And that just about wraps it up for another school year. It's funny, but I thought I'd have a whole boatload of profound thoughts and musings on this particular topic, but at the moment, I got nuthin'.
From now until September, this blog's postings aren't going to be on as regular a schedule as they were before, but fret not, loyal viewers (both of you), I'll be back on a weekly basis at the start of the new school year.
If I come across any interesting summer musings or educational articles, I'll be sure to pass them along. Have a great summer, everybody!
English and ESL: Everyone Should Learn
My insights for students and educators of English Literature and ESL.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Better Late Than Never? Not Always...
So, it's the final
week of the semester, and I'm meeting all sorts of new people! Except
they're not technically, “new”; they're the people I should've
met about four months ago – diligent students concerned about their
academic future. All them them asking that ever important question:
“Am I passing this class?”
First of all, I'm
of the opinion that a student who doesn't even know the answer to
that question probably has good reason to worry – so that's one
strike against them. I've never had a straight-A student ask me that
particular question. The might be worried about honor rolls of their
valedictorian status; will that last test bring them down to a
dreaded A minus or even
(*gasp!*) a B+, but the issue of whether or not they are passing is
never really in doubt.
That
being said, I've heard this question three times in the last week –
let's take a look at our Rogues' Gallery:
Student
#1 is the Great Communicator – with everyone but me. I don't think
I've ever seen her walk into class not deep
in conversation – either on the cell phone which I am constantly
reminding her she shouldn't have, or with a friend who should, in all
likelihood, be somewhere else, as he/she (always someone different!)
is not even in my class. Funny how she never seems to mind making
them late to catch up on the latest gossip. In class, I am constantly
reminding her to stay on task; when she's at her computer (we do a
lot of computer-based work), I continually find her updating her
Facebook and/or Twitter account (how she bypasses the school filters
is a mystery to me) or, failing that, she's texting. In spite of my
constant reminders, she's handed in precious little actual work. And
now she wants to know if she's passing.
Students
2 and 3 are the Siamese Twins – always together; always at play.
All attempts to separate them are in vain. On the rare occasions when
one of them is absent, the other manages to be productive and
resourceful – but together, they have no interest except joking
with each other. The tragedy of it is that one of them is passing
(due mostly to the other's spotty attendance), and it's the other one
who has, only now, expressed concern over his grades.
Student
#4 is the Phantom. I literally only saw him about 4 times in the
entire semester. His name is on my roster only because I assume that
he never formally withdrew from the class. Lo and behold, today he
comes – on the wrong day, since his class doesn't meet until
Thursday (a fact I assume he's long since forgotten), and, after
reminding me of who he is, doesn't just ask if he's passing, he wants
me to promise him that he is.
Lord,
grant me strength – the strength not to laugh.
We
need to instill in our students the value of diligence and hard work
as early as possible – I'm no fan of grades; I'd rather see a
student learn and enjoy learning than acquire arbitrary letters and
numbers on papers and quizzes, but if a student is going to ask “Am
I passing?” They should be doing it throughout the school year. Now
is not
the time to suddenly realize that “Well, you know, maybe all that
slacking off I was doing is going to adversely affect me.” Ears
that were deaf to their teachers' advice and admonishments will perk
up quickly when they realize their names are not
called at graduation.
It's
tragic, but such students are the architects of their own failure.
Teachers can point the way and encourage, but we cannot learn for
them. Students who will not help themselves cannot be helped –
certainly not in the last week of school.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Almost Summer
Not much of a post this week; things are winding down, most grades are in, just a few formalities to go in the next week or two.
Taking a week off, then. Final thoughts on the school year to come next week.
Taking a week off, then. Final thoughts on the school year to come next week.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I could be myth-taken.
I recently came across this old mythology thematic unit I did way back when. I've used bits and pieces of it in the past, but never went through the entire unit. Perhaps next year...
The
overall concept of this thematic unit combines Language Arts,
Science, and Social Studies as the students explore the role
mythology plays in answering questions about the natural world and
shaping a culture. Students will be able to describe and discuss the
cause-and-effect relationship between natural phenomena and a
culture's beliefs, as well as the relationship between the actual
event and the resulting myth. Students will be able to use language
to describe specific literary terms as they relate to mythology,
research and summarize the causes of natural phenomena such as
earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., and compare and contrast the ways
different cultures celebrate myths via holidays.
