Creativity and Logic: The Importance of a Diverse Education

As an English teacher, one of the most challenging parts of the job is getting students to think outside the box. From my observations, there are few students who excel both creatively and logically. You know them when you find them. They ace everything from English to math, but it's the ones who are on either one side or another that pose the most challenge for teachers.

The Creative Kid Who Is Always in His Own World

Students who struggle with concrete concepts like math and science have a special place in my heart. Many teachers take one look at these students and write them off due to the fact that they struggle in particular subjects. These students remind me of myself. I wasn't the best student in high school and it really took until college before I gained an appreciation for subjects like math. However, I always loved creative writing assignments. Part of the reason I struggled in these subjects is the fact that I lived in my own world most of the time. The teacher might have been explaining 2 step equations, but I was sitting at my desk daydreaming about super powers or the impending zombie apocalypse. Creativity is a skill that has seemingly fell flat. It's no longer deemed important and I feel it's a true shame. Unfortunately, while creative talents have certainly been kind to particular individuals in the job market, many employers are now seeking concrete skills for their businesses, and if you don't have these skills, your creative writing degree will have a hard time finding you a job. So while there is some merit for getting away from teaching creativity, creative projects allow students to develop critical thinking skills often needed for the workplace. For these students, students like myself, it's imperative that we gain their attention early so that they may learn to respect skills like math and science. It's just difficult to pull them from their world long enough to do it.

Logical, Concrete Students

Getting a student who has no interest in math and science to suddenly want to learn about equations and proofs is tough challenge. However, students who love concrete applications can be just as difficult to reach. These are the students who excel when it comes to multiple choice tests and scientific reasoning but come up short when it comes to creative works. Why is it so hard to teach these students? Explaining to a student that they aren't thinking outside the box is very difficult. Their writing may be grammatically flawless but has the depth of a water fountain. They see the world in black and white, but avoid the shades of grey in between. Many teachers would argue that creativity simply can't be taught, but I would say that's not entirely true. Is it true that some students will naturally excel at certain subjects while others will struggle? Yes, definitely. However, by asking students critical questions surrounding a text or issue can possibly give them the ability to see the world from different angles.

So Why do Students Need a Diverse Array of Abilities?

Students are failing to graduate high school with the abilities needed to excel in both college and the job market. Students who can't think critically are automatically unqualified for jobs, even those in their field to study study after college. Similarly, and unfortunately, those who only enjoy the creative arts have nearly no place in the job market. Trust me; I'm an English major. It's for this reason students need to have the capability to both think outside the box, and at the same time, gain an appreciation for the sciences from an early age.

For the sake of discussion, what is your views on teaching creativity in the classroom? Can it be done? If so, how?

How to Get Students to Stick to Their Goals

One of the questions we hear most as teachers is, "How do you motivate students to succeed?" That's an excellent question. Honestly, and unfortunately, there is no true and tried, surefire method to achieve student success. If there was, we wouldn't be attending new professional development sessions every year to learn the latest in student/teacher interaction. We would have simply been taught this method from the very beginning and our days would consist of insurmountable success and happiness.

But let's become grounded for a moment.

Motivating students to succeed has a ton of variables ranging from the subject to student. I recently read an interesting article on Life Hack where the author, James Clear, discusses the most important factor in setting goals and sticking to them. He essentially states that many Americans set goals such as exercising, dieting, or finishing a long piece of work, yet fail to stick to these goals. He then cites a study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology that pit three groups of subjects working toward a common goal:

• The first group was asked to keep track of how much they exercised over the next two weeks and then asked to read three paragraphs of an unrelated novel before they left. 
• The second group was asked to do the same, however, they were given a brief lecture over the benefits of exercising instead of the unrelated novel. This was the group they were attempting to motivate. 
• The third group was asked to do the same, however,in addition to the motivational speech, this group was asked to sit down and write out a plan showing when and where they were going to work out over the next two weeks.

What did the results show?

Group one showed they exercised 38% of the time. 

Group two showed they exercised 35% of the time.

And group three showed they exercised 91% of the time. 

