6 Months in Books

 

 

One of my resolutions for 2018 was to read more and look at screens less during the evening hours.  So far so good!  Here are some quick thoughts about the 36 books I’ve read so far this year, categorized for your reading and linked for your buying pleasure.

My Three Favorites So Far

• Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds –  This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.  Reynolds once again uses free verse to help the reader connect to the relevant issues of today.  Will is supposed to avenge the murder of his brother.  Revenge is one of the rules of the neighborhood, but he is struggling with this decision.  Reynolds takes us on Will’s elevator ride to becoming a murderer where, at each floor, he is greeted by someone he knows. This book was extraordinarily powerful and gave great insight to the difficult choices people make – “right” isn’t always so easy.  I have recommended this to every middle school student I know.
• Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan – Consisting of the three books: Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, and Rich People Problems, this series is absolutely hilarious.  Although the first book is definitely the best, after I finished the final book, I was kind of sad that I would not longer be reading about this hysterical family residing amongst Singapore’s wealthiest.  There certainly are a lot of characters but you grow to love each and every one of them.
• The Good Daughter by Karen Slaughter – I really loved this page-turning, plot-twisting, surprise ending physiological thriller. This was a great vacation read with great character development and an interesting plot.  Despite living in a peaceful town, Charlie and Sam, are witness to an extremely brutal and violent crime that may or may not be connected to their dad’s infamous job as a lawyer that represents serial killers. You never know where the book will go, but unlike most suspense books, this isn’t just about the plot, but the inner thoughts of the various family members in response to horrific events.

For the remaining books, I will offer short categorized reviews.

Middle Grades/ Young Adult Literature

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle – Finally read it.  Finally liked a science fiction book.  Definitely a classic.  I can imagine it’s even better read aloud. Girl genius power!
• The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli – Diverse but never forced, this is such a refreshing coming of age book that covers the challenges of sibling, friend, parent-child, and love relationships.  You’ll love Molly and will root for her to conquer her anxiety and take a risk at love.
• Simon vs. the Homosapiens by Becky Albertalli – Most teens question their identity at some point and Simon is no different. He just happens to be a closeted gay teen falling in love with someone over the internet. Funny and heart-warming, this is another great coming of age novel.
• Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate – We read this book as part of a 7th grade immigration unit.  Written in poetry, the language beautifully expresses what life in the United States is like for Kek, a Sudanese refugee. You apparently don’t wash dishes in the washing machine!
• The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart – This was a re-read,  and I loved it just as much the second time.  Boarding school student Frankie learns of an all-boy secret society. Watch out!
• The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan – This magical realist novel tackles the difficult topic of losing a family member to suicide. The beautifully written book carefully explores how Leigh comes to terms with her loss while at the same time getting to know her mother’s family in Taiwan. Excellent resources for those dealing with suicide are included.
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead – Newbury Award winning science fiction book – another that I actually enjoyed.  Who is writing Miranda notes that someone is going to die? And who is going to die??
• Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys – Another re-read, I absolutely love this book.  This is the story of Lina and her family’s forced enslavement into one of Stalin’s work camps during World War II.  Mesmerizing.
• Kids of Appetite by David Arnold – Enjoyable though sometimes confusing book about a gang of quirky kids called the Kids of Appetite on a mission to spread Victor’s father’s ashes across the US while also being suspected of murder.
• Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton –  Such an important book that allows readers to see into the mind of someone diagnosed and trying to overcome paranoid schizophrenia.  Adam is an important character for so many reasons and Walton’s book helps to demystify mental illness for all.
• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson – I chose this book for my 7th grade English students to read over the summer.  I hope they like it as much as I did! Beautifully written through poetry, Woodson explores her own life growing up between South Carolina and New York City in the 60s and 70s.  Just stunning!
• American Street by Ibi Zoboi – Another magical realist novel, this one incorporating Haitian culture and voodoo, this is an immigration story as much as it is a coming of age story. Very moving, honest, and at times difficult to read for its imagined truths.
• Far From the Tree by Robin Benway – A coming of age novel that explores topics related to adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care, this is a wonderful story of three siblings from different backgrounds who find and learn from each other.
• Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly – Newbury Award winning multi-cultural novel that explores growing up, bullying, and friendship. Interesting well-developed characters.  Will Virgil be rescued from the well?
• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erica Sánchez – A beautiful book that explores the life of a first-generation Mexican girl, Julia, who wants to (oh my!) go away to college in the aftermath of the death of her perfect sister.  Julia is an imperfectly perfect character and this book tackles difficult topics including mental health, dignity and growing up in two seemingly different worlds.
• One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus – Loved this page turner so much, I stayed up until the wee hours to finish it.  A modern day Breakfast Club, who will not escape Saturday detention?

