I decided not to grade the first blogs about the novel responses on content because I had not really taught my students how to reflectively write about what they read. I've noticed that a lot of novel responses are superficial and unfocused, but that should not surprise me because I did not teach them what to do, yet. I told them that starting next blog, I would grade for content because I will teach them how to write reflectively this week.
I want them to show higher level thinking in their responses and today I gave them a copy of Bloom's Taxonomy and the different levels of questions. I don't expect that it means anything to them, yet. But by the end of this week, I hope they see the need and how to go beyond knowledge and understanding and deeper into application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. One way that I'm trying to teach higher order thinking and reflective writing in conjunction is by teaching them how to ask questions. If they can ask probing, thoughtful questions, they will apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate when they answer them. So, my plan is to teach them how to dive deep into some of my favorite poems.
The first poem we discussed is "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks. I'm going to try to write it below from memory. The way it so effortlessly flows makes it easy to remember. Here goes...
We Real Cool
Seven Pool Players
At the Golden Shovel
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight.
We sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
die soon.
(Sorry, Ms. Brooks, if I made any mistakes.)
I've run out of time tonight to finish this post. I'll write more later about our discussion of this poem.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Today was the pep rally that I've been dreading. I like the idea of having a pep rally for the students to show them our fun side and to celebrate them, but I just didn't like the idea of performing in front of people. In the end, it was no big deal and I was silly to have been nervous. It did give me an idea of how kids in my classroom who are uncomfortable presenting must feel.
Just because I'm comfortable doing it doesn't mean that they are and I know there have been times when I've not realized this. So, instead of understanding and adapting the assignment, I've plowed right on and made them even more uncomfortable. These same students might be extremely comfortable running up and down the court in front of hundreds of fans and that would totally freak me out. The quote that we talked about in Teacher Cadet today dealt with the different students having power in different ways. Next time, I have a student terrified of presenting, I'll understand more. I hope I'll take the time to discover a way that the student can overcome that fear or at least find a different way of presenting.
I had a good time in Honors English today. The students presented their collages in groups and, hopefully, learned how to pull stories out of each other. After reading their letters and eavesdropping and sometimes intruding on groups, I learned that I have cloggers, soccer players, gymnists, swimmers, cartoonists, videogame gurus, artists, dreamers, baseball players, Duke fans, Carolina fans, Civil War buffs, singers, coffee lovers, pianists, ECU fans, patriots, surfers, writers, teenagers who escaped death when they were children, Greek dancers, future doctors, students thankful for their parents, students missing a parent, music lovers, jewelry makers, one who has a fear of dentists (and who, I can already tell, has a great sense of humor), guitarists, guys who are brave enough to be sensitive, photographers, athletes, a guy who helps his mom with dinner before she even asks, animal lovers, lacrosse warriors, procrastinators, gamers, dancers, an future Oscar winner, a short story writer, air soft gunmen, keyboarders, travelers, book lovers, and comedians. I am blessed!
Just because I'm comfortable doing it doesn't mean that they are and I know there have been times when I've not realized this. So, instead of understanding and adapting the assignment, I've plowed right on and made them even more uncomfortable. These same students might be extremely comfortable running up and down the court in front of hundreds of fans and that would totally freak me out. The quote that we talked about in Teacher Cadet today dealt with the different students having power in different ways. Next time, I have a student terrified of presenting, I'll understand more. I hope I'll take the time to discover a way that the student can overcome that fear or at least find a different way of presenting.
I had a good time in Honors English today. The students presented their collages in groups and, hopefully, learned how to pull stories out of each other. After reading their letters and eavesdropping and sometimes intruding on groups, I learned that I have cloggers, soccer players, gymnists, swimmers, cartoonists, videogame gurus, artists, dreamers, baseball players, Duke fans, Carolina fans, Civil War buffs, singers, coffee lovers, pianists, ECU fans, patriots, surfers, writers, teenagers who escaped death when they were children, Greek dancers, future doctors, students thankful for their parents, students missing a parent, music lovers, jewelry makers, one who has a fear of dentists (and who, I can already tell, has a great sense of humor), guitarists, guys who are brave enough to be sensitive, photographers, athletes, a guy who helps his mom with dinner before she even asks, animal lovers, lacrosse warriors, procrastinators, gamers, dancers, an future Oscar winner, a short story writer, air soft gunmen, keyboarders, travelers, book lovers, and comedians. I am blessed!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Day 4, 1/28/10
Just returned from watching a teacher cadet teach a lesson. Wow, she's good. She's a natural with her students and let me tell you, she has some potential troublemakers. She's been a cadet since her sophomore year and I've watched her grow into teacher she is today. She's always been prepared, even to the point of being overly prepared if there is such a thing. I never was concerned about her lack of planning or her not having a good work ethic. This year, though, I've seen growth in her relationships with the students. Sure, she's always loved kids, but the way she responded to them today was not the way most seventeen year olds respond to kids. She doesn't just play with them like a babysitter would. She nurtures, teaches, and disciplines them like a certified teacher would. Her level of expertise and experience often comes with years of actual teaching experience. She's way ahead of the game.