The results of this study made me think: we try to motivate students to make and stick to goals for our class, but how often do we actually sit down with that student and construct a plan to achieve these goals? As the study shows, motivation isn't enough. Why? Because it wears off. I had a colleague once tell me that motivation and bathing were similar in that they both needed to be done daily. However, motivating student to spark an interest followed by a written statement of how and when they will achieve these goals would seem to make a difference. 

Of course there would still be students who fail to stick to their goals, but that's when we need to get their attention again and again and again. Think about it, as an adult, how many times have you told yourself you're going to stick to something only to fizzle out? It's tough to change one's habits and mindset. Perhaps by sitting down with students one on one and writing up a plan to help them overcome that which they struggle with, whether its their work ethic or a specific learning target, is exactly what the doctor ordered when it comes to getting students to stick to their goals. 

If you're interested in James Clears' website, you can find it at Jamesclear.com.  He write about strategies that help us stick to good habits. It's something I think we could all definitely benefit from. 

5 Handy Tech Tools for the High School Teacher

As the world of technology continues to open up new possibilities in the classroom, teachers find themselves in a situation where the use of this technology is no longer recommended, it’s required. With administrations from every school asking how their teachers are integrating technology in the classroom, I decided this would be a neat article to explore. The following are some interesting apps and programs that give teachers a variety of advantages in the classroom.

Blogger or WordPress

Free blog development sites like Blogger or WordPress are perfect for educators. Not only are they simple to use, but they offer the tools needed to communicate with your students when you’re not around. Why have a blog? The possibilities are endless. You can conduct polls, initiate discussion, or simply relay the day’s activities to those who missed. It’s the perfect classroom companion.

Dropbox

We’ve entered an age where one device simply doesn’t cut it. We may begin our work at a home computer, but then move on to school. After school, perhaps we’re out and need to access a file on the go. That’s where Dropbox comes in. I may save files on the computer at school or home as a backup measure, but when it comes to everyday saving, Dropbox is where my files find themselves. With Dropbox, you can easily save files on any device and access them anywhere you can sign in, and best of all, it’s free! I even use it at home just to move from the laptop to the desktop to my phone. My files are always by my side and it’s a nice feeling to have.

The Handy, Dandy Cell Phone

Seriously, what can’t today’s cell phones do? From messaging, to emailing, to web surfing, to… calling, yes, today’s cell phones do everything. However, when I’m in the classroom, what do I use most on my phone? The timer. Pretty simple, eh? With my lessons divided up into segments, I can use my cell phone to easily transition from one part to the next without fear of running out of time. We’re on a tight schedule, and these standards won’t teach themselves!

YouTube

Please don’t underestimate the power of YouTube. With YouTube, you can learn how to do just about anything. I learned how to fix my broken dryer recently from a YouTube video, and let me tell you, my handyman skills have a lot to be desired. With YouTube, you can easily supplement lessons. Integrate YouTube videos with your blog posts and you can create a full online lesson.

CommonCore App for Iphone

Oh, Lord in Heaven how can I thank you for this app? The need to create lessons and correlate them to Common Core Standards just got easier. Instead of browsing through the clunky PDF files available on the Common Core website, one can simply download this app and have the standards they need readily available at their fingertips. If you’re one of the many teachers expected to follow Common Core State Standards, please download this app now!

Dealing with Apathetic Students in today’s Classrooms

Apathy.

It has to be the most frustrating word to a teacher’s ears. Today’s classrooms, while likely no different than yesterday’s, host a number of students who literally just do not care. The question, therefore, is how do we as teachers deal with students who are apathetic about our classroom, our subject, or just education in general?

When I think of apathy, one particular student comes to mind. For the sake of this article, we’ll call him Joe. One day, while circulating to check students' progress, I noticed that Joe hadn’t completed his work. As a matter of fact, he had barely started. Across the top of his page, only the first two letters of his name was completed. He was too lazy to even finish his name! Being the stickler I am for getting the most out of my students, I later called him to my desk to have a one on one discussion with a student I knew little about.