Sometimes I Read Books for Adults

• This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel – An important and timely book about parents raising a transgender child. At times, you get angry at the parents for their decisions, but I imagine the story represented one of the many challenges parents face.  Really incredible read that I highly recommend.
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones – If Oprah picked it, it’s gotta be good, right?  Well this OBC book didn’t ‘t disappoint.  How can a newlywed couple on the verge of making a true name for themselves in their black community and beyond handle a husband’s wrongful prison sentence? Very interesting and though-provoking narrative.
• Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson – fun, light read perfect for the beach. Zany characters – all hoping to find love.  What more could you want?
• Class Mom by Laurie Gelman – Funny read about anb older mom dealing with the PTA, years after her first children went to school. Spoiler Alert: The PTA ain’t what it used to be.
• The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand – Another beach novel from Hilderbrand, this one dealing with twins who don’t get along and live on different islands – the Vineyard and Nantucket.  So much fun to read about island life.
• The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand – Hilderband’s latest deals with Nantucket, a wedding, the murder of the maid of honor, and the drama of the social elite.  A fun read!
• A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart – Really great read about what it is like to parent and maintain a relationship with a child on the Autism Spectrum and how a parent finds the ability to connect through video games.
• All the Missing Girls by Meghan Miranda – Suspense novel where the main character tries to determine the connection between two girls kidnapped years apart. Didn’t love it; didn’t hate it.
• The People We Hate at the Wedding by Grant Ginder – It might not be life changing but still a funny story about a dysfunctional family attending a wedding.
• The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes – Funny and light – sort of an updated Devil Wears Prada.  Great beach read!

Real Life

• Girl With Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee – Since North Korea seems to be such a hot topic these days, I wanted to learn more about the country.  This is a fascinating story of Lee’s escape and about the North Korean regime in general.
• Fire on Ice: The Exclusive Inside Story of Tonya Harding by Abby Haight and J.E. Vader – Man, was I completely enthralled with this real life drama when I was 10 years old.  I had to read this book when I saw the movie was based on it.  WOW.  Tonya Harding is definitely One. Of. A. Kind.
• The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater –  I did not remember this story of a young black boy setting fire to a a white, gender non-conforming girl in Oakland, California.  Incredible is all I have to say.
• Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose – fascinating story about a Civil Rights leader often overlooked but who set the stage for Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Fascinating story.
• Americanized by Sara Said – Written with great humor, this is a provocative true story of an undocumented Iranian teen living in America.  Gives an interesting perspective regarding our national debate on immigration and the travel ban.

Photo Credit: Josué Gogue

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

Recently, I had the pleasure of hearing Harvard Law Professor Dr. Randall Kennedy at a Forum for Independent Educators put on by the Facing History and Ourselves organization.  His incredible words forced me to think about my own beliefs and also how others think of me as I fight for equity and inclusion at my school.  One thing that struck me was his discussion around the concepts of tolerance and intolerance and the assumption that the former is automatically good and the latter automatically bad.  In reflecting on Professor Kennedy’s words and this week’s political outcome, these two concepts have weighed heavily on my mind.  Furthering my thoughts are the accusations that “raging liberals,” (which I guess I am according to these social media posters) are intolerant of our democratic process and the country’s right to choose because we are fearful of and saddened by the election results.

