New semester started today....
Beyond the usual book shortages that seem to plague the second semester, here are a few reflections to match this first day...
My English II Standard kids are terrified of school, especially of English. In my conversation with them today, they described English as "reading a bunch of stories that they didn't like, and watching movies."
We will have to change this. I see illustrations in their future...
With that said, I also think that it might be the age as well. Seniors, the students I had last semester, have been with each other for a while, and have a functioning community already. As a result, they were more open from the get-go, thinking that there were more of them than there was of me. The sophomores haven't realized that yet, and I think I will be taking advantage of that situation so long as it lasts.
I have another section of English IV CP this semester; they took a section of English II Standard, and gave me the seniors again. They, frankly, think I am a little nuts. Being more experienced students, they are more ready to go at the beginning of the course, and that is something of a double-edged sword. While it is easier to get Socratic dialogue going with them, and harnessing their thoughts on English as a discipline and a Discourse (I know, a little too much theory there, but I am vetting it somewhat with experience), they are also much more prone to independent actions when it is not entirely appropriate.
For fourth block, I have a new set of sophomores for English II CP. I think I am going to enjoy this group, though I might have experimented a little too much with them . I planned in some free time at the end of class today, allowing them to speak in small groups together, and generally socialize. The theory here was that I could observe their interactions with one another, figure out who was socially involved with who, and nip those things in the bud quickly. At the beginning of the first semester, I allowed a great deal of freedom to my students. They could choose where to sit for some time, they had independent time at the end of class, they were allowed to have a little chaos. The idea, and honestly the reality as well, was that I would be able to observe them discretely, observe their behaviors, and know them as complete learners, not simply performance within academic areas. However, I spent a good deal of time afterward reinforcing and restructuring the classroom.
This time, I planned for it for a day; we will see how I can establish order tomorrow. From a research perspective, this is interesting; that said, I can't lose sight of why I am here.
More tomorrow, as it comes...
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