tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32281953.post4498117792946225394..comments2023-05-17T09:55:59.040-05:00Comments on The Whining Schoolboy - <i>tales from a mostly-boring public high school teacher.</i>: New School Year Preview (Part 1) - Why My Kids Will Hate MeSchool Master Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08698932512420895256noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32281953.post-2718906577913439172008-08-18T16:20:00.000-05:002008-08-18T16:20:00.000-05:00Well, our exam schedule takes so long to get throu...Well, our exam schedule takes so long to get through (due to state testing procedures), that we only end up with roughly 18 weeks of real class time. By the calendar, it should be 20 weeks, but you know how that goes.<BR/><BR/>Since we have a 10th grade writing test, some of my assignments have to be extended definition and cause/effect, but I'm adding memoir, restaurant review, editorial/speech, literary critique, poetry, and at least one writing of their chioce. Plus, we have a standard, short research paper in 10th grade.School Master Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08698932512420895256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32281953.post-56700193162393988632008-08-17T20:00:00.000-05:002008-08-17T20:00:00.000-05:00I'm glad you like my blog title. I only set it up...I'm glad you like my blog title. I only set it up last Sunday. I'd planned on doing a bit more with education and culture, but the news recently has reminded me of the bad old days I barely remember (I wasn't even *quite* in high school when the Berlin Wall came down).<BR/><BR/>I tend to introduce a new writing assignment every couple of weeks. I only have my kids for 16, so I have to get them through *a lot* very quickly. I suppose you have at least a tad more leisure.<BR/><BR/>What types of assignments were you planning on having them do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32281953.post-41566022427278454612008-08-16T16:16:00.000-05:002008-08-16T16:16:00.000-05:00Thanks, Holly, and good luck to you as well! I'll...Thanks, Holly, and good luck to you as well! I'll do the same the first week, and then the dilemma I'll have is how to introduce 2-3 major writing assignments fairly quickly to get them rolling for the writing workshop I'm trying. Part of the rationale there is to let them work at their own pace so I'm not overwhelmed by one deadline, but give enough work so they will stay productive each week and not try the "I'm finished" excuse (though I know they aren't, at least not quality-wise!)<BR/><BR/>I love the title of your blog - I get it, though I'll admit to not having read Huxley yet (just <I>about</I> him). I did, however, pick up a tattered "Brave New World" from a discard cart last year, so my excuses for not doing so are dwindling.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I've got you on my RSS Feeder site now. Go forth and annoy your freshmen!School Master Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08698932512420895256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32281953.post-62806874138052776632008-08-15T15:48:00.000-05:002008-08-15T15:48:00.000-05:00Good luck. I teach Freshman Composition, and on t...Good luck. I teach Freshman Composition, and on the first or second day (depending on if it's a TTh or MWF class), I make my kids write me a sample essay. They hate it, but it shows me how much work I'm going to have before the first paper comes in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com