It was early in the year and I was new to the job. What I learned about Joe that day will forever interest me as an educator. I asked him why he hadn’t completed his work, and unlike the many students who look away, shrug, or get offensive, he calmly and respectfully said, “I just don’t like doing work. It’s just not for me.”

Ok… I asked him how his grades were in other classes; he said he was failing all his other classes with the exception of a vocational class. I explained to him that at the rate he was going, he was going to finish with a near 2% in my class. He said that’s ok, he didn’t mind. I told him it would really be in his best interest to complete the work so he could earn a good grade. He respectfully said, “That’s OK. I just don’t like doing work.” I then asked him about his parents, would they care if he simply failed all of his classes. He calmly said, “Nah, they know. They don’t care.” (As it turns out, they really didn’t.)

Joe was apathetic. He didn’t care about his work. He didn’t care about his grade. He didn’t care about his future. I was surprised to find out that Joe had a job working in fast food; it was a job he intended to do for the rest of his life and he was ok with that. So the question remains, how do we influence students like Joe to take charge of their live when they don’t care, their parents don’t care, and there’s no punishment around that can possibly change their mind?

Gain Their Respect

Let us take to the internet to discuss a variety of ways we can get Joe to care about his future. According to the Teacher Effectiveness Program (TEP), “Try building a relationship with these students. Take an interest in them to find out what’s at the bottom of the perceived apathy.” I can agree with this statement. In the case of Joe, we know that his apathy likely derived from his home life and the values he was raised with. By connecting with Joe, and learning who he is as an individual, we’re able to gain his respect. Once we have that, Joe will complete his work to keep your respect, and in the long run, gain an appreciation for the subject matter.

Give Them a Reason to Care

Teacherhub has a different take on student apathy. They say, “We all know it’s never as simple as students just don’t care.” While many teachers will swear by the fact that their students do not care and there’s no reason for it, Teacherhub is probably right. In Joe’s case, his home life or possibly seeing school as a waste of time was probably the source of his apathy. In this case, it’s important to explore their hopes and dreams in order to relate it to your source material. Perhaps you can give them a reason to care about the skills you’re teaching.

Hold Students to High Standards

Teacherhub also mentions, “Hold your child or your students to high standards.” While very important, I find this very difficult to accomplish with apathetic students. For example, let’s say I hold Joe to a very high standard. He comes in with his work barely started let alone completed. What am I to do? Of course giving his a bad grade is obvious, but Joe doesn’t care about his grade. How do I hold Joe accountable for his lack of effort? Do I punish him? Joe would much rather spend the day in detention than have me standing over his shoulder. He would much rather be suspended, before for Joe, home is the best place to be. So what do I do? I feel this is where we must show how much we care. Sitting Joe down and explaining why it’s important that he completes his work one more time is called for here. We have to express our disappointment and show Joe that while he may not care about his future, we do. Perhaps then his next assignment will come in on time.

What do you guys think? Please, take the time to drop a comment below. I would love to discuss this topic with you. Do you have any stories like Joe? If so, how did you handle it and how did it work out? 

5 Things Sure To Ruin A Teacher's Day

Not to be confused with Miley Cyrus

I want to go ahead and say that I love teaching. However, there are some days where events occur that I could certainly do without. I’m sure I speak for most teachers when I say the following events certainly are a cause for slight concern.

Crap, that doesn’t look right.

La la la la, I’m writing on the board teaching my heart out. Then, all of a sudden…. Crap… I’m not sure if I’m spelling this right. Oh come on! I’ve written this before. Ughh, but it looks wrong. Ok… I’m taking a shot at it here. *Writes word then cautiously turns around and looks at students.* Whew. I must have gotten it right. “Ummm, Mr. Howard?” …Uh oh.

Great. They’re fighting. Now what?

Many teachers have no idea how to handle a fight. Some say, “There’s no way I’m getting involved in that.” While I do understand many teachers’ concerns, I just can’t imagine standing back and letting them beat each other’s brains out. Unfortunately, when other teachers won’t help, suddenly you’re left alone to bring about peace and order to world. At any rate, fights ruin the day.

