Well, I read both chapters of Best Practices and the Nancy Rankie Shelton and Danling Fu article on Creating Space for Teaching Writing and for Test Preparation and all I can say is, assessment gives me nightmares. Since I started this reading I have dreamt every night that I’m taking a horrifying writing test of some kind or another. The two more vivid were one where I was just starting the test when the lights went out and no one seemed to notice but me. I couldn’t read the test, and I couldn’t see how anyone else could, but no one else was complaining. They just kept going. I rose my hand and tried to get the proctor to listen to what I was saying about the light situation, but he refused to see me. The next night I dreamt I was a prisoner in a school building and wouldn’t be released until I could pass this particular writing test. I kept taking it and failing even though I was positive that I had produced good writing. I couldn’t figure out what it was they wanted from me and I kept being forced into a new classroom every time I failed. Finally, I felt like I had it down, I was on a role and only had one more section of the prompt to cover before completing a perfect essay that covered every single thing they (whoever they were) could possibly want, when the test was over. I was freaking out. I was so close to finishing but they ripped the paper out of my hand and I failed again.
I don’t know exactly what this means, but I know I am feeling stressed by the fact that I seemed to retain nothing from the Best Practices chapters. I read portions of them three and four times and still it was like I was reading Greek. It just didn’t gel for me at all, which is scary because I know this is going to be a big part of my job, but I just had a complete mental block about it.
The article left me conflicted. I was glad to see that Nancy made writing workshop work for her. She seemed ready to experiment with other ways to incorporate test prep, and even seemed likely to abandon it all together if she felt confident that her writing workshop alone could prepare students for tests. It was nice to see that there is some hope for breaking out of teaching to the test. Still, my experience with field work this year showed me that students in struggling schools have been completely brainwashed into believing that tests are all that matter. In one class I observed this semester, a teacher asked her class why it’s important to learn grammar. A student answered, “So we can do better on tests.” The teacher said, “Right.” There is something so fundamentally wrong with that. In other classes, I noticed all the students care about is finding out what their grades are. One teacher purposely puts no preliminary grades into the school’s system because the students obsessively check it. There is a total disconnect between grades and the purpose of education.
In looking over Chapter 7 again, I find I do get a lot out of the strategies on revision. Certainly, I see how reading and writing work together, because without the ability to read critically, you can’t critique anyone’s writing, including your own. As a former editor, I know that revision is essential to good writing. Very few people (maybe none at all) can produce high quality writing without revision. That’s why I find it so insane that we make kids take these writing tests where time is so short that they have all of five minutes to plan and maybe five minutes to proofread, but no time at all to revise. That’s not really writing. That’s the Jeopardy of writing. Just because you can’t hit the buzzer as fast as the guy next to you doesn’t mean you don’t know the answer. Some people need more time to write and more revising time than others. That might actually mean you’re a better writer overall. But we don’t seem to care about that. Certainly, if all you’re doing is teaching to the test, there is little place for revision. Yet it is maybe the most important part of the whole process.
I’ll have to give Chapter 13 another try at another time. I just don’t know what happened there.
But there is one other thing that has been confounding me. All of the examples of actual classroom experiences in Best Practices are K-8. I’m feeling unsure about what this means for high school teachers. How is high school different from what we are learning about here? What are kids supposed to be doing in high school? In my field work, it seems they are reading short stories and catching up on what they should have already learned, but none of it is being done in a coordinated way. I’m feeling very nervous about the prospect of teaching in high school because I feel so unclear about what I would be teaching or what I could or should expect my students to know.
I go to see daily some sites and websites to read posts, but this blog provides quality based articles.
Hiya! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share. Thanks!
Hi there, this weekend is nice for me, as this time i am reading this great informative article here at my house.
I visited many web pages but the audio quality for audio songs present at this site is really excellent.
I think the admin of this website is in fact working hard for his website, as here every information is quality based information.
Hurrah! At last I got a blog from where I know how to in fact take helpful information regarding my study and knowledge.
I seriously love your site.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you develop this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own website and want to know where you got this from or what the theme is called. Thanks!
This piece of writing will help the internet people for creating new blog or even a blog from start to end.
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for %keyword%
Hi to every one, it’s truly a good for me to visit this website, it consists of precious Information.
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
It’s remarkable designed for me to have a website, which is valuable designed for my experience. thanks admin
I think this is one of the such a lot important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. However wanna observation on few basic things, The site taste is ideal, the articles is in reality excellent : D. Just right activity, cheers
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appeal. I must say you have done a superb job with this. Additionally, the blog loads very fast for me on Opera. Superb Blog!
Yes! Finally something about %keyword1%.
Hello there, I do think your web site could be having internet browser compatibility issues. When I look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Apart from that, great blog!
I feel this is one of the such a lot important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. However want to observation on few common things, The site taste is perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good task, cheers
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I in finding It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to give something back and help others like you helped me.
We stumbled over here different web page and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to looking at your web page again.
Hi there! This article couldn’t be written any better! Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to forward this information to him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thanks for sharing!
This is very fascinating, You are an excessively professional blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
Hi! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading through your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thanks a ton!
Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with almost all significant infos. I’d like to peer more posts like this .
Superb website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get advice from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thank you!
Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I have been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast provided bright transparent concept
Hi friends, its great post concerning teachingand completely explained, keep it up all the time.
Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing for your feed and I am hoping you write again soon!
If some one needs expert view about blogging then i propose him/her to visit this weblog, Keep up the good job.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Asking questions are in fact good thing if you are not understanding anything entirely, but this article gives good understanding even.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be exciting to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their websites.
Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
Can I simply say what a relief to discover somebody who really knows what they’re talking about on the net. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people should look at this and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you’re not more popular because you certainly have the gift.
Thank you, I have recently been searching for information approximately this topic for ages and yours is the best I have found out so far. However, what about the conclusion? Are you positive concerning the source?
Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share. Thanks!
Good article. I certainly love this website. Keep it up!
I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I’ve got you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post
What’s up to every one, as I am actually keen of reading this website’s post to be updated regularly. It includes pleasant stuff.
You should take part in a contest for one of the best sites on the net. I will recommend this site!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this post and the rest of the site is also really good.
Hi there terrific blog! Does running a blog similar to this take a lot of work? I have virtually no expertise in programming but I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any recommendations or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic nevertheless I just had to ask. Kudos!
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?
What’s up, this weekend is nice in favor of me, as this time i am reading this wonderful informative article here at my home.
For most recent news you have to pay a visit world wide web and on world-wide-web I found this site as a most excellent web site for most up-to-date updates.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this brilliant blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with almost all important infos. I’d like to peer more posts like this .
Appreciation to my father who informed me regarding this webpage, this blog is actually remarkable.
You’re so awesome! I don’t suppose I’ve read anything like this before. So great to find somebody with a few unique thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!