My final semester of classes flew by! I can not believe I am writing a semester reflection. It feels like just yesterday was the first day of Teaching Language. As I look back over the semester I feel like Teaching Language has been an immensely helpful class. One aspect in particular that I liked were the books chosen. I think that every single book had something valuable to teach about writing. For instance, Nancie Atwell's book In the Middle taught me all about workshops. I had never even considered using a workshop in a writing class, but Atwell's book has given me something to consider. She went in-depth and discussed how they work and the benefits of having them. This book also gave me numerous handouts that I could incorporate into my teaching of writing. Even a book like Making Comics proved to be helpful in the teaching of writing. Scott McCloud's book gave great information about how to make a comic book meaningful. This book gave me so many ideas for assignments I would like to use next semester with my students. The book list this semester was helpful. I plan to add all of these books to my bookshelf. I know they will come in handy!
I also enjoyed the writing workshops and demonstrations that we did this semester. With the demonstrations, I now have a variety of activities that I can incorporate into my classroom for any given writing assignment. I am glad that this was one of our assignments because it did provide all of us in the class with new strategies that we can use with our students. I also liked the writing workshops because I think it helped me to become a better more polished writer. It also made me realize that it is important to write with your students. I know that I am leaving out a TON of assignments that I enjoyed, but these two were the ones that impacted me the most.
Finally, this semester has taught me about my beliefs on the teaching of writing. I had always assumed that teaching writing was going to be boring and dry. I recall numerous middle school and high school English classes that included very uninspired writing lessons. Luckily, I learned that teaching writing is fun. As a teacher I plan to make writing exciting. I want to include writing lessons and assignments that allow students to be creative and interact with one another. I am also very interested in setting up a writing workshop. I think that Atwell's ideas are very interesting. Her book gave me plenty of help in making a writing workshop a reality. Overall, this class taught me that writing is not boring. Writing can be fun, interactive, and creative. I plan on using a lot of the strategies and books from this class to make my teaching of writing memorable to my students.
On another note, I wanted to provide you all with the link to a ning that I have been recently reading. It is called English Companion and it is run by Jim Burke, who wrote Writing Reminders. There are thousands of English teachers on here. There are also numerous groups on the ning ranging from "Teaching Texts" to a group devoted to "New Teachers". I have found so many lesson ideas and helpful tips on here. I highly suggest that you all check this ning out!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
On Writing Reminders
Throughout the semester, I have been reading Jim Burke's Writing Reminders. Aside from Atwell's book, I think that this is probably one of the best books I have read for this class. I enjoyed that the book opened with a chapter on writing with your students. This semester has taught me that this is very important. Students need to see that you write as well. Besides the first few chapters, there were so many useful lesson ideas in this book. For Example on page 191-195 there is an entire lesson plan for writing portfolios. Burke is pretty much writing an entire lesson plan on this for English teachers use. He has even included a grading rubric that can be used. I also like that he provides recommended resources. If I wanted more information on a lesson, I could simply look at the resources provided.
One aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the fact that Burke used student examples throughout. When he described a lesson idea, there was almost always student examples provided. For instance, there are student's graphic organizers filled out, examples of pre-writing, final drafts, peer-editing examples, etc. I liked this because it shows what you can expect from your students. I also think that I could use these in a class to model for students. Once students see a model of the particular assignment, they better grasp what their task is for the assignment.
Finally, another aspect of this book that I liked is that Burke provided creative writing lessons as well. There are plenty of writing lessons on expository writing and narrative writing, but he also provides lessons that involve creative writing. On page 329, Burke provides an entire lesson on writing poetry. I found numerous assignments I would like to do next semester in this section. One idea in particular is the letter poem. I would like to use this with The Diary of Anne Frank. I think it would be a good way to assess students comprehension of scenes from the play. I would have students take a scene and turn it into a letter poem from Anne to her diary. For me, I think that creative assessments are much better than the traditional test. I think that my students would get a lot more out of writing a poem then they would out of taking a test.
Overall, I liked this book immensely. I have found numerous ideas that I plan to use next semester with my classes. My cooperating teacher recently gave me another book by him, Reading Reminders, that I plan to read over break. I am sure I will find even more helpful ideas in this book!
One aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the fact that Burke used student examples throughout. When he described a lesson idea, there was almost always student examples provided. For instance, there are student's graphic organizers filled out, examples of pre-writing, final drafts, peer-editing examples, etc. I liked this because it shows what you can expect from your students. I also think that I could use these in a class to model for students. Once students see a model of the particular assignment, they better grasp what their task is for the assignment.
Finally, another aspect of this book that I liked is that Burke provided creative writing lessons as well. There are plenty of writing lessons on expository writing and narrative writing, but he also provides lessons that involve creative writing. On page 329, Burke provides an entire lesson on writing poetry. I found numerous assignments I would like to do next semester in this section. One idea in particular is the letter poem. I would like to use this with The Diary of Anne Frank. I think it would be a good way to assess students comprehension of scenes from the play. I would have students take a scene and turn it into a letter poem from Anne to her diary. For me, I think that creative assessments are much better than the traditional test. I think that my students would get a lot more out of writing a poem then they would out of taking a test.
Overall, I liked this book immensely. I have found numerous ideas that I plan to use next semester with my classes. My cooperating teacher recently gave me another book by him, Reading Reminders, that I plan to read over break. I am sure I will find even more helpful ideas in this book!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
On Making Comics
Scott McCloud's book, Making Comics, proved to be an informational read for me. I am not much of a comic person, so this book gave me plenty of information about them broken down into simple, understandable definitions. For instance, on page 15, there are six definitions of panel to panel transitions. I found these definitions to be easy to understand, and helpful. I also think that the pictures helped to provide even better help. For instance on page 232, McCloud describes four different "tribes" of comic artists. When describing these artists, McCloud not only used words, but he used pictures as well. For someone that is a visual learner, I think that the pictures helped to explain a lot about comics.
I really enjoyed the format of this book. I think the fact that it was written like a comic made a much greater impact. If it had been written strictly as a book with no pictures, I think the whole purpose would have been destroyed. The book was written to teach others about how to make effective comics. What better way than to learn through an extended comic. And again, I think that the pictures helped to clarify topics that were foreign to me. For example, on page 192 McCloud talks about various pens as they pertain to precision in comic drawing. I think that if I had strictly read about this I would have been completely lost. The fact that he included pictures helped to clarify this section. There were actual examples of how each pen worked and what they looked like.
Next semester I am teaching the play The Diary of Anne Frank. Before even reading this book I was planning on having students complete some type of comic book activity. I think that this book taught me so much valuable information. I plan to take this information and incorporate it into my activity next semester. I especially think that the chapter on "The Power of Words" was exceptional. Personally, I never knew so much went into including just the right words or into word/picture combinations. Page 130 gave me a nice list of seven different combinations. Throughout chapter three these combinations were explored more in-depth. I plan to utilize a lot of info from this chapter into my activity. I want students to think about how they want to portray the characters and what types of words they want to use. Chapter three taught me that words make an important impact on comics and I want my students to consider this when completing their assignment.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I learned a ton about how to make an effective comic. I plan to take this information and use it next semester.
On another note, I have been reading a little bit. I recently started reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I have begun to devise some lesson ideas and once break hits I will spend more time finalizing them. I have also been looking at various novels to teach next semester. My cooperating teacher has let me choose any novel that I want. Hyre has a lot of options! So far I am thinking either Night, The Outsiders, The Pigman, or The Chocolate War. I still have a month before I have to finalize anything, so I will be probably re-read some of these novels and then arrive at a decision.
