GOOD FRIDAY!
Honestly, I was aprehensive about having class this morning because I am having a severe case of Spring Fever, but it was wonderful.
Thank you to Nancy Rollison for the beautiful song/poem, Nancy M., Scott, Lee and Maria for the great strategy shares, and to Elizabeth for sharing the Four Letter Word book with us. I learn so much from you all every time we meet. I love the sense of community that we have established.
"If we have lost the heart to teach, how can we take heart again? How can we re-member who we are, for our own sake and the sake of those we serve?" p. 21
Please tell me what you think about the first chapter of The Courage to Teach.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Advocating for our students: an update
An update on the meeting held with Sen. Nikki Setzler and Rep. Kenny Bingham:
Four of our Hispanic students met with these legislators recently. Included also in the meeting were Mr. Newman, Bonnie Byrd (DEC), Karen Stevens and Ia Williams from guidance, plus myself.
After introductions, Sen. Setzler and Rep. Bingham explained that the community was demanding change in S.C.'s handling of illegal immigrants. Most of the changes represented in the current bills are economic concerns, specifically using the e-Verify system to identify workers (Government contractors appear to the most affected.). Unfortunately, the refusal to admit children of illegal immigrants into our public state colleges became part of the bill, unchallenged and unquestioned.
Essentially, all that (still) remains for this bill to become law is for a small committee of senators and representatives to agree on some differences in language, especially the definition of "harboring."
Our students were somewhat overwhelmed, I think, but several of them offered some timely comments. I mentioned that the university fees (paid by international students) and requirements made college admission for undocumented students untenable at best, but the door would now be locked as well.
Mr. Newman was kind enough to provide lunch for everyone, so the students didn't think it was a complete loss! Mr. Bingham and Mr. Setzler spent over an hour with us and we deeply appreciated their willingness to come.
Not knowing where to turn, I called an immigration attorney the next day, who basically advised the students to stay put - their status is likely to change with a new administration, and the federal guidelines will supersede state guidelines.
The State newspaper never did print my letter - I think it was too long. I'll try again. Thank you for your interest!
Nancy
Four of our Hispanic students met with these legislators recently. Included also in the meeting were Mr. Newman, Bonnie Byrd (DEC), Karen Stevens and Ia Williams from guidance, plus myself.
After introductions, Sen. Setzler and Rep. Bingham explained that the community was demanding change in S.C.'s handling of illegal immigrants. Most of the changes represented in the current bills are economic concerns, specifically using the e-Verify system to identify workers (Government contractors appear to the most affected.). Unfortunately, the refusal to admit children of illegal immigrants into our public state colleges became part of the bill, unchallenged and unquestioned.
Essentially, all that (still) remains for this bill to become law is for a small committee of senators and representatives to agree on some differences in language, especially the definition of "harboring."
Our students were somewhat overwhelmed, I think, but several of them offered some timely comments. I mentioned that the university fees (paid by international students) and requirements made college admission for undocumented students untenable at best, but the door would now be locked as well.
Mr. Newman was kind enough to provide lunch for everyone, so the students didn't think it was a complete loss! Mr. Bingham and Mr. Setzler spent over an hour with us and we deeply appreciated their willingness to come.
Not knowing where to turn, I called an immigration attorney the next day, who basically advised the students to stay put - their status is likely to change with a new administration, and the federal guidelines will supersede state guidelines.
The State newspaper never did print my letter - I think it was too long. I'll try again. Thank you for your interest!
Nancy
Literacy Stampede and more
Hi, everyone. I really enjoyed the book trailers, too, though I must admit that I'm still somewhat overwhelmed by the technology. Kudos to MarySusan and Lendy for all of their professional expertise!
It was good to re-visit the writing rights and wrongs and to evaluate my own teaching of writing. To be honest, I'm not really teaching adolescent writers, but rather beginner writers who get so frustrated just trying to come up with the words to say. That's why reading is sooo important! Paula and I came up with a strategy of using expert groups to share vignettes in House on Mango Street. Each person in a small group selected a different vignette and created a short PowerPoint presentation with an illustration, some questions, and a vocabulary list to share with the group. I'll definitely do this again, although the logistics need to be refined.
I've found some simple illustrations and examples of building topic sentences, adding support sentences and a concluding sentence just to build a paragraph. A number of students have been pleased with their results. I'm going to hit the "must teach" grammar items (our "green" sheet) briefly when we return from break to help students prepare for their HSAP and the never-ending ELDA tests!
By the way, did you notice that Gallagher doesn't like peer editing (although peer revision is OK)? I'd like to begin righting some "wrongs" - definitely doing more modeling/teaching/writing with my students.
Have a wonderful break!
Nancy R
It was good to re-visit the writing rights and wrongs and to evaluate my own teaching of writing. To be honest, I'm not really teaching adolescent writers, but rather beginner writers who get so frustrated just trying to come up with the words to say. That's why reading is sooo important! Paula and I came up with a strategy of using expert groups to share vignettes in House on Mango Street. Each person in a small group selected a different vignette and created a short PowerPoint presentation with an illustration, some questions, and a vocabulary list to share with the group. I'll definitely do this again, although the logistics need to be refined.
I've found some simple illustrations and examples of building topic sentences, adding support sentences and a concluding sentence just to build a paragraph. A number of students have been pleased with their results. I'm going to hit the "must teach" grammar items (our "green" sheet) briefly when we return from break to help students prepare for their HSAP and the never-ending ELDA tests!
By the way, did you notice that Gallagher doesn't like peer editing (although peer revision is OK)? I'd like to begin righting some "wrongs" - definitely doing more modeling/teaching/writing with my students.
Have a wonderful break!
Nancy R
I really enjoyed the book trailers. I think that it is a creative way to spike the interest of a student into reading a variety of books. Well as far as the stampede goes I am still in the running. I know how important writing is to the success of our students. It is the thing that can get you into the door of an opportunity to prove yourself otherwise.
It is also key to moving up in your current position. If we can get the business world to come into our classrooms and make writing apply to their future careers that's when the stampede will come to a screeching HALT-WHOA!!!
When you can convince a student that this has some relevance.....BCDIVA
It is also key to moving up in your current position. If we can get the business world to come into our classrooms and make writing apply to their future careers that's when the stampede will come to a screeching HALT-WHOA!!!
When you can convince a student that this has some relevance.....BCDIVA
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
March 10, 2008
The book trailers were amazing!!!! They were SOOO professional. I enjoyed seeing them. Don't you think our students would like to see them too?
I hope using the "I Remember" poem as a mentor text helped us see how beneficial modeling writing can be. I thought your golden lines were great windows in to each of your lives. Let me know if you use this engagement or some form of it with your kids.
Any new thoughts on the Literacy Stampede?
I hope using the "I Remember" poem as a mentor text helped us see how beneficial modeling writing can be. I thought your golden lines were great windows in to each of your lives. Let me know if you use this engagement or some form of it with your kids.
Any new thoughts on the Literacy Stampede?
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