B6). It was a two entry week. Two lengthy creative writing sessions added a combined seven pages to my journal. The Nakaya, Franklin-Christoph, and Pelikan all chipped in.
My first entry laid out the skeleton of my D&D campaign’s final act. Big picture views on the major storyline pieces that need to confront my players’ role playing adventuring. Spanish Blue’s bright and cheery near-turquoise brought levity to the closing of a storyline wherein I feel I grew as a storyteller.
And an encouraging note from my partner
Sincerity is my primary measure for journaling. I had a successful week so long as I added genuinely meaningful or enjoyable marks to my notebook. Length is not a substitute for sincerity.
Thursday was my second, and final, journal entry last week. A double entry, written with two pens — both of which ran empty as I wrote.
The Nakaya kicked off Thursday’s double entry. The forgiving M Naginata inspired nib grind let me focus on storytelling — a headspace wherein I grow undisciplined with respect to my writing angle. I often hold my pen at improper angles when caught up in my ideas and scribbling quickly to keep pace. Scratchy and inconsistent letter-work ensues.
But the Nakaya kept on writing enjoyably. Meadow’s green was a fitting choice for finishing a D&D campaign story about the beginning of a new country.
The Franklin-Christoph wrapped my journaling, lending three paragraphs of scribbling before it, too, ran dry. The week’s widest writing option (a well-tuned B nib) pulled rarified shading from Lake Michigan Winter, even in the ink’s final lines. It was refreshing to see lines fill up easily with such broad writing.
Maximum effort
Written dry. Back-to-back commitment weeks (two weeks ago and this past week) helped me write two pens fully empty: the Nakaya and Franklin-Christoph 03. Both of which ran toothless Thursday evening.
The Nakaya emptied while undertaking a creative journaling session. Meadow grew ever more light green until the ink ran out. Meadow’s evolution through its final gasps of flow was intrinsically rewarding. Grassy, earthy and generative. A sense of “I did it.”
A globe imprint on a story about a new world. I dig a theme.
The Cypress also worked itself down to an empty converter with only a modicum of ink remaining in the feed as of Saturday morning.
Three pens out. Three accomplishments.
Inkless at the Ides
Newly inked. I taught through Friday with four inked pens in my penvelope, honoring commitment week part duex.
The collection
Incoming / new orders. ’Twas an orderless week. I neither added nor subtracted to my collection. Balance.
Outgoing / trades or sales. Naw.
Currently reading and listening
Fiction. Dark forces continued rising throughout the week as I journeyed through another 71 pages of Zahn’s Dark Force Rising. The story in this second book is told at a more rapid pace.
Exploring the Noghri’s culture is an interesting experience. Zahn provides an outsider’s perspective — sensibile given none of the main characters are from the civilization. A culture redefined on the edge of extinction, and abused by Thrawn.
Fun storytelling that begs ethical questions of the characters involved. I sense an opportunity for thoughtful journaling next week.
Nonfiction. Lesson planning, grading, and creative writing took up my time last week. I’ve re-centered and put finishing Giridharadas’ The Persuaders on my agenda. Aspirational.
Aspirationally political
Music. Chillhop released their Spring 2024 playlist and, of course, I enjoyed a social first listen with my old bandmate. This seasonal collection is one of their best in years. Simply excellent lo-fi music for accompanying reading, writing and caffeinating. It’s playing right now as I undertake this weekly reflection.
Track 9, 10 and 11 stand out to me as particularly strong. Fun instrumentals that let me focus up on what’s astride my desk.
And family-friendly video of the mascot, a young professional raccoon, who is visiting home. And chilling.