The
overarching objective of the lesson is that students will learn about
the origin of myths, the impact they have on the people who believe
them, and the actual facts behind them. Each lesson contains its own
assessment, which, when combined and averaged, will serve as an
assessment for the entire thematic unit.
Lesson 1: What is a
Myth?
Students will learn about how myths form by creating their own. They
will then learn how myths shape a culture by inventing a holiday
based on their myth.
CORE
STANDARDS: Grades 9-10, W 2 a-f.
VOCABULARY:
Myth, metaphor.
MECHANICS:
SWBAT describe a process/event in chronological order
ASSESSMENT:
Mythology Rubric, Holiday Rubric.
DAY
1: The lesson begins with a journal writing session in which
students are asked to brainstorm (individually or in pairs) what
comes to mind when they hear the word “myth.” After 5-10 minutes
of discussion/writing, students then share their ideas with the
class, with common ideas/themes put on the board.
After a
discussion, students are given the definition of myth for the
purposes of the thematic unit: A story, passed down over generations,
that metaphorically explains something unknown. The concepts of
metaphor and figurative language are discussed, in which students
understand that a myth is not necessarily “wrong” if it's not
literally true, because myths are not meant to be taken literally.
Students
are told that the oldest type of myths are those which describe
natural phenomena, such as the weather, the changing seasons, or
natural disasters. These myths are called “divine myths,” because
many times, a culture will credit natural phenomena to the work of a
god or gods.
Students
will be given an example: What causes the changing seasons? After a
discussion on the reasons (tilt of the Earth, amount of sunlight
received), Students are introduced to the myth of Hades and
Persephone, and told that this is how the ancient Greeks believed the
seasons changed:
According to an ancient Greek myth, Persephone was the daughter
of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. Hades, the god of the
underworld, fell in love with Persephone and carried her off to his
kingdom to be his wife. Demeter searched everywhere for her
daughter. Finally, Zeus, the king of the gods, told Demeter where
Persephone was. It was decided that Persephone would live with Hades
for half the year and with her mother for the other half. During the
time that Persephone lived in the underworld, Demeter was so unhappy
that all the plants withered and died. But when Persephone returned
each year, Demeter rejoiced and plants could grow again. According
to the myth, this is the reason for summer, fall, winter, and
spring. (http://www.eduplace.com/activity/changing_seasons.html)
The
class ends with the students instructed to think about how to
explain natural phenomena for next class.
DAY
2: After reviewing what a
divine myth is, students are instructed that they will be creating
their own divine myths in class. The class is divided up into
groups, approximately 3-4 students per group, and told that each
group represents an ancient civilization. Each group's first task
as a “civilization” will be to give themselves a name. Then each
group is told that their particular village/tribe/nation is plague
by a specific natural phenomenon – for example, one group is
plagued by earthquakes; another lives by a river which is prone to
flooding. Since these ancient “civilizations” have no scientific
knowledge, it is up to them to devise a story explaining who or what
was responsible for the phenomenon, as well as how and why they
cause it. Groups will share their myths at the end of the class.
Written
assignment: Descriptive Essay.
DAY
3: After sharing their myths
as a group, students are told that they will be working individually
on a writing assignment. Students are asked for an example of a
holiday, and how they celebrate it. Students are then told that the
way people celebrate holidays, for example, Halloween, Easter, or
New Year's Eve, are traditionally based on myths and beliefs, and
that the traditions continue even after the original myth is long
forgotten. Students are then told that they will invent a holiday
based on the myth their group created. The holiday must involve some
kind of traditional activity which must remind people of the myth,
and give them a chance to (at least symbolically) participate in the
myth. For example, if earthquakes are caused by an underground
monster whose stomach rumbles when its hungry, once a year, families
go out into the fields and bury a plate of food, thus “feeding”
the monster, and hopefully preventing more earthquakes.
Students will be given time to brainstorm, freewrite, and/or
diagram ideas for activities which could be symbolic of the original
myth. Students will describe how the holiday is celebrated by
describing the events in chronological order, explaining how each
event is related to the original myth. To assist them in the writing
process, students will make a two-column list, with events on the
left side, and explanations on the right.