Good thing I brought the keys to my cla- they’re at home…

This is fantastic. I needed to get things in order for first period and the door is locked. Yeah, I could go to the office and get a key, but I was just in there yesterday. Urghhh, I really need to put that key on my car keys.

Outspoken Susan is being outspoken

Some kids have no filter. You know the kid. He/she is the one that doesn’t really say anything worth getting into a lot of trouble, but they tend to think you’re their best friend and often say things that you could really do without.

I’m teaching, I’m teaching, I’m teaching… Uh oh.

There is NOTHING worse than striking to use the bathroom in the middle of a lesson. NOTHING. PERIOD. Oh, this is great. They put me in a classroom that’s miles away from the teachers’ bathroom and the teacher next door has no interest in watching my class. Erm, this is fourth period, too. The minute I step out of this room it will be 100% chaos. Now what?

It’s worth pointing out that most of the points mentioned above are exaggerated and the names/periods are 100% fictional. However, why kid ourselves? These things happen. :D

Teaching- A Robot Can't Do My Job

I highly doubt we'll ever see Rosie teaching English.

As the world continues to become more automated, there’s a mutter across the educational world that continues to cause concern for teachers everywhere: will there be a time where I am replaced? Not in the sense that a physical robot will wonder about the room taking up papers and scolding unruly students. No, instead, will there be a time where hundreds of students are in one room conducting all of their work through digital means?

Perhaps, but I would like to remind everyone that a robot can’t do my job.

It’s not possible. In order to teach, not only do you have to be human, but you have to be a special human. Teaching has evolved from delivering content to role-model, friend, guardian and counselor. We are everything at once- a collective bundle of educational knowledge and emotional support. Our duties go beyond thesis statements, two-step equations, and the rock cycle. We are movers who pick up emotional baggage throughout the day, take it home, sleep on it, and then bring back solutions. A robot cannot do our job.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Class sizes continue to grow and budget cuts threaten the security of our jobs. I’ve taught at two schools where I’ve been given a pink slip due to budget concerns. With teacher numbers dwindling and more and more students crowding our classrooms, we’re asked to take on the impossible task of doing our job properly.

And the supposed solution for this is to put a ridiculous amount of students in one room and automate the process? Nope. Teaching can’t be automated. There’s not a formula in the world that can account for the amount of variables in a teacher’s day.

So again I say, a robot can’t do my job. 

Has Students' Behavior Gotten Worse?

As a young teacher, I often find myself wondering about the state of student behavior. Not too far removed from high school, I sometimes find myself in shock and awe when witnessing some of the crazy things today's students attempt to get away with. I simply don't remember my classmates and I being so disrespectful, or sometimes downright mean.

I'll question some of the older teachers in the building, "Are these students worse than years prior?" Most say yes.

However, are they really getting worse or is our perception just a tad skewed? As for my high school memories, my perception is flawed for sure. I attended all honors and AP classes, and therefore, was only around other students who were on their best behavior. Going through college, we unfortunately live in a dream world where our days are filled with students like those we were around in high school. After we graduate and get a job, we realize the world is a tad different than what we had seen through our rainbow-tented glasses.

But what about the teachers who have claimed students are getting worse? While I can't argue with the perception of veteran teachers- they would know more about student behavior in the 90's better than I would- I do believe teachers' patience for shenanigans wears thinner and thinner as they progress throughout their career. Perhaps it's this burnout- a burnout that leads careers nationwide in professional turnover- that causes teachers to feel students are getting worse.

Recently, during a night where I had nothing better to do, I found myself watching The Breakfast Club for the first time. I know. I know. I had never watched it until recently. At any rate, I found myself watching the film from the perspective of a teacher. Have you ever realized the amount of, "Oh my God, that would be on CNN tomorrow," moments The Breakfast Club has? During that film, students pull use weapons, participate in drug use, commit multiple sexual harassment offenses, portrays a corrupt teacher committing confidentiality fraud and student abuse, etc., etc.

And that's in one day.

