DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Jack's House
HTML https://jackshouse.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Teaching
*****************************************************
#Post#: 5889--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Zyngaru Date: May 24, 2018, 2:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Jack link=topic=566.msg5888#msg5888
date=1527177561]
Oh, I already know several of the kids who are earmarked for my
classes next fall. The standout of those is that my cuddle
bear, Ennis Strouse, is supposed to be in my advanced
elementary class. I guess there are more than one or two I'll
have to have a discussion with about appropriate behavior at
school. At least Ennis has already made several trips over my
lap, so at least how hard I spank shouldn't come up as an issue.
[/quote]
So Ennis is in Elementary school and will be taking your high
school level class. Ennis has already made several trips over
your lap. When I add those two things together, I get an answer
that leads to a question. Do you think that Ennis going over
your lap has anything to do with him being bored in his regular
class? Is his class stimulating and challenging him enough to
keep his attention? I know you will keep him challenged.
Because bored boys equals boys finding trouble.
#Post#: 5891--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Jack Date: May 24, 2018, 3:15 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Sorry, I think what I said was misleading, Z.
I have not spanked Ennis at school. The last time I checked his
record, he hasn't been spanked at school.
It's too much to go into just now, but the Strouse boys have had
extended stays with me a couple of times. Even though he's
normally angelic, Ennis is still a boy, so all I can say is that
he slips from time to time and lands across Uncle Jack's knees.
Edited Addition: No, Ennis will NOT be.... Well, we'll be
reading on about a 9th grade level (probably starting a bit
lower and ending a bit higher), but it won't be a high school
class, because it will still be aimed at 10 to 12 year olds.
#Post#: 5914--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Jack Date: May 25, 2018, 4:45 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Just for fun, Google 'advanced reading list sixth grade'.
Now you have an idea what I'm reading right now.
The biggest challenge is trying to put together a list for very
intelligent 10 and 11 year old boys who love reading, while also
having lesson plans around those books, and enough flexibility
to change once I actually meet my students and find out their
specific interests and what they've previously read. Now try to
do that for a book aimed at boys with an ATOS in the low 8s.
Maybe I'll start off with something easier, so I can get to know
them and they can get to know me, my instruction style, and we
can decide where we want to go with the class.
#Post#: 5915--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Journey Date: May 25, 2018, 9:01 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I empathize, Jack, as I have a similar problem right now. I'm
currently teaching reading and writing classes for reluctant
readers, but I'll be teaching advanced classes starting next
month. My head is filled with half-developed book lists, lesson
plans, and activities. I've been trying to juggle interest
levels, reading levels, and specific interests for a while now.
It's challenging but it's a whole lot of fun, too.
You can't go wrong with starting out a bit easy though.
#Post#: 5919--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Zyngaru Date: May 25, 2018, 10:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Jack, do you have the ability to send out a survey, poll,
questionnaire, to the boys that are going to be in your class,
so as to get an idea of what they have read. What they wish to
read. What interests them.
Being so late in the school year, it might not be possible to
get input directly from the boys.
In my mind the book list would be the most troublesome of what
you have to do. With advanced readers, your book list could
consist mainly of books that the boys have already read.
#Post#: 5929--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Jack Date: May 25, 2018, 3:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I love to re-read books every once in a while, Zyngaru, but I
think that trying to find new material is probably a better idea
for the class.
All parents are required to provide an e-mail address to the
school, so I could certainly send a survey that way. That would
certainly give me a somewhat better idea where to start.
Journey, I agree that getting this assembled is going to be a
lot of fun.
Since several of the boys whom I know will be in my class are
also guests over here, I'll also be able to bounce some of my
ideas off them.
#Post#: 6114--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Jack Date: May 31, 2018, 5:36 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm still working on a reading list, but now isn't the best time
to get that done. On the other hand, I do need to get at least
my first couple of books approved.
One fun thing is that I am planning to do fantasy next year, and
there have been a few complaints in the past about books with
'gods' in them. Because of that, I had to write a letter that
could go out to the parents of all my potential students.
Basically I just took a few minutes to explain how mythology has
always been part of our world and accepted (see: planets), and
today's fantasy is just a type of modern mythology, using 'gods'
to explore ideas. I also pointed out how some fantasy books
(Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time) have one main god, or how other
books have 'one above all'. Either it was just a few, very
vocal complainers who had nothing better to do, else I just got
none of them in my class (or they just liked my explanation?),
but I didn't seem to loose any students over it.
While there are some series I'm definitely going to avoid
(either for religious controversy, like His Dark Materials, or
sexual content, like the Sword of Truth, I'm not going to worry
about keeping things 100% clean either. Right now, I'm strongly
leaning towards Percy Jackson for three of my classes, and using
the Eye of the World for my advanced middle school class. After
that, my challenged classes will be going with Hatchet and
Lassie Come Home, my advanced elementary class will be going
with Call of the Wild, and I have no idea on my advanced middle
school class - maybe A Separate Peace.
It should be a little easier to get work done on this after this
weekend anyway.
#Post#: 6116--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Adric Date: May 31, 2018, 8:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Jack link=topic=566.msg6114#msg6114
date=1527763009]
One fun thing is that I am planning to do fantasy next year, and
there have been a few complaints in the past about books with
'gods' in them.[/quote]
That is certainly not a new source of controversy. The magic
word SHAZAM comes to mind, and brings with it the question of
whether those characters' super powers were in fact gifts from
pagan gods and whether that is a wholesome message. Long ago
there was an organized group of self-appointed censors who
published lists of which comic books were suitable and which
not. I used to try to figure out from the contents of the
unwholesome ones (the few I was allowed to read) exactly what
the objectionable content was but I never quite figured it out.
#Post#: 6117--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: afinch Date: May 31, 2018, 8:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The Lightning Thief Musical is beginning a national tour in
early 2019. Dallas isn't currently listed as one of the stops,
but that may change. You may want to check the show's website
from time to time for an extra enrichment possibility.
#Post#: 6119--------------------------------------------------
Re: Teaching 2018/19
By: Zyngaru Date: May 31, 2018, 9:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm happy that the parents of your next students seem to approve
of your reading material. Fantasy, Magic, Elves, Dwarves, and
etc, is definitely my genre of reading. This is a class that I
would have wanted to be in.
As for censorship and complaints. I find it very interesting
that C.S. Lewis has been widely accepted as wholesome reading
for kids and J.K. Rowling has been attacked for unwholesome
reading. Both have magic. Both have witches. Both have
violence. Both have evil characters. There are so many
similarities to the two authors books, that I find it strange
that there is such a difference in how they are perceived by
critics.
I do think it was your explanation to the parents that swayed
them. I think you have a reputation that parents like. I think
they know they can trust you. Even the parents that don't know
you personally, they probably still know of you through friends,
school staff and their own kids and their kids friends. You
have kept them in the loop, so they feel they can trust you.
Just my opinion, because I don't know the parents and what they
are thinking, but it seems reasonable to me.
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page