I really enjoyed the format of this book. I think the fact that it was written like a comic made a much greater impact. If it had been written strictly as a book with no pictures, I think the whole purpose would have been destroyed. The book was written to teach others about how to make effective comics. What better way than to learn through an extended comic. And again, I think that the pictures helped to clarify topics that were foreign to me. For example, on page 192 McCloud talks about various pens as they pertain to precision in comic drawing. I think that if I had strictly read about this I would have been completely lost. The fact that he included pictures helped to clarify this section. There were actual examples of how each pen worked and what they looked like.
Next semester I am teaching the play The Diary of Anne Frank. Before even reading this book I was planning on having students complete some type of comic book activity. I think that this book taught me so much valuable information. I plan to take this information and incorporate it into my activity next semester. I especially think that the chapter on "The Power of Words" was exceptional. Personally, I never knew so much went into including just the right words or into word/picture combinations. Page 130 gave me a nice list of seven different combinations. Throughout chapter three these combinations were explored more in-depth. I plan to utilize a lot of info from this chapter into my activity. I want students to think about how they want to portray the characters and what types of words they want to use. Chapter three taught me that words make an important impact on comics and I want my students to consider this when completing their assignment.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I learned a ton about how to make an effective comic. I plan to take this information and use it next semester.
On another note, I have been reading a little bit. I recently started reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I have begun to devise some lesson ideas and once break hits I will spend more time finalizing them. I have also been looking at various novels to teach next semester. My cooperating teacher has let me choose any novel that I want. Hyre has a lot of options! So far I am thinking either Night, The Outsiders, The Pigman, or The Chocolate War. I still have a month before I have to finalize anything, so I will be probably re-read some of these novels and then arrive at a decision.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
On The Professor and the Madman
I enjoyed reading The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. At first, I figured it was going to be very boring and extremely dry, but in fact, it proved to be quite an enjoyable read! Right from the very beginning I was hooked! Toward the end of the preface Governor of the asylum says "Dr. Minor is most certainly here. But he is an inmate" (xiii). I will admit that I was not expecting this! This brief preface drew me into the book and piqued my interest. Once I continued into chapter one, my interest was kept. I enjoyed reading about Minor's background and why he was in the asylum. I think, for me, the best part of the book was reading about Minor. I found him to be such an interesting individual. I think it was amazing how he wrote so much for the Oxford English Dictionary, yet he was considered insane. One particular area that I found fascinating to read about was the ward notes on Dr. Minor. On page 124, there are notes showing Minor's insane claims. June 1875: "The doctor is convinced that intruders manage to get in--from under the floor, or through the windows..." It is so odd to see that someone so brilliant was also clinically insane.
Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the fact that it provided details about word origins and how the dictionary was written. With word origins, I thought it was interesting that the word "bedlam" came from the Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane (18). Again, on page 28, there is a word origin for "protagonist". The book showed how this word would appear in the dictionary. There would be the spelling, etymology, and pronunciation of the word. Next, there are a string of six supporting quotations. Then, the quotations are divided under two headings. And then the process continues on. What I found interesting about this part of the book was that I have never considered how a dictionary was put together. This book provided good information on the processes that were involved in the production of the book. On page 151, there is an entire section about how words were properly defined. It was such an involved process. First words had to be defined according to the class of things that it belonged to. Then the word had to be differentiated from other members of that class, etc... These sections of the book provided fascinating information about the process of putting the book together.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I found the lives of both Murray and Minor to be quite interesting! It was also fascinating to see how such a huge book was put together. It was an involved process that took years and years to complete. It was not an overnight event. I probably would never have any need to teach this book, but I think that it provided good information about something that students in English classes use often-the dictionary.
Also, I read and commented on an article about modeling in teaching and social networking. It is a really good post by Bud the Teacher that I recommend you all read. One important item said by Bud was that we, as teachers, should be the same person in real life that we are online.
Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the fact that it provided details about word origins and how the dictionary was written. With word origins, I thought it was interesting that the word "bedlam" came from the Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane (18). Again, on page 28, there is a word origin for "protagonist". The book showed how this word would appear in the dictionary. There would be the spelling, etymology, and pronunciation of the word. Next, there are a string of six supporting quotations. Then, the quotations are divided under two headings. And then the process continues on. What I found interesting about this part of the book was that I have never considered how a dictionary was put together. This book provided good information on the processes that were involved in the production of the book. On page 151, there is an entire section about how words were properly defined. It was such an involved process. First words had to be defined according to the class of things that it belonged to. Then the word had to be differentiated from other members of that class, etc... These sections of the book provided fascinating information about the process of putting the book together.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I found the lives of both Murray and Minor to be quite interesting! It was also fascinating to see how such a huge book was put together. It was an involved process that took years and years to complete. It was not an overnight event. I probably would never have any need to teach this book, but I think that it provided good information about something that students in English classes use often-the dictionary.
Also, I read and commented on an article about modeling in teaching and social networking. It is a really good post by Bud the Teacher that I recommend you all read. One important item said by Bud was that we, as teachers, should be the same person in real life that we are online.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
On Kohn's "The Trouble with Rubrics"
I recently read the short article "The Trouble with Rubrics" by Alfie Kohn. After going through the article, I strongly disagree with what Kohn is saying. Kohn kept bringing up the argument that rubrics are "a tool to promote standardization, to turn teachers into grading machines..." I think that rubrics are a helpful way to grade students. When a student has a rubric they know what they are being graded on and what needs to be included in their paper in order to receive credit. In a way, the entire class is receiving a standardized rubric, but as a teacher I am going through and taking my time grading student papers. I do not plan to rush through my grading and circle any number that I please. Rubrics are helping both the students and the teacher know what elements need to be included in the paper.
Finally, another argument that Kohn brought up dealt with rubrics taking away students creativity. A sixth grader is quoted in the article as saying, "The whole time I'm writing, I'm not thinking about what I'm saying or how I'm saying it. I'm worried about what grade the teacher will give me, even if she's handed out a rubric." When I read this to myself I thought how many kids honestly feel this way? Kohn only provided one example! I talked with some of my friends about rubrics and they all agreed that they think they are helpful. My friend Nate said something along the lines of rubrics help him to know what he needs to include in his assignment. I agree with my friend. For me, rubrics are great. They help me to know exactly what I am being graded on and what specifically needs to be included in an assignment.
In general, I think rubrics are a wonderful instrument to use in the classroom. Not only do they help teachers, but they assist students in completing their assignments as well.
On a completely different note, I have really been enjoying the writing strategy demonstrations we have been doing in class. I have gotten a bunch of great ideas that I can use in my classroom. I plan to incorporate some of them next semester!!
Finally, another argument that Kohn brought up dealt with rubrics taking away students creativity. A sixth grader is quoted in the article as saying, "The whole time I'm writing, I'm not thinking about what I'm saying or how I'm saying it. I'm worried about what grade the teacher will give me, even if she's handed out a rubric." When I read this to myself I thought how many kids honestly feel this way? Kohn only provided one example! I talked with some of my friends about rubrics and they all agreed that they think they are helpful. My friend Nate said something along the lines of rubrics help him to know what he needs to include in his assignment. I agree with my friend. For me, rubrics are great. They help me to know exactly what I am being graded on and what specifically needs to be included in an assignment.
In general, I think rubrics are a wonderful instrument to use in the classroom. Not only do they help teachers, but they assist students in completing their assignments as well.
