Gallagher keeps the interest of the reader, that is FOR SURE! The sweet spot is a great refresher of the spirit. Most teachers would agree that we are "called" to teach. It isn't a career that we chose to make lots of money or to gain lots of fame. The teachable moments when the students truly connect with the learning and the teacher acts as the conduit for that learning...this is the motivation behind a great teacher. My husband and I are both teachers and love to share these moments with each other over the dinner table. There is a rush that can truly be appreciated by one that has experienced it.
I love Gallagher's statement that "Lousy Classic" is an oxymoron. Oxymorons are some of my favorite jokes...like an honest politician. Okay, that might be a bit harsh, but you have to admit with all of the publicity given to the dishonest politicians in our country that this seems to be a true oxymoron. Classics are not lousy though! How would they be given the reverent title of a "classic" if they could not stand the test of time? There is such a wealth of information buried inside of each one. A teacher that has been trained to draw it out of the text is worth their weight in gold to the students. I remember a teacher named Mrs. Farnsworth from high school. She could really bring the classics to life. She gave us real life applications and there always seemed to be a moral to every story. I'm not so sure that all of today's stories have a "moral" at their center.
I plan to adopt the "Big Chunk/Little Chunk" philosophy in my art classes. Our only problem in the elementary level is the short time periods that we have with students. I plan to implement the big chunk part of this by sending home journals that include longer text selections and pages to reflect upon them. Various topics such as artists' lives, cultures, and narratives would make a nice balance of materials. These will be added to their student portfolios. At home, at their leisure, they can hopefully achieve the flow of reading that they need. In class, I will target a smaller section of the text (little chunk) and use this to help develop the connection from textual to visual literacy that I need for them to make.
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As an elementary teacher, I understand your concern with short periods, although I'm sure most teachers share the same concern. Gallaher's "Sweet Spot" has hit a nerve in me. I am driven to find the "Sweet spot" of instruction for my struggling students. I have never attempted a whole class reading novel, but I am interested in attempting to provding my students the experience.
ReplyDeleteI want to read my struggling students and help them become good readers as described in this chapter. In my content areas, I will frame our texts and topics of study more and work with the big chunk/little chunk strategy.
It's refreshing to see that as an art teacher, you are passionate about supporting student's reading, through incorporating these strategies!
I love your oxymoron the honest politician. That was a good one. You are lucky to have had a teacher who could bring classics to life. That is probably the determining factor when students classify a classic as "lousy" or great. I think that it is great that you are an art teacher and you require your students to read. You seem very dedicated. I enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI really am interested in the way you are including visual literacy in your teaching. I will be interested in how you incorporate Gallagher's ideas in visual literacy.
ReplyDeleteOthers might not consider "military intelligence" to be oxymoronic, but some would. I am with you about Gallagher's insightful humor. I think this is a tool we can use with our students, too, to generate relationships that will foster trust and facilitate shared learning. I enjoy how you have and will incorporate his wisdoms in your art instruction. Art is life, and vice versa. The whole which imitates which debate is pointless. I think our ability to create and critique is what sets us apart. Sharing that love with young people is noble and needed.
ReplyDeleteYou will be truly implementing literacy in the content area by adding such an activity as "big chunk/little chunk" in art. It's inspiring to here that journaling will apart of art. It will be a tool that will help you know whether your students understand the art concepts taught. As an elementary teacher my students only brought back drawings or something the made from clay back to the classroom. Glad to know that you see the need to educate the whole child.
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