Current heap of reading; working on a synthesis of these books

(cross-posted at Fireside Learning)

May look like a hodgepodge, but somehow this is where I've settled in my studies the last three weeks. Taking it in, taking it in, taking it in. A knowledge fest. All of these books I've read and am now rereading my underlines, to sift and sort through the major ideas. Preparing for summer classes... Another big part of my reading lately has been Bridging Differences (Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier on their edweek blog), each letter, WITH all the readers' comments. I've been going over the last couple of months' conversations, underlining, following references, sorting out the readers' voices.

I need some fiction! My last fiction book was Out Stealing Horses, which I loved. Desperately searching a great novel to get into. It's good to get a break from all the educational and neuroscience books. Just need a good story.

Oh! My favorite article from recent days: "Swamp Things" in The New Yorker. That got me to asking the question again: what are invasives? How long are they "invasives," and when do the become part of the ecology, a new framing of that ecology? --And of course, how does study of ecological systems and invasive species go with what's happening everywhere with digital connections? I mean, we're no longer just creatures of our localities, are we?

Fun. Just having a blast on a learning binge.

Now I'm wishing this were set up as a forum, because what I really want to know is what are you studying? What are you reading? What questions get your attention these days?

Back to school this morning; reading will have to be relegated to nighttime now. Goodbye vacation and all the free exploration time--

And hello to class, young students, here-and-now learning and play, all together, in the moment, sharing creativity, being part of a learning community. Sigh, Life is Good. (Can't wait until we discuss individual research and I get to share my stuff!)