On a completely different note, I have really been enjoying the writing strategy demonstrations we have been doing in class. I have gotten a bunch of great ideas that I can use in my classroom. I plan to incorporate some of them next semester!!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
On Image Grammar
I just finished reading Image Grammar by Professor Noden. Going into the reading, I was a little unsure of what to expect. I have spent so much time in grammar classes that are strictly worksheets and more worksheets, and this had always been my view on how grammar should be taught. Thankfully, Professor Noden's book was so helpful! It provided me with a ton of innovative ideas for teaching grammar! One aspect about the book that I liked was that it provided numerous strategies at the end of each chapter. One strategy in particular I liked was Strategy 3: Travel into the Twilight Zone on page 62. This activity has students examine the opening sequence of the television show. Students examine the parallel structures and repetition that Rod Serling used. I like that at the end of the activity the students are given a template of the introduction and they have to fill in the blanks to create a parody. I think this is a fun and interesting way to teach and assess repetition and parallel structures. Instead of a worksheet, students get to create a parody to demonstrate what they have learned.
Another aspect that I liked about the book occurred in the opening section. At the beginning of the book, Professor Noden made an important statement about image grammar. He said, "One of the clearest ways to define brush strokes for students is by showing models and having them imitate" (5). I think this is by far the best advice about teaching image grammar. In order for students to fully comprehend the concepts that are being taught, it is imperative that examples are shown. I really like that the examples shown are from famous authors, students, and Professor Noden. This gives the students a wide range of examples to view. It is also interesting to see how world famous authors use these techniques in some of the most well-known works of literature.
I also really liked that a CD was included with a wealth of resources to use. Every handout is provided along with images that students can use to help them write. I like that the student section can be uploaded to a website and actually used by entire class. Professor Noden put a lot of time and effort into this Cd and it definitely shows!
Finally, something else I noticed as I was reading the book was an activity on on imitating famous writers. One writer in particular was Edgar Allan Poe. I wish had looked at this book sooner because I would have liked to used this activity! Maybe in the spring when I am teaching grammar I can come back to it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book!!! It showed me that there is an alternative to boring worksheets! I do not need to drill my students on the rules of grammar. Instead, I can teach grammar in a fun and more hands-on way.
Aside from this book, I recently began reading The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I've only read the first two stories in it, but I am hooked! I have never really been a fan of war stories, but this collection is enthralling! I wish had more time to read, but I think over Thanksgiving I may finally have a chance to catch up on some much needed reading!
Another aspect that I liked about the book occurred in the opening section. At the beginning of the book, Professor Noden made an important statement about image grammar. He said, "One of the clearest ways to define brush strokes for students is by showing models and having them imitate" (5). I think this is by far the best advice about teaching image grammar. In order for students to fully comprehend the concepts that are being taught, it is imperative that examples are shown. I really like that the examples shown are from famous authors, students, and Professor Noden. This gives the students a wide range of examples to view. It is also interesting to see how world famous authors use these techniques in some of the most well-known works of literature.
I also really liked that a CD was included with a wealth of resources to use. Every handout is provided along with images that students can use to help them write. I like that the student section can be uploaded to a website and actually used by entire class. Professor Noden put a lot of time and effort into this Cd and it definitely shows!
Finally, something else I noticed as I was reading the book was an activity on on imitating famous writers. One writer in particular was Edgar Allan Poe. I wish had looked at this book sooner because I would have liked to used this activity! Maybe in the spring when I am teaching grammar I can come back to it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book!!! It showed me that there is an alternative to boring worksheets! I do not need to drill my students on the rules of grammar. Instead, I can teach grammar in a fun and more hands-on way.
Aside from this book, I recently began reading The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I've only read the first two stories in it, but I am hooked! I have never really been a fan of war stories, but this collection is enthralling! I wish had more time to read, but I think over Thanksgiving I may finally have a chance to catch up on some much needed reading!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Modern Library Writer's Workshop
The Modern Library Writer's Workshop was one of the most helpful books I have read on writing. It addressed so many different aspects of writing, like getting started, characters, style, and producing a finished piece. The very first aspect of this book I noticed was the commentary from different authors. This was one of my favorite parts of the book. My favorite author, Ray Bradbury, was utilized numerous times throughout the book. For example, on page 8, Bradbury describes how he gets his writing ideas from free association. I think it is really interesting to see the process that famous authors use to write.
Chapter one proved to be a very helpful chapter for me. The biggest problem that I have with creative writing is getting started. I can never come up with an idea or topic that I want to write about. Chapter one gave some great advice about getting started with writing, for instance, find a story in your childhood. The author, Stephen Koch, says that if you have a good imagination you will move past the chosen event in your childhood and create something unique. This is a piece of advice I am definitely considering for my upcoming writing. I have so many vivid memories from childhood and I think that any one of them would make a great story.
There were two other sections of the book that I found to be really interesting and helpful. The first part was on page 159 when Koch talked about authors that were single drafters. I can not even imagine how an author can write an entire novel and have it ready to be printed without editing and producing numerous drafts. Kurt Vonnegut and John Updike were two of the single drafters mentioned. It's pretty remarkable that they are able to complete their work in one draft. I know I could never do that!
The final section I found really interesting was on page 174, "The 10-Percent Solution." Simply stated, this solution requires the writer to eliminate 10-percent of his or her work. It seems like a pretty easy solution, but for me, I think it would be difficult going back through my work and eliminating aspects of it. Luckily, Elmore Leonard created a check list that I find helpful. He says to go back through your work and cut out anything that makes your eyes glaze over or does not hold your interest.
Overall, this entire book provided valuable writing information. Whether you are a novice at writing fiction or an expert, I think that the book had something for everyone.
On another note, I read the link that Professor Kist sent to us this morning about the teacher in Australia using facebook. I found the article to be fascinating. I can honestly say that I was surprised that his current students had contacted former ones and asked them for help on an upcoming exam! I guess this is just something else that we as teachers need to keep in mind when we are using social networking in the classroom! I also read and commented on another blog entry that the teacher in Australia wrote about helpful iPhone applications for teachers. I never considered using a cell phone as a tool to help me manage things like my lectures (using a voice recording software).
Chapter one proved to be a very helpful chapter for me. The biggest problem that I have with creative writing is getting started. I can never come up with an idea or topic that I want to write about. Chapter one gave some great advice about getting started with writing, for instance, find a story in your childhood. The author, Stephen Koch, says that if you have a good imagination you will move past the chosen event in your childhood and create something unique. This is a piece of advice I am definitely considering for my upcoming writing. I have so many vivid memories from childhood and I think that any one of them would make a great story.
There were two other sections of the book that I found to be really interesting and helpful. The first part was on page 159 when Koch talked about authors that were single drafters. I can not even imagine how an author can write an entire novel and have it ready to be printed without editing and producing numerous drafts. Kurt Vonnegut and John Updike were two of the single drafters mentioned. It's pretty remarkable that they are able to complete their work in one draft. I know I could never do that!
The final section I found really interesting was on page 174, "The 10-Percent Solution." Simply stated, this solution requires the writer to eliminate 10-percent of his or her work. It seems like a pretty easy solution, but for me, I think it would be difficult going back through my work and eliminating aspects of it. Luckily, Elmore Leonard created a check list that I find helpful. He says to go back through your work and cut out anything that makes your eyes glaze over or does not hold your interest.
Overall, this entire book provided valuable writing information. Whether you are a novice at writing fiction or an expert, I think that the book had something for everyone.
