Comments on: The last day before the first day http://neweco.edublogs.org/2008/08/16/the-last-day-before-the-first-day/ My experiences with teaching English, using technology and living in Honduras. Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:05:28 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Kimberly http://neweco.edublogs.org/2008/08/16/the-last-day-before-the-first-day/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Kimberly Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:17:51 +0000 http://neweco.edublogs.org/?p=21#comment-9 Students are people. I will admit that it was difficult for me to distinguish between feelings of excitement, intimidation and insecurity on the first day. Even though I tried to block out all of the generalizations and warnings, I still felt like I was on my toes all day. Now that I have had conversations with students, read their writing and realized some of their supposed maladies, I look forward to our exchanges. They have already taught me a lot. I look forward to helping them on their way. Students are people.

I will admit that it was difficult for me to distinguish between feelings of excitement, intimidation and insecurity on the first day. Even though I tried to block out all of the generalizations and warnings, I still felt like I was on my toes all day.

Now that I have had conversations with students, read their writing and realized some of their supposed maladies, I look forward to our exchanges.

They have already taught me a lot. I look forward to helping them on their way.

]]> By: treasures http://neweco.edublogs.org/2008/08/16/the-last-day-before-the-first-day/comment-page-1/#comment-7 treasures Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:47:47 +0000 http://neweco.edublogs.org/?p=21#comment-7 Just read about you on Ms. Dawn's blog..and already I think you are great! I teach English 11 and Pre-AP English 10 (and other classes as well!) in Arkansas and would be glad to share, to read, and digitally pat you on the back anytime! (Going to add you to my reader.) Good luck as you begin making memories that will last a lifetime! Just read about you on Ms. Dawn’s blog..and already I think you are great!

I teach English 11 and Pre-AP English 10 (and other classes as well!) in Arkansas and would be glad to share, to read, and digitally pat you on the back anytime! (Going to add you to my reader.)

Good luck as you begin making memories that will last a lifetime!

]]> By: Dawn Hogue http://neweco.edublogs.org/2008/08/16/the-last-day-before-the-first-day/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Dawn Hogue Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:13:29 +0000 http://neweco.edublogs.org/?p=21#comment-5 PS Again That courtyard looks like paradise!! PS Again
That courtyard looks like paradise!!

]]> By: Dawn Hogue http://neweco.edublogs.org/2008/08/16/the-last-day-before-the-first-day/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Dawn Hogue Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:12:31 +0000 http://neweco.edublogs.org/?p=21#comment-4 Every year I hear stories about what the upcoming ninth graders are like, sometimes praises, sometimes warnings. Either way, I tend to ignore what is said about them. I prefer to get to know my students as individuals and judge them based on their behavior with me. That is all I can really do. Who among us would like to be judged by our associations with those proximity deems to be our social group? Associations we choose may be different. Even so, overgeneralization is a logical fallacy. As teachers, we have to ignore the stories about our students. Otherwise, we act out of prejudice and will most likely contribute to self-fulling prophecies. The other thing that always bugs me about these warnings about groups of students is that they're an affliction of the institutional nature of school. They assume students are hoards, not individuals. They assume negative over positive (generally). And they really rob us (as educators) of our unique opportunity to connect in the most important way with other human beings who want to trust us. I have no doubt that the tabula rasa of your classroom will flourish with ideas, and despite the very blondness of your hair, your students will respect your open and honest communication with them. PS About the hair, remember what Thoreau warned about any employment requiring new clothes. New hair seems to fit just as well. You can only be who you are. Every year I hear stories about what the upcoming ninth graders are like, sometimes praises, sometimes warnings. Either way, I tend to ignore what is said about them. I prefer to get to know my students as individuals and judge them based on their behavior with me. That is all I can really do. Who among us would like to be judged by our associations with those proximity deems to be our social group? Associations we choose may be different.

Even so, overgeneralization is a logical fallacy. As teachers, we have to ignore the stories about our students. Otherwise, we act out of prejudice and will most likely contribute to self-fulling prophecies.

The other thing that always bugs me about these warnings about groups of students is that they’re an affliction of the institutional nature of school. They assume students are hoards, not individuals. They assume negative over positive (generally). And they really rob us (as educators) of our unique opportunity to connect in the most important way with other human beings who want to trust us.

I have no doubt that the tabula rasa of your classroom will flourish with ideas, and despite the very blondness of your hair, your students will respect your open and honest communication with them.

PS
About the hair, remember what Thoreau warned about any employment requiring new clothes. New hair seems to fit just as well. You can only be who you are.

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