Lauren took three classes in 2023, her final summer at Bread Loaf. Here, Lauren starts off her morning leading a discussion in her 19th-Century British Novel class; her other courses were the writing workshop Poetry of Hope and Humanity and the pedagogically focused Transcultural Literacies. Lauren describes that she concentrated her coursework on aspects of American identity that are suppressed. She has applied much of her Bread Loaf studies to her elementary special education classroom in New Orleans.
With three demanding classes, Lauren spends lots of time reading and writing in the library. The mountain campus in Vermont is comfortable in the summer - but on the hottest days, Lauren likes to study in the Apple Cellar (Bread Loaf’s computer lab).
Lunch at the campus dining hall is a great time for Lauren to catch up with friends. Students take advantage of the immersive environment at Bread Loaf to carry on conversations about texts, writing, pedagogy, and so much more outside of the classroom.
In the afternoon, Lauren attends her poetry workshop. At the start of each class, poet Ruth Forman leads the students in centering Tai Chi exercises. After a full day of class, Lauren likes to unwind with a run or yoga before or after dinner. But her day isn’t over yet.
Lauren contributes to a conversation about teaching in a weekly Bread Loaf Teacher Network (BLTN) meeting. As a BLTN fellow, Lauren values how the network has helped her better understand the challenges and joys other teachers across the country experience.
As a student mentor, Lauren helps lead orientation activities for new Bread Loafers. Here, Lauren and other student mentors perform a skit at one of the weekly Pond Readings.