On another note, I read the link that Professor Kist sent to us this morning about the teacher in Australia using facebook. I found the article to be fascinating. I can honestly say that I was surprised that his current students had contacted former ones and asked them for help on an upcoming exam! I guess this is just something else that we as teachers need to keep in mind when we are using social networking in the classroom! I also read and commented on another blog entry that the teacher in Australia wrote about helpful iPhone applications for teachers. I never considered using a cell phone as a tool to help me manage things like my lectures (using a voice recording software).
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hungry Minds: Tales from a Chelsea soup kitchen
I really enjoyed this article. I found it fascinating that a writer's workshop was taking place in a soup kitchen. I think that this shows that writing happens everywhere, not just in a classroom. Another interesting part to this article was the fact that everyone who participated produced such beautiful pieces of literature. It was amazing to see that a lot of this writing was also published in various writing mediums. For example, Donald had an opinion piece published in the "Op-Ed page of the Times" (page 3). I also liked that at the end of the last session of the writer's workshop each year a public reading is held. I think that this public reading makes everyone who participated feel like they have accomplished something. Their work is even printed and bound into an anthology.
Something else that I noticed in this article was the fact that the homeless who participated in the workshop had so much to say. Each and every person had a unique story. Donald wrote his entire memoirs of being homeless, William wrote about an intergalactic battle among God, and Norm who wrote a poem entitled "On Achieving Section 8 Housing." Everyone had lived through different experiences and these experiences helped to shape them as writers. Again, this article showed me how successful writers workshops are. I would love to incorporate a unit on writers workshops into my classroom. This article showed how successful that they can be.
Aside from this article, I have been reading a lot of Edgar Allan Poe. For my unit I am teaching "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat." I recently bought a large anthology of his works and have been really getting into his stories! I especially like "Murders in the Rue Morgue," which is also considered one of the first modern detective stories. And just today, I bought a comic book/graphic novel that is based off of his stories "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." If I ever teach either of these stories I think it would be fun to bring in the comics and show my students how artists portray the two stories.
Something else that I noticed in this article was the fact that the homeless who participated in the workshop had so much to say. Each and every person had a unique story. Donald wrote his entire memoirs of being homeless, William wrote about an intergalactic battle among God, and Norm who wrote a poem entitled "On Achieving Section 8 Housing." Everyone had lived through different experiences and these experiences helped to shape them as writers. Again, this article showed me how successful writers workshops are. I would love to incorporate a unit on writers workshops into my classroom. This article showed how successful that they can be.
Aside from this article, I have been reading a lot of Edgar Allan Poe. For my unit I am teaching "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat." I recently bought a large anthology of his works and have been really getting into his stories! I especially like "Murders in the Rue Morgue," which is also considered one of the first modern detective stories. And just today, I bought a comic book/graphic novel that is based off of his stories "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." If I ever teach either of these stories I think it would be fun to bring in the comics and show my students how artists portray the two stories.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Ms. Pyles and the Freedom Writers
On Friday, September 16th, our class had Ms. Pyles come in and speak. Ms. Pyles has taught at the Portage-Geauga County Juvenile Detention Center. She really told some fascinating stories about her experiences there. Ms. Pyles appeared to have had an amazing time there. She talked about really connecting with the kids and caring for them. At the same time, her job seems very tough. There are kids constantly coming in and out of her class and there are fights. Although her job seemed tough, she was still able to gain her students respect. One way she did this was through journaling. She provided her students with journals in which they could write down their thoughts and feelings. She kept these journals private. No other teacher, administrator, or parent was allowed to read them. This helped her students to really feel like they could be honest and truly write about how they felt. I think that journaling is a great concept that should be incorporated into classrooms. If a student is having a particularly good day, they can write about it. If a student is having a bad day, they can vent about it.
Aside from journaling, Ms. Pyles provided useful teaching tips on her PowerPoint that can be used in any surrounding, whether it be a detention center or a typical school setting. For instance, I really liked the Peanut Game! I think that this game could be used in so many situations. She used it to teach about respecting others, but I think that I would use it with creative writing. In order to write creatively, it helps to use as many details as possible. This activity could help by providing students with lists of adjectives that they could use in their writing.
I also enjoyed her discussion about her experience at the Freedom Writers Institute. She provided some interesting information about the Institute. For example, there are only 150 original Freedom Writer teachers because that was the number of students that Erin Gruwell had. Ms. Pyles also read a few excerpts from the book, Teaching Hope. I thought that some of the excerpts were really good, but by the third one I was ready to move on! Overall, I thought the presentation was put together really well. She not only discussed the Freedom Writers Organization, she also included her real life classroom into the presentation.
Aside from journaling, Ms. Pyles provided useful teaching tips on her PowerPoint that can be used in any surrounding, whether it be a detention center or a typical school setting. For instance, I really liked the Peanut Game! I think that this game could be used in so many situations. She used it to teach about respecting others, but I think that I would use it with creative writing. In order to write creatively, it helps to use as many details as possible. This activity could help by providing students with lists of adjectives that they could use in their writing.
I also enjoyed her discussion about her experience at the Freedom Writers Institute. She provided some interesting information about the Institute. For example, there are only 150 original Freedom Writer teachers because that was the number of students that Erin Gruwell had. Ms. Pyles also read a few excerpts from the book, Teaching Hope. I thought that some of the excerpts were really good, but by the third one I was ready to move on! Overall, I thought the presentation was put together really well. She not only discussed the Freedom Writers Organization, she also included her real life classroom into the presentation.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
On "Pick Books You Like"
This article provided a different viewpoint about teaching novels. Instead of an entire group of students reading the same novel, each student is able to read what they want and participate in discussions and journal writing. I like parts of this idea, but overall I am a proponent for everyone reading the same novel. I think that students should be able to read what they want to an extent. Students should pick texts that are grade appropriate. For instance, the article states that some of the middle school students were reading the "Captain Underpants" series of novels. I think that is way below middle school level. They should be choosing books that are geared toward their age group, such as "The Outsiders," "The Cay," and "The Pigman." The school I am student teaching at has a program called Accelerated Reading. Students pick grade level appropriate books and take comprehension tests on them. I think this is a great way to get students to read. They read what they want and their reading progress is monitored.
After reading the article I agree with what the critics say. They state that "reading as a group generally leads to more meaningful insights, and they question whether teachers can really keep up with a roomful of children reading different books" (1). I agree that reading as a group leads to good discussions. In my college classes we all read the same books and the discussions are great. I always learn something new. Whether it be a different viewpoint or a different way to interpret something, reading the same novel has always been something that I have liked. I also question whether the teacher really can stay on top of thirty different books per class. That appears to be a ton of work and I do not know how a teacher can keep up with it, especially if they have not read the book.
I liked seeing that Nancie Atwell was discussed in the article as well. After reading her book, it was interesting to see her name pop up again. I like that Atwell is particular about students not reading junk like "Gossip Girl." I liked Atwell's ideas for the reading workshop, but I liked the writing workshop ideas a lot better! Overall, I found that this was an interesting article. It provided me another viewpoint on teaching reading. Although I do not really agree with it, it is something I may consider for the future.
After reading the article I agree with what the critics say. They state that "reading as a group generally leads to more meaningful insights, and they question whether teachers can really keep up with a roomful of children reading different books" (1). I agree that reading as a group leads to good discussions. In my college classes we all read the same books and the discussions are great. I always learn something new. Whether it be a different viewpoint or a different way to interpret something, reading the same novel has always been something that I have liked. I also question whether the teacher really can stay on top of thirty different books per class. That appears to be a ton of work and I do not know how a teacher can keep up with it, especially if they have not read the book.
