All I have to say…
I HATE REGENTS PREP.
In fact. I hate it so much that I refuse to do it anymore. It’s sucking the life out of me and my kids are getting bored and frustrated. So, that’s that. Back to the real work of teaching literature, thankyouverymuch.
Sun-day-links « JD2718 wrote:
[...] Nancy doing test prep. [...]
Posted on 09-Dec-07 at 12:59 pm | Permalink
neal wrote:
I gave up on our Texas version of testing years ago. I also have avoided teaching AP classes because of its test, which dominates everything. I have even in a way abandoned “literature.” I try to teach my students how to read and write better. learning to think through the mediation of language (whatever way with words they come to me with). I do my best not to reinscribe the power structures: not very successfully I am sure. My hope is that simple literacy can go a long way toward transformation.
Posted on 11-Dec-07 at 7:07 pm | Permalink
Nancy wrote:
Well, one of the reasons why I like teaching AP is because I get to teach actual literature and actual writing, instead of remedial, basic stuff. I don’t teach to the test per se but everything we do definitely comes in handy on test day.
Posted on 12-Dec-07 at 4:32 am | Permalink
neal wrote:
Of course using terms like remedial and basic assumes that the hegemonic literature and language of the elite remaining in place is a good thing. It also excludes the majority of students from participating in the goods of our society. Yes, to have access to those economic and cultural goods one could say that students who cannot speak the language of power need to learn it, but I am not sure that fits into the freire’s idea of the pedagogy of the oppressed. Sounds more like a banking system of education to me. As far as teaching “actual” literature, my “on-level” students have no problem engaging with the ideas in Blake, Yeats or Alice Walker, they just don’t do it in the kind of language that is privileged by the College Board ( a for profit organization).
Posted on 12-Dec-07 at 6:53 am | Permalink