Nicoloff
@nicoloff.bsky.social
For our purposes here: info lit librarian, poet of disgust, resist psychic death
I also think that a dose of good old-fashioned materialism is useful here, too, because often individual "failings" are more reflective of something being amiss in an underlying structure. We have to own our shit, obvz, but a bad session is a symptom more often than it's the source of a problem.
February 6, 2026 at 4:15 AM
I also think that a dose of good old-fashioned materialism is useful here, too, because often individual "failings" are more reflective of something being amiss in an underlying structure. We have to own our shit, obvz, but a bad session is a symptom more often than it's the source of a problem.
I feel like lesson study was really useful on that front--some teams plan the lesson and then draw straws for who's going to teach it, and the observation is focused on student experience more than the mechanics of teaching.
February 6, 2026 at 4:15 AM
I feel like lesson study was really useful on that front--some teams plan the lesson and then draw straws for who's going to teach it, and the observation is focused on student experience more than the mechanics of teaching.
Our profession does indeed attract many folks who engage in self-flagellation when things don't go well, and I certainly have my share of moments on that spectrum, but it's so important to underline how vital it is that we separate our self-worth from any individual teaching experience.
February 6, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Our profession does indeed attract many folks who engage in self-flagellation when things don't go well, and I certainly have my share of moments on that spectrum, but it's so important to underline how vital it is that we separate our self-worth from any individual teaching experience.
Yeah, instructor interaction is a big part of it--I had a good session yesterday, too, for that reason. But it's true, closer examination would be really valuable. I'm always surprised that lesson study isn't more of a thing for librarians. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesson_...
Lesson study - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Yeah, instructor interaction is a big part of it--I had a good session yesterday, too, for that reason. But it's true, closer examination would be really valuable. I'm always surprised that lesson study isn't more of a thing for librarians. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesson_...
Case studies of these kinds of sessions should be more of a thing--there's always something ineffable about them but I still feel like there's a lot that can be learned
(This would also be good for certain kinds of terrible sessions, but I digress)
(This would also be good for certain kinds of terrible sessions, but I digress)
February 4, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Case studies of these kinds of sessions should be more of a thing--there's always something ineffable about them but I still feel like there's a lot that can be learned
(This would also be good for certain kinds of terrible sessions, but I digress)
(This would also be good for certain kinds of terrible sessions, but I digress)
"Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" (Part I: "The World's Columbian Exposition" / Part II: "Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream")
up there with my favorite songs ever, long title or no
up there with my favorite songs ever, long title or no
February 4, 2026 at 6:05 AM
"Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" (Part I: "The World's Columbian Exposition" / Part II: "Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream")
up there with my favorite songs ever, long title or no
up there with my favorite songs ever, long title or no
looks like somebody has never felt like a plastic bag, hmm
February 4, 2026 at 2:51 AM
looks like somebody has never felt like a plastic bag, hmm
Frakes is the best at looking stressed and exhausted
February 4, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Frakes is the best at looking stressed and exhausted
wrapping our heads around decentralized coordination is tricky
February 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM
wrapping our heads around decentralized coordination is tricky
no pasarán
I mean, the seitan will pass, but, um...
I mean, the seitan will pass, but, um...
February 3, 2026 at 12:23 AM
no pasarán
I mean, the seitan will pass, but, um...
I mean, the seitan will pass, but, um...
I strive to be open to a range of ways of thinking but I am always baffled at folks who don't understand "ingredients"
February 2, 2026 at 6:27 PM
I strive to be open to a range of ways of thinking but I am always baffled at folks who don't understand "ingredients"
See Times Square Red, Times Square Blue
February 2, 2026 at 6:12 PM
See Times Square Red, Times Square Blue
gorgeous, just fucking gorgeous
February 2, 2026 at 7:34 AM
gorgeous, just fucking gorgeous
five 8th graders who'd cut class but didn't know how to get to the protest walked up to my group and asked if they could come with us
they spent the walk brainstorming excuses to their parents
when we got there we gave them safety advice, they thanked us, and then they linked arms and wandered off
they spent the walk brainstorming excuses to their parents
when we got there we gave them safety advice, they thanked us, and then they linked arms and wandered off
February 1, 2026 at 2:58 AM
five 8th graders who'd cut class but didn't know how to get to the protest walked up to my group and asked if they could come with us
they spent the walk brainstorming excuses to their parents
when we got there we gave them safety advice, they thanked us, and then they linked arms and wandered off
they spent the walk brainstorming excuses to their parents
when we got there we gave them safety advice, they thanked us, and then they linked arms and wandered off
I have a strange soft spot for old-guard English actors who are highly literate loose cannons (like Oliver Reed wtf?), but upon re-examination, I'm embarrassed at the degree I had blocked out JRD's Islamophobia, ugh
January 23, 2026 at 5:22 AM
I have a strange soft spot for old-guard English actors who are highly literate loose cannons (like Oliver Reed wtf?), but upon re-examination, I'm embarrassed at the degree I had blocked out JRD's Islamophobia, ugh
the actor, who is somehow a very problematic fave of mine
January 23, 2026 at 4:39 AM
the actor, who is somehow a very problematic fave of mine
how do you feel about John Rhys-Davies
January 23, 2026 at 4:32 AM
how do you feel about John Rhys-Davies
this may be the objectively correct answer
January 23, 2026 at 3:28 AM
this may be the objectively correct answer
doing a little talk on expertise and democracy in a month or so and I think this will be useful
January 15, 2026 at 11:12 PM
doing a little talk on expertise and democracy in a month or so and I think this will be useful
I would too and yet I'm terrified of being disappointed
January 13, 2026 at 12:33 AM
I would too and yet I'm terrified of being disappointed
what do they call that kind of socialist, I wonder
January 12, 2026 at 2:40 AM
what do they call that kind of socialist, I wonder
then again, I'm the one who thinks there should be a free gym, daycare, and community toolshed (not necessarily in the same building, but hey, maybe) every couple of blocks
January 12, 2026 at 2:38 AM
then again, I'm the one who thinks there should be a free gym, daycare, and community toolshed (not necessarily in the same building, but hey, maybe) every couple of blocks
all of this is correct, and yet you'd also think that "put a bunch of things in place to make life easier" would also be a winning message for a power-grabbing asshole
January 12, 2026 at 2:38 AM
all of this is correct, and yet you'd also think that "put a bunch of things in place to make life easier" would also be a winning message for a power-grabbing asshole