As we do on Thursdays we compared our volunteer experiences—he in the university greenhouse, I at the school. I’m cautious taking photos at the school, but Dwight went full-throttle photographing over-the-top orchids, including this one. Today was the final day of school, but I’ll be assisting with Summer School later this month. Meanwhile, the greenhouse needs constant attention.
Category: Volunteer
Using AI to generate worksheets for vocabulary deduction
I’m constantly discovering new applications for AI. Tomorrow, I plan to guide an adult learner through exercises focused on deducing the meaning of challenging words from their context in both single sentences and three-sentence paragraphs. Creating two worksheets—one with 30 sentences and another with 30 paragraphs, ensuring the same difficult words appeared in both—took about two minutes.
It’s our community
Today I was back in the classroom and found a card waiting, signed by my students. It’s a two-way street; I get so much out of it. Meanwhile, Dwight was at the University greenhouse today and has recently added a gig at Hennepin County Medical Center assembling kits (needles, condoms, etc.) for people with substance use disorder. I’ve also just added a gig: tutoring an adult learner in reading comprehension.
Helping myself to help English language learners become caregivers
Tomorrow, I’ll be helping English language learners prepare for their Personal Care Assistant (PCA) certification test. So, I decided to take the online course and test today to earn my own PCA certificate. I’m grateful for the people willing to do this work. It can be challenging, and the pay isn’t ideal.
By the dawn’s early light, self-evident truths
Looked up at these simple truths as I waited this morning for the bus to a school where immigrants, regardless of their legal status, are highly motivated to learn. In my first class, I worked with learners preparing to become certified nursing assistants, addressing a critical need in Minnesota.
Saving a classroom plant
Over tonkotsu ramen, Dwight and I compared notes about our day–he in the greenhouse, me in the classroom. I showed him photos of a sad-looking plant in the classroom. He suspected overwatering and advised deionized water would be better than tap. He also suggested the plant needed to climb and might benefit from fertilizer after its dormant period. I’d previously used Google Lens on the plant, and it had led to similar advice.
Maintaining a safe space for students if the ICE man cometh*
Today I returned to school, volunteering in a classroom–a safe space where I learn to be kind and patient. I inquired about the school’s policy if ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents show up on campus. Currently, there is no formal policy in place, which will be a significant concern in the coming months. In the interim, we have this handout. *(With apologies to Eugene O’Neill.)
Neither Snow Nor Rain…*
The first real snowstorm of the winter, as I waited for the bus. It was a busy morning, with a little help from technology. Some students had chosen to take a job qualification test in Spanish, so I found myself pointing Google Translate at their screens so I could offer hints. In another class, I used Gemini to generate random numbers to select writing topics submitted by the students.
Sparks of Inspiration
We asked each learner to write down a subject on a piece of paper that included one of the vocabulary words shown in blue on the board. We then randomly drew two subjects for a writing exercise. I was impressed by the subjects the learners came up with for the exercise, including these examples on the whiteboard. One, in particular, was quite metaphysical.
Classroom Distraction
Working for a few hours in this classroom made jet lag disappear, at least temporarily. Bright light, mental focus, and social interaction all helped.