Reflections on Critical Literacy

Submitted by ofulmer on 27 November, 2005 - 13:34

For my SCRI MG class, I decided to research critical literacy as a way to engage readers. I have a particularly apathetic bunch of readers. Nothing means anything to them; they complain often that they "can't get into the reading," whatever that means. I often wonder how much of "I can't get into" really means, "I didn't read the assignment beyond the first sentence.

My journey toward critical stances in the classroom began several years ago--I guess when my son John was in fifth grade (he's a junior now). I had a particularly "mean" class of seniors. They didn't mind hurting anyone's feelings for no reason whatsoever other than it gave them power over other people. They were "bullies," even the girls in that class. After the trip to Washington with the fifth graders and a trip to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, I realized how important it was to teach them something about the Holocaust in the hopes that they would become more sensitive to the way they themselves thought about "others" who were not part of their group.

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Even liberals can be boneheads sometimes

Submitted by eric on 25 November, 2005 - 17:44

Hey, I'm a liberal, and I am forthright in the classroom about my politics, but this guy's antics are not helpful:

Teacher accused of giving 'liberal' quiz

Friday, November 25, 2005; Posted: 1:38 p.m. EST (18:38 GMT)

BENNINGTON, Vermont (AP) -- A high school teacher is facing questions from administrators after giving a vocabulary quiz that included digs at President Bush and the extreme right.

Bret Chenkin, a social studies and English teacher at Mount Anthony Union High School, said he gave the quiz to his students several months ago. The quiz asked students to pick the proper words to complete sentences.

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An Unrehearsed Intellectual Adventure: The Life and Times of an Online Community

Submitted by eric on 22 November, 2005 - 21:39

[This is the text of a brief speech I gave at the Talkies Roundtable, aka "Collaboration as Common Ground: Transforming Professional Growth Through Online Inquiry," at the NCTE Convention in Pittsburgh, 19 November 2005.]

My task: To provide some general context for the specific conversations at this session. I won't talk long. I was recently reminded while trying to introduce my rhetoric and composition students to logical fallacies, which I think are fascinating, that I'm not exactly an inspiring and riveting speaker. Did you know that if twenty-five pairs of eyelids close at the exact same time they actually make a sound? It's like this: WHUMP! There's a bit of breeze, too. In any case, it's early and sleep still beckons some of us. There are too many good conversations to be had with some very interesting folks, and I wouldn't want to be responsible for anyone sleeping through the event.

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Supercharged and Thrilled!!!

Submitted by frstbrn24 on 19 November, 2005 - 15:39

National Board scores were posted yesterday... and I am sooo grateful to find out that I made it! (cannot even begin to imagine how I would have gone through it again...but I would have~ it is definitely worth it!)

To anyone who is contemplating pushing themselves by pursuing National Boards... do it! If you are thinking about it... then you are definitely the kind of person that can do it!

I am grateful for all of the help and support of my teacher friends and principal who gave their undying encouragement all year... I am grateful for the forgiving and support my family gave me all year...

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Info about California Science Standards

Submitted by Rica Stassi on 14 November, 2005 - 13:53

I am looking for information about a remark arthur hu wrote on his page. It said that Bill Evers basically didnt know much of anything about science or math but he still ended up onthe Commission to write the Standards. Does anyone know where I might find his original remarks about this?

Rica

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Is It Me???

Submitted by frstbrn24 on 11 November, 2005 - 11:31

Every year seems to pass more quickly...

Everyone says it, but in the life of periods and bells, weeks and quarters, the life of a teacher is measured out for them. Every year it seems to go by more quickly. Now that I have experienced the bliss of looping students, I am quickly realizing the downfall. The attachments formed through the extension of time spent together are making me realize just how painful parting with this group will be come June...

I am also aware of the awesome responsibility to move their reading scores along...

A junior high student's mind is so full of all of the social implications that come along with the age... that to capture their attention to the fact that this is also important and needs to be tended to immediately... well, it just isn't as easy as the books imply it will be.

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SMARTBOARDS... Useful? I think so...

Submitted by frstbrn24 on 1 November, 2005 - 17:30

Last week the wiring for my SMARTBOARD was finally set up! My SMARTBOARD has been up since August, but I lacked a new computer (mine were all from 1999) to run the programs from...

Now, I am in Heaven. I put together a Powerpoint show for Open House~ since I have had the same students from 7th into 8th grade... I had plenty of pictures of all types of projects and plays to choose from.

Also put together a Powerpoint to work out the problems my Literacy students have been having in English... we worked on syllables and I pointed out the "rules" that applied to the words so everyone could remember how to spell them... I need their grades up not only in my class, but also in their English class...

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Still Searching... continued...

Submitted by frstbrn24 on 9 October, 2005 - 10:03

Geezzz... Cannot believe just how badly I am able to stick with blogging!

My every intention was focused on blogging my ideas as I was reading LITERACY WITH AN ATTITUDE, but yet I finished that book plus two more without making any effort to post my thoughts. (not that my thoughts were profound... but I am making a serious effort to absorb as much as I can nevertheless)

Blasted through several other books, but only one has really impressed me... QUANTUM TEACHING. I appreciated the ideas within it so very much that I capsulated some of them into a powerpoint to share with some teachers in my school. I might not be able to get them to read it, but I can show them just how wonderful it is (and hopefully it will whet their appetites to get them to read it?)

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The Big Dummy meets the Big Easy

Submitted by GeorgiaHedrick on 27 September, 2005 - 02:25

Property matters to dummies; people matter to people.   The construction of the French Quarter on high ground next to the 9th ward low ground tells you a lot about where the slaves lived 150 years ago, and it hasn't much changed.

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Standardized testing.

Submitted by 360388 on 14 September, 2005 - 13:38

I have been reading about standardized testing in Language Arts journal. While some educators are against it, there are some who see it as a single measure of what students can do. I have also noticed that the persons who make this claim are deeply rooted in their philosophy on teaching and learning. Others are lucky enough to have the dupport of the community, the Board of Education, the District Superintendent, students and teachers in their corner. Such educators do not feel threatened by those tests. In their view, the tests are not means in themselves and their results are used to set district priorities, and plans for improvement to counter observable trends in teaching and learning. These educators sound very knowledgeable on their craft and are confident that the tests pose no threats, as long as they are doing what they do best- facilitate learning.

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