An archived stack of papers: 'caring'

Like It Never Even Happened

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Mar
  • 09
  • 2010

You have a student that’s rough. If you’re unfortunate and like the majority of us, you have more than one. This is a student who just keeps pushing your buttons and making life difficult for you. Or maybe this is a student who doesn’t do anything. That kind of passive aggressive behavior is taxing, too. This could be a student who is obnoxious, acting far younger than she should.... read more

It’s Only November

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Nov
  • 07
  • 2007

Kid: “I’m not getting anything here. Teachers aren’t teaching me anything.” Me: “So maybe teachers do have something to show you and maybe you don’t know it all.” Kid: “Tell me one thing teachers have taught me here.” Me: “Maybe some teachers know better than... read more

Refuse To Spoil: Irrelevance Is Best, Part 5

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 28
  • 2006

Reading about characters and settings you can’t relate to is no reason to abandon the story. It may be that making the decision to stick with a story, despite the fact that it takes place in a world you can’t imagine and have no connection to, is the best decision for you. Maybe irrelevant reading is a necessary evil, like dentists and shopping malls at Christmas time.

Set... read more

Maturity: Irrelevance Is Best, Part 4

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 25
  • 2006

It’s entirely possible that reading stories irrelevant to your life is the best thing for you. Imagine keeping your knowledge so limited that you only know about the things in the immediate life you lead. Irrelevant material makes you more aware of how you fit into the world. I want to make this clear to students.

On Being Mature

Teachers often hear complaints that students... read more

Impact: Irrelevance Is Best, Part 3

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 21
  • 2006

If “a hurricane triggered by butterfly wings,” this idea that a small action can have gigantic and unforeseen consequences far away, is accurate then students need to be aware of how the things they do impact people they will never meet. The easiest way to do that, as I can see it, is to introduce students to various ways of life through reading.

Hurricanes And... read more

Read Away Selfishness: Irrelevance Is Best, Part 2

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 18
  • 2006

When Krakatoa exploded in 1883, the telegraph reported that news around the world faster than any catastrophe had been reported before. Because of that, people began to see the world extend beyond their town or city or country. The idea of a selfish view of the world, that the only things worth knowing about happen to me, becomes harder to embrace when we know about life elsewhere. Information connected... read more

Shrink The World: Irrelevance Is Best, Part 1

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Aug
  • 13
  • 2006

Do we spoil teenagers if we feed them reading that’s only about what limited things interest them at this given time? Sure, that type of reading has its place. It’s key to appeal to a teenager, providing strong and interesting examples of writing. We want to build the idea that not all reading is boring and that reading can lead to a happier life (yes, I honestly believe... read more

High School Is Memorex

In a stack of papers called Unorganized.

  • Apr
  • 11
  • 2006

Most students don’t view high school as “the real world.” My seniors got to the idea that Siddhartha doesn’t think any of it is real, the life he leads and the people he meets. I pressed and asked if that’s the way teenagers feel about high school. When bad news comes from school, does it really matter? What about good news? In the grand scheme of things, does it have an... read more

Make A Scene For Your Classroom

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Apr
  • 09
  • 2006

While watching Election for quite possibly the 100th time, I was reminded of why I thought a short clip of that film might be good to play for my students.

Toward the end of the movie, in a segment that’s about 5... read more

Two Students Walk Out Of Class

In a stack of papers called Unorganized.

  • Mar
  • 27
  • 2006

In an effort to protest the proposed crackdowns on illegal immigration, students at my school staged a walk out. Just about every single year, at one time or another, a walk out is staged, but it has never actually happened. This time, at 9:30, 2 students stood up and walked out of my class. There are a few interesting things... read more