It's Not Goodbye. It's See You Later: Learning Letter

This course has given me a huge reality check on what teaching is all about. I loved how we went over so many different components of teaching, whether it was common core state standards or team teaching, it really gave me a great span of knowledge on all topics. Though, overall the assignments we had to do were not busy work but we will be able to utilize these projects in our future teaching endeavors. I like how the whole class was about modeling. Everything we did I could picture my students doing someday which really helps me feel more prepared for the future. Two assignments  I know I will utilize in my future are the book talks and the blog posts. I loved how the book talks were student lead and could get the rest of the class interested in a good book. I think that instead of doing book reports we could do book talks because when it comes down to it students dread books reports and they can copy and paste off of the internet but with a book talk they actually have to knowledgable about the book. I think this assignment would work great with a reading log and summary of chapter of the students personal books and then they would have to do a book talk at the end of the book. I really enjoyed the blog posts because now that I am reaching the end of my college career I'm realizing that reflection is the key to understanding and getting your thoughts out of your head. I think that have the students create blogs would utilize accountability for material and would help them reflect upon what they are reading in class.

Some of the concepts that I enjoyed learning about was Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This chapter really opened my eyes to his philosophy. I feel it is so important to look past what has always been down and get to the point of what is really helping student and what is hindering them. He brings to light theories that are essential for creating a classroom environment where your students enjoy learning. Another concept I really enjoyed was the Template by California CCSS. I think that this template is a perfect model to teach students how to read for meaning rather than at a surface level and to really prepare students for their reading material. While this method is great for writing as well I know that I will utilize this template as a pre-reading, post reading, and writing guide.

I have always been someone who has participated in group discussions but I loved being able to hear my peers thoughts on topics from their own experiences in the classroom. I'm the type of person that learns so much from listening to others and their own experience. I love feedback because I feel that I can always utilize the  information in some fascist of life. Whether it was in a big group discussion or a small group discussion I always felt that I came away from it feeling reaffirmed because someone else was having the same issues in their classroom or that we could connect on a topic that we had similar view on. Overall I am so thankful for this course and that I can actually come away saying I truly learned so many new thing. I attribute this class as one of the best english classes I've taken so far.


Kylee

In the Name of God

In the Name of God by Paula Jolin was a very powerful book. With all political agendas aside I loved how it had a strong female protagonist that stood up for what she believed in even though everyone around her was telling her it was wrong. I feel that both female and male students can connect with Nadia because she is such a compelling and dynamic character. Even though the experiences she goes through in the book are not necessarily relevant to things students have gone through they may of felt discrimination after 9/11, felt powerless in the system we have today and believed in a cause whole-heartedly. I think that this book would be kind of touchy to teach because of the current world issues still going on post 9/11 but this is such a relevant part of history that students are actually living so I think it is important that they see the issue from all perspectives. The only thing that I didn’t like about this book from a teaching standpoint was the low level of literacy. The way of writing was very simple and did not have a lot of depth in a literary sense. Other than that I feel like this book will help break down the preconceived conventions students have toward the Islamic religion. I think that this book has great character growth because Nadia changes so much throughout the book. Even at the beginning she has a hard time seeing things from other peoples points of view and comes off as judgmental which I feel is how some people can approach the subject about 9/11, Islamic religion and terrorism. This is book would be great to teach because it holds something different in that is not a typical classic or a book that students would typically pick up to read.

Romeo & Juliet in the Classroom Today

When reevaluating this text after reading and studying Romeo and Juliet many times before I tried to look at it in a different light. This is the most popular Shakespearian play (in my opinion). It has so much history and popular culture behind it because it is referred to in our everyday lives. Even people that have never read it can still draw a connection to the main components of the tragedy. When looking at this play from a new light I wanted to approach it with a fresher take on how to teach this over used play to my students in a way that they can connect to it. I feel like Romeo and Juliet can be a lot to through on a student to read or to read as a class. Even when you have students read the different parts of the play I still feel like it does not resonate as much as it should.  My take on this play is that you have to break it down for students and make sure the students are connected to the text. So many times we just worry about getting through the text but don’t worry about how the students get through it. I think that by breaking down parts of this play and putting students into long term groups they can critically analyze the structure, themes, characters and much more if they are just given an area to focus and present on. I think this would benefit not only them but also the rest of the class because students are more interested in listening to their peers present on topics. Don’t get me wrong I think its important for all the students to have read through it at least once but as a post reading activity to have the students break into long term groups to analyze and present on their parts would benefit everyone.

