Speaking of YA novels, the following link includes a list of "2007 Young Adult Fiction Finalists:
http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2008/01/2007-young-adul.html
The list includes: Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Nancy Crocker's Billie Standish Was Here, Barry Lyga's Boy Toy, Catherine Gilbert Murdock's The Off Season, Laura Resau's Red Glass, Carrie Jones' Tips on Having a Gay (ex)Boyfriend, and Gary D. Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars. The List also includes a brief synopsis of each book, as well as links to reviews. Just goes to show that it isn't hard to keep up with YA Lit for our students if we just take a few minutes to see what's out there.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Knowing your Audience
As English teachers, part of our job is to help students see the value in Literature; we can do this by knowing our audience, knowing which books will draw in which students. There are a plethora of worthwhile Young Adult books out there, and it's helpful to be in the know about them as an adolescent English teacher for a couple reasons:
1. It can help us build rapport with our students. Twilight, for example, has been a hot issue among middle and high school students (mostly girls) for the last year. Every week at my placement in Monroe Woodbury Middle School, I would watch the girls reading Twilight come in and gush to each other, and to their teacher, who had read the book, about the plot, the characters, ect.
2. Teaching Synergistic Texts. Some YA works can be taught side by side with "classics" to help students understand works that are complex. For example, the YA novel Jake Reinvented, by Gordon Korman, is a retelling of The Great Gatsby.
3. Engaging students, creating excited readers. If we know the right book to give to the right student, we have a chance of helping that student become a reader for the rest of his/her life.
This article, by Cindy Lou Daniels, addresses YA lit and its increased popularity and merit: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4063/is_200601/ai_n16350744/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1
1. It can help us build rapport with our students. Twilight, for example, has been a hot issue among middle and high school students (mostly girls) for the last year. Every week at my placement in Monroe Woodbury Middle School, I would watch the girls reading Twilight come in and gush to each other, and to their teacher, who had read the book, about the plot, the characters, ect.
2. Teaching Synergistic Texts. Some YA works can be taught side by side with "classics" to help students understand works that are complex. For example, the YA novel Jake Reinvented, by Gordon Korman, is a retelling of The Great Gatsby.
3. Engaging students, creating excited readers. If we know the right book to give to the right student, we have a chance of helping that student become a reader for the rest of his/her life.
This article, by Cindy Lou Daniels, addresses YA lit and its increased popularity and merit: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4063/is_200601/ai_n16350744/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
How To Assess Creative Work
Today in Methods of Teaching English In the Secondary School, we discussed assessment and the various problems that come with assessing creating writing. Professor Dewar shared that there are three different things a teacher can focus on:
1. Compliance: did the student do what was asked?
2. Competence: Did the student write something well?
3. Growth: How much growth has the student made as a writer?
Obviously, all three are things we should take into consideration when assessing a student's writing, which is in itself a tricky thing to do. How do we grade a creative piece of writing?
One thing seems clear, that if we do create a rubric, it is important for the students to have a part in creating it.
It seems, however, that extensive comments and feedback can help students a lot more than a grade would on these types of assignments.
Rethinking Writing Rubrics by Maja Wilson is a good resource on this topic:
1. Compliance: did the student do what was asked?
2. Competence: Did the student write something well?
3. Growth: How much growth has the student made as a writer?
Obviously, all three are things we should take into consideration when assessing a student's writing, which is in itself a tricky thing to do. How do we grade a creative piece of writing?
One thing seems clear, that if we do create a rubric, it is important for the students to have a part in creating it.
It seems, however, that extensive comments and feedback can help students a lot more than a grade would on these types of assignments.
Rethinking Writing Rubrics by Maja Wilson is a good resource on this topic:
Sunday, November 30, 2008
How to Instill a Love for Reading
I love books.
I love reading.
And this is not to say that I'm the fastest reader, not by any means, but that's OK.
In my opinion, books, at least books of fiction, are not meant to be rushed. I have yet to find a novel that is meant for that. I think books are meant to be lived through, soaked up, we should feel like we're entering a new work when we open them, and stepping back out of that world when we close them. Everyone has a different pace that's right for them, and, as a teacher of literature, I hope to make my students competent, confident readers, and never wish to suggest that anyone's pace is wrong. Books are personal, and so the amount of time each person needs to spend digesting it is personal, too.
