Chalkdust in My Coffee

Greetings from London

Well folks, I was going to do several posts about my trip to Canterbury that began five days ago and will last through mid-August. But then my awesome co-pilgrim Luke put this blog together, where he's completely shown up anything I would have done... so for now I'll direct you to follow that, and eventually I will post a few of my own little blurbs here.

For the moment, however, I must go read a few articles about the Reeve's Tale and about 20 pages of The Knight's Tale in Middle English. Whoo-hoo! The fact that I enjoy this definitely confirms my fiancé's accusations that I am a "great big English weenie."

Locker-picking

Locker clean-out day is magical.

Actually, since not all kids actually clean out their lockers when they are supposed to, it's even better the day after the students' last day of school when the custodians open up all of the lockers.

I walk up and down the hallway, harvesting supplies for next year: binders, whole packs of loose-leaf paper never opened, writing implements, notecards... it's actually pretty shameful how much stuff kids waste. Year after year, they leave shoes, coats, hoodies, backpacks, and various other things my parents would have killed me for taking for granted. 

I probably collect about $100 worth of school supplies each year. Score.

I want to read this book -- heard about it on NPR today. I'm mentioning it here so in a few weeks when I've forgotten about it with all of the other things I've been wrapped up in, maybe someone will remind me. Hint hint! :)

Another good Julius Caesar conversation

ME (jokingly): And as a little-known historical fact, Flavius the tribune was the great-great-great-great grandfather of Flavor Flav.

STUDENT (quizzically): Really?

ME (remembering that it's not good to be sarcastic with kids, because they don't always understand it): No.

I had one of those priceless conversations today (context: we were talking about assassinations as part of our study of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar):

SOPHOMORE: So, Who IS John Lennon, anyway?

ME: John Lennon was one of the Beatles. He was assassinated in 1980.

SOPHOMORE: Oh. Well then what about the Russian guy then?

ME: You're thinking of Lenin. You probably learned about him in history class. You know, Bolsheviks and all that?

SOPHOMORE: Oh. Well, isn't there a guy named John Glennon though?

ME: That would be John Glenn... the first American to orbit the earth, oldest man to go into space, senator from our very own state...

I managed to keep a straight face the entire time, because I realized he wasn't messing around -- he honestly didn't know the difference between these men. Luckily some of the other kids were looking at him like he was a total idiot, which leads me to believe most high school sophomores know their (quite recent) history a little better.

All comedy aside, this sort of situation always reminds me that I can't assume anything about what my students know. I can't take it for granted that they've experienced "common" knowledge -- I don't even think such a thing exists anymore.

Hee Hee...

Dear Students, 

     You will all be receiving A's on the essays I was supposed to grade this weekend, because I got a little distracted by something and never even picked up my "To Be Graded" folder...

 

I'm sure all of you understand.  Your hardworking English teacher still recognizes your effort and wants to help all of you become better writers. I will return to my normal educational usefulness as soon as I catch my breath and regain my ability to speak. 

Sincerely, 

Ms. Em

P.S. No, you will NOT all  actually be receiving A's. It just might take me a few extra days to get your essays back to you. :) 

 

For a little perspective on teaching in the 21st century...

... watch these. 

Resentment of AR, and The Perils of Honesty

All of the students in my school complete mandatory outside reading as part of their English classes. They read books from a list provided by their teacher, and then take Accelerated Reader quizzes on a computer in the Writing Center to "verify" that they've read them. 

Personally (and professionally), I HATE this system. The students are limited to reading books that we have bought quizzes for, and the quizzes themselves ask very random questions that barely reflect the reading experience. Most of the kids think it's a joke, and therefore a large number of them blow it off. I find it infuriating, but the district paid a lot for it so I have to use it. 

I have, however, found my own ways to tweak it: first, rather than having my kids read eight books a year, I only have them read four (quality, not quantity). Then, instead of just taking practically pointless quizzes, I have them do literature circles, multi-genre projects, or other activities to (1) motivate them to actually READ the book and THINK about the book, and (2) give them a chance to actually show what they got out of it. Forget a perfunctory scan through a novel, I want them to sink their intellectual teeth into it. 

Additionally, I have become known around the school as the teacher who is willing (within reason) to read and make a quiz & an assignment for almost any book a kid wants to read but is not on The List. This allows them to read a wider variety of books, and allows me to keep up with what my kids are reading. It takes time, yes, but the rapport it fosters with my kids is well worth it. 

However, earlier this week I had to draw the line. And in doing so, I think I crossed a line by being a little too honest. Blame tiredness, blame the winter blahs. A senior of mine who I know pretty well (I also had her as a sophomore) asked if I would read the book Dear John so she could do it for her next Outside Reading assignment. I told her that I regretted I would be unable to do so. 

"Why not, Ms. Em?" she asked. 

"Honestly?" I said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "Maybe it's just where I am in life, but reading a Nicholas Sparks novel right now would probably make me vomit. Repeatedly. Sorry, just being honest." 

Oops.  Did I mention she's related to a Board member? There goes my reputation as a teacher who will do just about anything to encourage my kids to be literate citizens of the world. 

But really... I probably WOULD vomit. 

Midterms. So much fun. 

I was grading my last class set yesterday and came across one girl who usually pulls  B or so in my class. For her second short-answer question, she was supposed to read a suspenseful short story I provided and then explain what its setting symbolized. The directions clearly said that I would be grading based on supportive details. Well, her answer went something like this: 

Her first sentence clearly stated that she believed it symbolized fear. 

The rest of the paragraph described, in splendid detail, the cafeteria's lunch offerings for the day. 

Yes, that's right. Lunch. 

Was she assuming I wasn't actually going to read the entire paragraph? Was she unsure (or tired after an hour of test-taking) of how to explain her claim, but still wanted to show me she could write well?

I have no idea. I gave her one point for stating her initial claim, and one for the well-demonstrated command of various grammatical structures and stylistic "flair" we've been practicing. I mean come on, the kid even tossed in two recent vocabulary words. 

This amounted to 2/8 points. I realize many of my colleagues would have given her NO points, but I'm less grumpy than that.

And the semester grade calculation goes on... 

How much fun is teaching when you have laryngitis and are unable to speak? Just ask me. I've been doing it for two days.