Of course, it's a film, and Hollywood has a way of blowing things out of proportion. However, it does show that even during the time The Breakfast Club was written, the issues of today's schools were present. Issues such as poor home life, bullying, and ironically, a teacher who feels students have gotten worse.

So, as always, what do you guys think? Those of you who have been in the field longer than I, have students gotten worse over the years?

Question: Do Seating Charts Promote Good Behavior?

At only 25, high school doesn’t seem that long ago to me. It seems like just yesterday I was wondering my way from class to class carrying nearly all my books in a vain attempt to avoid my locker. There were some classes I liked more than others, and more often than not, the subject matter didn’t really make a big difference in likability. For me, it was the teacher and the environment that I was asked to learn in. More specifically, it came down to this: did I get to sit where I want with who I wanted?

Fast forward nearly a decade and I now have a differing view on seating charts. As a student, I loathed them. I felt they had no place in this world and considered them a futile attempt to get us to be quiet. However, for the honors classes that I was part of, they worked.

So how do I feel about them as an educator? Do seating charts really assist in getting students to simply be quiet and pay attention? Let’s explore the possibilities.

A quick Google search of the topic certainly brings up some results. According to an article written on leesonplansinc.com, “Seating charts are one of the best preventative measures a teacher can use. Sitting a talkative student next to a shy student might limit disruptions.” Is this true? Sure it is. There are definitely talkers in classrooms that will benefit from sitting next to a quiet student. This scenario has me think of the social butterfly kind of student. You know the ones. They’re the students who will gossip with their BFF for an hour straight, but never gets into any other kind of trouble. Therefore, yes, I think these students benefit from a seating chart.

But when do they fail?

Suddenly I’m drawn back to 7^th grade. I’ll never forget the seating charts we had that year. There were a number of students who forced the teacher to pick their poison. Sit them close to their friend and they’re going to talk the whole period. Sit them away from their friend and they’re going to say hello by throwing a paper wad or small piece of pencil at their friend’s head. Therefore, is a seating chart productive for rebellious students who constantly disrupt class?

The obvious answer is yes. Create a seating chart then send those unruly students to the principal’s office for punishment. If they’re causing that many problems, they shouldn’t be in there in a first place. While I couldn’t agree more, there are a number of issues that cause this to not be so simple, and for the most part, they boil down to school’s ability to handle unruly students.

Funding issues across the country has some schools pulling their alternative school programs in favor of keeping traditional classroom teachers on salary. Yes, I have taught at a school with no alternative program. Have a student that’s causing you great distress? Deal with it, because you have him/her for that period and there’s nowhere else for them to go.

Of course, this issue goes beyond simple seating chart logic; however, it’s a very concerning issue for teaching trying to get their students to behave in class and adhere to a seating chart. Do I sit them next to their friend and deal with the muttering all period or separate them and instead listen to them scream and throw things?

Ultimately, seating chart effectiveness depends on three things: the students, the teachers, and the administration.

As said before, some students will benefit greatly from a seating chart; however, the teacher’s ability to enforce classroom rules will have a tremendous effect on the classroom as a whole. If a teacher lacks the ability to control their class, seating charts are useless. As for the occasional student who causes nightmares for teachers across the board, just hope your administration has the ability to enforce their own rules, and in rare cases, pull students out of situations where they are damaging the educational process for all.

With that being said, I would love to hear your thoughts on seating charts. Do you use them? If so, how do they work for you?

Free Thesis Statement Materials

Finding materials for the secondary English classroom is never easy. Unfortunately, most language arts materials available online are for the lower grades. It’s for that reasons I’m happy to share a small thesis statement PowerPoint and essay handout worksheet with you.

Happy Teaching :)

Thesis Statement PowerPoint
Essay Outline Handout

Should Teachers Allow Cell Phones in the English Classroom?

As information becomes more readily available on the internet, more and more people have become dependent on cell phones. Information that once upon a time required serious thought, or personal assistance, is now simply a few buttons away. With so many answers sitting in the palm of one’s hand, it seems as though cell phones would have taken their place in the classroom of America’s schools by now. Particularly with the English classroom where students have their own personal spell check. However, as many teachers understand, there are certain complications that arise when trying to introduce cell phones into classrooms of any subject. Ultimately, cell phone usage in classroom depends on the mentality of the teacher and the students themselves.