I thought I’d take some time to reflect on the idea that I’m intolerant, and in doing so realized something. Perhaps these Facebook friends are right.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of the idea that women are sex objects meant only to serve men, bear children, and look a certain way.  Of the idea that it’s okay that I may get paid less than someone who does the same job because I have different sex organs.  Of “locker room” talk that objectifies my gender and jokes about sexual abuse.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of the xenophobia that puts a target on the backs of innocent people, labeling them as terrorists and murderers, because of the actions of some.  That makes children cry and hide their beliefs because they fear physical or emotional harm.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of  clothing, comments, harassment, flags, and chants that create exclusion and marginalize individuals for the color of their skin or the country of their birth.  Of the belief that color is not an issue and the refusal to acknowledge the discrimination and prejudice that millions in our country face.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of the refusal to believe that some individuals are born with certain privileges that give them automatic opportunity.  That their birth “luck”makes it significantly easier for them to achieve the American Dream and overcome challenge.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of the unwillingness to take the time to learn about difference in hopes of understanding.  Of the culture of exclusion that stems from the idea that there is only one right way to be, love, act, or believe.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of attitudes and behaviors that do not allow people to feel anger, sadness, fear, or disbelief because of the way they are treated.  That instead make fun or place blame while refusing attempts to understand where the emotion comes from.

Yes, I’m Intolerant.

I’m intolerant of language and actions that make fun of people with disabilities.  That stigmatize mental illness and people who cannot think or behave according to approved social norms.

Yes, I’m intolerant.

I’m intolerant of the idea that an American must look and sound a certain way.

Yes, I’m intolerant.

I’m intolerant of ignorance.

… of inequity.

… of exclusion.

… of miseducation.

… of inhumanity.

… of intolerance.

I AM Intolerant.

I do try, however, to be tolerant of other’s viewpoints, even when they differ greatly from mine.  I try to be tolerant of those people on the other side of the fence that are hurting in a way that I don’t understand.  I try to be tolerant of those who may not know as much as me but are willing to learn more.  I will acknowledge that I, myself, have made mistakes, and that I have contributed, knowingly and unknowingly, to the problem.  I will recognize that I still have a long way to go in my journey to understand.

I will respect why others made their choice, knowing, as I’ve taught my students, that there are so many determinants in deciding a candidate, and that understanding these perspectives helps create unity. I will respect our democracy and the office of the presidency and have faith in our constitution.

But, I refuse to be stagnant, and I refuse to be tolerant of the idea that there are not massive problems in our country; that racism, sexism, religious intolerance, and xenophobia had no impact; that there is no such thing as privilege; that everyone has the same opportunities in this “boot-strap” country.  I will not accept these ideas as truth and will not pretend that this election did not prove that we have work to do to live up to the founding fathers proclamation that ALL are equal – and that that work didn’t just get a whole lot harder.

For many, it might be easy to ignore this right now, to focus on other things, to gloat and celebrate in the knowledge that their choice won.  And maybe because I get angry at that sentiment, I am intolerant.  But if that’s true, you can keep right on calling me that.

2016 NEATE Presentation Prezi: S.T.O.R.Y. Spreading the Truth of Real Youth through Authentic (and Fun!) Assessments

Below is the link to my NEATE prezi.  More handouts to come (as soon as grading is finished!).

Click on this link to get to the Prezi.

 

 

Reflections on 8th Grade Socratic Seminar

I’ve avoided Socratic or Harkness style seminars in my class for a number of years because I had honestly had very little experience with them and didn’t know how my students a discussion without me.  Kind of sad, I know.  This year, I made it one of my goals after hearing how successful it was in other classrooms, including the 8th grade Global Studies class that I frequently connect with.  I also have a group of students that love to discuss anything and everything, so I thought it would be a good year to start.  It hasn’t always been an easy process, but I’ve really started to feel like it’s working in the way I was hoping it would.  I thought I’d share my process and reflections on how I’ve incorporated Seminars into my English 8 class this year.

Practice Seminar 1:

• I decided to start out with a practice seminar so that students could learn my expectations and also so I could figure out what I wanted to do before I assessed them.  We had been reading A Long Way Gone, so I based my questions off the memoir.
  • Prior to Seminar: I started by reaching out to my English department colleagues for resources and received a plethora.  These included planning guides, reflections, and rubrics, which I adapted to fit the need of my class.  I gave students about 35 minutes to work in class and one night to plan for the discussion.
  • Student Seminar Process: I have two classes of 18 and one of 9, so I created two questions for the bigger classes to discuss.  Thus, each seminar was a group of 9 students. For the larger classes, while one group discussed, the other group participated through an online chat. Students started the discussion by creating a group goal and then were free to go.  After the discussion, students reflected on their performance in a somewhat informal way.
  • My process: I created a chart of things I was looking for in the seminar (participation, building off a point, using evidence from the text, etc.) and tallied the student’s performance overall.
• What Worked? What Didn’t?
  • Students had a good discussion because of the preparation they put in.  After talking to them, I realized that the students wanted more time to prepare.
  • Although I liked tallying the students performance and saw some benefit when I tried to create a grade, I felt like I couldn’t follow the conversation and see the depth of thought very well.  It was also very difficult to keep track of the conversation on paper.
  • Some of the students found it hard to find their voice and some found their voice too much.  Though creating the group goal did help somewhat, I realized I needed to do more work with students surrounding what it actually means to have a good conversation.
  • I found it really hard to grade.  Even after the students reflected, grading them individually was a real challenge, even if this was just practice, so I basically just didn’t!
  • Students that were not actively in the seminar but discussing online did a good job, but it was hard to follow the conversation, and it was also very easy for some students to get distracted by other online activities.
  • All in all, a decent start but still some work to do.

Practice Seminar 2:

• I chose to do another practice seminar since the first one didn’t go as great as I would have liked and because I still felt like I needed to try some things with my students before I could adequately assess them and give them a good sense of what I was looking for.  For this seminar, students would examine the essential questions for The Book Thief prior to reading the book.
  • Prior to Seminar: I gave the students more time – a couple of nights and some time in class to prepare for the discussion.  I gave them the opportunity to use the same planning guides as I had before but also allowed them to use their own system if my resource didn’t work for them.  To help students think of ways that would help them answer the question, I gave them the opportunity to explore news media and social media to look for possible answers to our essential questions.  Students were also strongly encouraged to seek out evidence that didn’t match their opinion.
  • Student Seminar Process: I once again separated the students into groups of 9 but for the larger classes, students who were not in the seminar group took notes on a partner’s performance.  After the seminar, the outside group would then give feedback to the seminar group.
  • My process: Instead of tallying the student’s performance, I took notes on what each student was saying, thinking that it would allow me to reflect on the conversation and help me better assess the student individually.
• What worked? What didn’t?
  • Again, the preparation was good.  Students had a lot of evidence and a lot to say.  It was sometimes hard for them to use the evidence to back up their opinion and they relied on lot on vague ideas, but they did have good plans.
  • I really liked having students observe other students.  After each discussion, feedback was given and it allowed the students to see that their were issues in their discussion, and particularly that they weren’t listening to each other or building conversation.  It also kept the non-discussing group very focused on the discussion at hand, and I could tell that they wanted to jump in.
  • It was helpful to transcribe what the students were saying but again it didn’t make it easy to grade.  I found it really challenging to be able to observe listening, participation, and behavior for 9 students accurately, so once again, I didn’t actually give a grade.  Thank goodness this was also just for practice.
  • After the seminar, I had students reflect on what would make the seminar process better and got a lot of good advice.  Students were also able to see their own problem areas.
  • One of the biggest thing I noticed in this seminar was a tendency for certain voices to dominate while others remained extremely quiet.  In addition, some students started to get dismissed or cut off if their voices weren’t loud enough.  Some changes needed to be made.

Official Seminar 3:

