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Tag Archives: NCTE

Small-group Skyping

Today one of my reading groups started “small-group Skyping” (thanks for the phrase, @bjnichols) with some of Karin Perry’s (@kperry) students. The students met on Skype and then watched three book trailers before settling on Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies as the novel they wanted to read and discuss together after winter break. I thought the [...]

Posted 17 December 2009 † Chad § Blog post ‡ Comments (5) ° Also tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

David & Oliver

David Small’s graphic-novel memoir, Stitches, recounts – from Small’s point of view – both the secret and obvious pains he and his family endure during the author’s childhood and adolescence. Counseling and art emancipate Small from his family’s dysfunction. Art becomes Small’s “home” and “voice” and gives him “everything [he has] ever wanted [...]

Posted 27 November 2009 † Chad § Blog post ‡ Comments (1) ° Also tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Your Pocket PLC

Yesterday I ran a Tech-To-Go kiosk at NCTE.  It was a lot of fun talking with teachers eager to learn more about social media.  At NCTE, I think there is a clear and strong desire out there, even amongst colleagues not yet on the PLN, to learn how to use technology to improve their teaching, [...]

Posted 21 November 2009 † Chad § Blog post ‡ Comments (5) ° Also tagged: , , , , , ,

SBAR.

Assessment reform is crucial to education reform. Junot Diaz spoke at NCTE last night about the work we have to do to move away from the “journey of approval” (make the grade or face punishment) to the “journey of discovery,” wherein meaningful reading, learning, and heuristic mistake-making occur. Until an American administration takes [...]

Posted 20 November 2009 † Chad § Blog post ‡ Comments (3) ° Also tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Grading Is Easy; Teaching Is Hard

Students engaged in creating media that they value mostly do so either outside of school or underground at school. Many teams of teachers and students create work together that both value, but too often the “fun stuff” is either cut out of the school day or limited to what @budtheteacher calls “semi-school environments” in [...]

Posted 19 November 2009 † Chad § Blog post ‡ Comments (2) ° Also tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,