Activities
|
Reasons:
|
|
|
DAY
4: Students will work on
their essays in the Writing Lab, sharing rough drafts with one
another for peer review. Students are reminded to check for
grammar, spelling, and to make sure that the events are in the right
order – one following the next.
Final drafts submitted to the teacher. If necessary, a second day
in the computer lab can be used.
Group Myth Rubric
|
Poor
1
|
Fair
2
|
Good
3
|
Excellent
4
|
Score
|
Group
Name
|
No
group name given
|
|
|
Group
name given
|
|
Level of
detail in group myth
|
Little
to no detail given in the myth
|
Few
details given, no names or histories.
|
Details
such as names used to fill out the storyline of the myth,
|
Myth
is well detailed, with names and actions used to create a
well-formed story.
|
|
Group
Performance
|
Little
to no enthusiasm in performance, only one group member speaks.
|
Some
effort made; more than one member in a speaking or performing
role.
|
All
members participate, some planning and enthusiasm shown.
|
All
members engage in an active and enthusiastic performance.
|
|
Creativity
and originality
|
Myth
is almost an exact duplicate of an existing story.
|
Myth
is very similar to another well-known story.
|
Myth
is similar to story, but changes made.
|
Completely
new and original myth.
|
|
|
Lesson
2: How do we Celebrate?
Students draw upon their earlier discussion of their
own holidays in order to write a compare-and-contrast essay on
holidays and celebrations across different cultures.
CORE
STANDARDS: Grades 9-10, RH 3, RH 9, WHST 8
VOCABULARY:
Subject by subject comparison, point by point comparison, various
transitional words indicating comparison and contrast.
MECHANICS:
SWBAT use the Internet as a resource to explore traditions in other
cultures, use transitional words and phrases to compare and contrast
similar events from different cultures.
ASSESSMENT: Comparison and Contrast Rubric.
DAY
1: The
earlier discussion of holiday traditions should have prepared
students to discuss celebrations in different cultures. Students are
given (or may choose; some students may even choose their own
culture) a foreign culture and research either unique holiday or a
unique form of celebrating a common holiday. A guided research
session, preferably in a computer workshop, if applicable, can help
students research their assigned culture. Each student is to look at
how a particular culture celebrates a specific holiday, and compare
and contrast it with America, or to choose a particular holiday, and
compare and contrast different cultures' ways of celebrating. For
example, how are birthdays celebrated in South America as opposed to
North America? Compared to the Middle East? Africa? Asia? What about
New Year's Eve? As with their own holidays, students will research
what is done and why. Students will compare and contrast
celebrations in t-chart form to later convert into a
compare-and-contrast essay.
DAY
2: Students
will share their charts with the class, discussing similarities and
differences across cultures. Charts will be then be used as guides
for compare-and contrast essays. The teacher will explain and model
the differences between a point by point comparison and a subject by
subject comparison, and advise the students that either one is
useful, as long as the essay is organized and easy to follow.
Students will be given class time for prewriting and drafting.
DAY
3-4: Students
will be in the writing lab converting their t-charts into essay
form, sharing drafts with their classmates for peer review before
handing in a finished final draft.
Comparison
and Contrast Rubric
CATEGORY
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Purpose
& Supporting Details
|
The
paper compares and contrasts items clearly. The paper points to
specific examples to illustrate the comparison. The paper
includes only the information relevant to the comparison.
|
The
paper compares and contrasts items clearly, but the supporting
information is general. The paper includes only the information
relevant to the comparison.
|
The
paper compares and contrasts items clearly, but the supporting
information is incomplete. The paper may include information that
is not relevant to the comparison.
|
The
paper compares or contrasts, but does not include both. There is
no supporting information or support is incomplete.
|
Organization
& Structure
|
The
paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities
-to-differences, or point-by-point structure. It follows a
consistent order when discussing the comparison.
|
The
paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities
-to-differences, or point-by-point structure but does not follow
a consistent order when discussing the comparison.
|
The
paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities
-to-differences, or point-by-point structure, but some
information is in the wrong section. Some details are not in a
logical or expected order, and this distracts the reader.
|
Many
details are not in a logical or expected order. There is little
sense that the writing is organized.
