Science Class Update

Life in Science class is moving along swimmingly. We're in the second week now and we all can see the end in sight. The grant the course in funded with involves classroom work throughout the school year so we'll be partnering with these educators in the fall. The class itself of students has bonded a great deal and there are fun non-verbals and understanding between us as we bond as a unit. I have reaffirmed for myself why I don't lecture to classes. It's simply not something I find interesting to listen to. I also reminded myself why I should have something on the board or a handout to at least offer students the chance to do two things at once. I wonder how people will respond to me teaching science concepts or ideas...

Quinn turned 3 yesterday. I have a three year old.:)

Day 1 Reflection for Becky's Summer Science Class

I often need to step into my student's shoes to understand where they're coming from, both in their approach to English as an academic subject and also in their personal approach to education and school. So, it was good for me to be silenced today with an absence of coherent and intelligent thought. I was blown away by the knowledge contained in the pre-test and astonished that even my strong reading skills couldn't help me deduce a possible answer. What brilliance it must take to create a test in the sciences?! Back to my opening line. So there I am, standing on Mississippi River Road, staring at the damn without a clue as to what to do. I kept peaking glances at my peers and was depressed to note that everyone else seemed engaged and alive with the activity. All I could do was to keep my pencil moving and try to describe what I was feeling. The emotions I experienced? Frustration. Anxiety. Fear. And so in that moment, I chose to consider how and why my students might feel that way. I considered something like "Sonny's Blue's", a dense short story about a young man's struggle against an urban living that included drug addiction. The story is told through this brother's eyes. Most of my students- after their first read- find it dull or too difficult to "get into", just as I was feeling about looking at this wall of rock. When I teach it, I am all enthusiasm and joy, because I know and love the tale, how it is written, what it provokes in me. As I glanced at the three teachers of ESST, I saw that same vigor and familiarity in how they spoke about the wall of rock. Others in the class, with more background knowledge than me, had something to connect to, a starting place. For me, I felt like a person carrying an empty toolbox. And that is something I have to remind myself of with my students every single day. They look around at other people furiously writing in their notebooks or blogging off of one of my writing prompts and they wonder what to do, what to say, how to even phrase a question... This course will be enormously challenging for me and at times I may want to crawl away and sink into a novel that is familiar and safe, but that would be the cowardly thing to do. My students deserve better of me. I need to know and understand what their brains are being asked to do other hours of the day so I can respond in a way that builds off of that and complements those practices. I need to expect of myself that I can learn new, foreign knowledge even at this age.

Summer reading

Last week I was psyched to get not one, but two gift cards to Barnes and Noble. One was a belated birthday gift and another was from a graduating senior's parents. Gift cards to book stores are pretty freakin' sweet and it took me no time at all to spend them. Now, I've completed two of the 5 books purchased and feel charged to start my summer reading binge. I have a Hamline class for two weeks starting next Monday, but I'm sure I'll sneak in some social reading too. I've got a masters paper to finish this summer, as well as trying to squeeze in another 4 credits if possible.

SO, to my first book. Twilight. I finished it yesterday afternoon and immediately went out to rent the movie, though that was a dangerous move. My ability to watch a movie from start to finish is hampered by my curious son. Obviously, vampire flicks aren't meant for Quinn's eyes, so I have to wait until he's asleep.. and I digress. Immediately, the film irritated me because the lead actress was blinking annoyingly often and Edward wasn't as Edward as I wanted him to be, despite his ravishing looks. Alice, Emmitt, Rosalie and Jasper fit their descriptions alright, as well as Charlie, but... and Jessica looks exactly like a former CAHS student. I have only gotten through about 20 minutes of the movie and it's changing and cutting things right and left, much to my chagrin. I want to read the second book, if only because I read the teaser section at the end of Twilight, but I should try to hold that as some sort of reward for myself...

What was the last novel you read cover to cover? What are your early memories with reading and books? Do you read on your own time?

Good morning Fair Students

There's something in the air. I know, it smells like summer vacation. I can almost taste it! I am so excited for everyone to have some much needed time off from school and schedules. Even though I'll be attending a Hamline class starting almost immediately after school ends from 9-4 each day for two weeks, I am anxious to learn new things that can be used for next year's teaching!

We are at an end of the academic school year and this course. The final thing I would like you to do is this: I want you to read every single blog you've written since the beginning of the term and I want you to write a self-assessment of sorts that explains what your blog reveals about you, both as a person and a writer. I look forward to your reflections. Similarly, I would like you to select one student in the class and read through the whole of their blog. Take time to craft a thoughtful response to them and share with them what you learned, what you liked and what form you imagine their blog (and perhaps life) may take in the coming years.

Thank you!

Today's Task for Wednesday

Please follow the link below to read the article for today. Then, respond. What are your thoughts about the representation or absence of women, people of color, the GLBTQ and other marginalized or historically oppressed people in movies, tv and the media?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/06/dear_pixar_from_all_the_girls.html

What movies from your childhood have stuck with you? Who did you admire or emulate? Are there female heroes for girls to emulate? Why are most women secondary characters? Why does that matter to you?

This week's assignments- and today's 6/2

This week, I'm asking you to do some critical reading and thoughtful response. At the same time, I am doing my best to showcase bloggers who, like you, write for an audience and with the intention to process the important events of our life and our world. All of the items I am asking you to read, are written by bloggers/journalists, a new brand of writer and researcher that seeks an audience that is atypical and wonderful. Read the article below. How can you break the silence? Then, I want you to start reflecting on where your blog will go once this course is over. How will you turn this into something that remains a positive vehicle for you? Will you also seek an audience? I'll return to these questions. Article link below and also on the sidebar of my blog.

http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/silence-is-the-enemy/

There are multiple blogs and tasks for today. Be sure to read on. Cool. Thanks!

Summer Tutoring Opportunities

For what seems like months I've been trying to brainstorm some unique ways for students to remain engaged in literature and learning this summer and here's what I've come up with. Please consider joining one of these adventures and sustaining a thoughtful and evolving mind throughout the summer.

AP Boot Camp
For students interested in taking my AP course next year, this is the ideal way to warm up to the rigor, pace and overall intensity of AP, without a looming grade and at a more reasonable tempo. We'll meet weekly for discussions and writing sessions where I will assign a new week's worth of work.

Dates: 8 Week Course Beginning June 29th and ending August 17th. We will meet for 1 1/2-2 hours on Monday's (or dates that accommodate student's schedules) at a location TBD.
Cost: $300
Goal: To prepare mentally and academically for the AP Literature and Composition Course with the end goal being a passing score on the AP exam, leading to college credit.

Creative Writing Consulting
Designed for active, ambitious students who are prolific writers and desire feedback from a practiced reader, this one-on-one program consists of 4 writer's conferences (one hour each) where students and Becky meet to examine student writing, as well as online interaction. Students may submit up to 100 pages of writing for Becky to critique.

Dates: Set up on an individual basis
Cost: $150
Goal: To provide aspiring writer's with constructive and supportive critique and encouragement.

A la Carte Tutoring
Whether it's help preparing for standardized testing, college essays or study skills, we will design a course of study that is tailored to your academic needs.

Dates: Set up on an individual basis
Cost $25 per hour
Goal: To hone and polish the skills and talents of young learners, making school a place of success.


FREE- Becky's Book Club
Every two weeks, we will meet at a local St. Paul eatery for food and fiction fodder. The first novel will be Twilight. Love it or hate it, Becky is going to read it. Attend if only to help pick out the next book. Students planning to attend should RSVP to r_mccammon@mac.com 24 hours before the event.

First book club meeting time and place: Cafe Latte, Thursday, July 2, 11:00
Cost: FREE
Goal: Fun and reading enrichment!

Myspace

For today's assignment, please listen to the NPR report that is linked below. Then, please share with me your own tales of myspace and social networking sites. How frequently do you witness things like cyber bullying or identity theft, as mentioned in the story?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104763472&ft=1&f=1013

Politics and Parents 6/2

Please read the following article and respond. Who do you think shapes the other more powerfully and permanently- kids impacting parents or the other way around?

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/are-fathers-politics-changed-by-having-daughters/