Myers article

After reading the chapter Recitation and Report Literacy by Miles Myers, I am so thankful for the current Language Arts curriculum. I cannot believe students were “expected simply to answer the questions which are put to him, but not to ask any of his instructor, or dispute his assertions.” I mean what if the students have questions? What if they need help understand the material? Oh well! The recitation literary period was not all that fantastic either. I mean someone’s intelligence was determined by the amount of written materials that they could recite.

I am just really glad that the curriculum has changed over the years. I am glad that my cooperating school, Brunswick High School, utilizes a variety of language arts standards. Students are required to know about oral communication, understanding and analyzing literary texts, and being able to write and utilize a variety of types of writing. I believe that the curriculum requirements set forth by the Ohio Department of Education are a great reflection on what our society/culture needs right now.

Student Teaching

I have been having a great time with my student teaching at Brunswick High School. My cooperating teaching is just so nice and helpful. The kids are all really good kids. The other teachers are really welcoming and always willing to give advice. So far I have just been observing in the classroom and working with my cooperating teacher to create the 10-day unit.

The thing I have noticed the most about Brunswick High School is that they have A LOT of school spirit. Every Friday is school spirit day. I have seen so much blue and white (the school colors) it almost makes my head spin. My cooperating teacher told me a story about this one experiment a scientist did in the school. The guy put this tape thing up in the halls to collect germs and what not. Once it was taken down they found this blue stuff all over and they had no idea what it was. Well, they came to find out that the blue stuff was from all the blue clothing that was in the school. Go Blue Devils!!

Chapter 7 - Atwell

Nancie Atwell’s In the Middle Chapter 7: Responding to Writers and Writing was extremely helpful to myself as a future teacher. I have always been nervous to grade students’ writing because I do not want to offend them or crush their creative ideas. Writing is a personal thing, much like Atwell addressed in the beginning of the chapter. I want students to feel comfortable writing about whatever they want, how they want to, without feeling like I (as the teacher) am there to tear apart their writing.

Atwell gave a lot of different ideas on how to respond to writing. Her quote on page 224 reads, “I invite a writer to talk; she talks; I listen, paraphrase, ask clarifying questions, nudge toward or suggest options if the writer needs them, and ask the writer to articulate what he or she plans to do next.” This quote reminds me of what I learned in our Teaching High School Journalism course here at KSU. My professor was adamant about using the coaching method when we go over students’ articles. Using conferences like Atwell has suggested, is very similar to coaching. It allows the student to question their own work rather than relying on the teacher for all the information. The teacher acts as a guide, rather than a critic. I found Chapter 7 a great resource to myself on how to use conferences with students to help them with their writing.

2010 VMAs

Last night was the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). Every year there is a lot of hype about the VMAs because they not only give out awards, but they also have artists perform their popular songs. Last years VMAs made history because Kanye West ran up on stage and interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech. This year no one interrupted anyone, but, as always, Lady Gaga's outfits were the talk of the night.

Lady Gaga has always had some interesting outfits. (She calls them fashion, but many people like to think costumes.) Many people being interviewed were excited to see what Gaga was going to wear because "she doesn't disappoint." Well I don't think she disappointed anyone when she wore a dress made out of meat. I think that was probably a first for VMA history, or even any award show history in general. Here is a clip of Lady Gage accepting the award for video of the year in her meat dress. Gaga's meat dress.

VMAs is an awards show that every teenager, even college students, will want to watch because it involves a huge part of teenage life, music. I know I enjoy it every year

Ch3 of Atwell

I just finished reading Chapter 3 of Nancie Atwell's In the Middle. I really enjoyed this chapter, not only because of Atwell's fantastic writing ability, but the content itself. Atwell pointed out all the reasons why some people are afraid or just don't want to teach middle school students. (I know many of the reasons are my own.) It really resonated with me that instead of fearing middle school students' changing behaviors, we should embrace them.

Atwell pointed out that middle school students' changing attitudes and behaviors give them different topics/ideas/experiences/opinions to write about. Atwell has really made me realize the importance of workshops in the classroom. Workshops give students the opportunity to improve their skills, but they are able to express themselves at the same time. Atwell said that workshops get students involved "and once they're involved, middle school student can become genuinely excited about finding out things they didn't know before, thinking about new ideas in new ways" (Atwell 76). So far I am learning a lot about how effective workshops, whether it be reading or writing, are in a classroom.

Atwell - Chapter 1

Before I began Nancie Atwell's In the Middle, I prepared myself to get through a long and (dare I say it) boring textbook read. Not even a page into the text, I found myself fascinated and enthralled by Atwell and her 'stories.' Atwell is not only an excellet writer, but I liked how she shows readers the evolution of her theory of teaching writing. She showed her beginnings of when she just had writing exercises to her actual writing workshop.

I can definetly see myself adapting Atwell's writing workshop theory into my future classroom. (I might be able to test it out during student teaching, who knows.) I think Atwell said it best "My goal in writing workshop is to act as a good parent, with all the complexities that role entails. I want to be a grown-up writer who listens to kids and shows kids how it's done, gives sound advice, and convinces them she knows what she's talking about" (Atwell 21). I like that she allows her students freedom with writing, but she is also serves as a mentor to her students. At times, she does have to assign required writings, but she explains to her students the purpose of the writings and how it will benefit them.