|
Transitions |
The
paper moves smoothly from one idea to the next. The paper uses
comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships
between ideas. The paper uses a variety of sentence structures
and transitions.
|
The
paper moves from one idea to the next, but there is little
variety. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words
to show relationships between ideas.
|
Some
transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are
fuzzy.
|
The
transitions between ideas are unclear or nonexistent.
|
Grammar
& Spelling (Conventions)
|
Writer
makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader
from the content.
|
Writer
makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader
from the content.
|
Writer
makes 3-4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader
from the content.
|
Writer
makes more than 4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the
reader from the content.
|
Lesson 3: What's the
Real Cause?
Student groups switch natural phenomena with one
another and embark on a research project to discover and describe
the real cause of the event in question. Students must then prepare
a persuasive speech, imagining themselves to be speaking to a group
of believers in the original myth, explaining to them the real cause
of the phenomenon is, and why they shouldn't believe in the myth
anymore.
CORE
STANDARDS: Grades 9-10, RST 2, WHST 1.
VOCABULARY:
Argument,
debate, rebuttal.
MECHANICS:
SWBAT summarize a scientific explanation and deliver it in a
persuasive form.
ASSESSMENT:
Persuasion Rubric.
DAYS
1-2: Research.
Students take their group's natural phenomenon (or switch with
another group), and, using library or online resources, research
the real cause. Field trip to library or computer lab for first day;
in-class journaling for second day to compile and summarize notes.
Students should be able to simplify and summarize the cause. Each
student will be given 2-3 vocabulary terms specific to their event
which they will have to be able to define as part of their research:
for example, a student looking up volcanoes will have to learn the
difference between magma and lava.
Students will write a brief (1-2 paragraphs max.)
summary in their journals describing the cause of the event.
DAY
3: Discussion
of persuasive writing. Journal question: How do you get somebody to
agree with you? 5-10 minutes of writing; share and discuss answers.
Give
out persuasion map handouts to help students plan persuasive
argument. Alternatively, students can use interactive persuasion map
online at
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map
Students will use persuasion maps to explain why their
explanation is better than the myth. They must provide three
positive reasons (using the vocabulary terms they learned on day 1)
or two reasons and a rebuttal of the mythological explanation.
DAY
4: Students
in the writing lab working on essays. Essays will be graded
according to persuasion rubric. Visual aid (illustration, chart,
diagram, etc.) is optional but not required.
|
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Exams
Kind of a hectic week, here, so I'm taking off this time around. Fret not, I've make it up to you next time; promise!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Friend me! Friend me!
A few years back, I
found an interesting article which I have since worked into my
classroom:
Teachers face dilemma with Facebook
Educators find benefits, pitfalls when
adding students as friends on the social networking Web site ERICKA
MELLON, Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Published 06:30 a.m., Sunday, December 21, 2008
What seems like an easy question — Will you be my friend? —
is not necessarily so for teachers who have joined the Facebook
phenomenon.
The social-networking Web site, whose popularity has grown from
the college crowd down to teens and up to boomers, poses a prickly
question for teachers who want to connect with their tech-savvy
students yet maintain professional boundaries.
Should teachers become virtual "friends" with their students?
Opinions are mixed. Opponents fear innocent educators will be branded sexual predators for chatting with students online, while proponents caution against overreacting to a powerful communication tool.
The issue made headlines this month after police accused a 42-year-old former Magnolia High School aide of having sexual exchanges with a 16-year-old former student he contacted via Facebook.
Such rare stories can alarm a community, said Melissa Pierson, who teaches instructional technology at the University of Houston, but educators shouldn't be afraid to use social-networking sites.
"Outside the classroom, in terms of connecting with students, there are some exciting possibilities," said Pierson, who also directs UH's teacher education program. "It's just, teachers need to keep their educator hats on."
Most school districts, however, have yet to define the rules of virtual engagement. In the Houston area, many districts block access to social-networking sites on campus computers, but they don't have policies addressing after-hours use between educators and students.
Houston high school teacher Lesley Guilmart said she finally caved last year and, at the urging of former students, created a profile on Facebook.
"It's kind of addictive," she admits. "I'm interested in my students, and I like to hear from them. I have a couple of kids in college now who have sent messages thanking me for helping prepare them. I had a kid send me a message asking advice about picking a major."