Edgar Allan Poe: Teaching

Reading these famous stories that some I have read and some that I have not read was interesting to reflect upon the way that these stories can be taught even a different way. I have read these stories since middle school being taught the analysis and understanding of them all in many different ways. Now that I could be the one potentially teaching these famous stories written by Poe I want to think of the reasoning for teaching them. I think that even though there are so many new writers that can be more relevant to current world issues but I think that teaching the classics are still an important aspect of intellectual growth. Students need to know these famous American authors like Poe because he has had such a huge influence on literature. I think that by teaching the Poe stories with a contemporary spin will engage students on the material and will collaboration and group discussion. I think that one of my most memorable teaching of Poe’s stories when I went to see multiple plays in middle school. Reading the stories doesn’t always bring life to the worlds of Poe. Of course now I can appreciate the works of Poe but I want to try to instill an appreciation for Poe within my students and I believe finding different modes to teach the material rather than just reading it will be more beneficial to the students learning process. I would love to research more modes of teaching Poe’s material that have worked positively with students. These stories hold strong themes and are always up for interpretation because I believe that creates a intellectual environment because students are allowed to have their own perspective on the stories and share these perspectives with the rest of the class. I am interested to see how the lessons are taught today so I can generate more ideas on the Poe stories.

The Absolutely True Story About How Much I Enjoyed This Book

I really enjoyed reading “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” because it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be. I think that’s what makes a good book good, is when its not something you expected but everything you needed. This book tells a story that is relatable not only in the sense that the setting is in Spokane area but in the fact that we can all relate with the main character Albert. He struggles just like we all do but he has perseverance to get through the huge struggles he faces in his life. He shows commitment to his goals in life and doesn’t give up when the going gets tough (I mean really tough). I think this book would be a great book to teach in a high school setting, yes there is some profanity, but it is a book students need to read because its so relevant to what they all go through on a daily basis. This book is so teachable in the fact that its all about perspectives and when students first learn about Native Americans and White Settlers in 7^th grade that’s all they really know for the rest of their lives. They don’t know the story that Native Americans are living today. I think that by teaching the perspectives of the Native Americans, Arnold and the White people in this book would give students a different outlook on this situation still present today but a different outlook on this culture as a whole. My rationale for teaching this book would be that this book is not just educational in a present day sense but also relevant to what the students what to know about. It has solid themes of determination, family and school issues and how alcohol can be such a huge influence in someone’s life. Everyone needs to read this book! 

Test Score or Student?

In the book “Readicide” By Kelly Gallagher, I took away a lot of information on what reading looks like in our schools today and what it actually should look like. This really puts you into perspective especially when Gallagher gives so many facts, statistics, studies and professional opinions about the issues of reading for today’s students. I am on board with this issue that because I feel that I have been affected by the “readicide” in American schools. I think that from all of the testing and the pressure of always being required to read a certain book turned me off for my love of reading. I used to love reading growing up but I always struggled to finish books because of my schoolwork. I was always forced away from the book I enjoyed because I had to read what the school mandated. So usually, I gave up on the book I was interested in and settled for what my teacher “wanted” me to read. This is happening so much in schools today especially when it comes to what the government wants to see out of test scores. I like how Gallagher brought up how teaching to the test is not necessarily a bad thing but the way that we force the standards down our students throats and expect them to comprehend everything the first time they learn something is insane. By giving students to freedom to once again find their love for reading or to at least understand that reading, actually reading, is a huge part of their lives. We force students to be the puppets to spit out test scores but we sometimes loose sight that they are real people that we need to prepare not for tests but for life. How will they ever be “expert citizens” when we are only preparing them to be machines?