Blogs and the Pass Test

After reading Troy Hick's Chapter 3, I re-examined my feelings toward face to face conferences with students about their writing. This week we are all writing and teaching the various types of writing modes in preparation for the TEST. I am thinking yes, we will peer edit and teacher conferene, but would it be a better to blog with each other as we write and respond to the various types of writing which will take place this week. This would certainly save time for the teacher and the student. Some students are actually embarrassed if a teacher speaks to them in clas about their work. I have not done a survery or created a poll, but it appears boys in particular do not like having their work discussed while thier friends are near. Having a blog may help them feel less conspicuous in the classroom. It would be better to respond to students's writing on a class blog site because they often do not even read your comments on their paper, unless you read it with them. But, I feel I really do not spend enough time conferencing with students on an individual basis. Sometimes, I feel very torn between promoting digitial writing verses gettingt students prepared to write an essay using paper and pencil. Our students will soon be graded on how well they can write an essay-given a prompt they have never seen before. We were told, that yes neatness does count-that these readers spend aproximately 4 minutes per paper. You can imagine for those students whose handwriting is well frankly, bad to illegible, their paper may not even be read. And, perhaps more importantly, what relevance does this have to do with them. Won't their job, career, even academic career revolve around writing digitally? Anyway, I still will continue to introdue more digital writing. Wordle is one way I have asked my students to respond to and look at their own writing.

Social Bookmarking and the dreaded "Research Paper"

After reading Troy Hick's chapter about SSR and Social Bookmarking I felt like this was really a new way to attack the researach paper. A way that would truly involve students and foster critical thinking. Coming up with a topic based on their interest and then re-fining that topic to produce a true research paper, would prove to be creative and fun for students, rather than dull, and boring--just another assignment. However, what was posted on another blog, explains this as a problem because our district creates the way a researach paper should be taught and what sites are blocked by the district. So the question becomes, how do we convince our district to help teachers instruct taking full advantage of the sources at hand while serving the needs of our students for 21st century thinking? Olga, if you respond to this blog, please give some advice.

SNOW AND THE SOUTH

OK, I will be honest, when it comes to snow I look down on those from the south who close shops, business, and other things when the word snowfall is mentioned for the Grand Strand. In North Myrtle Beach, we received some downfall overnight-about 9:00 to the mid morning, accumulating 3 inches. I woke up to a beautiful landscape, ice-covered trees, a few snowmen, and CLEAR ROADS. When I heard that they cancelled the Marathon I thought--you have got to be kidding. I could understand delaying it-but not a total shut down. Many people have trained hours and hours for this event. Not to mention the sponsors and friends and family that have supported them. What about the tourists and tourism money this event would give to our city-already crippled by a devestatingly slow economy. I don't know-educate me, was this a foolish decision or not?

"You Tube, You Tube, Wherefore out thou You Tube"

Reading Sara Kajder's books has caused me to "pause and ponder" more than once. For instance, The Text Savy English Classroom, discusses, among other things, how to allow students to justify their voice by creating new ways for them to express it. Using the hypertext to have students explain why they wrote a certain way or got the idea for a piece forces them to invest in writing more effectively. Writing their message first in word is an excellent idea to have them look at and revise how they want their writing to be viewed. In addition to this, showing them the different ways to use email also may help improve their writing skills. Asking them to first place the message in word, analyze it and revise, is a good way to encourage the revision process.-I particularly liked the idea of explaining that you should use one type of writing for the workplace and one account, and use email for family and friends on another account. I try to follow that rule--too many things have occurred using email in the workplace which hurt employees or may result in them loosing their jobs. Although I teach writing, I am usually trying to find a way to allow students to use their creativity and originality as a means for a culminating activity. We have just finished, the drama, Romeo and Juliet, I was looking for a way to engage students in this activity. When I saw Sara's Online Communications in chapter 8, I was excited to view how to collaboratively use projects with teachers and students. I gave my students several options to complete an activity for this drama. They can act out a scene using the Shakespearean language, using costumes and props, place the scene in a more modern day setting and give it a modern day translation-again use costumes and props, rap a scene, or for those who would rather not perform, write a research paper about Shakespeare's "Lord Chamberlain's Men" and the Globe Theatre. Students have the option to perform it live, or film it and bring to class. Each group must have a typed script and arrange for each member to take part in the skit. Anyway, they seemed very excited and were talking about ideas and costumes--it was nice to hear. I am allowing class time, so I can monitor some of their progress. Some suggested they place their results on You Tube. I am a bit weary since I do not know all the rules surrounding using such a public domain. I was wondering if I could get some advice concerning this situation. I do know that some students have previously placed other projects for other teachers on YOu Tube, but I still am not sure if it brings in some legal issues.

Joined the 21st Century

Today I joined Facebook--Wow already I have seen pictures and names from the past--t is scary--my first friend was my mother-do you believe she was ahead of me? Anyway I was afraid to join due to privacy problems. Being a teacher it did not seem appropriate, however, it seems that most teachers are on facebook. Well, we will see if my own children add me as their friend--just checking. Hope to see my digital writing classmates on this book. Checking out for now--no students allowed