Blog #7 Re-evaluating our classrooms.

 Good Morning and welcome back to my blog!


    Today I read the preface and chapters 1 &2 of "Literacy with an Attitude."  This goes in depth with a new way of exploring our core classes such as: math, literature, etc. This book written by Patrick J.Finn, examines how we need engagement in our classroom to help the students fully learn and I whole-heartedly agree with this concept. The concept of not just throwing a text book with questions at the end but to come up with new and fun ways of learning. Although these three chapters I read were very influential I wanted to highlight two quotes I found interesting/ worthy of mentioning as well as adding my thoughts.


Quote #1 "Do it this way or its wrong" (page.20)

    Thoughts: In math there is a right and wrong answer, but never the wrong way of getting there I believe.  In a classroom not everyone learns the same way and I think it's interesting to see how this newer generation of teachers is stepping away from rubrics and one direct route to get to one answer. In literature it is all open for interpretations and I think it's important for students to explore their imagination no matter what age they are.


Quote #2 "All of us- teachers and students- were locked into a system of rules and roles that none of us understood and that did not allow for much in the way of education." (page five). 

Thoughts: many teachers curriculum is state based. The state, many of them with no teaching experience, pushes guidelines with state testing. State testing is what it sounds like, it puts teachers and students through an immense state of stress and pressure just for the states contests. This is such, for a lack of better term, stupid thing. It does not affect the students only the schools. While I believe taking surveys to see where the improvements could go, state testing is stupid and restricts the teachers from fully exploring what course they are teaching.




    

Comments

Taryn reed said…
I liked how you included how to make a more engaging classroom. Students should feel exited to walk into a classroom and learn. The teachers can make a more engaging classroom by adding the students interests into lesson plans but also creating a safe space for the students.
March 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Emma Reyes said…
Hi Emily! I completely agree with you that in math, there is a right and wrong answer, but never the wrong way of getting there. Students learn in so many different ways, which is a great thing because it expands our thinking to other possibilities. I also agree state testing is stupid because I, myself, struggle so much with standardized tests and the pressure it brings.
March 25, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Sam L said…
Hey! I really liked the quotes you picked for your blog on Literacy with an Attitude. My favorite quote that you mentioned was "Do it this way or it's wrong". This is my favorite quote because I believe that the education system is trying to break away from this more and that our roles as teachers in the future is going to be to support kids and the different ways they will achieve their education goals. Just like you said, not everyone learns the same way and that is why it is going to be so important for our generation of teachers to continue to support students in ways that help them be successful.
March 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Audrey P said…
Hey! You did a great job writing this one. Also, I like how included ways to make a classroom more engaging.
March 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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