My fieldwork teacher has a great way of encouraging reading for enjoyment and at one's own pace among her students. In addition to their classwork, students constantly have a "Read A Book" assignment. This is a book they chose and they are interested in, so it sends the message that reading should be personal and it should be enjoyed. They read at their own pace, and pick a new book upon completion. Instead of being rushed or evaluated, they complete an assignment for their first read a book, and any additional read a book assignments they complete earn them extra credit or a homework pass. I think this is a great way to keep kids reading and to send the message that it's not just for school, it's for one's self. Reading can be a great experience and most of these kids seem to be finding that out because they are able to explore books at their own pace.
I love reading.
And this is not to say that I'm the fastest reader, not by any means, but that's OK.
In my opinion, books, at least books of fiction, are not meant to be rushed. I have yet to find a novel that is meant for that. I think books are meant to be lived through, soaked up, we should feel like we're entering a new work when we open them, and stepping back out of that world when we close them. Everyone has a different pace that's right for them, and, as a teacher of literature, I hope to make my students competent, confident readers, and never wish to suggest that anyone's pace is wrong. Books are personal, and so the amount of time each person needs to spend digesting it is personal, too.
My fieldwork teacher has a great way of encouraging reading for enjoyment and at one's own pace among her students. In addition to their classwork, students constantly have a "Read A Book" assignment. This is a book they chose and they are interested in, so it sends the message that reading should be personal and it should be enjoyed. They read at their own pace, and pick a new book upon completion. Instead of being rushed or evaluated, they complete an assignment for their first read a book, and any additional read a book assignments they complete earn them extra credit or a homework pass. I think this is a great way to keep kids reading and to send the message that it's not just for school, it's for one's self. Reading can be a great experience and most of these kids seem to be finding that out because they are able to explore books at their own pace.
I was really impressed with wordle.net after learning about it through Computers In The Classroom. I could tell from the start that it would be a great way to engage students, especially including visual learners and auditory learners because it allows them to repeatedly see words they need to remember. Although I was not sure at first how it could be used in the classroom, I knew t seemed helpful, and after searching through the galleries and thinking about classrooms, I discovered many ways to make wordle relevant in the classroom, including decoration of the classroom, a way to learn more about students, and a way to document any list, such as a list of characters, a list of vocab words, and so on.
One example I really liked:
One example I really liked:
Friday, November 28, 2008
My Thanksgiving
I enjoyed spending this Thanksgiving with my family. Of course school was a topic of conversation, not just for me but also for my 4th grade cousin Lily, who was super excited to show me her school's website, which included a picture and letter from her teacher, as well as all the other teachers in the school. It further proved to me how helpful a blog or website can be in reaching out to parents and students alike.
Lily was also excited to visit a link that can be found on her school's webpage;
www.funbrain.com, which is an educational site with games that help kids learn all sorts of things. I'm super impressed that these teachers, through the use of websites, are able get kids interested in learning even during holidays and weekend. =)
Lily's teacher had a huge list of fun academic sites that kids can visit. I'll share the list:
Lily was also excited to visit a link that can be found on her school's webpage;
www.funbrain.com, which is an educational site with games that help kids learn all sorts of things. I'm super impressed that these teachers, through the use of websites, are able get kids interested in learning even during holidays and weekend. =)
Lily's teacher had a huge list of fun academic sites that kids can visit. I'll share the list:
SOCIAL STUDIES WEBSITES
Geography: http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-games/index.php
Maps and Map Skills: http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/maps.htm
Map Skills: http://www.quia.com/quiz/126576.html
Continents: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/continents/
General Information: www.enchantedlearning.com
World Atlas: http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/imageg.htm
SCIENCE WEBSITES The Solar System: http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm Solar System Exploration: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm Magic School Game: http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/space/index.asp
READING/LANGUAGE ARTS WEBSITES
Various Skills: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills_4th_lang.htm#elements
Poems and Poets! http://volweb.utk.eu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/lesson2.htm
http://www.funbrain.com/grammar/index.html
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
MATH WEBSITES
Math Games: http://www.funbrain.com/
Place Value: http://www.gamequarium.com/placevalue.html
Addition/Subtraction: http://www.funbrain.com/math/index.html
Algebra Practice: http://www.funbrain.com/algebra/index.html
Time: http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/math-time.html
Telling Time: http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_math/tellingtime_splash2.html
Multiplication: http://www.multiplication.com/
JUST FOR FUN!
Practice Typing! www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
Like I said.. pretty impressive!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Music in the Classroom
As I mentioned in a previous post, I work at an educational camp during the summer called SuperCamp. At camp, we use a lot of music, and in the course rooms during academic times are no exception!
