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!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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!
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