An archived stack of papers: February 2009

OFOCN: Socratic

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Feb
  • 27
  • 2009

The plan is to have a Socratic seminar next week as a new way of discussing the novel and to help students get closer to their idea of theme. With the final fifty pages of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest yet to come, students will surely adjust their thinking after the big events described there. But to understand the novel as completely as they can right now, I’m hoping that some... read more

Writing: Freedom Vs. Definition

In a stack of papers called Writing.

  • Feb
  • 24
  • 2009

We’ve steadily worked our way through the majority of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. We have about one-hundred pages left. One practice, group paragraph and one big-point, solo paragraph later, we’re about ready to dive into the conclusion. I’ll hit them with a writing assignment Thursday and move on to a ... read more

Support: Tomorrow’s Notes

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Feb
  • 23
  • 2009

Tuesdays and Thursdays are now days when I present a little something that students need to take notes on. I make a quiz about once every two weeks based on our growing stash of notes. Tomorrow will see us tackle the topic of how to be assertive. I’m curious how long it will take my students to realize that this video is not at all serious in its depiction, though it may be in terms of its... read more

Support: Changes

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Feb
  • 14
  • 2009

The Support class isn’t about support in any one subject area. That’s really not the reason they are there nor is it something that’s going to get them out. It’s about support for playing the game of school. We ran the numbers (more on that later) and Support classes are not creating students who do well in Core classes. The overwhelming majority of students are failing their... read more

Support: Update

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Feb
  • 10
  • 2009

I’m running out of tricks.

We’ve tried making videos. We’ve tried speeches. We’ve tried reading as a class. We’ve tried reading in groups. We’ve tried reading independently. We’ve tried whole-class, small-group, and individual projects. We’ve tried posters. We’ve tried worksheets. We’ve tried class games.

I’m also running... read more