Sunday, November 27, 2011

Advice for new teachers

Hello, 40C WRL students,

Thank you for your comments about gratitude. It seems that you are all grateful to have the opportunity to come to study in the U.S. I'm glad. I hope that you are able to realize your academic and professional dreams through this experience.

As you know, we will finish the last few minutes of "Freedom Writers" Monday. In the movie, Erin Gruwell is a beginning teacher in a very difficult school in a poor and dangerous neighborhood. The advice that the English Department head and the distinguished honors teacher gave Erin was not very good. Sometimes people who should know what good advice is don't seem to really know it.

I would like you to give advice to future new teachers at CESL. What do you think a teacher just arriving at CESL should know about his or her future situation? That is, what should he or she know about CESL students, and so on, in order to do a good job?

Your reply to this post is due by midnight Friday, December 2nd, for five bonus points.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Gratitude

Hello, 40C WRL students,

Thank you for your opinions on how Ms. Gruwell used the class diaries. Journals can be used in many ways, such as in response to literature that students are reading. In fact, this blog is a kind of diary for the class.

As you know, this week Americans will be pausing in their busy lives to celebrate Thanksgiving; it is a time of year where people reflect on all the things they have to be thankful for. Among the many things that I am thankful for this year is the birth of my first grandchild, a boy, this past June. A new life is always a blessing for a family, to be sure. I am watching with joy as he learns to do many things for the first time.

Can you write about one thing that you are grateful for this past year? Is there something that has given you joy in recent months?

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Journals/Diaries

Good morning, 40CWRL students,

Now that we have watched half of "Freedom Writers," we can begin to see how Ms. Gruwell (Erin), is encouraging her students to write. What do you think about the idea of using journals as a kind of diary for her students to express what they feel? Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea? Why? Do you think I should use journals when I teach this class next term? Why or why not?

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Exercise

Good morning, 40C WRL students!

Today's topic is exercise. I would like you to share with other classmates what kind of exercise you like to do. Do you play sports? Do you go for walks? Do you have any exercise routines that you follow? I wear a pedometer, and I walk between 12,000 and 20,000 steps each day. In addition, I exercise with weights and do floor exercises at home for 45 minutes three times a week. We all need to exercise in order to stay healthy, don't we? How do you exercise here in the United States?

Your response to this blog post is due by Friday, November 4th at midnight. It is worth five bonus points.