Apathy…ugh!

Unfortunately, I’m finding apathy to be a growing trend in my school. Not all students, of course. Students and schools differ on this demographic, I’m sure. In my school, the students have every opportunity for success, but some just aren’t interested. No, it isn’t that they are not interested in success at all, just not in the courses or the environment. What causes this? Were there students like this during my high school years? Probably…so what became of them?

Maybe I should track some of those students down? Maybe I should take a FB or Twitter poll. I’ve tried to ask my students, but this is early in the semester. I have yet to build relationships with all my kids. And, the most apathetic students don’t seem interested in building a relationship with me. Block scheduling can be difficult in this way. Five months to build a meaningful relationship while incorporating rigor and relevance to content.

This is a tough time in the year for everyone. There are no breaks, especially this year with all the snow days. No more vacations. Nothing but the content, teacher, and students.

Ready, Set, GO!

Next week will begin the 20 Time, but my students won’t know it…unless they read my blog. So, I’m assuming they won’t know it! I’m beginning things differently this time. My honors students were more willing to take a risk. The ones who were not gave into the classroom peer pressure that honors students do as they are told. English I is a bit more of a challenge. There are more nay-sayers in these two classes. So, I’ll make it more about them, through writing.

I’ll begin with Memoir writing.
Then, we will create a Vignette for their characteristics within their Memoir.
Then, we will explore what makes that person, that character they have described so well, happy. That will be the premise for exploring our passions in life and, hopefully, lead us into 20 Time…

PSU Summer Institute- Professional Development

Exciting News!!! I will be presenting a break-out session at the Penn State York Summer Institute!!!

If you are close by, join us. This year the focus will be on:

NAVIGATING NON-FICTION READING AND WRITING IN A COMMON CORE CLIMATE

This workshop provides examples of how to obtain authentic writing from students. With the standards and expectations of education rising, it is important to build relationships with our students. Memoir writing and perspective writing allow an educator to gain insight into the lives and interests of students. We need to work harder than ever at the middle school and high school levels to engage our students in meaningful writing opportunities, thus, meaningful educational experiences. Student choice in planning and products provide higher level thinking opportunities through inquiry learning while placing the onus on the student to think, create, and present a product relevant to his or her interests, career choice, and/or understanding. 

Here is my session information:

Building Relationships, Writing, and Perspective – Grades 6-12

Here is the registration information and all the details:
http://www.psusummerinstitute.org/