So far, Guilmart has become virtual friends with several former students and even linked up with an old teacher from North Carolina. She said she wouldn't mind connecting with her current students at Houston ISD's Reagan High School — if they asked.
Aware of privacy concerns, Guilmart, 27, said she doesn't go searching for her students online.
"If they want to 'friend' me, they can," she said. "My Facebook is entirely PG. There's no cursing. There are no photos of me having a good time on the weekend — nothing like that."
Pierson, the UH associate professor, cautions teachers against becoming "one of the gang" with their students on Facebook, but said such sites can help humanize teachers, facilitate online learning and provide access to potential guest speakers.
Facebook launched in 2004 as a Web site exclusively for Harvard University students — a sophomore there created it — but now anyone claiming to be at least 13 can join. The site boasts more than 140 million users and has surpassed its predecessor MySpace in popularity. The fastest-growing demographic is people 25 and older.
For Facebook novices, here's how it works: Users can create their own Web pages, or profiles, post photos, share articles, and — the main draw — connect with others by soliciting or accepting "friend requests." Generally, only "friends" can see and comment on each other's pages.
But one of his colleagues, Joseph Miller, has found Facebook a great way to keep in touch with current and former students. Miller runs the KIPP to College program, so he's responsible for keeping students on track once they've graduated eighth grade, even if they don't stay in a KIPP high school.
Miller said he begrudgingly joined Facebook but now jokes he's a "junkie,"with about 540 friends, including middle and high school students, alumni and co-workers. No parents have befriended him yet.
"We always look for avenues to get out and connect with the kids," said Miller, who has a daughter in elementary school. "It's a good way to just send a quick note. The kids are there, so why not be where the kids are to get and send information?"
Miller said he always sends friends a virtual message on their birthdays — Facebook provides a daily reminder — and he warns students not to post inappropriate information online because college admissions officers could find it.
In some school districts, students and teachers have been disciplined for questionable content on their personal Facebook or MySpace pages.
Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said she would advise members to avoid connecting with students on social-networking sites, though the Houston Independent School District doesn't have a specific policy about it.
"Ninety percent of the time it would be OK," Fallon said. "But what do you do with that one whose parent goes nuts: 'What do you mean you're my kid's friend?'"
Some school administrators expressed similar concerns and said they offer teachers other programs to create Web pages for class use.
"I consider Facebook to be like a giant family reunion or class reunion," said Alvin ISD Superintendent Robby McGowen. "Would you invite your students to your family reunion or class reunion? I would expect not."
Elsewhere, in southern Mississippi, the Lamar County school district made headlines this summer when it decided to prohibit teachers from communicating with students via text messaging or public social-networking sites. A state senator in Missouri is pushing a similar bill.
Even on Facebook itself, a group named "Teachers Need to Get the Hell Off Facebook" has formed for students peeved about schools patrolling for cyber-bullying.
Teachers have created their own groups, too. A recent search turned up "Houston Earth Science Teachers," "I'm a teacher and yes I do deserve my holidays" and "Primary Teachers — Resources, ideas, stress relief!"
"I would never ever interact with a student about a personal issue on a social network," said Johnston, 44. "But I can use Facebook to tell a kid, 'I haven't seen you in a few days and you have an important deadline coming up.'"
Johnston said he is working with a recent Lee graduate to build a Facebook page that will encourage Lee students now in college to network with each other and with those aspiring to attend.
"I think it's really helpful," Johnston said, "because when you are the first in your family to go off to college you can feel isolated."
Alberto Ramirez, a first-generation college student at the University of Texas in Austin, is a good example. The 2007 Lee graduate said he logs on to Facebook daily to keep in touch with his former classmates at Lee. They easily coordinated a road trip through the site, and when Lee Principal Steve Amstutz was coming to Austin for a conference, he reached out to former students via Facebook.
"The phone, you get a call, and you're like, 'Should I answer or should I not?'" said Ramirez, 19. "But Facebook is a place you can just relax. You can communicate when it's not something very, very serious."
Should teachers become virtual "friends" with their students?
Opinions are mixed. Opponents fear innocent educators will be branded sexual predators for chatting with students online, while proponents caution against overreacting to a powerful communication tool.