I liked seeing that Nancie Atwell was discussed in the article as well. After reading her book, it was interesting to see her name pop up again. I like that Atwell is particular about students not reading junk like "Gossip Girl." I liked Atwell's ideas for the reading workshop, but I liked the writing workshop ideas a lot better! Overall, I found that this was an interesting article. It provided me another viewpoint on teaching reading. Although I do not really agree with it, it is something I may consider for the future.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
On "In the Middle"
At first, I did not think that I would have the time to read Nancie Atwell's book In the Middle. However, once I picked up this book and started reading I could not stop! Atwell provides hundreds of useful mini-lessons, teaching strategies and forms that I can use in my reading or writing classroom. There are so many good ideas that I do not even know where to begin with this blog!
I think that chapter one is a good place to begin. In this chapter, Atwell says, "I participate with them in collaborative writing ventures, I submit poems and stories... (25)." Atwell explains that a good writing teacher is one that writes with their students. This is how a writing classroom should be. The teacher can not expect his or her students to go write a paper or creative writing assignment. The teacher needs to take the time to show students how it is done. This can be done numerous ways. The teacher could, and should, give an example of his or her writing. The teacher could model their writing habits on the overhead projector (I really liked this idea a lot!). Finally, the teacher could the time to just sit and write with the students. These all seem to be great ways to model good writing in the classroom.
Chapter ten goes into more detail behind modeling writing habits for students. "They begin to see the hundreds of choices I make every time I write. They see that almost nothing is accidental... (332)." I think that this is a fantastic way to show students the writing process. As Atwell says it helps students to "be ready." On page 367, Atwell receives feedback about these demonstrations. I found it interesting that the students were able to pick up on so much. These demonstrations helped the students to learn how to perfect their craft.
Chapter four in Atwell's book gave helpful tips on setting up the writing classroom. For instance keeping track. "...I put serious hours into the forms and folders we'll use for keeping records and collecting students' work throughout the year (104)." I found this section in particular to be very helpful. I really like her ideas behind the writing workshop and this provided examples of forms and ways to stay organized. I like the idea that the record keeping she uses puts the responsibility on the students. In student teaching, I have seen the amount of paper work that my cooperating teacher has to deal with. By making the students responsible for their record keeping, it alleviates some of the stress involved in teaching.
There are numerous other chapters that are very helpful as well. Chapter nine mentions portfolios and different goals behind them. Chapter six had hundreds of great ideas and mini-lessons that I would really like to use with my classes. Chapter seven gave some great ideas to evaluate writing, and the appendixes gave fantastic forms that I could easily use in my classroom.
Overall, this book was fantastic!! It gave me a ton of ideas for my classroom. I always thought that writing would be so dry and boring to teach, but Atwell changed my outlook on that!
I think that chapter one is a good place to begin. In this chapter, Atwell says, "I participate with them in collaborative writing ventures, I submit poems and stories... (25)." Atwell explains that a good writing teacher is one that writes with their students. This is how a writing classroom should be. The teacher can not expect his or her students to go write a paper or creative writing assignment. The teacher needs to take the time to show students how it is done. This can be done numerous ways. The teacher could, and should, give an example of his or her writing. The teacher could model their writing habits on the overhead projector (I really liked this idea a lot!). Finally, the teacher could the time to just sit and write with the students. These all seem to be great ways to model good writing in the classroom.
Chapter ten goes into more detail behind modeling writing habits for students. "They begin to see the hundreds of choices I make every time I write. They see that almost nothing is accidental... (332)." I think that this is a fantastic way to show students the writing process. As Atwell says it helps students to "be ready." On page 367, Atwell receives feedback about these demonstrations. I found it interesting that the students were able to pick up on so much. These demonstrations helped the students to learn how to perfect their craft.
Chapter four in Atwell's book gave helpful tips on setting up the writing classroom. For instance keeping track. "...I put serious hours into the forms and folders we'll use for keeping records and collecting students' work throughout the year (104)." I found this section in particular to be very helpful. I really like her ideas behind the writing workshop and this provided examples of forms and ways to stay organized. I like the idea that the record keeping she uses puts the responsibility on the students. In student teaching, I have seen the amount of paper work that my cooperating teacher has to deal with. By making the students responsible for their record keeping, it alleviates some of the stress involved in teaching.
There are numerous other chapters that are very helpful as well. Chapter nine mentions portfolios and different goals behind them. Chapter six had hundreds of great ideas and mini-lessons that I would really like to use with my classes. Chapter seven gave some great ideas to evaluate writing, and the appendixes gave fantastic forms that I could easily use in my classroom.
Overall, this book was fantastic!! It gave me a ton of ideas for my classroom. I always thought that writing would be so dry and boring to teach, but Atwell changed my outlook on that!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
On "Changing Our Minds"
I found this article by Myers to be quite interesting. It was fascinating to be able to see how education has transformed throughout the years. More importantly, as I was reading this article, I found some parallels between the past and now. One instance that I noticed was in recitation literacy. I remember being in elementary school and having the "'Drillmaster,' who led students in unison through their lessons (64)." When I first learned the alphabet I followed the teachers lead. We, as a class, would recite the alphabet on a daily basis until we had memorized it. What was also found with recitation literacy is that students were able to memorize the material, but they were not able to comprehend what it meant. When I was learning the alphabet, I memorized it, but it had no meaning to me. I did not know that these letters created words. I think that it is interesting to see that this form of education is still seen in classrooms today.
Finally, another parallel I noticed was later on when the article talked about decoding and analytic literacy. More specifically, this section dealt with "tracking." Students were given the tools they needed to become successful at analyzing in order to reach their specific goal. So for instance, a college prep track would be expected to become "advanced analytical readers (88)." This seems very true of English classes today. High schools seem to utilize this tracking so that students can achieve a particular goal for their futures. When I was in high school we had tracked English classes. We had general, which contained the more vocational students, and we had college prep, which had college-bound students enrolled. It is interesting to see how these movements in education are still being utilized to this day.
This article also provided insight into what composition studies of the past were like. I found it odd that students were required to copy essays. The educators of the past saw copying as a way for students to learn the conventions of writing. Unfortunately, students were not able to express themselves. Today, the writing classroom seems to be focused on what students think. The writing assignments are more creative in nature. It is important to make students think outside the box and consider issues and pieces of literature from a more abstract viewpoint.
On a completely unrelated note, I finally read The Lord of the Flies this summer. I loved it! I recently began reading a very similar book titled Battle Royale. The book is amazing! It is a modernized version of Lord of the Flies set in Japan. It has a very similar premise where students are trapped on an isolated island, and need to find a way to survive. If you liked Lord of the Flies, check this book out!
Finally, another parallel I noticed was later on when the article talked about decoding and analytic literacy. More specifically, this section dealt with "tracking." Students were given the tools they needed to become successful at analyzing in order to reach their specific goal. So for instance, a college prep track would be expected to become "advanced analytical readers (88)." This seems very true of English classes today. High schools seem to utilize this tracking so that students can achieve a particular goal for their futures. When I was in high school we had tracked English classes. We had general, which contained the more vocational students, and we had college prep, which had college-bound students enrolled. It is interesting to see how these movements in education are still being utilized to this day.
