Writing in an Illiterate World

I have found through teaching my juniors that persuasion is a thing that most people use on a daily basis. I have also found that by teaching something step-by-step they seem to actually understand it better. I have also found that through modeling what I want through writing my own essays and sharing them with the students, they seem to see that, "Yes, if my teacher does it, I can do it too, it IS possible."

Of course, with this I have ran into my critics, but not everyone will like my style of writing and I know I am not the best writer either, but at least I am sharing my writing. That is the only way to prove a point I think, is by actually trying something yourself and not just talking at the students. They need to see that you can do it too and that it is a feasible project for them to undertake. If there is no connection with the real world, then they won't see the worth in what you teach. There are many real-world applications to writing, but my students, they just don't see it yet. Hopefully by the time they leave my classroom they will have the basics down.

One can only hope...

Back to School...

Going back to school tomorrow feels extremely stressful, but yet at the same time I can immerse myself once again into the English curriculum. I am still trying to set some New Year's Resolutions about my teaching career and I feel that I will never be able to move on to teach at a college.

I hope I will someday.

Knowing that I have a few more hours to spend getting prepared for tomorrow and the rest of the week makes me feel a little less stressed. There is so much to do as Term 2 comes to a close. My juniors will be finishing up poetry, my seniors will be finishing up Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I will be moving on to teach Fahrenheit 451 and do some lessons on grammar, resumes, letters, and some other things...we'll see. I just hope the kids will be a bit more motivated than me, since I am not during this time of year. I need to teach something that has some kind of bearing on myself as well. I love doing research on things I haven't taught before, but I worry that I won't know enough.

I hate feeling unintelligent, even though sometimes I like to hide behind my ignorance...

Dwindling...

New Year's Day...only three days until I go back to work. I've really enjoyed my two weeks off and I am already counting down the days until I have summer break. I know, it's sad, but I really have been enjoying this "me" time I've been getting. Lots of time to think, reflect, plan, and worry about what the end of the year will bring. Moving to a new high school next year, hopefully coaching the boys soccer team, starting my Ed Tech classes. Continuing to try and keep in contact with friends from college and high school.

I did however get to go back home to North Dakota for about a week and spend time with my family and take care of my mother for a few days after her surgery. I also got to see my best friend and it's the little things in life that make me truly happy. Sharing a conversation, drinking an ice-cold beverage, hugging, sharing secrets, and enjoying how the snow sparkles are just some of the things I know I will miss until I see my friend again. Hopefully with the New Year some of my kids will have made resolutions to make education a priority.

One can only wish...