Wow. I am absolutely amazed at what students will do on their own when they are simply issued their own person copy of a novel. I used my EEF funds to purchase about 40 copies of Lois Lowry's sci fi, The Giver. I decided to check them out to fourth block, my class with the best homework returns and the best academic culture. They religiously bring their copies every day, and brag to me about reading ahead. I can't say enough how significant this "finding" is...when students are given tools they can take home and feel personally attached to, the buy in is much greater. I feel like when our class meets, it's a block party gathering now, as opposed to a dentist appointment. What can I do to get more copies of the next novel?? Donor's Choose, here I come.........
I can't wait to write about schools and schooling and student buy-in and small things that lead to huge student achievement pay offs when I study education as a sociologist. I just cannot wait.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Funny Quotes II
"Where is utopia, Ms. Nelson?" - M., after being introduced to, and unabashedly intrigued by, the concept of a perfect world as illustrated and propounded in Lois Lowry's novel, The Giver.
"I need my tickets, mane." - male student. This statement warms my heart with glee because it shows the effective economy that my classroom now has. It's like it stands on its own now, without my having to excessively promote and support it. Sweet, straight-up, uncomplicated bliss is this.
"Ms. Nelson, have you read the whole Bible?" - J.B., in honors sophomore class, after reading and discussing As I Lay Dying one day and the hypocrisy of Cora, one of the Bundren's neighbors, who passes judgment on Addie. "Yes, I have. Why do you ask?" I responded. "It seems like whenever it comes up, you know a lot about the Bible." Most encouraging and inspiring and motivating thing a student has said to me all year.
"I need my tickets, mane." - male student. This statement warms my heart with glee because it shows the effective economy that my classroom now has. It's like it stands on its own now, without my having to excessively promote and support it. Sweet, straight-up, uncomplicated bliss is this.
"Ms. Nelson, have you read the whole Bible?" - J.B., in honors sophomore class, after reading and discussing As I Lay Dying one day and the hypocrisy of Cora, one of the Bundren's neighbors, who passes judgment on Addie. "Yes, I have. Why do you ask?" I responded. "It seems like whenever it comes up, you know a lot about the Bible." Most encouraging and inspiring and motivating thing a student has said to me all year.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
My Word of the Year
As I am writing this, so are my students. I considered it yesterday while students wrote, and they inquired of me afterwards as to what my word was. Yesterday I was reluctant to return to work, to give up the freedom and fun of break and return to this job's demands and routine. But God totally surprised me by making it a great day. He lifted my heavy spirits. I was giddy again in class, and am so happy that I could do something simple with my honors class. I sat on my new barstool and just discussed the book with them (As I Lay Dying). I would daresay it was a complete success; students really benefitted from a direct conversatoin on the book, which I'd been skirting for too long in term 2, and I was refreshed by their great insights and the fact that now I don't have to feel bad about doing an insufficient job teaching them.
Now: back to my word of the year. The word to first come to my mind was passionate. My student followed up and asked, "what do you mean?" I said, "I want to be more passionate in my job." She replied, "If you do that, you just might kill us." The class erupted with laughter, and my heart exploded with joy. Those were the very words I longed to hear. More than once I've felt like a slacker with my students, not giving my preps 100%. I resolve to change that this term; so far, so good. No more partial reading, rushed, last-minute reading, or not re-reading to remind me from having read the books alongside the students. Books aren't something you download permenantly in your mind, or that you can enjoy only once. I think this job has taught me that, as much as I gripe about not being stimulated in teaching the same material and content the third time around.
Passionate. I cling to this word because I don't want this aspect of me to fade away, ever. I fear becoming an adult who is too overwhelmed with life to give her job the energy it requires, or to develop her talents through her days' work. I am entertaining other words right now too, like freedom. Yes, I'd love for 2011 to be my year of freedom. Of letting go, of stopping my incessant worrying that I am not being a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ, of relaxing and letting someone love me, of feeling free with time alone so that I can know that God is enough (rather than lonely and using others' company for an escape from fear of loneliness), of finding incredible security in the sufficiency of Christ, and giddiness in the choices He allows us within His will. I want to be free to seek Him out and listen closely, and feel free and at peace that He is molding and shaping me so that I listen well and am confident that He is enabling me to listen and conform to His word.
Now: back to my word of the year. The word to first come to my mind was passionate. My student followed up and asked, "what do you mean?" I said, "I want to be more passionate in my job." She replied, "If you do that, you just might kill us." The class erupted with laughter, and my heart exploded with joy. Those were the very words I longed to hear. More than once I've felt like a slacker with my students, not giving my preps 100%. I resolve to change that this term; so far, so good. No more partial reading, rushed, last-minute reading, or not re-reading to remind me from having read the books alongside the students. Books aren't something you download permenantly in your mind, or that you can enjoy only once. I think this job has taught me that, as much as I gripe about not being stimulated in teaching the same material and content the third time around.
Passionate. I cling to this word because I don't want this aspect of me to fade away, ever. I fear becoming an adult who is too overwhelmed with life to give her job the energy it requires, or to develop her talents through her days' work. I am entertaining other words right now too, like freedom. Yes, I'd love for 2011 to be my year of freedom. Of letting go, of stopping my incessant worrying that I am not being a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ, of relaxing and letting someone love me, of feeling free with time alone so that I can know that God is enough (rather than lonely and using others' company for an escape from fear of loneliness), of finding incredible security in the sufficiency of Christ, and giddiness in the choices He allows us within His will. I want to be free to seek Him out and listen closely, and feel free and at peace that He is molding and shaping me so that I listen well and am confident that He is enabling me to listen and conform to His word.
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