One language arts educator's guidance for her new students.
10. Remain calm.
Try to avoid banging your head against the table (or the wall) (or the window) (or another kid) when something is difficult. Rather than succumbing to frustration, read the directions three more times, and then try to begin. If you are still stuck, ask questions. If you are going to use the phrases, "I can't..." or "I don't know how to..." or "I'm not good at..." then please add the word "yet" to your sentence.
Lost? Overwhelmed? Grab a pass and see me at lunch. I will help you.
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt
9. Just because a thought comes into your brain, does not mean that it needs to come out of your mouth.
"This is the most boring class that I have ever taken in my life,"
"This is sooooo stupid,"
"Did you see those ugly shoes that Ms. Baker is wearing?"
Practice self-control. Be kind. Avoid speaking in a negative way about others, whether they are present or not. There's enough conflict out in the world ...let's try our hardest to make this classroom a place of peace.
8. Work hard. Push yourself. Do not settle for mediocrity.
If I spend a longer time reading and commenting on a piece than you have spent writing the piece, then we have a backwards equation. You are forming habits now that you will carry with you throughout your life.
Go on my website for enrichment/challenge options. Be sure that you are pushing yourself.
7. Listen with your heart to what others are saying, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless.
They may surprise you.
6. Remember that the fastest person does not always win the race.
This year, we will be working on reading slowly and carefully, on studying an author's craft. We will also work on improving our own writing craft, revising our SFDs (stinky first drafts). This all takes TIME.
5. It is always better to hand in work late than not at all.
To avoid late work, write your homework in your planner right when you arrive in the classroom. Late work goes in the classroom mailbox. However, late work will not be looked at unless you have attached a form which explains the real reason— "I was sick and missed class the day that you collected the poem." "A wild turkey bit me and I spent the night in the ER." "My brother was so angry that he cut the electrical wires in our neighborhood, so we had no power." I will determine how much credit, if any, you will receive for a late assignment.
4. Use your wit.
Although I'm not a good joke-teller, I do appreciate a sense of humor, so share your jokes (G-rated, please) and comics with me, at appropriate times. Past students have described our core books ("The Miracle Worker," "To Kill A Mockingbird," and "Of Mice and Men") as sad, sadder, and saddest. Although I don't necessarily agree, we definitely need humor.
3. Help make your environment look pleasing.
Decorate the classroom. If you've got any articles, comics, favorite quotes, photos, pictures that you want to hang up, please bring them in. Also, keep the bookshelves organized. Don't just toss stuff anywhere.
2. Avoid asking, "When are we going to get our work back?"The answer is, "You will get papers back when I have finished looking at them." Put yourselves in my shoes and realize that that sometimes can take awhile. Oh yeah, and you know all of those comments that teachers write on your papers? Read them. Despite what you might think, they are, at least at this point in your life, more important than the grade. I prefer to have conversations with you about what you are learning and what risks you are taking as a learner, than about points and grades.
1. Smile...you may not always feel like you have a lot of choice in your life, but you do get to choose your attitude.
"...Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." - Viktor Frankl (Holocaust survivor) author of "Man's Search for Meaning"
Assignment #1: It's Your Turn...
You read my Top Ten list. Now, create a Top Ten List about yourself. You may choose any topic, as long as it relates to you. Here are some possibilities:
--Top Ten Memorable Moments in the Life of [Your Full Name]
--Top Ten Things that [Your Name] Believes
--Top Ten Things that [Your Full Name] Loves about His/Her Heritage or Religion
--Top Ten Things That Drive [Your Name] Crazy.
--Top Ten Things that Concern [Your Name] About the World
--Top Ten Things that [Your Name] Loves About Life.
--Top Ten Reasons Why [Your Name] Does or Does Not Like School.
--[Your Name]'s Top Ten Favorite (or least favorite) Movies (and why)
--Top Ten Activities that [Your Name] Loves to Do Outside of School
--Top Ten Important Facts about [Your Name]
* Should I write in complete sentences? Absolutely. No one-word answers.
* Should each number have more than one sentence? Most, if not all, should. Mine do.
* Should I use humor? If you want to, why not?
* Will mine be shared with my classmates? Yes!
* Should I do some prewriting and even a rough draft? That's a good idea.
* Should my list be typed? Yes, or very neatly handwritten in ink (write on front sides only)
* When is this due? During the first core Literacy block next week.
* Oh my gosh...does mine have to be as long as your list? It can be.
* What happens if I can't think of 10 things? Do your best. Push yourself.
* Will this assignment take me a long time? Probably longer than you think...
