418+Agenda+4.16.12


 * Note: These is a suggested schedule. But of course, you can complete these tasks anytime on Monday.** The writing assignment is due by midnight on Monday, April 16th.


 * 4:30 - 5:30 - Mitchie Reading Task**

Think about it. When your students leave your school, what do you hope they will say about you? What do you hope you can say about your efforts in your students' behalf?
 * Pre-Reading**


 * During Reading** - Mitchie pages 173- 188 - As you read, pay attention to the variety of purposes, goals, and outcomes of school that are mentioned in these chapters.

"As I watched, the questions that bombarded me every year about this time churned in my mind: What had I really taught these kids? What had they gotten out of our time together? Had they become more confident? More compassionate? More literate? More likely to question the world around them? What connected with them, what shook them out of their perpetual boredom and pushed them to think or act? What mattered?"
 * After Reading -** Think about this quote on the bottom of 176:

Also, consider this quote on the middle of page 186: "But the rest of my classes were boring. I think a lot more teachers should take the time out to see what the kids really have, the potential they really have, instead of just the grades they make. For some teachers, it's all about grades. What you get on the paper, that's you. Teachers should be encouraging students, telling them, "You have this gift. You're very good at this." Then kids might see school in a different way. Most kids, if you say the word //school//, they say, "Uugh!" But they should see it like, I can learn, I can be someone, I can get smarter. I'm not saying the teachers have to be my best friends or anything, but they should at least who they care if the kids learn. They should be serious about their job. They should like teaching, you know what I mean?"


 * Write:** At the top of your GoogleDoc journal, respond to these two prompts:
 * Similar to Mitchie on page 176, what questions can you imagine asking yourself at the end of the school year? What really matters to you as a teacher?
 * Think about a student you've encountered in your past or present field placements who drove you crazy -- or seemed to have the most potential to drive you crazy. If you were to live what Yesenia recommends on page 186, what would you say to this student? Write a letter (at least half a page) to the student you identified above as being hard to teach. Avoid being preachy or cliche' -- rather, seriously consider what you would say to that student if you were acting as the kind of teacher Yesenia idealized.


 * 5:30 - 7:00 -** **Work on your final project**