Natasha,

Glad to see you're really getting the whole notion of using Philadelphia as a classroom resource, the experientialness of learning academic subjects, and making Philly your home. Creative Zoology? Didn't even know such a thing existed. You sent me thinking back to my graduate days to a Victorian literature seminar. I remember a session looking at Darwin's work through a set of illustrations.

Have you read Gerald Prince with your developing interest in narratology? Or Labov's narrative study of oral narratives--he did his research on kids from Detroit many years ago, but I think his schema is very relevant to teach writing and reading. Have you read some of Cameron McCarthy's stuff on critical race theory? I have a collection of essays you can borrow (if you have the time--ha-ha!!) called Race Identity and Representation in Education.

Thanks for giving me a window into what you're learning and appreciating.

Mark