tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-503921746778160017.post7588447940206666360..comments2023-06-09T08:27:55.742-07:00Comments on Le's Learning: Is it possible to make English class relevant?Sarah Lehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12888625789568300137noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-503921746778160017.post-71411648743037215322014-03-27T11:22:23.046-07:002014-03-27T11:22:23.046-07:00Thanks for the feedback! You are right about maki...Thanks for the feedback! You are right about making the time to do important work...it can be so hard. I think in 3U this semester, we have some wiggle room because we got rid of an entire unit.<br />I also agree with you about reading. I LOVE reading books about people and places and experiences that I'm not familiar with. At the same time, though, I make the readings relevant to me by thinking about how my life is different. For example, on the surface I don't have anything in common with Angel, the main character in "My Book of Life by Angel" (my White Pine book). But upon further reflection, we're both protective of our younger siblings. Through reading the novel, I also was able to think about how lucky I am that my life didn't turn out like hers. It opened my eyes to the lives of young women (teenagers and girls) who are essentially forced into prostitution.Sarah Lehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12888625789568300137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-503921746778160017.post-9721304951037579102014-03-27T09:49:07.498-07:002014-03-27T09:49:07.498-07:00I like the direction your PLC took on this. I thi...I like the direction your PLC took on this. I think a lot of it goes back to the time we are willing to spend with something (text, idea, concept, skill). The opportunities you write of ("We need to give them the opportunity to make these links." and "we need to encourage and welcome the personal connections via writing and speaking opportunities") take time that we so often feel is precious in a semester filled with no bus days and other things that steal our time. We need to remember that the opportunities are precious. Maybe we don't cover as much, or cover it the same way, but the time the students need to make those connections and make the texts meaningful is important.<br />I would hate to think that we only gave students texts that they could relate to or that were about experiences they share or understand first hand. I find reading is often about learning about others' experiences that you don't share. Realizing that there are other 'realities' out there and even in extreme differences common ground can be found through emotions is a huge step in becoming a thoughtful citizen.L.Ungerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06649354761583388258noreply@blogger.com