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Monday, January 10, 2011

First Half is a Hope; Second Half for Teachers

I can't lie to you.  I'm trying to blog, but all I'm thinking about is snow.  Snow, baby, snow.  Because if it snows hard enough, I get to sleep in.  And I like sleeping in.  A lot.  And I can spend tomorrow getting house stuff together and mopping my bathroom floor so I can pick up the glass.

What glass?

Well, the glass from the mirror Favorite and I let fall off the wall.  Yes it happened.  No, we should not reference or discuss the incident ever again.  The good news is there was minimal (superficial and non-noticeable) damage except to the mirror.  The mirror is no more.  But it had black spots in it so I don't see this as an issue except we won't be able to get our money back.  Oh well.  Worse things have happened.

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You teachers out there...if you had the opportunity to create a class for Senior level students who are in a Title I program (lower reading capabilities, lower writing capabilities--probably 10th grade and lower), what would you do?  Keep in mind that your options are completely open.  You can focus on technical writing or reading.  You can introduce critical thinking skills or organization in writing skills.  Just leave your thoughts in the comments.

I am struggling to offer suggestions to my department chair because I know that many of these students will not go to college.  They are required (in my state) to take four years of English to graduate.  Yet I realize that some of them will actually go to college.

I want to expose them to books they will find enjoyable.  I want them to see that there are benefits to being a good reader.  I want to expose them to different types of writing so they can see that writing matters.  But I'm not really sure how to do any of this stuff.  My greatest fear is that we will create a curriculum of stuff they "need" without making it pertinent or interesting.

All feedback welcome...encouraged...begged for...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not a teacher but I do remember being a Senior in English. I wasn't very good at English. Anyway, I liked it when the teacher read to us - a chapter a day - and she explained what she read. (Animal Farm was actually hard for me until she explained it.)

We also did plays (in class). No costumes and we didn't have to stand up in front of everyone. Just read our part from our seat - she did make us add dramatics though.

Aunt Diane

TheHouse said...

Thanks, Aunt Diane. I really appreciate stuff like this because it reaffirms the things I think are worthwhile in the classroom.