ELA 101

Last week I asked my 8th grade students to do a quick write.  Their topic was their attitude about reading and writing.  I asked them to be completely honest and tell me their thoughts on the subjects as well as how they think any negative feelings could be improved throughout the year.  Upon reading their quick writes, I noticed a trend.  Many of my 8th graders seemed to feel that if they could just read a book once in a while simply for the pleasure of reading, they might enjoy it more.  It was a popular idea that “dissecting” a book seemed to take away the joy of reading and hindered their ability to really get into the story.  As an avid reader myself I was taken aback by the idea that as a language arts teacher, an instructor of a subject that I truly love, I could actually be robbing my students of the same joy I experience from a great book.  Uh-oh!

Since reading their quick writes, the wheels in my head have been turning about what  my students said.  What really is my role as their language arts teacher?  Have I really done my job if at the end of the year my students have a vocabulary that could earn them a spot on the next Jeopardy Teen Tournament, but they never pick up a book of their own choosing all summer?  Is it more important that my students be able to identify prepositional phrases or that they find a style of writing they enjoy and feel they comfortable using  form of self expression?  These are the type of questions that run through my mind day and night, and unfortunately I have yet to find the answer!

As of now, the best solution I have come up with is balance (as I find it the answer to many of my questions about teaching and life in general).  I am required to teach certain things.  There is no way around this, which means that sometimes books  must be slowed down and “dissected” and writing must graded and grammar corrected.  On the other hand, who says it is not okay to sometimes let my students just read and write with no strings attached.  Part of becoming a better reader and/or writer is practicing and making mistakes.  And so another goal for this year has been formed.  Find that balance!  Teach my students what they need to know for high school, college, and beyond.  Give them the skills they need to be good readers and writers and critical thinkers.  But perhaps most importantly, allow them to slow down and find joy in what they are doing.

Similarly to Mrs. Cornwell’s classes, my 4th and 6th hour also created class creeds.  It is my philosophy as a teacher that students should take ownership of the class rules and guidelines and take part in creating them.  It is just as much their classroom as it is mine!  With that being said, I was very impressed with the things my students expressed that they expected of their classmates and themselves.  With what they have come up with I expect this to be an excellent year with two excellent groups of students

In addition to coming up with their expectations for each other, I also asked my classes to brainstorm a list of things they expected from me as a teacher.  Using their ideas I also wrote a teacher creed.  Check all of them out posted below.

Happy reading,

~Ms. Cook

Ms. Cook’s Creed

I am a teacher

I believe in setting high expectations for my students and encouraging them until they reach their potential.

I agree to give my students choices, and I trust them to make good choices both in my class and in the world around them.

I will treat my students with respect at all times.

I believe in each of my students and know that all of them can and will succeed.

I appreciate my students’ unique personalities and will incorporate their learning styles into my teaching.

I am a role model for my students both in and outside of school.

I believe that laughing, having fun, making friends, and learning are all possible at the same time.

I challenge myself to be the best teacher I can be and to learn from my students every day.

I lead, I learn, I laugh, I read, I write, I listen, I speak, dream, I understand, I encourage, I teach, I inspire.

4th Hour Creed

As a class we are responsible for what we do and say. 

We will think before we act and speak. 

We are courteous, kind, respectful, awesome, smart, beautiful, handsome, spectacular, funny, and fantabulous!

 Together we will uphold the class and school rules. 

We are confident in our abilities.

 We are comfortable sharing our opinions because we know we will not be judged. 

Together, we will walk through the door everyday with a positive attitude. 

We will set goals and work hard to achieve them

 We are Ms. Cook’s 4^th Hour English class at Portland Middle School, and we will stand tall and strong in school and make it a better place to be.

6th Hour Creed

We are 7^th grade students at Portland Middle School.

 We agree to treat each other fairly and with respect.

 We believe in ourselves and work to our highest abilities. 

 We think clearly and try not to get distracted or distract others.

 No one is left behind.

 Our class will take responsibility for our actions, and be the best we can be.

 We will never give up

 We believe that our education is the key to our future successes.  Our education and our future are in our hands.

 We are awesome, cool, amazing, superior, mighty, smart,  good sports, courageous, crazy, funny and cooperative.

We are athletes, musicians, artists, and students 

We are UNSTOPPABLE!!

Check this out, I’m getting the hang of blogging!  You would think that as a recent college graduate my technology skills would be stellar, however I must admit that this is my first blogging experience.   I can tell that one of my many challenges this year will be keeping up with the very tech savvy Mrs. Cornwell!  With that being said, what an amazing opportunity I have been given to learn a thing or two (or a hundred) from an amazing teacher and respected colleague.  When it comes to technology, it I believe that it is my job as a teacher to learn everything I can, and be familiar with the latest and greatest our world has to offer.  An increasing amount of students consider themselves digital learners and as a teacher it is of the utmost importance to me to appeal to all of my students’ unique learning styles. Kids today use, understand, and love technology and what better way to reach them in school than to incorporate something they enjoy?!  

I consider myself pretty comfortable with technology.  I am young enough to have grown up with computers in school and in the home, however I still feel I have a lot to learn and my skills could definitely use some tweaking.  It is my personal goal this year to learn as much as I can about technology through the multitude of resources I have available to me.  In addition, I hope to incorporate these skills into my teaching as much as possible.  Students–I’m expecting you to hold me accountable for this   

Thank you Mrs. Cornwell, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hour for inviting my 4th and 6th hour to join you on your blog.  This is a wonderful opportunity for our classes to connect, and I look forward to updating frequently.