This article also provided insight into what composition studies of the past were like. I found it odd that students were required to copy essays. The educators of the past saw copying as a way for students to learn the conventions of writing. Unfortunately, students were not able to express themselves. Today, the writing classroom seems to be focused on what students think. The writing assignments are more creative in nature. It is important to make students think outside the box and consider issues and pieces of literature from a more abstract viewpoint.
On a completely unrelated note, I finally read The Lord of the Flies this summer. I loved it! I recently began reading a very similar book titled Battle Royale. The book is amazing! It is a modernized version of Lord of the Flies set in Japan. It has a very similar premise where students are trapped on an isolated island, and need to find a way to survive. If you liked Lord of the Flies, check this book out!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
I just saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine and was thoroughly disappointed! I don't even know where to begin on how terrible this movie was, but I think I will begin with the special effects. One scene in particular that sticks out was when Wolverine was standing in the the mirror admiring his new claws. His claws looked like they had come from a cartoon. It was almost as if during editing they completely forgot to go back and fix them.
The writing was also not that great. I thought that they story was just OK. It was nothing special and I found some parts to be comical that weren't supposed to be. I did, however, think the acting was OK (except for Will i. am). Hugh Jackman did an awesome job once again playing Wolverine. He made his character very believable. I also thought that Liev Schreiber was a good Sabretooth. His character was very intense!
Overall, the movie was very lackluster! I suggest skipping this movie and renting it when it comes out!
I also commented on a professional blog. My comment can be seen here. I suggest that you all read the article I commented on; it was very interesting! It was about a class being offered at West Virginia State University focused on facebook.
The writing was also not that great. I thought that they story was just OK. It was nothing special and I found some parts to be comical that weren't supposed to be. I did, however, think the acting was OK (except for Will i. am). Hugh Jackman did an awesome job once again playing Wolverine. He made his character very believable. I also thought that Liev Schreiber was a good Sabretooth. His character was very intense!
Overall, the movie was very lackluster! I suggest skipping this movie and renting it when it comes out!
I also commented on a professional blog. My comment can be seen here. I suggest that you all read the article I commented on; it was very interesting! It was about a class being offered at West Virginia State University focused on facebook.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Semester Reflection
This semester I feel like I have learned so much about becoming an educator. I went into this semester expecting to learn the same things I had been learning in previous classes, but I was mistaken. I learned so much, especially in Professor Kist's class. I always thought that the English classroom was reading and analyzing books and writing papers, but I learned it is so much more. The English classroom of today is blogs, wikis, nings, etc. I am so happy that I learned all of this. I want to bring some of what we learned into the classroom next year while I am student teaching. I think that it will engage my students and impress my cooperating teacher.
In Professor Noden's class I received so many helpful handouts. I think that these handouts are all going to be beneficial when I am student teaching. There are handouts on simulation games, inquiry groups, and Socratic Seminars. They are all very interesting ideas that I can incorporate into virtually any unit that I teach. Professor Noden also gave out a very thorough lesson plan template. I really like his template and plan on using it in the future. I was always hesitant about what to include in lesson plans, but Professor Noden's template has helped me tremendously.
Overall, I had a great semester! I learned so much and I plan to incorporate into my teaching next year. I can't wait for the Fall Block 3 classes because I am sure I will learn so much more!
In Professor Noden's class I received so many helpful handouts. I think that these handouts are all going to be beneficial when I am student teaching. There are handouts on simulation games, inquiry groups, and Socratic Seminars. They are all very interesting ideas that I can incorporate into virtually any unit that I teach. Professor Noden also gave out a very thorough lesson plan template. I really like his template and plan on using it in the future. I was always hesitant about what to include in lesson plans, but Professor Noden's template has helped me tremendously.
Overall, I had a great semester! I learned so much and I plan to incorporate into my teaching next year. I can't wait for the Fall Block 3 classes because I am sure I will learn so much more!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Persepolis and Naruto
I enjoyed reading the two graphic novels Naruto and Persepolis. I had only read one graphic novel previous to this class, and was not really a fan of them. However, while reading Persepolis, I began to get into the story and and the drawings. It was an interesting story that I think would be great to bring into an English classroom through an interdisciplinary unit with a social studies teacher. If they are teaching about Iran you could incorporate this novel into the English class. That way they are learning about Iran in two very different ways. Overall, I really enjoyed Persepolis and would like to teach it or a similar graphic novel in my future classroom.
I was not a fan of Naruto, though. I did not care for the storyline. I thought that it was confusing and at times hard to follow. I think Naruto could be used in an English classroom for students to read for fun, but it is not something that I would teach. The pictures in Naruto were interesting too. I thought they were drawn well and that they conveyed thoughts and actions well, but they were very busy sometimes. During fight scenes I thought that the action was drawn well, but there was too much going on in one panel. I did not really like Naruto, but I could see how a student would want to read it for pleasure.
I recently read the graphic novel version of Beowulf by Gareth Hinds. Beowulf is one of my favorite epics, so I decided I would check it out as a graphic novel. I loved it! I thought that the drawings were phenomenal and the storyline was still there. I think that this could easily be brought into an English class. This graphic novel could be used to supplement the epic. I think that it could also help struggling readers better visualize the characters and the action that is taking place.
I was not a fan of Naruto, though. I did not care for the storyline. I thought that it was confusing and at times hard to follow. I think Naruto could be used in an English classroom for students to read for fun, but it is not something that I would teach. The pictures in Naruto were interesting too. I thought they were drawn well and that they conveyed thoughts and actions well, but they were very busy sometimes. During fight scenes I thought that the action was drawn well, but there was too much going on in one panel. I did not really like Naruto, but I could see how a student would want to read it for pleasure.
I recently read the graphic novel version of Beowulf by Gareth Hinds. Beowulf is one of my favorite epics, so I decided I would check it out as a graphic novel. I loved it! I thought that the drawings were phenomenal and the storyline was still there. I think that this could easily be brought into an English class. This graphic novel could be used to supplement the epic. I think that it could also help struggling readers better visualize the characters and the action that is taking place.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Chapter 3 and Chapter 6
In chapter three, a rural school in Canada is discussed. Within this rural school, we meet Mr. Fisher. Fisher is an eighth grade teacher. In his classroom, the students are completing a multi-media advertising project. The project consisted of creating a website, filming either radio or video commercials, and designing print ads. Overall, his project integrated a variety of media into the classroom.
I really enjoyed chapter three because I think that the project is a good way to teach students a topic that can be difficult, like advertising. The students were able to tackle this tough topic in three very creative ways, Internet, film/radio, and print ads. It was fascinating to see how interested the students became in the project. They spent the majority of their time perfecting the project. Unfortunately, it was sad to see that some students were missing the big picture. They understand the basics of advertising, but they didn't really understand the dynamic of it. I enjoyed this chapter. I think that incorporating media into a unit on advertising would be a great way to engage students. I would like to use this in my classroom someday.
Chapter six takes place in an at-risk school in Montreal. Mr. Rother teaches the "16 plus" program. In this program Mr. Rother incorporates new literacy's into his lessons. Mr. Rother shows films and has students "read" the scenes. The students answer questions about the scenes shown including, color, genre, and music. Rother also has the students make connections from these films to what is going on today.
I found what Rother was doing to be quite interesting. The students appeared to really enjoy what he was teaching them. They spent time analyzing the movies. One student even brought in a movie for the class to analyze. I think that this really shows that Rother's methods were quite effective. The students all really liked Rother and felt that they were learning so much. They thought that he was giving them a chance that they wouldn't have had otherwise. I liked how he taught the kids using media. It was obviously effective and I would like to bring something similar into my future classroom.
