BlogHer - back to school - Comments

happy hour for school supplies

dnlee5 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:25:54 -0500

Thanks. We're doing another one in January. I hope they can make it.

DNLee

I also blog about upcoming events - family stuff, happy hours, networking, and other free or very affordable events on my other Blog

The Fete Society: http://boughee.blogspot.com. Pass that on to them, too.

Thanks.

Doing the Lessons

rebellious thinker — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:00:33 -0500

All of the things you mention, we are doing. We have the kids annotate books. They are taking AP Language in 11th or 12th grade which is all non-fiction, where they must decode the argument. They are told what a thesis statement is; they practice writing thesis statements for four years. But your point that it needs to stick is, well, the sticking point. That is what is lacking for some reason. Maybe it all boils down to the love of the word and the belief that their ideas are valid, and that they can write--with practice. I love to use Zinsser's phrase that "writing is thinking on paper" to get them to think about writing in a different way. But at least it's not just the problem of this generation, it goes way back.

Laura, www.RebelliousThoughtsofaWoman.com

My wish list

Leslie Madsen Brooks — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:28:10 -0500

Laura,

My mom was a high school English teacher, so my hat's off to you. Thanks for all your hard work!

One thing my mom noted is that she'd have students as 9th graders, and she'd get them to a place where they could frame a decent essay, and then she'd have many of them again in 12th grade, and they would have forgotten everything she taught them--this despite a concerted effort within the department to keep the students writing well.

I'd like to see writing instruction that sticks with students. Honestly, I don't know what that looks like at the high school level, except maybe that it's instruction that makes writing as enjoyable a process as possible.

I will say that many of my undergraduate students come into my classes unfamiliar even with a 5-paragraph essay format. They're surprised to hear that topic sentences usually should be subclaims of the main thesis, but once they learn that, their writing improves immensely.

They also frequently don't know how to write a thesis that is actually arguable. By this I mean they write theses that are too easy to support, that most people would agree with. They don't know how to take a challenging stance, or they're afraid to do so because they want to give the "right" answer in their thesis rather than model a particular thinking process.

As far as reading goes, a prepared student would know how to take notes on a reading--not with a highlighter, but with a pen or pencil, in the margins. The student would know how to enter into a dialogue with the author, to ask intelligent questions. And the student would come to class already with some understanding--even if imperfect--of what the author's argument or main point is, particularly if they're reading nonfiction. We rarely read nonfiction in my English classes in high school, so I'm not sure this is a skill that's being developed in high school at all, especially since students learn history and economics from textbooks, which hide their arguments behind a narrative that the students see as The Truth About History.

That doesn't mean I don't want students to come to college having read a rich variety of poetry, fiction, and drama, but it does mean that they need to be able to look at a professionally written essay--something out of, say, The Best American Essays College Edition--and be able to identify the author's argument, as well as demonstrate that they have given some thought to whether that argument is a valid one.

Thanks for your question!

Leslie

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Research and Academia
My blogs: The Clutter Museum, Museum Blogging, and The Multicultural Toybox

What's a high school English teacher to do?

rebellious thinker — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:38:09 -0500

I wonder what it is that is missing in the students' writings? What would a prepared student look or read like? What would you like high school English teachers to focus on? Because we are focusing on writing, we are focusing on getting them to understand what a thesis statement is, we are focusing on getting them to clearly lay out their ideas on paper. But every year, they seem to be starting from scratch again. I'd love to hear your Wish List for student writers.

Laura, www.RebelliousThoughtsofaWoman.com

What's new?

Judith in Umbria — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:35:08 -0500

I don't want to be glib, but in 1961 when I went to college the first time there were already special writing and math classes for those who hadn't learned enough in high school. When I went back in 1970 for a different degree things, had worsened. Meanwhile, course offerings at secondary level included courses like psychology that were not available until college my first time around.

Decade after decade the complaints are the same but there doesn't seem to be the will to change things. Imagine how difficult life must be for those who aren't even making it to community college where they can get some remedial training.

http://www.judithgreenwood.com/thinkonit/

Also my favorite

mara — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:49:13 -0500

Fall is also my favorite time of year. I just love the colors they smells and all the time we spend on great cooking for comfort etc.

Mara http://24stepstogo.blogspot.com/

I'm forwarding this

Candelaria Silva — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:48:18 -0500

to all my family in the 'Lou, most of whom teach in Florrisant or Hazelwood. Good idea to have a happy hour to raise money for school supplies.

blog.candelariasilva.com

Good and plenty!

Communication

anniegirl1138 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:23:27 -0500

This is a communication issue.

When I was teaching, the grade level teachers put out a supply list as a group so that no child was having to duplicate supplies. There were community items (paper towels and tissue and paper/pencils) and we asked for donations of specific items for that school year that went beyond basics.

School supply lists went home at the end of the previous school year and were sent out again before the new school year. Anyone who needed assistance was asked to contact the school or the team leader.

We had parents who thought communal items weren't fair. We never argued with them. They were few in number. Most of our families were working poor and generous beyond belief when they were able, and even when they weren't able.

When I hear people gripe about school supplies and sharing now, I cringe a bit and usually bite my tongue. Everyone's child loses or forgets pencils/pens or doesn't bring paper to class (or the proper textbook - and lost damaged books are a whole other can of worms). I had one child whose nose dripped constantly and on a good day could clean me out of tissue. I once had to tell my students mid year that unless someone generously donated more tissue, we would all be wiping our noses on our sleeves (and this was after I had spent a good deal of money restocking my tissue supply myself).

