Hopefully the kids realize I'm not always some weirdo who makes videos of herself with black hoodies in low light with emo background music while reading Emily Dickinson, but this project was too hilarious not to put online:
4/2/08
Visting Old Places...
Ok so I thought of a more specific quote.
"If who I am is what I have and what I have is lost then who am I?".
So I choose this quote because I feel that the students that I have now are so wrapped up in materialistic things that they don't really know who they are without those things. They put each other down because of these things and they define each other by what they have. So if they could just think about all those who do have all that they have and that material things do not make a person who they are, I think that they would realize a lot.
3/29/08
In need of a mental break...
Hey Ladies,
I hope that everything is going great with everyone. Sorry if my blog is all over the place I am extremely tired. I'm so happy spring break is here. Mentally and physically I am tired.
Anyways, lots of love to you all,
~Wendy
3/27/08
The N word and homophobia.
I didn't say most of my reaction to the N-word since I figured I could just put the paper I wrote about it here. I've got it but I'm not quite sure how to get it onto here. I wrote my paper for Baron's class about it. Fascinating stuff.
I also have a book on it that was written just last year and shares a lot about the history of it etc. If you'd like to borrow it feel free.
I also have a book on it that was written just last year and shares a lot about the history of it etc. If you'd like to borrow it feel free.
3/26/08
first post from middle school... hhhhhhhhhhh
a little bit of venting from me this time...
And Susan, I totally forgot to answer the question, but my video's already hella-long, so...
I choose "the mother" by Gwendolyn Brooks. I just think this is one of the most moving pieces of poetry I've ever read, and I recently rediscovered it. Probably won't take a look at it with my 8th graders.
Your question asked how would we try to help students see that poetry is important. And really, I'm not convinced that it always is. Like with "the mother," it's not necessarily important as it is complicated and moving and beautiful. But I guess that shows that I'm defining important as in some way functional, serves a purpose, which I really don't think has to be the case. A complicated question, Ms. Requa.
A second choice might be Mos Def's "Mr. Nigga."
My question: (Somewhat) out of the blue the other week, my students got into a really heated discussion about the word nigger versus the word nigga spoken by a Black person versus spoken by everyone else. They had smart, interesting, and varied opinions, and I think it's an important conversation to have. Coming up, we have a unit on drama and a unit on poetry, both two weeks. Suggestions for fitting this back in? (I mean like, specifics. Would you plan a lesson on the word, and if so how would you do it?)
And Susan, I totally forgot to answer the question, but my video's already hella-long, so...
I choose "the mother" by Gwendolyn Brooks. I just think this is one of the most moving pieces of poetry I've ever read, and I recently rediscovered it. Probably won't take a look at it with my 8th graders.
Your question asked how would we try to help students see that poetry is important. And really, I'm not convinced that it always is. Like with "the mother," it's not necessarily important as it is complicated and moving and beautiful. But I guess that shows that I'm defining important as in some way functional, serves a purpose, which I really don't think has to be the case. A complicated question, Ms. Requa.
A second choice might be Mos Def's "Mr. Nigga."
My question: (Somewhat) out of the blue the other week, my students got into a really heated discussion about the word nigger versus the word nigga spoken by a Black person versus spoken by everyone else. They had smart, interesting, and varied opinions, and I think it's an important conversation to have. Coming up, we have a unit on drama and a unit on poetry, both two weeks. Suggestions for fitting this back in? (I mean like, specifics. Would you plan a lesson on the word, and if so how would you do it?)
3/23/08
I will post again soon,
and I haven't forgotten your question, Ms. Requa, but I thought I'd share these words of encouragement that I got in an email from a non-teacher-but-really-freaking-sweet-and-interested-in-adolescent-psychology friend. She was responding to my sad email to her about how I'm having trouble creating any kind of consistent positive vibe in my new classroom due (at least largely) to the whack, punitive, I'm-the-teacher-and-you're-the-peons vibe of the school in general.
"The school sounds like it sucks, but the kids may warm up to you after a while. They probably feel like they have no reason to trust you, just like they don't trust any of the other new young white women who come into their school (or new teachers in general, for that matter). After they realize that you're genuinely interested in their welfare and that you're not just doing this to collect a paycheck, circumstances may change. Sometimes I wish teachers got paid more; because if they did, the state would be a lot more careful about who they hired and what credentials these people had before they got into the system (besides the fact that teachers just deserve more money than they make). Look at investment banking and management consulting. Those bitches get paid a whole lot of money right out of college or their shitty business school, but Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are really careful about where they recruit and who they hire. They wine and dine the top grads and don't really give a second look to the unqualified ones. Teacher recruiters don't have the luxury; they don't have the budget and the low paying job doesn't have the frills like nonprofit work or social justice so that overblown 22-year-olds can think they're really making a difference in the world (regardless of whether they really are or aren't). Not that teaching isn't social justice, it's just that most new college grads don't think of it that way. So the poor kids get stuck with a whole bunch of ladies who couldn't think of what to do with their lives after college, or the women who just "teach while their kids are in school", or the retiree who needs a second income stream but doesn't really give a fuck. And then they occasionally get an Ellen, but by the time they do they're so tired of the former kinds that they don't trust you."
You know, I had never thought of the whole compensation thing that way. These words are a bit more poignant now, given that I'm interviewing for a job in Boston in a couple of weeks, and have been given no information about potential reimbursement for airfare and accomodations. Probably because public schools are too busy trying to spend money on things like computers for classrooms. Or soap, right Didi?
What the hell.
(Had a bad day on Wednesday, and clearly I need to get back to school ASAP so I can change my attitude by having a good day...)