• I knew it was time to grade an official seminar.  The students would discuss a question from our work with The Book Thief but that would also have them think about current events related to poverty and crime.
  • Prior to Seminar: Before our official discussion, I spent some time really thinking about how to make this better since I had a good idea of what wasn’t working.  Here is some of my process and changes:
    • I discussed various problems and potential solutions with students and had them discuss what they thought would work best for their class.  For example, I did not want to create two EQs for this seminar, so I wanted to come up with a way for students to discuss the same question without copying each other.  We decided to have two seminars going at once for the bigger classes and I would use video to track their conversations.  This would allow me to go freely between the two groups.
    • After talking with our current global studies teacher and my English department, I realized that I needed to stop grading my students individually but instead should grade them as a group.  This would hopefully take away their pressure to perform and would help them have actual conversations.
    • I created seating assignments for groups that tended to have more dominant voices.
    • One of my colleagues suggested I establish a moderator to ask questions and promote equitable discussion.  This person wouldn’t directly be involved in the discussion and would also work with the group to evaluate their own progress at the end.
    • I wanted the students to ask more questions as I feel like questioning is a great way to challenge someone’s point and get people thinking in a different way.  But my students were not good at this and really found it challenging in the previous seminars.  I decided that we would have a conversation only in questions.  We watched a TED talk and did just that.  Not only was it fun, my students realized that it slowed their thought process down, that you could make a point through a discussion, and that it actually added a lot to the conversation.
    • I felt ready.
  • During Seminar
    • I found a large space so that I could examine both seminars but students were far enough apart that they wouldn’t bother each other.
    • Students had had several days and a good chunk of class time to prepare.  I also had given them some sites to explore so that they could see the question beyond the novel.
    • I showed students the rubric I would use to grade them as a group and reminded them why we moved to the group assessment.
    • The moderator led the discussion, asked questions when necessary, and interrupted to make sure all voices were heard.
    • Halfway through the discussion, per the suggestion of my colleague, I had students reflect on points they hadn’t made but wanted to.  At this time, the moderator gave feedback to the group regarding areas of strength and weakness and even called a few students out on too much participation or not enough.
    • Students filled out more formal reflections at the end of the discussion and also completed an individual written assignment based on the essential question.
  • My process:
    • I simply walked around and listened. It was wonderful.
    • In my smaller class, I tracked who was participating so that I could show the group at the end.
    • I occasionally gave advice to the moderator regarding things he could do (call on kids to participate, step back, ask a question, encourage use of evidence).
  • What worked? What didn’t?
    • The  discussions were great, and so many more kids participated. It was clear that the pressure of the individual grade really hindered the students from having a conversation with each other.  Although it was still challenging at times, there was much better flow and I could tell that the students understood they were working together.
    • Students asked great questions.  The strategy we used in class really helped with this, and they even reflected that asking questions was a great way to promote more discussion.
    • I loved the use of the moderator.  Although a little more prep work would help them moderate better, overall it was very successful.  No one could hide in the group, and the moderator also was able to give great feedback.  At the end of the discussion, it was the moderator, with input from the group who evaluated the performance, and because they weren’t participating in the actual discussion, their thoughts were honest and accurate and they were able to help their group members see their strengths and areas to improve.
    • There is definite value to having two seminars at once but also to having students listen to each other discuss.  I think I will try both throughout the year.
    • Students are still having trouble using the evidence that they prepare and using it in a way to support their general thoughts.  This is something we really need to work on and I will have to model for them.
    • I am not stressing on assessing the students through a grade as they will be assessing themselves as a group and then their individual grade will come from their written preparation and their written response.  I not only feel at ease but also feel like their grade will be more accurate.

Overall, I am very pleased at how Seminars are progressing in my class and am so thankful for the advice of my colleagues.  I think it’s going to be a Seminar filled Semester 2!

Would love to hear your thoughts and approaches to Socratic Seminars, especially in middle school.

 

Middle School Memoir Unit Part 1: Picking a Topic and Getting them Motivated

For the first time in quite some time, I decided to teach a unit on memoir writing.  Two years after interning at Nancie Atwell’s Center for Teaching and Learning, I was finally ready to use what I had learned.  I relied heavily on the information learned at CTL as well as Atwell’s book Lessons that Change Writers ,and I am very proud of how the unit turned out and the growth each student made as a writer in the process.  I am very excited to share my process and some of my students’ work with you.

I spent a lot of time working with my students on choosing a meaningful topic as I often find that this is one of the hardest things for a student to do.  Here are the pre-writing steps I took as well as some reflections.

