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Master of Ceremonies
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16 thoughts on “Master of Ceremonies”
I experienced this during the past week. In my distracted/distracting 7th grade class, I have abandoned asking stories in favor of rWT-style mad-lib fill in the blanks. This time around, most of the students didn’t even take that seriously (though they did the bare minimum), and so I had to cobble together a semi-entertaining story from their mostly-unusable answers. When I handed out the story, there were all kinds of grumblings about repeated themes from previous stories, and information that was left out (because I deemed it inappropriate and/or unusable). I responded to them saying that if they put more effort into the story, it would be more interesting. I then added “Magister non est scurra! (the teacher is not a clown). My job is to teach you Latin, not entertain you like a tv. This is our story, and you need to make sure you understand it, even if it is boring to you.”
After that, things got better, and students began engaging the story, expecially when I threw the Stella Mortis (a plush Death Star) around to translator-volunteers.
All this to say that I agree with Ben’s post. Don’t kill yourself to make the story spectacular. Put the burden on them to come up with entertaining and appropriate details, keep things simple, and remember that even your lamest attempt at a story is better than a textbook.
Amen!
Kate, it’s so nice to “see” you again!
Can I be Robert’s parrot?
Kate it’s SOOOO great to see / hear from you again! Your sweet words of wisdom are always a ray of sunshine, especially in this yukky weather we’re having here!
I couldn’t agree with you more, it’s all about connection, which has nothing to do with teaching.
I had the best day of my life today. This morning right before the 1st bell rang one of my French 1 kid (Daniel)asked me in French: “qu’est-ce que nous allons faire aujourd’hui? (What are we going to do today?) I thought I was going to fall off my chair b/c the “nous” ( we) form is so hard to get for them b/c it’s not used so often (or so I thought). So I turned to him and I asked him if he had studied French before b/c he just made an incredible sentence that sounded just like a native would say. And he replied no. So I asked him how he knew to say that and he replied :
you always say “nous allons faire this or that”. I started to melt (talk about non-forced emerging output). But that’s not all. Then another kids said something to him about me in english (I don’t remember what) and Daniel’s answer was (again in perfect french) : mais je l’aime ( but I like/love her). OMG, I had to hold my tears.
I told my husband tonight that I’m so happy doing what I’m doing and that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I’m sure it’s all b/c of teaching comprehension classes!
oops I meant to write it’s all about connections.
now if we could just get you to “do it” in Maine! 🙂
Skip, YOU ARE SO SWEET….If you help me find me a job in Maine where I can do nothing but CI , I WILL MOVE. I m serious. I’d love to be able to see you guys on a regular basis…
And do some casual CI talk , we could become “les chevaliers de la table ronde”.
My school is turning into a wall to wall IB school next year and it’s going to be a nightmare, thanks to Rahm Emmanuel. I need to get out of here.
yes, we NEED to find her a job up here!!!! 🙂
“Operation Sabrina” in motion! (better let your husband in on this play!! :o) )
with love,
Laurie
plan lol These folks in Maine can really make things happen when they put their minds to it!!
I saw a quote that made me think of all of you, my friends and colleagues, so I figured I share it here. In honor of the blizzard that’s about to kick our butts today here on the East coast, it seemed appropriate:
“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things but look at what they can do when they stick together.”-Unknown
Go easy on yourselves, folks! We’re all in this together, in any case!
Jennifer, this quote reminded me of the May/June 2012 copy of Ode I recently stumbled upon. There is a featured article about “scenius”, a word that basically means genius coming from collaboration. It made me think of this site, and thanks to Ben for making it a place of utmost collaboration. It also made me think about our classrooms, and even though they are very top-down for reasons beyond our immediate control, we have taken a big step thanks to Blaine and many others in showing us how to co-create stories and opinions with our students in our classrooms.
Thanks Jennifer, That was beautiful.
Hope the storm doesn’t add any more devastation to you people on the East Coast. Mother nature’s wrath has not spared you much lately. Our thoughts are with you.
Thanks, Sabrina. I think my area will get about a foot or so. I’m more concerned for the poor people down the Jersey shore that haven’t yet recovered from Sandy.
A little later, I might go play in it! Turn lemons into lemonade;snow into snowmen!
It is snow – something to get excited about and look forward to!!! I sure am!!! Have fun, everybody.
sounds like some interesting stories may develop about where you were when the lights went out, etc.
I wish you all well. It was cold this morning and now is in the 70s. Not snow weather but I still have long underwear on from being outside at field day.
I hope your families are all safe and snug.