"The school sounds like it sucks, but the kids may warm up to you after a while. They probably feel like they have no reason to trust you, just like they don't trust any of the other new young white women who come into their school (or new teachers in general, for that matter). After they realize that you're genuinely interested in their welfare and that you're not just doing this to collect a paycheck, circumstances may change. Sometimes I wish teachers got paid more; because if they did, the state would be a lot more careful about who they hired and what credentials these people had before they got into the system (besides the fact that teachers just deserve more money than they make). Look at investment banking and management consulting. Those bitches get paid a whole lot of money right out of college or their shitty business school, but Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are really careful about where they recruit and who they hire. They wine and dine the top grads and don't really give a second look to the unqualified ones. Teacher recruiters don't have the luxury; they don't have the budget and the low paying job doesn't have the frills like nonprofit work or social justice so that overblown 22-year-olds can think they're really making a difference in the world (regardless of whether they really are or aren't). Not that teaching isn't social justice, it's just that most new college grads don't think of it that way. So the poor kids get stuck with a whole bunch of ladies who couldn't think of what to do with their lives after college, or the women who just "teach while their kids are in school", or the retiree who needs a second income stream but doesn't really give a fuck. And then they occasionally get an Ellen, but by the time they do they're so tired of the former kinds that they don't trust you."
You know, I had never thought of the whole compensation thing that way. These words are a bit more poignant now, given that I'm interviewing for a job in Boston in a couple of weeks, and have been given no information about potential reimbursement for airfare and accomodations. Probably because public schools are too busy trying to spend money on things like computers for classrooms. Or soap, right Didi?
What the hell.
(Had a bad day on Wednesday, and clearly I need to get back to school ASAP so I can change my attitude by having a good day...)
3/19/08
Yeah Wendy... you didn't answer the question
In fact no one has but you may all be on Spring Break...
and I know you're all jealous of the preview face that I have in this video
and I know you're all jealous of the preview face that I have in this video
3/9/08
My First Official Video Blog!!!
Hey Everyone,
So I made a new blog tonight so this will be my first official blog. I'm going to try to do at least two blogs a week since I am so behind. Let me know how your new placements go tomorrow.
Lots of Love,
Wendy
So I made a new blog tonight so this will be my first official blog. I'm going to try to do at least two blogs a week since I am so behind. Let me know how your new placements go tomorrow.
Lots of Love,
Wendy
Hey Everyone,
So I'm at the Mac store right now and I know that this is not a complete video but I wanted to get some help so that I can make sure that this works. This video is an old video that I did a long time ago. It's not compete but I just wanted to be sure that this works. See... this is how much I love you guys, I went to get help from the professionals!!! :)
So I'm at the Mac store right now and I know that this is not a complete video but I wanted to get some help so that I can make sure that this works. This video is an old video that I did a long time ago. It's not compete but I just wanted to be sure that this works. See... this is how much I love you guys, I went to get help from the professionals!!! :)
3/7/08
3/1/08
oh hey
Wendy and Didi, it was so good to see you down here the other day!
Susan, I saw your dad at the job fair, and he told me about some show about video blogging that's on TV now? Pretty sweet.
Oh yeah, on Monday I'm doing a lesson that's going to look at highly functional, highly disposable writing -- a la English 481 -- and I'd love to hear your suggestions for types of writing to talk about. Here's the list I've come up with so far:
IMs
Facebook/MySpace wall posts
fridge magnets
to-do lists
hall passes
detention slips
rough drafts
writing in the air with your finger
text messages
passive-aggressive notes to roommates
church signs/gas station signs
cheat sheets
temporary tattoos
terms in the Google search bar
2/26/08
2/22/08
howdy partnersss..
FINALLY!!!
ok so I haven't read or viewed any of the posts since the first one's by Ellen and Susan...so I am going ot be a lot better at it now (I added it on my new "goals" list!)
I miss you 3 so much. This video blog is just a trial run haha but I will post one about my teaching experiences later on tonight.
peace and love,
-Didi
2/20/08
As promised
I'm not sure my thoughts on the video really capture the oddity of the comment I got today, but it's the best I've got.
2/18/08
2/17/08
Hey Guys,
I have been trying to get my video up but I can't seem to get it to post to the site. I have the new version of I-Movie and I have no idea how to use it. I'll keep trying but I have limited time to actually sit down and play around with it. If I can't get it to work I'll just stick with old fashion written blogging.
~Wendy
I have been trying to get my video up but I can't seem to get it to post to the site. I have the new version of I-Movie and I have no idea how to use it. I'll keep trying but I have limited time to actually sit down and play around with it. If I can't get it to work I'll just stick with old fashion written blogging.
~Wendy
2/15/08
2/13/08
on plagiarithm and other thingth
In other news, my coop called E.D. Hirsch an asshole today. haha
Couldn't agree more.
Didi and Wendy, I miss you! How are things?
2/11/08
You know, after viewing this myself, I feel there's something I should add. Sending students to the dean from class: school policy, not my way of getting rid of students who aren't listening to me. There's not really another consequence structure built in. They either behave or get a referral to the dean. And I gave them that choice because I knew they wouldn't pick a referral. It would have sucked if they did because then they would have behind in their work and I would have had to come up with a way to catch them up. So sending students to the dean, again, not ideal, I know.
And, yes. ending the video with that face was intentional. Mmmm.2/10/08
a call to action
As seen on Ms. Dahlke's personal blog!
But wait, there's more!
If y'all get to work on this thingy, Hawaii chairs for everyone!
NOT.
But wait, there's more!
If y'all get to work on this thingy, Hawaii chairs for everyone!
NOT.