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| Stop by Two Writing Teachers for details on the Slice of Life Story Challenge. |
One hundred years of educational research has proven one thing: kids are different. Richard Allington said that during a keynote with Stephen Krashen at either IRA or NCTE one year. Students' reactions and comments to the Slice of Life challenge remind me of its truth. Here are a few voices from Monday's check-in:
"Mrs. Spillane, I think you've put us on to an addiction," A. grinned as she started to log in to the computer before the bell rang for class.
"I hate it--it feels like an assignment, so I go and write whatever really quick. I don't even care. I don't even want to go and read other peoples," J. claimed in our circle.
R. quickly replied with, "J. hates everything. Don't you?"
J.C. added, "It's an assignment, sort of, but not really. It's fun and more like you write what you want and then comment--once you really start, you'll see."
What is the difference between an assignment and something you do for fun? How can teachers create experiences for students that are more like play than work? How do you evaluate students' performances when it comes time to do so? What about the grade?
I want to count what matters. For this project, what matters is writing (trying to write via a blog), publishing, sharing and commenting. I want to count students' attempts to do what matters in our writing community, but I do not want that counting to become punitive (a sort of punishment). I don't want the result of counting or grading students' work to be compliance.
I want them to fall in love with writing in community. I want students to feel compelled to slice and compelled to comment on each others' slices. Some are. Some are not. Kids are different after all.
I am with you! It's like you climbed into my brain and pulled out my concerns! :) I struggle with the students resisting. When I introduced this project, I felt so much reluctance. I was discouraged, until I started reading their writing! They are excited about it now. We don't have our own blogs so they are commenting on my post, but many of them are still commenting on each others comments. Awesome! You remind me of an important point: kids are different. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteStudents are excited, too. I didn't feel resistance at first, but I think what students resist is the idea that it's not all about the grade or the counting. I think they want to believe that, but at the same time they do not. They resist really believing because so many of their classes (and most of their experience) is about the grade or the test or the counting.
DeleteSome will fall in love with this project. It is all about providing opportunities. Others will not, of course, but may still be richer for the experience. I wonder what their perspectives will be at the end of the month?
ReplyDeleteMe too! My students have a reflection sheet already in hand and I was tickled the other day when a ninth grader said she was already recording her favorites in the "top ten" list on the evaluation in pencil in case she changes her mind.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see what the feelings are by the middle of March. Passion can be contagious, especially if you don't all give a lot of air time to the naysayers. Yet is such a powerful world in our language. Even if you're not saying yet, be thinking it! Maybe you'll have some converts.
ReplyDeleteIt will be. I remember last year that mid-month was especially tough. I've warned students about that and modeled a lot of writing ahead and scheduling of posts, so we'll see.
DeleteYou are right, one thing you can count on is that students are different. My students also are having a variety of responses to this challenge. I will be interested to see how their feelings change as we go.
ReplyDeleteAre your students doing the challenge in notebooks, K? How is that going?
DeleteMy kids slice once a week all year, and everything you've said above holds true for them as well. Some love it, others just feel the need to get it over with. The cool thing, I think, is that even those who see it a "work" enjoy reading and commenting. They may not have Put the time into writing, but something(curiosity, maybe) compels them to read slices and comment on them. And I think that this makes us a writing community as a class...eventually, even the reluctant ones find something to slice about now and then, and they appreciate the comments. I just keep the encouragement up...and hope for the best .... Just like you are doing!
ReplyDeleteIt does make you a writing community. Students will find different entry points into that community. Some as readers, some as writers, some... who's to say what their future roles will be. Good point, Tara.
DeleteYou could have been in my brain. I struggle with the same ideas with reading and writing. I want them to do it for the love of reading and writing, but I also have to account for grades. Sometimes I wonder if I do more harm than good, but you are right that kids are different.
ReplyDeleteMy class slicing started really strong, but them came the students' turns that are not that excited. I really have to push them. And then comes a wonderful surprise, "Mrs. T. can you read this to see if it is okay? Could I post this?" I rejoice again! And as I was reading my students' journals today, I see so many possible posts coming. Some are really embracing writing!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most problematic aspects of teaching English (and teaching in general). There needs to be counting and rows of numbers, but that isn't where the heart and truth of it lies. The best way out is doing what you're doing; putting value on the process and making that the focus. Invite them to dance and play, and maybe they'll decide to stay.
ReplyDelete"Count what matters" is always a compromise; it would be better not to count at all. But in the systems we work in, it at least gets us close to where we'd like to be.
Is there any way you could not grade this? Just do what I hear teachers do sometimes: everyone gets an A. I think it takes away the drama of working for the points/grades. I really am no expert because we don't do grades at my school at all, & then they go off to high school & come back telling us about the points they need to earn, etc. I'm so glad you're working this out, Lee Ann. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for at least some to find their voices in writing. Thanks for sharing some of it.
ReplyDelete