1. Brainstorming possible topics.  In Lessons that Change Writers, Atwell includes a great list of questions for memoirists to ask themselves when considering what to write about. “What are my earliest memories? What’s an incident that changed my life? What’s a time or a place I felt as if my heart were breaking?” are just a few. I chose to read each question orally and have my students bullet potential answers.  Periodically, we would stop to allow students to share responses to hopefully inspire others in the class.  As I read over questions, I added questions to my own personal list to support students who felt blocked. After reading over twenty questions, students had a giant list of potential topics to choose from and likely a lot more ideas than if I had them brainstorm from memory alone.
2. Narrowing down topics.  After talking about Atwell’s “Rule of So What” with the students, I asked students to narrow down their list to two or three topics that they felt had a “So What” and they would also enjoy writing about.  Students then met in small groups and interviewed each other regarding their potential topics.  My students are well-practiced in working with each other in a “professional way,” and as a result, their discussions were very rich.  It’s always exciting to hear students question their peers regarding whether or not their work truly meets the guidelines of the genre.  This step did go fairly well, but in retrospect I should have spent more time really discussing the importance of having a “So What” in the student’s pieces.  Later on in the process as students began to write, it became clear that some students were finding this challenging. More time at the beginning would have likely helped students better see that the purpose of memoir writing is not just to record an event but to reflect and show the importance of it.
3. Writing smaller. Even once the students had a topic, I noticed that many of the topics were broad, which would make it hard for them to write in a way that included thoughts and feelings.  I am a firm believe in modeling work for students for many different reasons but primarily because students often need to see how something works in action.   I think this is especially important when narrowing down a topic.  I knew that my model memoir was going to be about my grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease, but I didn’t know what part of the story I wanted to tell.  I worked with my students to discover how I could make this topic smaller.  We brainstormed all of the different elements of my grandmother’s battle (having to help her at her house, deciding to send her to the nursing home, when I first found out she had the disease, her first day in the nursing home, etc.).  We then discussed each idea in relation to my “So What” which was to show how my grandmother’s disease impacted but ultimately didn’t change our relationship.  I was able to uncover, with help from the students, that I thought the best way to do this was to talk about bringing her to the nursing home for the first time.  Students then went into their own work and, again with a partner, discussed how to narrow down their topics so that they focused on one main event that allowed them to explore their “So What?” in the best manner possible.
4. 6-Word Memoirs: My favorite step in the pre-writing process was the most fun and one that I’ve been waiting for a long time to do.  I wanted my students to really think about why they were telling their stories and thought the 6-word memoir might be a good approach.  We examined and discussed some 6-word memoir videos on YouTube (there are many), and talked about the difference between creating a 6-word memoir vs. a 6-word motto. After I modeled some potential phrases and sentences for my own topic, I then asked my students to brainstorm some ideas that would summarize and show the importance of their memoir in just six words.  This was definitely hard for them at first, but I do think they ended up having fun with it and also believed it helped get them excited for the writing they were about to do.   Students used large post-it notes to brainstorm their ideas as seen below.
   

   

   After a good chunk of time, we placed their work all over the classroom for a gallery walk.  As the class (me included) silently examined each other’s work, they starred the phrases they loved, left comments, and asked questions. Following this peer revision technique, the writer then finalized their choice and illustrated their point using a poster, which I later videoed. 

   Although I don’t know how much this activity helped my students really understand why they were writing, I do think it helped them think about their stories in a different way. Some students eventually decided against their original topic later on, so their 6-word memoir didn’t end up matching up with their final project, but I firmly believe this activity helped get their creative juices flowing while also creating genuine enthusiasm for the unit.   Not to mention that it created a sense of community and made students a little less afraid to share something personal. I would do this again in heartbeat.

Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on my work.  How do you start off your memoir unit?

How to Silence 8th Graders

I love Brandon Stanton’s work.  I find it mesmerizing, inspiring, thought-provoking and countless other adjectives.  As I’ve delved into my own work around equity, I also find it a great place for me to further and challenge my own perspectives about the world.  I’ve wanted to use the site in my classroom for some time but couldn’t think about how I could without feeling like I was forcing it down my students throats. This past weekend, I finally figured it out.

We have been reading Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief, and I have been using this masterpiece of a novel to have my students examine the following essential questions (some for the year, others just for the unit):

• What is the power of story?
• How does an individual influence a community? How does a community influence an individual?
• What do we risk by being apathetic? Where do responsibilities lie?
• Why tell the story of World War II?
• Are there elements of the Holocaust still alive in our world today?

We have been spending a great amount of time discussing how the book connects to our current world, specifically around ideas of poverty, privilege, and inequity.  Our discussions have been intense and memorable.  They are why I teach.

As I worked to produce seminar questions for students to wrestle with as they work through the novel, I knew I wanted them to think about our school motto “Achieve the Honorable” through the eyes of the book and considering our world today.