Another cadet told me today that she's going to incorporate exercise in with her teaching to an overweight boy. His parents do not let him go outside alone and they don't take him outside, either. Again, she was another living example of what is good in the world of teenagers today.
We spent some time silently reading in English today. I recommended Ray Bradbury to one student and he shared with me one of Bradbury's story. It was wickedly good. I won't write what is was about because I'm afraid that some people might think I deem the character's actions as an appropriate thing to do. For example, I love Poe's work, but I don't think it's a good idea to kill an old man just because his eye is annoying. I hope that my students and parents will understand that a person can read about immorality without becoming more immoral. Actually, in reading about the fall of man (like in LORD OF THE FLIES), I face my own depravity and I'm left being so thankful that I have a Redeemer.
Just returned from watching a teacher cadet teach a lesson. Wow, she's good. She's a natural with her students and let me tell you, she has some potential troublemakers. She's been a cadet since her sophomore year and I've watched her grow into teacher she is today. She's always been prepared, even to the point of being overly prepared if there is such a thing. I never was concerned about her lack of planning or her not having a good work ethic. This year, though, I've seen growth in her relationships with the students. Sure, she's always loved kids, but the way she responded to them today was not the way most seventeen year olds respond to kids. She doesn't just play with them like a babysitter would. She nurtures, teaches, and disciplines them like a certified teacher would. Her level of expertise and experience often comes with years of actual teaching experience. She's way ahead of the game.
Another cadet told me today that she's going to incorporate exercise in with her teaching to an overweight boy. His parents do not let him go outside alone and they don't take him outside, either. Again, she was another living example of what is good in the world of teenagers today.
We spent some time silently reading in English today. I recommended Ray Bradbury to one student and he shared with me one of Bradbury's story. It was wickedly good. I won't write what is was about because I'm afraid that some people might think I deem the character's actions as an appropriate thing to do. For example, I love Poe's work, but I don't think it's a good idea to kill an old man just because his eye is annoying. I hope that my students and parents will understand that a person can read about immorality without becoming more immoral. Actually, in reading about the fall of man (like in LORD OF THE FLIES), I face my own depravity and I'm left being so thankful that I have a Redeemer.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Day 3, Semester 2
Another good day. I told my ninth graders today about how the classroom feels like home to me and it doesn't feel like I'm onstage. I'm not an onstage person. I was a Younglife leader in Virginia and I'd do anything to get out of the skits. I'm anxious about an upcoming event that forces me onstage, but more about that later.
The teacher cadets are learning about their personality traits and multiple intelligences. I talked a little bit today about the differences between introvert and extrovert. I'm an introvert. You wouldn't know it when I'm in the classroom with a bunch of teenagers, but I get the energy to be there by having time to myself and at the end of the day, I need time alone again. I didn't get any time alone today. I thought it would take about 15 minutes to shred some newspaper. (I need shredded newspaper for Lucy's litterbox because she was declawed today. Please if you are a declawer activist, give me a break.) The office worker said to just leave the paper and she would ask the exceptional children to do it because they come in the office during that time and enjoy doing those kind of things. I said that I didn't mind and that I'd just be a few minutes. Yeah, well, I broke the machine. It jammed and I had my head up a shredder machine for 40 minutes trying to unjam paper. Machines and I don't mix well. Technology and I don't mix well. Who knows how long this blog will look so generic because I don't know how to customize. I should have waited to let the exceptional children shred my paper. Lesson learned.
So, this is not a detailed blog about my kids today. I need some time to be alone in order to face them tomorrow, so I'm signing out. Goodnight.
Another good day. I told my ninth graders today about how the classroom feels like home to me and it doesn't feel like I'm onstage. I'm not an onstage person. I was a Younglife leader in Virginia and I'd do anything to get out of the skits. I'm anxious about an upcoming event that forces me onstage, but more about that later.
