burnetau

Sometimes students either do not read the text or cannot understand the text. It simply happens to difficult texts and the teacher must deal with this situation. In this scenario, I think that reading in class is extremely helpful.

As a teacher, one cannot just give up a planned day because the majority of students did not read. However, if the teacher just continues on, the students won't gain anything from the lesson. They simply will not have the context. Similarly when the students do not understand the text. If students come in and immediately hands go up saying they read but they couldn't understand, it may be time to read during class.

Reading during class can also have benefits outside these two circumstances. Sometimes having everyone on the same page (literally) and reading together can get students to make connections they did not make at home. Some students just read as quickly as possible at home and do not truly process the material until they read it in class. I think these scenarios make reading in class a great way to promote student understanding and learning without giving up on the material altogether.

The video game genre has a profound effect on the students of today. It is hard to find any student who does not admit to playing some video games. Utilizing what the students does and can relate to within the lesson is key as a teacher and video games can be that link.

For example, if a student plays Legend of Zelda, I can realte to that student in their playing of that game. I can also take the Legend of Zelda and apply it to other stories. I can also take it and break it down for its themes and story telling devices. I can break it down in terms of its music and its effect on the player. "The Player" then becomes a literary idea of the person interacting with the world the game creator has made. It becomes an interesting prospect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuDLw1zIc94

I feel that the teaching world is continually pushing for more and more technology in the classroom and I find myself in half agreement. On one hand, I find that technology can enhance a lesson in terms of engagement and understanding. A student can connect with not only the teacher but the entire internet. I find it hard to condemn technology as being wholly bad because of its depth and breadth.

However, I think that most teachers and schools push the idea of technology too much. I like the idea of using technology when its appropriate but I do not want my students to come in everyday to be on their IPads or their laptops or whatever technology the school has. I think the pointless pushing of technology onto both students and teachers does not help either. This does not even mention the slew of extra responsibilities of the teacher to make sure each student is actually on task while their screens are looking away from the teacher.

I think the idea of technology is good but in moderation. A teacher can use technology for a lesson to engage their students in a way they could not normally. Frankly, if a teacher needs to use technology, that technology should be available, but do not force a teacher to use technology if they feel that pen and paper will do the trick.

With the ever increasing demand for teachers to have students engage with each other and engage with the material, it seems that old techniques like the group discussion have fallen by the wayside. I think the discussion has been forgotten because it is a risk to attempt to start a discussion about the text. Students may not have read or students may not be interested so they may not engage with the teacher.

I find that the group discussion is a two way street. One way leads to amazing class discussion that students will find meaningful and impactful to their understanding of the text. It can clear misconceptions and become a lesson that connects with the student that no other technique can. The other way leads to a bunch of disengaged students. They do not get what you are saying, they do not engage with the questions, and the students are bored. This is the danger of any big group discussion because sometimes the students will just not connect to a reading.

However, I think that it is the job of the teacher to make the material interesting. Standing in front of the class attempting to make a series of words seem interesting and engaging to students who, frankly, do not want to be at school is the challenge of the teacher. The fact remains that teachers have to take risks to connect with their students and the class discussion is just one way to do this.

My Literary Canon

To me, my personal canon of literature has to have certain qualities to it that make it timeless. I do not like to read time pieces or popular books that flare up and down quickly in popularity. I want books that deal with larger life issues within my own literary canon and what I would teach. I will list some of my personal favorite books that are considered literary in no particular order:

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Eyre

The Great Gatsby

Dracula

Don Quixote

Lord of the Flies

Fahrenheit 451

Crime and Punishment

Inherit the Wind

Death be not Proud

The Metamorphosis

Each of these books are extremely literary but most can be read by high school students. I do not think I would expect too much of them to read at least some of these books. In my mind, these books can be used in any paper and compare to almost any situation and topic. It becomes a ground to which students can feel comfortable reaching to other texts and other themes.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Recent Entries

Is Reading During Class Worth the Time?

Video Games and Gamification in the Classroom

Technology in the Classroom

Importance of Class Discussion

My Literary Canon

Profile

December 2016

Syndicate

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags