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Valerie A. Person
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- Currituck, NC
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Honors/Advanced English
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Book Group! What Are You…
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Using Discussion in the…
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Teaching the Research Pa…
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ECN Book Group: Rethinki…
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Valerie A. Person's Discussions
Teaching Conflict
Replied Nov. 9, 2009
Teaching Conflict
3 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Valerie A. Person Nov. 9, 2009.
60-Second Recap: What do you think?
Replied Oct. 25, 2009
Valerie A. Person's Page
Profile Information
- Where do you work?
- Currituck County High School
- Choose all that apply to your job
- High School English Teacher, Department Chair
- What is your Delicious or Diigo ID?
- http://delicious.com/vperson
- What is your Skype ID
- vperson
- What is your Twitter ID
- http://twitter.com/vperson
- What is your blog, wiki, or website URL?
- http://lefanim.blogspot.com/
- What are you reading?
- Pat Conroy's South of Broad and Rick Wormeli's Fair Isn't Always Equal
- How do you define your role/work?
- English langauge arts teacher who loves teaching students and is passionate about world literacies
Valerie A. Person's Photos
Valerie A. Person's Blog
The Zero Vs. 60% Debate or Failure is a Dirty Word
The LEA where I work has proposed a new policy for all teachers/classes that 0's can no longer be given to students for any assignment or assessment (turned in or not). Instead, a 60% will become the new 0. I have very mixed feelings about this proposed policy. I've read various things the past few years on this new trend, and right now, my PLC is doing a study on Rick Wormeli's book Fair Isn't Always Equal. I've heard the mathematical arguments for giving a 60% instead of a 0% but when I… Continue
Posted on November 10, 2009 at 5:29pm — 24 Comments
Starting off class on the first day
Tomorrow will mark the first day of class for second semester classes on a traditional 4 x 4 90" block schedule at my high school. I'm thinking about all the different ways I've started class in the past and wondering what other folks do on the first day to set the tone. I teach sophomores and the curriculum emphasizes informational writing and world literature (which the state defines as anything NOT British and NOT American).
Posted on January 20, 2009 at 9:57am —
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I really like "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse. It is short and I think very accessible for struggling students. It won the Newberry Medal. Not only did it help me understand what the big deal was about the duststorms of the time, I thought it told…
And what about the fact that often writers don't know what their thesis is until they begin reflecting in writing about a subject or occurrence? Happens to me all the time.
Thank you so much everyone! I definitely have a better feel for how essential questions work. I've been able to brainstorm a few and included a few here. Feel free to tell me if I am way off base.
What does it mean to be an “Outsider”?
What makes…
Judith--
One opportunity is Teen Ink (http://www.teenink.com). This is a publication for teens only, ages 13-19, to submit and publish their work. The one draw back I found is that once accepted, Teen Ink keeps all rights to the work. This means ki…
Bill,
You have it wrong. I didn't say the theory has not had wide influence. I never said anything like that. I agree that it has had wide influence. What I said was I've never heard of teachers labeling themselves as constructivists or nonconstruct…
The Ugly Truth is that my number one goal for my students right now has to be to raise their 2010 standardized test scores.
I find it disturbing, off-base, heart-wrenching, and almost something shameful to admit. However, NCLB has my entire school'…
I am in search of a novel set during the Great Depression/Dust Bowl era. It will be used in a 10th grade history class; most of the students are struggling readers. The teacher would like to stay away from the "big name classics." He wants something…
Yay Doug! He was one of my teachers in pre-teaching grad school (itp.nyu.edu), and I'm a huge fan of his work. Thanks for posting this, Frank. I'm really excited to see what these guys have come up with this time.
I am looking for opportunities for high school students to publish their writing. I am in VT. We are part of the NWP and can certainly offer that to our students. I know about the Mountain Review, but I would really appreciate other venues where stu…
Oh, a marvelous poem, Carol -- by one of my favorite poets. In graduate school far back in the 60's, I took a creative writing class from Bly at the University of Kansas, and have never forgotten it. Thanks for the connection.
I actually do have a plan (I also have a yearly book filled with objectives). I just can't say I have a detailed plan. I found it easier to plan for 90 minute block lessons than the 45 minutes we have at this school which makes me feel like I am in…
Oh I do! I just had a tutorial with a final year student, who thank me for introducing her to philosophy. It's just that the rest of it sucks up so much time.
Andy,
The fact that you have not heard of it doesn't mean the theory has not had a wide influence. Nearly every school of education in America now promotes "constructivist" ideas, and it is why many of our student teachers are not receiving some of…
How about this for a poetic connection to your posting, Hamilton?
Gratitude to Old Teachers by Robert Bly
When we stride or stroll across the frozen lake,
We place our feet where they have never been.
We walk upon the unwalked. But we are uneasy.…
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I am so sorry I missed this message - I've been sick the past couple of weeks, but we should get together soon.
I have a PD session until 5:00 tomorrow, so Zombieland is a no-go. Matinee Sunday?
I saw in another thread that you have been teaching The Kite Runner. I'll be reading this with my 10th grade honors class this year, and I'd be delighted if you could share with me some of the things you've done. I'm especially interested in your rationale for teaching the book.
Thanks so much.
My email address is timhatridge@yahoo.com
Thanks again!
I saw on another post that you used yarn to create a sea of the different genres of stories while teaching Haroun and the Sea of Stories, so I was wondering if you have any other ideas for teaching the novel? I plan to teach it in about a month, but there aren't many resources out there for poor Haroun!
Please help if you can! :)
Thanks!!
Emily
I had a brilliant superintendant at one time who said something to the effect of: "We [educators] have to almost love that dissonance that comes with our daily struggles, and our need to reflect and grow in the teaching profession." True, that.
Mardie
Just want to say that I connected big time to your thoughts on chapter 3, and I admire the reflective quality of your thinking.
Mardie
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