The teacher cadets are learning about their personality traits and multiple intelligences. I talked a little bit today about the differences between introvert and extrovert. I'm an introvert. You wouldn't know it when I'm in the classroom with a bunch of teenagers, but I get the energy to be there by having time to myself and at the end of the day, I need time alone again. I didn't get any time alone today. I thought it would take about 15 minutes to shred some newspaper. (I need shredded newspaper for Lucy's litterbox because she was declawed today. Please if you are a declawer activist, give me a break.) The office worker said to just leave the paper and she would ask the exceptional children to do it because they come in the office during that time and enjoy doing those kind of things. I said that I didn't mind and that I'd just be a few minutes. Yeah, well, I broke the machine. It jammed and I had my head up a shredder machine for 40 minutes trying to unjam paper. Machines and I don't mix well. Technology and I don't mix well. Who knows how long this blog will look so generic because I don't know how to customize. I should have waited to let the exceptional children shred my paper. Lesson learned.
So, this is not a detailed blog about my kids today. I need some time to be alone in order to face them tomorrow, so I'm signing out. Goodnight.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Day 2, Semester 2
One of the greatest sounds in the world is a teenager's spontaneous laugh. Savannah has a great laugh. There were times last semester that I would just stop class and watch her laugh. Her joy is infectious. The kids were laughing some today. It's just good to look at a smiling teenager's face. Lots of times 14 and 15 year olds go for a "fixed" expression. I think there are some girls who wake up on their 14th birthday and their eyes are temporarily rolled back for a couple of years. :) The rolled back eyes and intentional sighs and flipping of the hair is classic behavior for girls this age. But I'm convinced that beneath the layers of makeup some of these girls are starting to cake on, they'd rather be smiling.
One of the greatest sounds in the world is a teenager's spontaneous laugh. Savannah has a great laugh. There were times last semester that I would just stop class and watch her laugh. Her joy is infectious. The kids were laughing some today. It's just good to look at a smiling teenager's face. Lots of times 14 and 15 year olds go for a "fixed" expression. I think there are some girls who wake up on their 14th birthday and their eyes are temporarily rolled back for a couple of years. :) The rolled back eyes and intentional sighs and flipping of the hair is classic behavior for girls this age. But I'm convinced that beneath the layers of makeup some of these girls are starting to cake on, they'd rather be smiling.
Monday, January 25, 2010
This is the first blog of my life. I'm technologically challenged, but if my teacher cadets are blogging about teaching, I'll blog, too.
This is my 24th year of teaching and today is the first day of a new semester. Crazy, but I still get nervous the night before meeting a new batch of kids. The way I feel about a new batch is comparable to how I feel about my new cat, Lucy. She's a good kitty. Really, she is. But, see, my 12 year old kitty, Emily, died about a month ago and it doesn't matter how great Lucy is because she's not Emily, you know?
Well, that's how I feel about my new ninth graders. I'm sure they are great, but they aren't the ones that I had last semester. I was comfortable with them...they got me and I got them. I miss their faces and the community that we had created and today the faces I saw just all kind of blurred together. The classroom seemed sterile and, well, lonely. I know it won't stay this way.
That's one thing about teaching. Change is inevitable. And I am seeing personalities emerge. I can already see that Gage is a great storyteller. Loved his summary of the movie about the devil's tooth being a guitar pick. And Aerius is showing his charisma. I'm concerned about the two with their heads down on the first day. Good thing His mercies are new every morning.
This is my 24th year of teaching and today is the first day of a new semester. Crazy, but I still get nervous the night before meeting a new batch of kids. The way I feel about a new batch is comparable to how I feel about my new cat, Lucy. She's a good kitty. Really, she is. But, see, my 12 year old kitty, Emily, died about a month ago and it doesn't matter how great Lucy is because she's not Emily, you know?
Well, that's how I feel about my new ninth graders. I'm sure they are great, but they aren't the ones that I had last semester. I was comfortable with them...they got me and I got them. I miss their faces and the community that we had created and today the faces I saw just all kind of blurred together. The classroom seemed sterile and, well, lonely. I know it won't stay this way.
That's one thing about teaching. Change is inevitable. And I am seeing personalities emerge. I can already see that Gage is a great storyteller. Loved his summary of the movie about the devil's tooth being a guitar pick. And Aerius is showing his charisma. I'm concerned about the two with their heads down on the first day. Good thing His mercies are new every morning.
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