NCTE

Went to the annual National Council of Teachers of English conference in Boston on Friday for the first time.  Great experience!  Highlights included a reading by poet Tino Villanueva from his book So Spoke Penelope, (followed by getting my book signed and having a short, friendly conversation with him about the joy of discovering Homer), an invigorating and incisive talk from Bruce Novak (Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana) on "The True Common Core," which, his thesis goes, the Common Core State Standards skirt, and finally, roaming the exposition hall, visiting vendor booths, and getting free stuff (books, movie tickets, even a cafe latte!).  It was like a small bubble of an alternate universe where there were perks to being an English teacher.  Surreal, fun, informative, and energizing.