I was sad to see that he took another job in 2004. He did such a phenomenal job teaching. I hope that his replacement was just as good as he was!
On a completely unrelated note, I had the chance to read a really good book over spring break. I read Bret Easton Ellis's book The Informers. It contained twelve short stories each taking place in the 1980s. Most of the stories dealt with teens and problems that they had, like drugs and eating disorders. I highly suggest this book, but it does contain some graphic language, violence, and sex. Also, this book is going to come out in theaters on Friday, April 24th. The movie is based on the book and features Billy Bob Thornton and Winona Ryder. I hope to go see the movie this weekend and report back on it!
I really enjoyed chapter three because I think that the project is a good way to teach students a topic that can be difficult, like advertising. The students were able to tackle this tough topic in three very creative ways, Internet, film/radio, and print ads. It was fascinating to see how interested the students became in the project. They spent the majority of their time perfecting the project. Unfortunately, it was sad to see that some students were missing the big picture. They understand the basics of advertising, but they didn't really understand the dynamic of it. I enjoyed this chapter. I think that incorporating media into a unit on advertising would be a great way to engage students. I would like to use this in my classroom someday.
Chapter six takes place in an at-risk school in Montreal. Mr. Rother teaches the "16 plus" program. In this program Mr. Rother incorporates new literacy's into his lessons. Mr. Rother shows films and has students "read" the scenes. The students answer questions about the scenes shown including, color, genre, and music. Rother also has the students make connections from these films to what is going on today.
I found what Rother was doing to be quite interesting. The students appeared to really enjoy what he was teaching them. They spent time analyzing the movies. One student even brought in a movie for the class to analyze. I think that this really shows that Rother's methods were quite effective. The students all really liked Rother and felt that they were learning so much. They thought that he was giving them a chance that they wouldn't have had otherwise. I liked how he taught the kids using media. It was obviously effective and I would like to bring something similar into my future classroom.
I was sad to see that he took another job in 2004. He did such a phenomenal job teaching. I hope that his replacement was just as good as he was!
On a completely unrelated note, I had the chance to read a really good book over spring break. I read Bret Easton Ellis's book The Informers. It contained twelve short stories each taking place in the 1980s. Most of the stories dealt with teens and problems that they had, like drugs and eating disorders. I highly suggest this book, but it does contain some graphic language, violence, and sex. Also, this book is going to come out in theaters on Friday, April 24th. The movie is based on the book and features Billy Bob Thornton and Winona Ryder. I hope to go see the movie this weekend and report back on it!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Cleveland Film Fest
Yesterday, I attended the Cleveland International Film Festival. I was immediately surprised at how crowded the cinema was. I initially thought not that many people would be interested in coming to see movies at a film festival, but I was wrong! There were people everywhere! People were buying tickets, waiting outside of their theater, or walking around the cinema. After finally milling through the busy crowds, I purchased my ticket for Prom Night in Mississippi. Once I entered the theater, I had a difficult time finding a spot to sit. It appeared that everyone had come to see this movie. Before the film began, there were a number of speakers. Three of the speakers briefly talked about organizations that they were with. The final two speakers were the director and producer of the film I was about to watch. It was interesting to hear them briefly discuss the documentary that I was about to see. Also, they said that the showing of Prom Night on Sunday was standing room only! That really got me excited about the film!
The documentary proved to be amazing. It dealt with high school students in Mississippi that were finally having an integrated prom for the first time (this movie took place in 2008!). I was shocked that the high school had always had a "white prom" and a "black prom." It was fascinating to hear the students' views on having an integrated prom. It appeared that all the students were in favor of it, but their parents were the ones that were against it. The film was really shocking. It is sad to see that such blatant racism still exists today.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the film festival. I got to see an amazing documentary, that I highly recommend, and I got to hear the film's director and producer speak about their documentary.
The documentary proved to be amazing. It dealt with high school students in Mississippi that were finally having an integrated prom for the first time (this movie took place in 2008!). I was shocked that the high school had always had a "white prom" and a "black prom." It was fascinating to hear the students' views on having an integrated prom. It appeared that all the students were in favor of it, but their parents were the ones that were against it. The film was really shocking. It is sad to see that such blatant racism still exists today.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the film festival. I got to see an amazing documentary, that I highly recommend, and I got to hear the film's director and producer speak about their documentary.
Friday, March 13, 2009
New Music Coming this Spring!
I am really excited. Three of my favorite bands are releasing new Cd's within the next three months. All three of these bands have not released any full-length Cd's since I was in high school!
1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It's Blitz!
Their new CD comes out March 31st. I am so pumped to hear their new CD. I have already heard their single, "Zero," which is so different than anything that they have ever put out. At first I didn't like the new song, but it has really grown on me. I was reading on their website that this CD will sound different than previous albums, but will "still sound like Yeah Yeah Yeahs." I am hoping that this will be a good thing! I am little worried that they are changing their sound, but I think it might be interesting to see a different side of the band. I plan to buy the album the day it comes out. I hope that I am not disappointed. So far, I have enjoyed everything that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released. I hope this won't be the exception! I am providing a link to their new single "Zero." Let me know what you think of the song.
Their new CD comes out March 31st. I am so pumped to hear their new CD. I have already heard their single, "Zero," which is so different than anything that they have ever put out. At first I didn't like the new song, but it has really grown on me. I was reading on their website that this CD will sound different than previous albums, but will "still sound like Yeah Yeah Yeahs." I am hoping that this will be a good thing! I am little worried that they are changing their sound, but I think it might be interesting to see a different side of the band. I plan to buy the album the day it comes out. I hope that I am not disappointed. So far, I have enjoyed everything that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released. I hope this won't be the exception! I am providing a link to their new single "Zero." Let me know what you think of the song.2. Sonic Yout
h- The Eternal. Sonic Youth's new CD premiers on June 9th. I am really looking forward to this CD. Sonic Youth is by far my favorite band. I own all their Cd's and have seen them in concert multiple times. Sonic Youth has recently parted ways with their old record label Geffen Records. They were not happy with the way that Geffen had been managing them, so they have signed with a lesser known label Matador Records. I am hoping that by signing with this label the band will have more freedom to do what they want. Their last few albums were really good, but not the same band that I have grown to really enjoy. They have not released their first single yet, so I do not know what this album will be like yet. Sonic Youth is known for producing experimental music. I hope that they bring this into their album. I am also going to provide a link to their official website. Their site is amazing. It contains news from the band, their music videos, and links to different fan groups. If you have never heard Sonic Youth, I highly recommend you give listen to them, especially if you are into rock or alternative music.
h- The Eternal. Sonic Youth's new CD premiers on June 9th. I am really looking forward to this CD. Sonic Youth is by far my favorite band. I own all their Cd's and have seen them in concert multiple times. Sonic Youth has recently parted ways with their old record label Geffen Records. They were not happy with the way that Geffen had been managing them, so they have signed with a lesser known label Matador Records. I am hoping that by signing with this label the band will have more freedom to do what they want. Their last few albums were really good, but not the same band that I have grown to really enjoy. They have not released their first single yet, so I do not know what this album will be like yet. Sonic Youth is known for producing experimental music. I hope that they bring this into their album. I am also going to provide a link to their official website. Their site is amazing. It contains news from the band, their music videos, and links to different fan groups. If you have never heard Sonic Youth, I highly recommend you give listen to them, especially if you are into rock or alternative music. 