The issue made headlines this month after police accused a 42-year-old former Magnolia High School aide of having sexual exchanges with a 16-year-old former student he contacted via Facebook.
Such rare stories can alarm a community, said Melissa Pierson, who teaches instructional technology at the University of Houston, but educators shouldn't be afraid to use social-networking sites.
"Outside the classroom, in terms of connecting with students, there are some exciting possibilities," said Pierson, who also directs UH's teacher education program. "It's just, teachers need to keep their educator hats on."
Most school districts, however, have yet to define the rules of virtual engagement. In the Houston area, many districts block access to social-networking sites on campus computers, but they don't have policies addressing after-hours use between educators and students.
Houston high school teacher Lesley Guilmart said she finally caved last year and, at the urging of former students, created a profile on Facebook.
"It's kind of addictive," she admits. "I'm interested in my students, and I like to hear from them. I have a couple of kids in college now who have sent messages thanking me for helping prepare them. I had a kid send me a message asking advice about picking a major."
So far, Guilmart has become virtual friends with several former students and even linked up with an old teacher from North Carolina. She said she wouldn't mind connecting with her current students at Houston ISD's Reagan High School — if they asked.
Aware of privacy concerns, Guilmart, 27, said she doesn't go searching for her students online.
"If they want to 'friend' me, they can," she said. "My Facebook is entirely PG. There's no cursing. There are no photos of me having a good time on the weekend — nothing like that."
Pierson, the UH associate professor, cautions teachers against becoming "one of the gang" with their students on Facebook, but said such sites can help humanize teachers, facilitate online learning and provide access to potential guest speakers.
Facebook launched in 2004 as a Web site exclusively for Harvard University students — a sophomore there created it — but now anyone claiming to be at least 13 can join. The site boasts more than 140 million users and has surpassed its predecessor MySpace in popularity. The fastest-growing demographic is people 25 and older.
For Facebook novices, here's how it works: Users can create their own Web pages, or profiles, post photos, share articles, and — the main draw — connect with others by soliciting or accepting "friend requests." Generally, only "friends" can see and comment on each other's pages.
Limited activity
Mike Feinberg, co-founder of the KIPP charter schools, where teachers are encouraged to give students their cell phone numbers, said he limits his Facebook contacts to alumni. "My personal threshold," he said, "is not to accept friends on Facebook from KIPP-sters until they are in college."But one of his colleagues, Joseph Miller, has found Facebook a great way to keep in touch with current and former students. Miller runs the KIPP to College program, so he's responsible for keeping students on track once they've graduated eighth grade, even if they don't stay in a KIPP high school.
Miller said he begrudgingly joined Facebook but now jokes he's a "junkie,"with about 540 friends, including middle and high school students, alumni and co-workers. No parents have befriended him yet.
"We always look for avenues to get out and connect with the kids," said Miller, who has a daughter in elementary school. "It's a good way to just send a quick note. The kids are there, so why not be where the kids are to get and send information?"
Miller said he always sends friends a virtual message on their birthdays — Facebook provides a daily reminder — and he warns students not to post inappropriate information online because college admissions officers could find it.
In some school districts, students and teachers have been disciplined for questionable content on their personal Facebook or MySpace pages.
Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said she would advise members to avoid connecting with students on social-networking sites, though the Houston Independent School District doesn't have a specific policy about it.
"Ninety percent of the time it would be OK," Fallon said. "But what do you do with that one whose parent goes nuts: 'What do you mean you're my kid's friend?'"
Some school administrators expressed similar concerns and said they offer teachers other programs to create Web pages for class use.
"I consider Facebook to be like a giant family reunion or class reunion," said Alvin ISD Superintendent Robby McGowen. "Would you invite your students to your family reunion or class reunion? I would expect not."
Elsewhere, in southern Mississippi, the Lamar County school district made headlines this summer when it decided to prohibit teachers from communicating with students via text messaging or public social-networking sites. A state senator in Missouri is pushing a similar bill.
Even on Facebook itself, a group named "Teachers Need to Get the Hell Off Facebook" has formed for students peeved about schools patrolling for cyber-bullying.