Teachers should not be told how to do their job, and as such, forcing teachers to allow cell phones in the classroom is wrong. Therefore, the question of whether cell phones should be allowed begins with the teacher’s mentality toward phones being used as an educational tool. A quick glance at debate.org, a website dedicated to exploring some of the world’s most two-sided questions, will show that people are divided on the topic with many naysayers bringing up the fact that cell phones cause distractions, or can lead to cheating on assignments. Teachers who feel these issues outweigh the potential benefits of cell phone usage will likely say no, students should not be allowed to have cell phones out during instructional periods.

However, this is just one side of the argument and one kind of teacher. For every teacher who feels cell phones cause more harm than good, there’s another of the opposite variety. What merit do proponents of cell phone usage have for responsible cell phone use? According to USA TODAY’s, Brian Shane, a study by the Pew Research Center found that “77% of people between the ages 12-17 have cell phones,” and that one school, Assabet Valley Vocational High School in Marlborough, Mass, regularly use cell phones and tablets for apps on various subjects. According to the administration of these schools, they are seeing promising results while trying to iron out the faults that come along with cell phone usage in classes.

Ideally, cell phone usage in schools makes sense. It allows for quick retrieval of information that would otherwise only be available through traditional text. However, no one knows a set of students better than their teacher. Teaching requires differentiation due to the fact that no two set of students learn exactly alike. It’s because of this that some students can handle the responsibility of cell phone usage and others cannot. While 1^st period may have no trouble staying on task and using their phone to enrich their educational experience, 2^nd period may use their phones solely to take goofy pictures, text one another, or browse unrelated topics on the internet. In reality, the teacher is the one who should make the ultimate call on cell phone usage.

Of course, there’s a host of other issues including school security. However, based solely on the academic potential of pocket size technology in the classroom, cell phones could make a huge difference in learning. Answering the question of whether or not schools should allow cell phones isn't as simple as yes or no. The deciding factor ultimately lies with the teacher.

Sources:

Shane, Brian. "Schools use smart devices to help make kids smarter." USA Today. n. page. Print. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/27/students-use-cellphones-as-part-of-classroom-lessons/1794883/>.

"Should cell phones be allowed in school?." Debate.org. N.p.. Web. 27 Oct 2013. <http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-cell-phones-be-allowed-in-school>.

Why Learning Targets are so useful in the Classroom

As a high school teacher, it can be easy to forget a number of things. Whether it’s forgetting what a particular term means, that pep-rally at 1, or the fact that you accidently brought your entire dry eraser marker hoard home in your pants, one thing is for certain: we make mistakes. We’re human. Regardless of what our students might think of us, we’re human, plain and simple. However, one thing I do feel we should remember is that our students aren’t always with us.

We’re on Earth; they’re on the moon.

Too often do teachers go into a lesson without making their lesson clear: what exactly am I trying to teach you today? The last thing we want is little Johnny in the back of the class, and God bless his heart, he’s trying, but we’ve simply been unclear with our message. In one statement, what should the Johnny be able to do by the time that bell rings for the day?

Thank God we have learning targets.

Learning targets are one-statement, measurable goals that students should be able to perform by the end of the period. It’s as easy as that.

Learning subjects like English or math take large amounts of time, and just like any other long-term goal, it only makes sense to break these goals up into smaller, more manageable goals. This allows students to focus solely on the learning target every day, and before they know it, they’ve accomplished a much more impressive long-term goal.

With that being said, what does a learning target look like? Like this!

I can identify a thesis statement in an argumentative text.

For the period, this is the only goal we’re concerned with. We’re not interested in constructing full papers or identifying the parts of speech. The only goal for the day is ensuring every student has mastered the learning target. Once we’ve done that, we can move onto tomorrow.

Keeping this valuable learning tool in mind, perhaps the next time your students go home they’ll actually be able to communicate their learning for the day. Instead of:

Mom: “What did you learn in English today?”

