Blog Post # 10
November 29, 2007
martink852
In class this week we watched sections of Todd Taylor’s video, Take 20. This was a video that interviewed twenty two writing teachers and asked them twenty questions. One of the teacher’s that stood out to me was Nancy Sommer’s who answered the question, “What do you feel the hardest thing about being a writing teacher is?” Sommer’s response to this was that responding to student writing was the most difficult thing as a writing teacher because you are able to see what you taught well and what you didn’t teach so well. Personally, I feel that reading student’s writing can be a very positive influence on teacher’s because it can show you what you might have to improve on in your teaching. If teacher’s never had anything to really look at and read from their students, they really wouldn’t know how well the students are understanding what you are teaching. I chose this response because it really made me realize that something so simple as reading students writing can really be very difficult for certain teachers to do. They may not want to see where they made mistakes along their pathway of teaching, but if they weren’t ever able to see their mistakes, students wouldn’t be learning to the best of their ability. I really enjoyed this video because it gave me a really good feeling of how teachers succeed within their job. It really opened my eyes to what teaching is all about.
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1.
vagelec625 | November 29, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I think it is important for teachers to learn from their students. I hate when I write a paper that I think is good and fits the rubric for a class, however, I don’t do as well on it as I should because it isn’t what the teacher wanted, or what they thought they asked for. I sometimes wish more teachers realize that our writing is often a product of their teaching, and that yes, maybe I DID make a mistake, but I wish they would consider the fact that they might have made a mistake as well.
2.
kieleygundlach | November 29, 2007 at 10:32 pm
I agree with you when you say teachers reading students writting is basically a reflect on them.The movie made me realize that teaching can be difficult, and not as easy as i tought it was.
3.
ashleylikespink | November 30, 2007 at 10:35 am
I agree with you as well! I think that when teachers read the students writting it does reflect on what they have taught the student. And if the teacher is unsatifited with what the student has written, the teacher should look at the way he or she taught it!
4.
jennifer | November 30, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I agree with all of you — especially the way ashleylikespink puts it. Student work is often a reflection on how the assignment was designed and taught.
And what Sommers says is true. Grading and responding to student texts are the two most difficult parts of teaching. I am often left beating myself up after reading through students texts, but it also keeps me on my game — always thinking about how I can do it different/better next time.
5.
nessa20 | November 30, 2007 at 10:08 pm
I could see why responding to a students paper could be a hard thing because you don’t want to say the wrong thing. You don’t want to tell someone their paper is wordy when that might be their style. It must be hard having to write about flaws in peoples writing but it could help the students become better writers and youcan also focus on a strength that the student has too. Then it is also good for the teachers because they are able to see what they need to work on.
6.
Allyson Connors | December 6, 2007 at 9:08 pm
As a future teacher, I can’t imagine becoming a high school or college professor for English. The thought of grading any type of writing, especially essays, is something that I would find extremely difficult. Students differ in the abilities, and everyone expresses their ideas in different ways. I feel I would have a very hard time trying to grade my students fairly and accurately, without bias.