Teachers have created their own groups, too. A recent search turned up "Houston Earth Science Teachers," "I'm a teacher and yes I do deserve my holidays" and "Primary Teachers — Resources, ideas, stress relief!"
Good way to communicate
David Johnston, the college access coordinator at Houston ISD's Lee High School, said he understands the need for setting boundaries online but sees Facebook as a fast, effective way to communicate with students and alumni."I would never ever interact with a student about a personal issue on a social network," said Johnston, 44. "But I can use Facebook to tell a kid, 'I haven't seen you in a few days and you have an important deadline coming up.'"
Johnston said he is working with a recent Lee graduate to build a Facebook page that will encourage Lee students now in college to network with each other and with those aspiring to attend.
"I think it's really helpful," Johnston said, "because when you are the first in your family to go off to college you can feel isolated."
Alberto Ramirez, a first-generation college student at the University of Texas in Austin, is a good example. The 2007 Lee graduate said he logs on to Facebook daily to keep in touch with his former classmates at Lee. They easily coordinated a road trip through the site, and when Lee Principal Steve Amstutz was coming to Austin for a conference, he reached out to former students via Facebook.
"The phone, you get a call, and you're like, 'Should I answer or should I not?'" said Ramirez, 19. "But Facebook is a place you can just relax. You can communicate when it's not something very, very serious."
I've found in the
past that this article can prompt some interesting class discussions
as well as essay topics from a variety of subjects ranging from
privacy to the role of technology in the classroom. I offer it now as a potential resource.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Coma Toast Students Mall the Language
Not sure if I posted this before, but even if I did, it's funny enough to repost.
Coma Toast Students Mall the Language
by Julie A. Davey
Coma Toast Students Mall the Language
by Julie A. Davey
I was grading papers this weekend when I realized that, in addition
to Ebonics and Hebronics, there is another non-standard English in
which teachers need to be trained.
Stubonics.
This
is a written and spoken language
used by students
that crosses ethnic, racial and gender boundaries. Example" One
of my evening students
wrote, in an article on travel, " When you go to Hawaii, you
need to take along a lots of incest repellent be but mate." I
thought it might have been a typo, when I called it to his attention,
he stared blankly at me. And only a few in the class chuckled.
Grading another paper recently, I read the words "curb few"
in an essay. After questioning the student who wrote the paper, she
said, matter-of-factly, "You know, the law that says you can't
stand around on the sidewalk after certain hours -- a curb few."
She said that she thought it was some sort of gang-prevention law.
Many nodded their heads in agreement.
A
new term this year was discovered when a foreign student turned in a
paper that used the words, "I mall."
I asked her to use it another sentence for me. hoping I'd understand.
She wrote, "I mall,
like scared. ya know?" Then I got it right away. How silly of me
not to recognize it as "I'm all like scared." I'd heard
that a thousand times, but not as often as when I taught in the San
Fernando Valley.
Teachers also need to know that, "He goes and then I go,"
stands for "He said, and then I said." Nobody is actually
going anywhere.
Well-grounded
is another term of which teachers need to be aware. "Students
should take courses in art, music and dance so they can become
well-grounded," one student wrote.
And just recently, I've learned that "thank you" now means
that "I agree completely." The teacher says in a lecture on
the media, "Watching too much television is thought to cause
violent behavior." The student echoes, "Thank you," as
if he were in church saying, "Amen."
Last semester I had a hard time keeping a straight face after I asked
a journalism student to explain what it meant to libel or slander
someone. She thought for a moment, and then blurted out, "I
know, I know. Defecation of character." I had to agree with her,
at least on a literal level.
Another legal term teachers may hear is "bail lift," as in:
"The bail lift is the guy you pay money to when you want to get
out of jail." And when referring to court terminology, "A
rain mat is the time in court when you tell the judge your sob
story."
Today,
though, as I graded papers, I learned a new descriptive term I'd like
to share with my colleagues in education.
A
student athlete had written a commentary article for the college
newspaper explaining how hard it is to arise each morning at 4:30 to
make it to swim-team practice. "At that hour of the day, I'm in
a coma
toast
state."
Aren't we all.
Thank you.
Source: Coma toast students
mall the language. By: Davey, Jukie A., Black Issues in Higher
Education, 07420277, 04/03/97, Vol. 14, Issue 3
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