Monday

My College Comp class rocks. Today we had an excellent discussion. I wanted to start getting them thinking about essay #3, a how to essay. I wanted them to focus this on their lives and interests. So I decided to stick with what I’ve done in the past and have them read an article that hits close to home for them, “How to Move Schools out of the 20th Century” from Time last year. (To show you how well I timed it – and, trust me, I’m the most random-abstract person on earth, so it was genuinely luck – I found a copy of the article that I had printed off last year from our library’s database. In the upper right hand corner was the date I printed it off – February 28 2007! Almost one year to the day! How is that for sticking to a rigid syllabus? I was so proud. Of course, it is all luck. I could not teach the same course the same way if I tired. Which makes the coincidence all that more incredible!).

First I had the class jot down some ways they would improve school right now if they could. Then we clustered these on the board. And what a list! Many dealt with the horrible food and lack of commons area. Finally, they began to hit on some real issues (not that food and environment are not big issues) like improved teachers and technology, having longer breaks, beginning school earlier and getting out sooner, having more hands on classes . . .

My own list reflects what I’ve been listening to on my podcasts lately – laptops and ipods for all students (countryscribe would vehemently disagree with me having taught at UMC where they have had student issued laptops for quite awhile now), more team teaching opportunities, doing away with grades, and internship programs.

We had a real discussion about our topics. And it was great. I was amazed at how they got into it.

Then I asked them to choose one topic to focus on in greater detail, a topic that if we changed or improved right now it would have the biggest impact on their school and future. Of course, several of the boys pushed for school food, which was a worthy issue, but we’ll save that for the persuasive essay. I was secretly pulling for the students to select technology, but no such luck.

They decided to talk about teachers.

Then I had them write down characteristics that they thought a good teacher should have. Then we clustered again. This time our discussion was even better. I could hardly keep up with their comments and ideas as I tried to put them on the white board.

The funny thing is they hit the nail right on the head as far as what I feel makes a good teacher (or a bad one) – of course, maybe they were giving me what I wanted to hear, but I don’t think this was the case.

Some things they look for in a good teacher – a variety of activities, trust, respect, humor (I was surprised at how many had put that one down), knowledge, ability to relate the subject matter to their lives, ability to use technology, not making them feel stupid, allows for discussion rather than lecture (I sure used that one against them whenever the discussion began to lag – and it worked. I have to remember that one), teachers who enjoyed what they do.

It was a damn fine way to spend an hour.

Oh yeah, then four students shared their essays. They were excellent. My personal favorite was a pet peeve essay by a young man who works out at Kmart. His pet peeve? Little old ladies who try to pay in the nickels they have horded and who try to use every coupon imaginable (whether they apply to their purchase or not), and argue every little charge. It was brilliant. His frustration oozed off the page.

Now, why can’t they all be like that class? Not once did I have to worry about kids spraying each other with cologne. (Second note to self – NEVER give away cologne for a super duper prize. I seem to remember making this claim years ago. But then I relented and it went fine for a few years, but now this!)