Magistra Cohen (she/her)

@magistracohen

Writing about myth&YA@ NU& thinking about Catullus,too. Always a coauthor. Chicagoan since 1976. Self-styled TomJoad of Latin teachers. Immoderata mulier, proud of my alumnx, #confelicity. Reminding you to💉NOW. I salt all vibes😷

1,262 Following1,516 Followers3,625 Posts

YouTube Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and magistracohen.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 25d

Ummmm

Air now dot gov reading for Chicago showing air quality at 701.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 25d

In the midst of apocalypse, I’ve got a new profile picture!!

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 26d

Done!! I am generally terrible at anything that requires this type of work. I love how forgiving painters tape is. Often end up feeling like Chevy Chase when I have to use other types of tape. #CleanTheAir #CorsiRosenthal

One-filter CR box.

https://www.ohcow.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MakeOneFilterAirCleaner.pdf .

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 26d

In process!

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 26d

Building one to supplement our other purifiers and while I wait for delivery of new Air-Fanta replacement filters. Getting the carbon ones this time.

One-filter CR box in process.

https://www.ohcow.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MakeOneFilterAirCleaner.pdf .

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 26d

You can also make a one-filter version ⬇️⬇️⬇️ www.ohcow.on.ca/wp-content/u...

Graphic instructions for one-filter CR box.

https://www.ohcow.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MakeOneFilterAirCleaner.pdf .

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· 28d

“Verify your age” First album I bought was ⬇️, still have it.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jul 12

Oh my gosh, @stephaniemccarter.bsky.social ‘s new Catullus is SO GOOD!

My long-awaited Stephanie McCarter Catullus translation marked up with some sticky notes.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jul 10

Diligent, yes, but boy oh boy, he needed some better strategies!!!😵‍💫 tinyurl.com/AdventuresIn...

Slide from presentation at ACL 2026. Trust the Text. Students need reading strategies. Let’s think about habits.

https://tinyurl.com/AdventuresInLinearReading .

Tiny URL dot com slash Adventures in Linear Reading.

Slide from ACL 2026 presentation Trust the Text.

First, bad reading strategies. Picture of Latin text from Aeneid book 12 with English words written on top of some Latin words. Butterfly “Is this” meme asks “Is This Reading?”

Another meme from Latin Student Problems numbered 502 reads “Know the meaning of every word in the sentence.
No idea what it means.”

https://tinyurl.com/AdventuresInLinearReading .

Tiny URL dot com slash Adventures in Linear Reading.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jul 9

Real time picture of my spouse.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jul 9

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jul 5

Here's what I currently use to set expectations regarding AI in my courses. Image 1 from @nsousanis.bsky.social Image 2 from my syllabus. Links in alt-text Image 3 from @metalclassicist.bsky.social It's not syllabus-writing time for me yet, but this morning's bsky adventures got me thinking.

Graphic by Nick Sousanis @nsousanis.bsky.social spinweaveandcut.com .

Nothing can do this for you for that robs you of experience and conflates answers with learning.

Rather it's all the decisions you make along the way, the mistakes, struggles, and surprises! These pathways you create. This is learning.

Review of Expectations: AI.
tl; dr: DON’T USE IT.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND AI: Within the classroom, I expect all of us to actively listen to one another and to participate fully in all classroom activities. If you choose to use laptops or tablets in this class, please be conscientious to perform only class activities during class time. Please do not use your phones at all during classroom activities. Violating this policy will affect your participation grade. While Northwestern sanctions the use of Microsoft Copilot for students, I do not recommend the use of any generative AI for this class. For the purposes of studying, AI is not a reliable resource. It may give you information, but it is not necessarily correct information. Talk to me about better resources and strategies!

Use of AI to complete translations, revisions, reflections, or anything that you submit to Canvas constitutes a violation of academic integrity. DO NOT USE ANY FORM OF AI TO COMPLETE ANY OF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS. Do not use AI for graded work, complete/incomplete work, or revisions. . I hope that you have chosen to take this course to enhance your thinking and communication skills. Outsourcing your work to artificial intelligence would counteract this goal. For more information on the drawbacks and costs of AI, please see my colleague Dr. Thomas’ AI Syllabus Statement.