I don't know of a school district that wouldn't take income issues into account where supplies or fees are concerned, and feel that this issue is too small to get upset about. As a parent, I buy supplies, fundraiser items that I wouldn't use, order from the Scholastic to help the classroom teacher build points to buy trade books, and basically fork over whenever I am asked. No one forced me to have a child. Her education has to be funded and some of this funding is going to have to come from me. I think it might be in the contract somewhere.

This is not a big deal.

Be Honest & Up Front

Teresa B — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:36:26 -0500

As long as it is known up front that the supplies are communal, I would have no problem with purchasing the supplies. I agree that to take away items that were purchased for my child specifically & then just randomly handing them out would be wrong. I'm more than happy to send in extras if that means that children that would otherwise go without have supplies.

On The Fence

lmerie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:52:40 -0500

I have no problem buying supplies and sharing - of course I would like to have the choice in this. In our county, pencils, glue, rules, folders etc. are not communal items- each is his own. Local churches and community groups have widely publicized "supply raisers" for the less fortunate and we enjoy participating. BUT kleenex, wipes, dry erase markers (yep), bandaids and hand sanitizer are communal - writing the student's name on the item does not work. I WAS bothered when the five 2nd grade classes all required each student to bring a box of bandaids (I guess to supply the whole school K4 - 5th grade). I sent a partial box. I have quit sending kleenex after having done so the past two years and when my children did have a cold there were no tissues to be had. One teacher actually told my child to wipe his nose on his shirt. I now buy the individual packages and send only when my children need them. I truly believe most people do not mind helping the less fortunate families, but would truly appreciate being a part of that decision.

I have to say

mamalang — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:13:22 -0500

I'm pretty happy with the way our school district handles school supplies. In elementary school, in the lower grades, crayons and glue sticks are communal, but notebooks, scissors and such are individual. Things like hand sanitizer and tissues are listed in some way, and whoever wants to bring them in can. For example, one teacher wrote things like this on popsicle sticks and left them out on info night. This makes it so those who don't mind contributing do, and those who can't or won't, don't. And the kids get some things that are theirs. I spend less than $100 on everything we need, including for my high schooler (which is where the majority of the money goes).

I do think I would be upset if every item I bought was communal and I wasn't told up front. But I also understand that not every child is given the resources they need, and that somehow that has to be handled.

mamalang

two different issues

Mir Kamin — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:53:36 -0500

Daisy, I think I was pretty clear about my position here; my objection is to taking away and redistributing items thought to be personal property. Just because I report on people who might feel differently doesn't mean that their opinion is mine. I'm one of the people bringing in extra supplies -- I'm well aware that teachers are spending their own money and that lots of kids are going without through no fault of their own.

Part of the reason I chose to cover this is because unclear communication (which seems to be the case when items are taken away without prior explanation) makes everyone defensive and makes the problem worse, I'm sure, because then parents feel justified in insisting that they will only supply their children and no one else's.

--
Mir Kamin
(BlogHer Mommy & Family contributing editor)

Personal: Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Having it all with less: Want Not

It's not a perfect world.

Daisy — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:27:23 -0500

In a perfect world, all children would have the supplies they needed, schools would be fully funded, and teachers wouldn't need to care about brand names.

In the real world, my classroom windows are either stuck open or closed because we're on the low end of the maintenance project list due to lack of funds. My students vary from children of wealthy business owners to children living in the homeless shelter; some have Hannah Montana, and some have nothing.

In this world, PTAs often contract with businesses that provide boxes of school supplies as a convenience: for a price. Those businesses require the school write its supply list by specifying brand, size, and color of every notebook, pen, scissors, glue stick and pencil. The words "or" and "optional" are not allowed.

I'm grateful to the individuals who brought in a shopping bag of extra supplies at Open House because I can provide new crayons for kids who don't own any. I can make sure that the kids who need notebooks get them now. White board markers? We've wanted to request that children bring one or two, only to find the smallest packs contained four. I have a classroom set of individual whiteboards (purchased out of my own pocket) that students use with their own markers. The whiteboard erasers didn't cost anyone money; they're my children's old mismatched socks.

Mir, you know I love you, but this post hurts. It cuts me to the heart. Making up a supply list is one of many difficult parts of my job. All the comments accusing teachers of "socialism"? Walk a mile in my shoes, people. Better yet, open my classroom windows.

Daisy

At Our School...

Headless Mom — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:45:58 -0500

...we dont have to buy suppllies-yet. What the teachers do, though, is put the supplies that they need on post it notes on the door for back to school night. As you go in or out you can take one that fits your budget, or not if you can't. It seems to be a great way for parents to contribute if they can. I have a problem with asking for supplies for the 'pot' but not making that clear at the beginning.

Great article, Mir!

The school should budget supplies into their spending.

L16 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:50:26 -0500

I think it is the school's job to provide all supplies. Most of all it is not the teachers' job. I can only speak for my own school district which I also worked for after I graduated and the waste of tax payers' money is unbelievable. I have seen entire rooms of discarded computers that they have no idea what to do with. (Computers that still work).

The schools are government run and it is their job to provide the materials to carry out their mandate. Imagine if you went to your lawyer's office and he asked you to bring some toner for the printer in addition to paying his bill.

I would probably buy cheap no name stuff for my kids (even if wasn't communal) and I wouldn't mind sharing with the other kids. But I sure as hell would walk down to the administrator's office and give him/her an earful.