Thread: ?? for high school English teachers?

I do middle school now but have done high school in the past. What I like is that the kids are older and can handle more challenging material, they have more real life experience to relate to the matieral and can be more serious about their futures. Also, HSs can be looser places. At middle school there is a lot of dress codes, rules, etc, where as the high schools I've been to are more flexible.

I think you learn pretty quickly to NEVER assign all 185 students an essay due the same day. Often you teach several different classes (for example, you might have college prep Eng 9, 10th grade ELD, and a couple of classes of "regular" Eng 10) so they aren't all in the same place. Even when I have had them all pacing to gether, you can say period 1 is doing a complete essay this week while the other classes are doing response logs, or other activities. Next week per 2 does an essay while the other periods are doing some other activity. I also rarely read a complete essay. Usually the if we are practicing opening and closing paragraphs, they are just graded on that. Or, I'm just looking for use of quotations, or something, whatever we are studying. I 've taken courses from a teacher named Scott Purdy. He says the most important thing for improving student writing is that they write A LOT and if you are bogged down in grading, you won't assign a lot of writing, so it is in everyone's interest for you to find creative ways to grade better and with less work for you. His book "Teaching Students to Write " is amazing.

Thanks very much for your reply. That makes a lot of sense, I'm not quite sure why I figured you'd have to read the entire essay for every student - this way would definitely cut back on the time spent.

The personal experiences is a big thing for me in my decision to teach HS. I just think it will be more interesting getting into 'advanced' or older topics I guess you would say. One thing that does scare me a little is Shakespeare. I was never a big fan of reading it in high school myself so I'm not sure how well I will be teaching it, but I'm sure it won't be nothing I can't handle.

Chances are you'll need to take a Shakespeare course during your degree studies. I enjoyed a heck of a lot more when I had the maturity and patience to understand it. I also enjoyed it more because my prof. knew it inside and out (as much as one can) and was passionate about it. Lastly, I wasn't surrounded by a bunch of highschoolers who were as clueless as me It really was a much more enjoyable experience in college than it was in high school.

Originally Posted by borntoteach

Chances are you'll need to take a Shakespeare course during your degree studies. I enjoyed a heck of a lot more when I had the maturity and patience to understand it. I also enjoyed it more because my prof. knew it inside and out (as much as one can) and was passionate about it. Lastly, I wasn't surrounded by a bunch of highschoolers who were as clueless as me It really was a much more enjoyable experience in college than it was in high school.

Whenever I'm a bit nervous about teaching something that may be complex. . . .I have to remind my self that any understanding I have about it, even if I feel it is limited for a college-graduated adult, is likely much more than the 15 yos in my class. You don't have to teach them everything about all subjects. You will decide which aspects of Shakespeare you feel comfortable teaching, like just foreshadowing, or character development.

Originally Posted by Flor

Originally Posted by borntoteach

Chances are you'll need to take a Shakespeare course during your degree studies. I enjoyed a heck of a lot more when I had the maturity and patience to understand it. I also enjoyed it more because my prof. knew it inside and out (as much as one can) and was passionate about it. Lastly, I wasn't surrounded by a bunch of highschoolers who were as clueless as me It really was a much more enjoyable experience in college than it was in high school.

Whenever I'm a bit nervous about teaching something that may be complex. . . .I have to remind my self that any understanding I have about it, even if I feel it is limited for a college-graduated adult, is likely much more than the 15 yos in my class. You don't have to teach them everything about all subjects. You will decide which aspects of Shakespeare you feel comfortable teaching, like just foreshadowing, or character development.

This is a good point. Also, as for taking the shakespeare, right now I'm just getting ready to go back and do all my course work work to make up my English major (basically fullfill the requirements for the after education degree). I have the option of which specific courses to choose from. Do you think it would be in my best interest to take one in shakespeare even if it isn't required? I did study some of it in my basic intro English class in my first degree. I am planning on taking some courses in writing, comparitive literature, childrens stories and potentially linguistics. Should I remove one of those and sub in a Shakespeare one in your opinion?

If you really want to do highschool, and you feel it is a weakness or something that makes you nervous-- conquer it! I bet it won't feel so hard as an adult. You'll probably have to teach Shakespeare every year from 8th grade on up (we do sonnets in 8th, Romeo and Juliet in 9th, etc.). So, it will come up.

Yah, you've got a point. It might not be bad to take a course just to be safe.

I'm feeling really good right now though, I just enrolled in my first 3 english courses that count towards my major (got 7 more to go after this ) but just finally making that final decision this is what I want to do with my life. It's been a hard road but it feels right. I know coming out I may not end up with my ideal HS English and Phys Ed position but I really think teaching is where I belong.

As a teacher in English (and it is not my native)and Economics, I will prefer the first

Authors discussed in the11th class for us are: Oscar Wilde-The Picture of Dorian Gray, The importance of Being Earnest, Bronte -Whuthering Heights, Steinbeck -Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden

In the 12th class -last year-we can discuss social issues ,contemporary authors

Originally Posted by ShannonC

1. What do you find the most challenging part of teaching high school English and what do you enjoy the most?

Teaching high school english is quite difficult. The worst thing that may happen is when your student criticize you. :?