Better resources and strategies: https://magistracohen509.weebly.com/study-resources-for-students.html

Dr. Thomas' AI statement: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Hg0fjjKypdC5VrV3kU3RleZzS4QBsNgs2cy32tMHkc/edit?tab=t.0

Jeremy Swist @metalclassicist AI policy.

AI Policy 🤖

Generative AI is any artificial intelligence software, such as ChatGPT, that is used to generate ideas and content that are not one’s own. Beyond alarming environmental impacts, these programs operate by stealing the art and writing of others, and are on that basis unethical. Such programs prevent, and discourage, the development of human beings both into free and critical thinkers and into proficient and creative writers and communicators.

Therefore, the use of these programs to assist in any way with any assignments in this course constitutes a violation of academic integrity and is therefore strictly forbidden.

First offense = zero for the assignment
Second offense = failure for the course

If you are ever tempted to use AI because you ran out of time and energy to finish an
assignment on time, just email me for an extension!

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jul 5

No cheating. Your last saved celebrity pic is your therapist.

Captain Gooch and the Shrimp Shack Shooters.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 28

It's not too late to sign up to attend my @aclclassics.bsky.social Institute workshop "Trust the Text: Adventures in Linear Reading" remotely! Sunday, June 28 at 2:30 ET. Registration details are at www.aclclassics.org/ACL-Institut... I'd love to see you there!

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 25

This is nice and exciting! Can’t wait to read the new McCarter translation!

Books and Materials Received from the current American Classical League Classical Outlook.

Garrison and Cohen Selections from The Student’s Catullus.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 22

Got one.

Bluesky license. I am a patron by virtue of my generosity! This computes because #confelicity. tps://kojira.github.io/bluesky-license/

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 21

Happy Father’s Day to those who’ve raised children lovingly

Tall bearded man with smiling kids. Taken in summer 2018 at the Corn Palace in South Dakota.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 21

Post one (1) photo of a painting you took with your very own hands.

Painting of a Chicago three-flat backyard scene.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 18

Spots still available for Catching Them in the Middle 2026: WL Proficiency Portfolios! Join Traci Dougherty and Nicole Wellington for a Pre-Institute Workshop at @aclclassics.bsky.social Institute June 27, 6-9pm ET in-person or online. Registration info at www.aclclassics.org/ACL-Institut...

LESS GRADING. MORE EVIDENCE.
GREATER STUDENT OWNERSHIP.
TOPIC: CATCHING GROWTH: WL PROFICIENCY PORTFOLIOS
Your students are growing. But can they see it? Can you prove it? Traditional assessments capture only moments of learning, whereas portfolios capture the full story.
Join Traci Dougherty and Nicole Wellington for a hands-on workshop exploring how proficiency portfolios can help students document growth, reflect on their progress, and take ownership of their learning while providing meaningful evidence of proficiency development.
WHY PORTFOLIOS?
Portfolios help students recognize their progress, celebrate accomplishments, and become active learners. They also provide stakeholders with a richer picture of what students can do.
WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH?
• Ready-to-use portfolio templates
• Reflection and goal-setting tools
• Sample portfolio structures
• Digital portfolio ideas and resources
• An implementation plan for your classroom
Perfect for teachers at any level who want to make student growth visible.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026 @ 6-9 PM EST
REGISTER IN PERSON
REGISTER ONLINE.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 18

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 17

Breakout groups will focus on *A Smattering of Martial (Latin I&II) *A Taste of Pliny (Latin 3+/Prose) *Some Catullus & a Touch of Virgil (Latin 3+/Poetry)** **Featuring preview material from _Selections from The Student's Catullus_, coming Nov. 10!! Register: www.aclclassics.org/ACL-Institut...

