Maggie wrote a post about making what we teach in school relevant or important to kids who have so much else going on in their lives. That’s such a great question! How in the hell do we as teachers make a lesson on poetry or romantic fiction seem important to a student who might be dealing with big, personal issues. I don’t know that I can blame a kid for the typical questions: “Why do I have to learn this?” “When will I ever use this in real life?” because, honestly, sometimes they have a point. What does a kid who perhaps experienced the death of a parent or sibling care about Ernest Hemingway? Why should a kid who has to work for a living to support himself and his family care about a lesson on revolutionary literature? Or how about the kid who knows he won’t be going to college because his family can’t afford it and instead is set on going straight into the workforce, why does he need to learn about post-modernist writing? Now, being an aspiring teacher, I know the value of what I teach for all kids regardless of their situation, but how do we make it relevant in a world that has so much more going on.
In the Grand Scheme of Things
28 Monday Oct 2013
Posted Uncategorized
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margarettietjen said:
I guess one way is to emphasize the power of words and language. Writing and reading are means of expression. Whether you are writing in a journal, or read to isolate yourself and get taken into a fantasy world- it is somewhat therapeutic. To have the power to communicate through a strong voice will help anyone in their career path. Those who have a strong voice, receive a lot more respect from others. There is a power behind words. If a child lost a family member, or has a sick family member, maybe they can write a letter to them. Learning about different eras helps present different styles in writing. Maybe they wont like reading “To Kill a Mocking Bird” but maybe they can find interest in the themes and history, and think about morals today in society. Sometimes discussion will be the only importance a student will see in the “why are we learning this?” question, but reaching them in some way is better than no way.