Liesel, the main character, and her friend, the beloved Rudy, are suffering through the Holocaust, are poor and desperately hungry. They steal food to survive but never, as the reader, do you feel like it is wrong for them to do so.  Liesel’s family, like many brave throughout Germany, also harbors a Jew, risking their own life to save another’s, something that people now consider an unbelievable act of courage.

My seminar question quickly became: Is crime and dishonesty ever okay?  An extension resulted in: What does it really mean to “Achieve the Honorable?”  I want my students not only to think about these tough choices that the characters had to make but to think about how examining these characters could help them better understand the choices millions around the world and in our own backyards have to face daily.

As I thought about resources I wanted to share with my students to help them grapple with these questions and to consider various perspectives, I finally realized that this is how I could use Humans of New York.  I happened to luck out as Brandon is currently interviewing prisoners at several New York City jails.  It couldn’t have worked out better if I had planned it.

A very few of my students had knowledge about the site or spent significant time visiting it. All it took for them to quiet down and become engrossed was for me to share the website.  I’ve NEVER seen my eighth graders, or any eighth graders for that matter, so quiet and engaged for a significant time period.  They did not talk.  They did not ask to get a drink of water.  They didn’t even realize when I needed to leave the room for a moment. In fact, they barely moved.  And when given the opportunity, they discussed and only stopped because I stopped them.

This week, they will try to become storytellers themselves and will harness their inner Brandon Stanton.  I cannot wait to see their results, and I cannot wait for them to answer our seminar questions.

It’s amazing what happens when people are given the opportunity to share their stories. It’s amazing what happens when people take time to read those stories.  It’s amazing what Brandon Stanton has done.

So thank you, Brandon, for not only inspiring millions around the world, but for helping my students think.  Thank you for quieting my 8th graders in the best way possible.

What if Wednesday: A Simple Question

What if we didn’t worry how treating others with justice and respect, no matter the difference, affected our own lives but focused on how it could affect theirs?

What If Wednesday

What if we graded student’s effort?

What if we don’t?

What if effort does not equal mastery?  How do we help students with this?

What I Read This Week

Books:

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.  This was a re-read for me.  I picked it up again after quite a few years when I overheard a teacher talking about it in the hallway. I remember how much this book created my love for all things Picoult and knew it would be a great way to pass the time over winter break.  It was as good as I remember – an interesting look at a school shooting and the elements at play.  One of the reasons I love this book is it makes you think about the shooter’s family, in a way that you might not have before.  When someone behaves monstrously, who is to blame?

I am Malala by Malala Yosafzai

I have finally started the memoir, and I am enjoying it so far.  It is an interesting look into a world that I know very little of and one that is often only highlighted in certain ways through the media.  I am taking this one slowly and just reading little by little.

Articles that I particularly enjoyed:

• “All Teachers Should be Trained to Overcome Their Hidden Biases” by Soraya Chemely – posted on time.com on February 12,2015.  This is a really interesting discussion of the dangers facing both boys and girls in school when teachers don’t stop to examine their hidden bias.  Wouldn’t it be amazing if we actually took the time to video our lessons once in awhile and examined our own teaching for potential bias?  New Years Resolution, perhaps.

Some of my student blog posts this week:

• “How to Solve the IS Issue” by chrisx12
• “Most Overrated Beauty Products of 2015” by Kaitlin864
• “3 Projects to Start this Year” by KK052920
• “KITH Treats (Cereal Bar) Review” by eugtheo
• “The Effect of Light” (Photography tips) by lifesethics

 

 

 

What If Wednesday

One of my goals is to blog more regularly.  To do so, I have decided to start a series called What If Wednesday as I frequently find myself asking questions related to the field of education that begin with that said question.  Sometimes they will be thematic, sometimes they won’t.  It’s just a series of questions that’s on my mind.  Feel free to answer or share your own.

What if…

• Students were given a time limit on homework?
• Homework only consisted of practice?
• We gave students the homework to read or write whatever they want?
• We told them that after school they were required to play?
• Students created their own assignments?
• Students had a series of assignments to choose from?
• Students knew all their homework at the beginning of the week?
• Students created the schedule to complete their homework?
• The students’ homework was to reflect on what they learned and practiced in class and prepared questions and a plan for the future?
• Homework wasn’t considered a requirement?