Cover image from Selections from The Student's Catullus by Daniel H. Garrison and Nava R. Cohen. A light purple cover with a line drawing of a woman dressed in a sheer gown, cradling a small bird in her hands. Her face is angular and her hair is gathered into a sort of bun. The image is from a 1932 Catullus translation available on the Internet Archive and was drawn by Zhenya Gay, whose own story is quite interesting and would make a fun conference paper. Look her up on Wikipedia.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 17

On June 28 I will be giving a hybrid workshop @ @aclclassics.bsky.social Institute: Trust the Text: Adventures in Linear Reading. Join me in person or online to explore theory, strategies, & practice. Registration info @ www.aclclassics.org/ACL-Institut... ↪Keep reading for details & alt-text!↩

Initial slide for Trust the Text: Adventures in Linear Reading. http://tinyurl.com/AdventuresinLinearReading .

Students need reading strategies. Let's think about habits.

Dexter Hoyos quote. If you were trained to look for the verb, you will find this habit "severely hard to unlearn." Distracted boyfriend meme from left to right: Latin or Greek Verb, Modern Reader, Ancient Author.

Final slide requesting feedback and promising resources at the tiny url. An image of the cover of Selections from The Student's Catullus, coming November 10.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 15

Better graphic for the 31 poems found in _Selections from The Student's Catullus_. Check out my alt-text, as well, if you are interested in our signature cover image! You still won't find this information on the website, but we're working on it!

Selections from The Student’s Catullus for AP and College Latin by Daniel H. Garrison and Nava R. Cohen.

Image of cover: a light purple with a line drawing of a woman dressed in a sheer gown, cradling a small bird in her hands. She stands between two columns and there is landscape implied in the background. Her face is angular and her hair is gathered into a sort of bun. This image is by Zhenya Gay and if you are interested in quite a story, look her up on Wikipedia.

A volume of 31 poems offering teachers and students a sampling of what they can expect from the forthcoming 5th edition of The Student’s Catullus. 15 poems are recommended by the College Board for the revised Advanced Placement® framework, effective fall 2025. 16 additional poems included are particularly appropriate for use in the intermediate secondary and post-secondary Latin classroom by virtue of content, language complexity, and length. Commentary alongside the poems includes reading support focused on vocabulary, grammar, usage, and cultural background. To assist the reader further, the commentary is supplemented by end materials appropriate to these 31 poems: a list of Catullan persons (appendix A), a guide to Catullan meters (appendix B), a glossary of rhetorical and other classical terminology (appendix C), a guide to Catullan usage (appendix D), and four maps by John Wyatt Greenlee with place names in Latin.

Poems included:
Recommended by College Board for Use in A.P. Classrooms: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 31, 46, 51, 64 lines 1-30 and 132-250, 85, 101, 107, and 109.
Selected for Use Intermediate Classrooms: 2, 8, 49, 50, 60, 70, 72, 73, 75, 77, 82, 83, 86, 87, 92, 104.

Note on 64: The College Board follows a different understanding of the structure of the poem, recommending that classes read lines 1-24 and 132-240, but the authors’ understanding of the poem’s structure makes the lines listed above preferable division points.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 14

The @chicago.suntimes.com printed my response to @joegoodkin.bsky.social's piece!

Telling stories
Thanks to local bard Joe Goodkin for his insightful op-ed on the buzz surrounding Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie “The Odyssey.”

As Goodkin highlights, the Homeric bards were not the original creators of the stories they told. Classicist Emily Wilson acknowledges their process at the beginning of her 2017 translation of the “Odyssey” when she equates the Homeric interpretation of ancient stories with our own contemporary practices: “Tell the old story for our modern times. Find the beginning.”

Let’s keep telling these stories in all the ways and for all the reasons that people have done so for millennia!

Nava R. Cohen, West Ridge.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 11

Federated Hermes.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 11

Yup. And we’ve got dead branches. We have a woodpecker who visits our tree regularly, and that bodes ill, as well.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 11

This was the picture I saw. Terrrrrifying!

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 11

They answer to no one.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 10

We don’t usually see each other’s headers. Here’s mine. QT with yours.

Woman wearing N95 respirator sits at a table in front of students. She is reading from a laptop and gesturing. Behind her a screen displays a slide that says Ovid, Metamorph.

Magistra Cohen (she/her)@magistracohen· Jun 8

I like Sometime Scholar myself.