What Tense for Readings?

4 thoughts on “What Tense for Readings?”

1. John Piazza

   January 22, 2016 at 9:20 am

   “I find it imperative to write each class story out; the generic stories for all five classes is a proven fail.”

   I disagree. Also, this statement will discourage newbies from going the safe route, which is still a big step in the right direction compared to the status quo. See Keith Toda’s blog post (and comments) for examples of how you can still personalize a class discussion and have a generic story. The discussion gives you the student buy-in, not busting your ass for a bunch of lo-freq details which you can’t necessarily use again.
   http://todallycomprehensiblelatin.blogspot.com/2015/08/latin-1-week-1-lesson-plan.html

   If you include details from each class, then each class searches for its own contributions. When you go too specific you get something that you are less likely to be able to use in the future, e.g. for SSR. Inside jokes will pop up during discussion, and don’t necessarily have to make their way into every story.

   Sorry if I am being bold, but I’m talking about/for the teachers on this PLC who see 150+ students per day in 5-6 sections and have 3-5 preps, of which I only recently became a member. Keith also sees 5 sections of 30+ student classes per day, and he has found a strategy that works for him and doesn’t create more work.

   Now IF (and that’s a great big if) you can get a really competent student to be a scribe and type (not write) the story on a device (your computer/laptop, tablet, their phone, etc), then I’m all for it, but I don’t think it will make or break a class–or most classes at least.

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   1. Steven Ordiano

      January 22, 2016 at 1:23 pm

      John. Thank you for being REAL. I will soon be a member of 30+ kids (more like 35+) as I am going to be full time 6 classes at the same school next year. I may even have to teach Spanish and French 1 and 2. So 3 preps.

      Being efficient is good. Today I was inputting grades as students were free-writing. I have good kids. 🙂

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   2. Ben Slavic

      January 22, 2016 at 2:53 pm

      Thanks for the reality check, John. I have had my years of 150+ students in the past, but this year I have 60 well behaved middle school kids and lots of time to plan (and read the blog). It’s like heaven. So you are right. I just forgot. But it is really nice to be able to write stories for each class. It’s just Providence.

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2. Brigitte

   January 24, 2016 at 1:35 pm

   I am really grateful for John’s explanation, too. I have 5 preps this year and I can barely keep my head above water (hence my lack of commentary, although daily reading is what keeps me sane!).

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