Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader, who is an excellent student, does not read for pleasure. However, he reads the books that are assigned, and even enjoys some of them. Notably, he tends to like classics, so I wouldn't assume kids hate "old" books. They are classics for a reason. I don't think he would like having no guidance. Maybe give them 5 books to choose from or something like that.
I would guess your son is white. White kids don’t mind classics because it centers their stories and experience. Consider how children of color feel about the “classics.” I have to teach and reach all kids. The classics don’t cut it for many of them and contain harmful language and ideas that are difficult for those kids to listen to and discuss in class. At best, they simply ignore entirely the experience of POC. At worst, they’re denigrating and objectifying.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.
Should she get off your lawn too??![]()
I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.
LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.
But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.
Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.
Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.
DP - above was clearly OP pretending to be her first supporter in the thread
Huh? Are you saying that the bolded was the OP? Because, no. I did post earlier in the thread about whether or not kids should be forced into the classics (I don't). I'm not the OP. I was responding to the idea that we have to stick with the status quo just because . . . OP may have been defensive. But, that has little to do with whether she is right or wrong, imo.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.
Should she get off your lawn too??![]()
I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.
LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.
But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.
Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.
Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.
DP - above was clearly OP pretending to be her first supporter in the thread
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My 7th and 4th grade daughters read a ton for pleasure and relaxation. Examples of 7th graders books - Homecoming, Dicey’s Song, Akata Witch, Akata Warrior, Satellite, some biographies
I loved Akata Witch!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.
Should she get off your lawn too??![]()
I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.
LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.
But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.
Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.
Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.
Should she get off your lawn too??![]()
I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.
LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.
But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.
Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.
Should she get off your lawn too??![]()
I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.
LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't their be a suggested list to choose from BUT if the kid wants to deviate from that, they have to propose a) the book, b) how it meets the teaching objective for the unit/assignment? This would seem to meet the needs of people who are demanding required reading and kids who have strong preferences as to what they want to read.
I'm a voracious reader. Even i had a LOT of trouble with "assigned" reading in school. It had nothing with comprehension but I just hated the books - i couldn't relate to them, they weren't interesting . . . and it makes it hard to like a class and to like reading in that instance.
I'm no teacher. So this may not be a good "method" but it seems reasonable. Plus, it give control to the student and forces them to really think about a book that deviates from the list.
My two cents.
I wonder if these parents asked their kids how they felt about this what they would hear. The PARENTS want “classic” required reading. But I teach kids and the kids... usually don’t.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.
Should she get off your lawn too??![]()
I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.
Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.
The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.
Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!
Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...
Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.
Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.