Johnny: “I don’t know. English?”

It will be...

Mom: “What did you learning in English today?”

Johnny: “We have to identify thesis statements.”

…Well… ideally, at least. 

Using Modern Media to Enhance the English Classroom

Ever since college, I’ve wondered why we insist on making the English classroom so boring. True, it’s tough to make the English classroom remotely interesting with subjects like grammar and mechanics, but when it comes to analyzing texts, we seemingly forget that modern film can go a long way toward keeping students interested in the subject matter. Why must we insist on boring, canonical texts when we have modern films that relate more to our students’ interests?

Am I saying we should avoid older texts entirely? Absolutely not. Canonical texts have their place when you’re interested in teaching older forms of writing, or cross-referencing for a quick history lesson. However, if we’re simply teaching literary elements such as conflict, plot, etc., why turn our heads to modes of text that are far more engaging.

Engaging students in meaningful discussion with texts such as Beowulf can be frustratingly difficult. However, throw The Avengers on the screen and your biggest struggle will be getting them to shut up about it. When analyzing and critical thinking skills can both be taught through a more interesting text, I just want to know why not.

Administrations across the country sneer at the possibility of The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or Harry Potter playing on screens in their schools. Showing modern film has taken on the stigma of the lazy teacher. Administrators assume that walking past your door while you’re showing a modern film certainly means you’ve decided to take the day off. Certainly, you failed to create plans for the day, or are simply looking for an easy way out. While I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, I will say this; modern film has its place in the English classroom because English goes beyond grammar and mechanics.

English is about subjectivity and perspective. It fails to fall into categories colored in black and white, and instead, forces students to think in shades of grey. In a way, students are asked to think in ways they’ve never thought, going beyond simple observations about how the world is, and instead, forces them to ask the question why.

I plan to do more posts about this in the future as it’s something I’m rather passionate about. If modern texts will allow me to teach my material in a more engaging, creative, and entertaining way, why not?

5 Formative Assessments for the English Classroom

Greetings! After a long day at work, you’ve decided to come to my blog and read about formative assessments? Shouldn’t you be enjoying your time off!

Oh, you’re at work? Shouldn’t you be teaching!

Planning period? Ok. That’s better. Let’s talk about formative assessments, shall we?

Formative assessments are an invaluable tool as an English teacher. They give us the data we need to ensure that our students understand our learning targets and that we’re able to move along without leaving anyone behind.

Now, with that behind us, let’s talk about 5 formative assessments for the English teacher:

5. Anecdotal Check Sheet

Never forget the handy, dandy check sheet. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it gives quick evidence to show that students actually understood what you were teaching. The most important thing to remember when using check sheets is that have to make sure their work is right and not just completed. Don’t check them off for just completing it!

4. Exit Slip

Exit slips are a pretty simple concept. Within the last few minutes of the class, ask students to complete a task and take it up as they walk out the door. A simple read through shows who got it and who didn’t. The only problem with exit slips? The students are gone when it comes time to correct them. Since instruction needs to be immediate, exit slips tend to lose their effectiveness.

3. Sticky Notes

Formative Assessment stems from the ability to read a student’s work and know that they understood your instruction. One of my favorite ways to do this is to place sticky notes on each student’s desk and have them answer a specific question testing the learning target at certain times throughout the period. A quick read through will show who got it and who didn’t.

2. Pair and Share

I LOVE pair and share activities. It’s not as much an actual formative assessment as it is a simple compliment to the others on this list. Think of it this way: You’ve given out sticky notes and have now taken them up. Once you’ve determined who understood your material, you can easily pair up your students into small instructional teams. Simply put, 10 teachers are better than 1. 

1.       Student/Teacher Conferencing

I’m a huge proponent of student/teacher conferencing. It can be difficult to teach 30+ children in a class, but getting to know each and every one of them as an individual is a different animal. By student/teacher conferencing, you can kill two birds with one stone: you get to better understand a student’s progress in the class, and perhaps also have a few minutes to talk with your student about their aspirations, hobbies, and other interests that may relate to your teachings. However, there is one problem… student/teacher conferences take forever. You’re looking at an entire period if you decide to do this so be sure to have a way to keep your student’s busy, or else it’s going to be a long day.

