Happy September barbara0207!
Yes, I like teaching, and I think it's fun, too. I think the European model is better than ours. I feel very democratic about everyone getting the kind of education they want, but at all the schools in Texas all the kids are on the college-bound academic path, but they've also done away with classes for kids who aren't enamored with going to college, and many of them drop out.
What do you teach?
So you are a teacher, too! I did not know that. You are fortunate indeed to work with the academically minded. I think I'm going to enjoy working with these kids. I usually do. But for the last four years I taught regular English, and it was difficult, because the students had a very specific idea of how much effort they were going to put into it, and it was usually less than I wanted. I do not know any German, unfortunately. I had a friend who had relatives in Nebraska I think, and they were still speaking German, but not my family. I hope my explanation was not TOO detailed, i.e. boring! Have a lovely day.
Thanks for your detailed explanations, qimissung. Now I understand what reading classes are. In Germany, they are called 'Förderunterricht' (special classes); most of these classes are for younger students now as the authorities try to remedy language deficits as early as possible. There are, however, also classes for older students who do not meet the standards. But these students are not at my school. I teach the academically-minded. And I'm very interested in your name. Sorry to hear it caused bullying at school. Do you speak German?
Hello Barbara! This is the first year that I have actually taught Reading. I have also taught English as a Second Language (about eight years). I tell you that because my background in it is going to help me a great deal this year, I think. A reading class is an intervention for students who have not been able to pass the state of Texas' standardized test, which is called TAKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). If they didn't pass it in the eighth grade, then they will take Reading in the ninth grade. If they don't pass the reading class, then they will take Reading II as sophomores or tenth graders. If they don't pass Reading II, then they will take Reading III as juniors or eleventh graders. I am teaching Reading II and III. I don't know exactly what the course numbers mean, but I do know in my third and seventh period classes I have two girls who are from Vietnam; they speak little English, reading it is difficult for them, but they seem to write it fairly well. So part of my job, for them, will be to help them comprehend some of the reading they are going to have to do for Science and History. Largely, however, these kids will be reading literature. I'm starting off with a memoir, just a short one (two pages), and during this six weeks I will have them write a two page personal narrative of their own (this is the kind of essay they will be expected to write on the TAKS). Then we'll read a short story; I have selected one by Saki. The next six weeks I hope to have them read a novel. In the meantime, I will need to ascertain at what level they are actually reading. We will work on expanding their vocabulary, and they will learn and use literary devices such as simile, metaphor, alliteration, etc. So, yes, it's literature, but the goal, I think, is to bring their reading up at least a grade level. Many of them are second language learners, but some of them just read at a very low level. I read them a children's book today, that is heavily alliterative, and the words are not simple-words like ingenious and vexatious-and this one boy wrinkled up his forehead and said "Big words make my head hurt." Sorry to go on long; does that explanation lhelp? By the way, I am part German, I have no idea how much-probably a minuscule amount, as my German forebears arrived here in time to help fight in the Revolutionary war. Someday, if you like, I'll PM my maiden name to you and you can tell me if you've ever heard it before. No one can know it, I was teased mercilessly about if from elementary school through college.
Yes, teaching reading does sound like fun. But what exactly is meant by it? There is no subject like that over here. Is it basically a literature course?
Well, I'm still a few years away from achieving the nirvana that is Bugs. A beach, a book, someone who loves you, exotic climes: priceless!
Yes, insouciant is the right word - he doesn't have a care in the world. But believe it or not - the older I get the more insouciant I become. This is the happiest time in my life. About Turkey: It was very hot. But when you're lying at the beach with a good book, a warm wind blowing from the sea, your hubby and a drink next to you - what more do you want? Of course we want to visit the wonderful sights one day; we haven't seen much yet because in the summer, the only time we can go there, it's simply to hot for North Western Europeans. When we're pensioners, we can go there in the spring and have a sightseeing tour.
Thank you Barbara. I like Bugs' picture, too. He's always so insouciant, I wish I could be like that. So you visited Turkey? What's it like?