Music can be a great addition to the classroom for a couple of reasons. First of all, it can help set the mood and the tone of an activity. For example, a teacher could play soft music without lyrics in the background while students are doing any kind of writing. I have witnessed my fieldwork teacher use this technique and her students now request the music often. Similarly, music can be used while students are sharing ideas with partners.
Music can also be a great way to remember things for anyone, especially auditory learners. Creating a song or changing the lyrics to a song to remember classroom material can be very effective. Music is a great way to engage students in classroom activities!
Music can be a great addition to the classroom for a couple of reasons. First of all, it can help set the mood and the tone of an activity. For example, a teacher could play soft music without lyrics in the background while students are doing any kind of writing. I have witnessed my fieldwork teacher use this technique and her students now request the music often. Similarly, music can be used while students are sharing ideas with partners.
Music can also be a great way to remember things for anyone, especially auditory learners. Creating a song or changing the lyrics to a song to remember classroom material can be very effective. Music is a great way to engage students in classroom activities!
Friday, November 21, 2008
QLN-- my pathway into education
What got me passionate about teaching was working with 6th-12th grade students at an academic summer camp called SuperCamp. Supercamp is not simply your ordinary summer camp, but an accelerated learning environment that uses proven techniques to help make learning more natural, and more fun for all types of students.
Supercamp is run by a company called Quantum Learning network, which also offers professional workshops for teachers, and academic workshops for students during the year.
The book Quantum Teaching has been a great resource for me while getting ready to create the engaging, innovative, successful classroom that I want to have once I become a teacher. It also talks about a lot of brain friendly approaches to learning, such as Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory, mind maps, notes TM, memory pegs, and more. My experiences with Quantum Learning have definitely shaped my teaching philosophy, and I know it will contribute to my success as a teacher in the future, as well as the success of the students in my classroom.
Sentios
I enjoyed learning about and experimenting with the Sentios this semester. I think they are a great way to spice up classes, especially tests. Although asking questions and answering them could easily be done without technology, the Sentios offer a simple way to get students more excited about their education.
It's easy to forget that students get excited by simple things, and spicing up the classroom with up to date technology, like Sentios means a lot to them. It reminded me of 10th grade Earth science class, when we took a scratch off multiple choice test. I remember being excited to take the test, and I think Sentios would have a similar effect in the classroom. Getting students excited about what's happening in the classroom is a huge part of our job, and if we can use technology to help us do that, we should use it as much as we can!
It's easy to forget that students get excited by simple things, and spicing up the classroom with up to date technology, like Sentios means a lot to them. It reminded me of 10th grade Earth science class, when we took a scratch off multiple choice test. I remember being excited to take the test, and I think Sentios would have a similar effect in the classroom. Getting students excited about what's happening in the classroom is a huge part of our job, and if we can use technology to help us do that, we should use it as much as we can!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Alexie's inspiring YA novel
Being a longtime fan of Sherman Alexie's work, I was thrilled to finally read his latest work, which is also his first Young Adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. The book was entertaining, educational, and inspiring, and is definitely something I would be interested in teaching in a classroom setting. The story, which is largely autobiographical, is told from the perspective of Junior, a young Indian boy living on a reservation in Washington state. Junior takes ownership for his own education when he decided to leave Welpinit, the school on the reservation, for a better school off of the reservation.
The novel explores the difficulty of living between cultures, and also highlights the immense inequalities of America's public school system. Reading Alexie's novel is a rich experience, and the part of the experience that stood out most for me was a cartoon by Junior (the novel's antagonist) entitled "Who my parents would have been if someone had paid attention to their dreams." It shows Junior's mother as a student of literature, and his father as a famous musician. Junior explains that " I know my mother and father had their dreams when they were kids. They dreamed about being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams."
This stood out for me because it really highlighted why I want to become a teacher, and it is something I will have on my mind everyday in the classroom in order to remember that what we do matters. Everyone deserves to have someone believe in them and listen to their dreams. For many people, it's a caring teacher.
The novel explores the difficulty of living between cultures, and also highlights the immense inequalities of America's public school system. Reading Alexie's novel is a rich experience, and the part of the experience that stood out most for me was a cartoon by Junior (the novel's antagonist) entitled "Who my parents would have been if someone had paid attention to their dreams." It shows Junior's mother as a student of literature, and his father as a famous musician. Junior explains that " I know my mother and father had their dreams when they were kids. They dreamed about being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams."
This stood out for me because it really highlighted why I want to become a teacher, and it is something I will have on my mind everyday in the classroom in order to remember that what we do matters. Everyone deserves to have someone believe in them and listen to their dreams. For many people, it's a caring teacher.
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