Reasons Why You Should Enhance Your Classroom With A Blog

With technology continuously changing the dynamics of our classrooms, I feel there is one interesting venue for information that teachers either don’t know about or just choose to ignore: the blog. Your students spend an absolute ridiculous amount of time on the internet. It’s silly to ignore the avenue where they spend most of their time. With that being said, why would you ever want to spend the time constructing and maintaining a blog such as this? Here are a few:

Forgetful Students have Answers

I remember being in high school as if it were yesterday. I can’t count how many times I went home only to say, “Damn, I really wish I would have written that down.” (Forgive me for me high school lingo. It was probably a tad harsher than that.) At any rate, a classroom blog is the perfect answer for students who need a little memory jog.

Students who Miss

My God is there anything more difficult than keeping up with students who miss a lot? When you’re able to post your daily activities on a site easily accessible by your student body, you essentially eliminate the need for barrage of questions you get every day.

Internet Resources

Talk about an easy avenue to share interesting material with your students. When you’re able to make daily posts giving students links to valuable resources, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Internet Classes are Common

With universities conducting more and more online classes, high school students need to be exposed to online teachings. Even if it’s as simple as finding the assignment, researching a topic, and turning in a paper, its valuable lessons they’ll use going forward.

What about Students without Internet

As unbelievable as it may seem, there are a number of students who don’t have internet access. These students will simply have to get their makeup work the old fashioned way- by asking.

How Do I Start a Blog?

It’s easy. It’s free. Go to Blogger and use your free Gmail account to start your blog.

5 Challenges When Teaching Writing And How To Overcome Them

When it comes to teaching, writing is perhaps one of the most difficult skills to teach. Public opinion holds that activities like sports, drawing, or craftsmanship, require a certain amount of talent to truly succeed, writing is a skill that many feel should be even across the board. It’s not. The ability to process information through writing is something that requires three things: natural talent, practice, and passion. Some students have none of these and yet we as teachers are expected to pull them onto an even playing field.

While there will always be students who struggle with writing, this isn’t to say we can’t help students reach the plateau of their abilities. Teaching writing is a very difficult process, but I’m going to share a few tips that have helped me make progress with students who either struggle academically, or simply don’t care.

Give Them Freedom

Allowing students to choose their own topic can either do wonders or fail miserably. Essentially, you have two different kinds of students: students who will write if they can write about topics that interest them and students who will write if you give the topic too them. The problem with the latter group is simply laziness. They refuse to come up with their own topic because it requires them to think. However, there are students in the first group who will gladly write a piece over a hobby they enjoy.

Give Them Attention

Individualized instruction is important to helping students become better writers. As you read through content on this blog you’ll likely see that I’m a huge proponent of student/teacher conferencing. Addressing a student as an individual is most important when trying to diagnose errors students make when writing. Every student is different and diagnosing a writer’s problem in a group setting is considerably more difficult. As a kid, one of my most memorable moments was a teacher pulling me aside and explaining that the comma comes before the conjunction rather than after. It took a total of 5 minutes of that teacher’s day to make a big difference in my ability to write.

Make it Sound Important

If you’re ever going to inspire a student to write, you’ve got to find a way to make it sound like one of the most important skills in the world. And it is. The ability to write well opens many doors that would otherwise be closed. It’s important to find a way to relate this skill to whatever field that student plans on going into.

Teach Common Mistakes Differently than Uncommon Mistakes

It only takes a few assignments to see the mistakes that everyone in the class is making. These are the skills that should be taught in a group setting. However, wasting a day of instruction on a skill that 90% of the class already knows is just silly. By creating individual, small group, and full class instruction, you can use your time much more efficiently.

Teach Thesis Statements and Outlining

Thesis statements are the backbone of any essay or other writing assignment. I find it valuable to spend the time necessary to teach thesis statements thoroughly. Once students understand how to formulate an outline backed by a thesis statement, the writing process becomes intentional rather than the filler many students try to pass on.