3. Silversun Pickups- Swoon. The Silversun Pickups new album comes out 
April 14th. I have recently become a huge fan of the Silversun Pickups. They are one of the best alternative rock bands that I have heard in a long time. Silversun Pickups became famous for their songs "Well Thought Out Twinkles" and "Lazy Eye." These songs are great examples of modern rock, but the band also manages to provide an almost dream-like feel to their music. I have recently heard their new single "Panic Switch" and was completely blown away. It is one of the best song I have heard in a long time! I constantly find myself listening to it, and I can't get it out of my head! I am so happy that the band stuck with the same sound for their new CD! I am providing a link to their single here. I strongly urge you to check it out! Like I said before, this is by far one of the best songs I have heard in a long time! Check it out and let me know what you all think!
April 14th. I have recently become a huge fan of the Silversun Pickups. They are one of the best alternative rock bands that I have heard in a long time. Silversun Pickups became famous for their songs "Well Thought Out Twinkles" and "Lazy Eye." These songs are great examples of modern rock, but the band also manages to provide an almost dream-like feel to their music. I have recently heard their new single "Panic Switch" and was completely blown away. It is one of the best song I have heard in a long time! I constantly find myself listening to it, and I can't get it out of my head! I am so happy that the band stuck with the same sound for their new CD! I am providing a link to their single here. I strongly urge you to check it out! Like I said before, this is by far one of the best songs I have heard in a long time! Check it out and let me know what you all think!Thursday, March 12, 2009
Film
Lately, in Multi-Modal Literature, we have been discussing film. I have found the chapters we have been required to read to be quite interesting. Whenever I watch a film or even a television show I simply watch it for pleasure. I have never sat down and analyzed the camera angles used and techniques used. Now, I find myself analyzing movies and TV that I watch. I think that the chapters have really made me notice and pay more attention to the work that goes into creating film. Creating a movie or TV show is not an easy feat. It involves so much more. Everything about a scene has to be just right. The camera angle, the sound, the believability of the dialogue, and even the set have to be just right in order to portray the scene properly. Overall, I am really enjoying our unit on film and I am looking forward to the upcoming film festival!
Also, in class we never got the chance to share our links, so I will share mine here. The film website I chose was afi.com. AFI stands for the American Film Institute. The website contains tons of interesting things all pertaining to film. They have a variety of information about different films, actors, and awards they have won. They even have photo galleries that show film over the years. Something on this site that I have found interesting is a link to Lights, Camera, Education. This site is created by AFI and contains a wealth of resources for teaching film. There are video clips, play lists, and book choices from educators all over America. One such book that this site recommends is The 21st Century Educator's Handbook. It provides tips and ideas about teaching film in the classroom. This website is very fascinating, and well worth the time to check out!
Also, in class we never got the chance to share our links, so I will share mine here. The film website I chose was afi.com. AFI stands for the American Film Institute. The website contains tons of interesting things all pertaining to film. They have a variety of information about different films, actors, and awards they have won. They even have photo galleries that show film over the years. Something on this site that I have found interesting is a link to Lights, Camera, Education. This site is created by AFI and contains a wealth of resources for teaching film. There are video clips, play lists, and book choices from educators all over America. One such book that this site recommends is The 21st Century Educator's Handbook. It provides tips and ideas about teaching film in the classroom. This website is very fascinating, and well worth the time to check out!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Class Presentations
It was so awesome to see everyone's presentations the past two weeks. It was fascinating to see that we all have so much in common! It definitely seemed that we all loved watching old Nickelodeon shows when we were younger. I also enjoyed seeing why everyone decided to become teachers and what particularly influenced their decision. I really liked seeing similarities that I had with others in the class. There were a few individuals that enjoyed the same movies and books that I do. That was really cool to see, and that helped to show me that I have more in common with people in class than I thought.
On another note, I have finished reading In Cold Blood! It was such a good book and I highly recommend it to everyone. What I enjoyed most about the book was the subject matter. The book is based on true events so Truman Capote wrote about interviews he conducted with people who knew the family and witnesses to the crime. The book was also made into a movie. I have yet to see the movie, but I have heard that it is really good. I read on IMDB that the movie recieved four Oscar nominations, so I am assuming it is a good movie! Hopefully over spring break I will get the chance to watch it!
On another note, I have finished reading In Cold Blood! It was such a good book and I highly recommend it to everyone. What I enjoyed most about the book was the subject matter. The book is based on true events so Truman Capote wrote about interviews he conducted with people who knew the family and witnesses to the crime. The book was also made into a movie. I have yet to see the movie, but I have heard that it is really good. I read on IMDB that the movie recieved four Oscar nominations, so I am assuming it is a good movie! Hopefully over spring break I will get the chance to watch it!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Artwork in the Classroom
I became a huge fan of art in high school thanks to an art history class I took. My art history class helped me to become a more critical and analytical person not only of art, but of literary works as well. I am very interested in incorporating artwork into my future classroom. When I took a creative writing course in high school we chose a piece of art that we enjoyed and wrote a short story based on what we thought was happening in the work. I chose a piece by a Pop Artist named Roy Lichtenstein. I ended up writing a far-fetched story about an astronaut. I found this assignment to be very interesting and fun. It also caused me to use the analytical skills I had learned in my art history class. This assignment is one I would like to incorporate into my classroom. I think that this assignment would help my students utilize their critical thinking skills to first analyze the painting and then, they would need to be creative. It's important to have fun with this assignment and get as creative as possible.
On another note, I have begun reading the book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I had three friends that recommended that I read this book. So far, I can't put it down! I have been sick for the majority of the week so I have had plenty of time on my hands to read. I have read a little over one hundred pages of this book and hope to have it finished soon.
On another note, I have begun reading the book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I had three friends that recommended that I read this book. So far, I can't put it down! I have been sick for the majority of the week so I have had plenty of time on my hands to read. I have read a little over one hundred pages of this book and hope to have it finished soon.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Multi-Genre Project
So far I have really enjoyed completing my multi-genre project. This project has caused me to reminisce about my past. I went back through a lot of the old books I used to read. I was a big fan of Chris van Allsburg's picture books as a child, so I have gone back and re-read a few of them. My all time favorite book by him was The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. It contained about fifteen pictures each with a little caption. I remember being so intrigued by this book that I would write my own stories to go along with the pictures.
Besides books, I have also gone through my collection of movies and found many of the movies that I would watch over and over again as a child. One such movie I stumbled across was an old animated Scooby Doo movie. I remember watching it countless times as a child. It was really great to see the movie again, and it brought back many memories! I have so far spent half the weekend watching old movies and T.V. shows. I watched a few episodes of one of my all time favorite shows as a child The Outer Limits. It was a scary show, and I can't believe I watched it as a four-year-old!
I am really enjoying going back through all my old favorite books, movies, music, and t.v. shows. I think that this would be a great project to assign to my future students. I think that they would have a good time reminiscing about their past, because I know I am!
Besides books, I have also gone through my collection of movies and found many of the movies that I would watch over and over again as a child. One such movie I stumbled across was an old animated Scooby Doo movie. I remember watching it countless times as a child. It was really great to see the movie again, and it brought back many memories! I have so far spent half the weekend watching old movies and T.V. shows. I watched a few episodes of one of my all time favorite shows as a child The Outer Limits. It was a scary show, and I can't believe I watched it as a four-year-old!
I am really enjoying going back through all my old favorite books, movies, music, and t.v. shows. I think that this would be a great project to assign to my future students. I think that they would have a good time reminiscing about their past, because I know I am!
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