January 16

Today, we did a Writing into the Day about the characteristics of school and discussed the characteristics in groups of three.  Then, we talked about the due dates and expectations for the Exploratory Essay (the first draft is due February 25 for workshop; the second draft is due on March 4).  During this talk, we discussed the idea of taking risks in our writing and how I want my students to constantly push themselves as writers.

After that, we came up with lists of teacher and student identities.  Each group of three created a skit with one teacher identity and two different student identities and performed these skits for the class.  For the last 10 minutes of class, we talked about what we noticed during the skits.  The following points were discussed:

• There were a lot of examples of the one slacker or rebel who doesn't do any work.  Every group had one suck-up student and one slacker rebel.  The teacher identities differed in each skit.
• We tend to view classrooms (at least in high school) as entertaining places rather than serious places.  None of the skits showed examples of typical or perfect classrooms.
• In high school, we always remember the types of students that were there.  We always wanted there to be a class clown in the class.  Every student wants to think that he/she is the best student.
• The teacher was always talking and interacting with students.  Teachers should have a good connection with their students.
• None of the classrooms in the skits had real learning occur.
• The different types of teachers match with the different students (either the rebel teacher or the caring, "good" teacher).  Teachers tend to like those who are like themselves so the slacker teacher prefers and favors the slacker student.
• Teachers always have to be teachers first.  They are role models and have to be careful about what they do even outside of the classroom.  Teachers need to have a professional demeanor all the time.
• Is it fair that teachers have to watch what they do all the time?  Why can't they go out and have fun if students can go out and have fun?
• There is a limit to a teacher's interaction with students.  Teachers should not be partying (or going to the beach) with their students.

Homework:

See the homework listed on the January 14 post.