It’s a great day in 9th grade Linguistic Studies when you can sit back and listen to your atheistic master teacher give a roughly coherent explanation of the Trinity to a roomful of students–who range from nominally or devoutly Catholic to religiously ambivalent. So many of our attempts in this classroom are to get students [...]
Archive for the ‘Teaching’ Category
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Posted in Literary, Teaching on 14 May 2011 | 1 Comment »
Manners. One slow step at a time.
Posted in Teaching on 10 May 2011 | 1 Comment »
Students are entering … Ms. H: You’ll need your Romeo and Juliet text today. B: Aww sh**, it’s in my locker. Ms. H: B—-, can we try that again. B: Oh sh**, I mean, oh, sorry Ms. Yeah, sorry … I left the play my locker, can I go get it? And— good morning Ms! [...]
“I think our professor likes you …”
Posted in Teaching on 10 May 2011 | 2 Comments »
She said it like it was random affection, or personal taste. I wanted to explain that it wasn’t personal affection. It’s just what happens when you work hard, take assignments seriously (or alter them so that you can take them seriously), and treat your professor like a professional colleague– not a high school teacher who’s [...]
Babies on the Mind?
Posted in Overheard, Teaching on 29 April 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Overheard today at LASGS: “Well, don’t they take like six months to a year to grow?” (in reference to Shakespeare’s first child being born 5 months post-matrimony) “Can’t babies hold their breath longer, ’cause you know they’re like floating in water in the womb?” “No, man, they have a breathing tube.” (amidst a conversation on [...]
from today
Posted in Teaching on 26 April 2011 | Leave a Comment »
One of my favorite things as a teacher is doing stuff alongside my students. I have two groups of students reading McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses in their literature circles. It’s not an easy read, especially for 9th graders. During class today, as I was checking in with each group, I was called most often [...]
What is a “Real Education”?
Posted in Business, Philosophy and Theology, Teaching, tagged classical education, education, entreprenuership on 20 April 2011 | Leave a Comment »
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. John Donne In good cartoonist form, Scott Adams starts with a killer hook: “Why do we make B students sit through the same classes as their brainy peers? That’s like trying to train your [...]
Spring Break (Day Three)
Posted in Literary, Los Angeles, Teaching on 20 April 2011 | 1 Comment »
I’m lesson planning this morning, researching and typing out detailed notes for the introduction to Shakespeare workshops I’ll be teaching next week. Sitting at LA Mill Coffee, a couple miles from our apartment, I’m reminded that there are a whole set of people in the world who spend their mornings at coffee shops–in the middle [...]
Life Knowledge
Posted in Los Angeles, Teaching on 13 April 2011 | 2 Comments »
Ms. C——’s Advisory class: A senior explains that his best friend was arrested last Friday (after being on the run with several felony counts). He explains that he’s going to be in court tomorrow as well. Freshman: What’s a felony? Long pause Senior: Well, there’s misdemeanors– that’s like getting a traffic ticket. Then there’s like [...]
Confessions of a Student Teacher (2)
Posted in Los Angeles, Teaching on 9 April 2011 | Leave a Comment »
It’s a cold, windy day in Los Angeles. Only the clear skies and an uncommon freshness in the air remind me that it is spring. At week two of student teaching, CH and I are already slipping easily into the new pattern of our lives … I came into my 9th grade Linguistic Studies course [...]
Confessions of a Student Teacher
Posted in Los Angeles, Teaching on 1 April 2011 | 1 Comment »
I never wanted to be a student teacher. This last year, among other activities, has been spent trying to find a way, any way, to avoid this requirement. Having worked in a full-time classroom for 3 years, plus several other short teaching assignments– I was frustrated by the state’s requirement that I give them 2+ [...]
