The following blog was written by Mrs. Debbie Tonnessen, an English Teacher at Carson High School.
The problem with being an English Teacher is that people assume that you never suffer from Writer’s Block. Well, let me debunk that myth for you! As I was pondering the subject of this Blog, waiting for inspiration, Writer’s Block hit hard! Another problem that “reared its ugly head” was the fact that Carson has been truly blessed with some outstanding Educators/Writers who have already composed some interesting, thought-provoking Blogs. Finding a subject that was timely, had not already been written about, and was within my knowledge base was challenging. So I did the logical thing; I made a list of possible topics and narrowed it down. And the winner is…Finding Relevance in English III.
To quote a common cliché, “I would be a rich person if I had a dime for every time” I was asked, “Why do I have to write this stupid paper?” or “How is this going to help me after high school?” Students are often seeking relevance; we know that. To me, reading is a foundational skill, one that transcends all subjects. Ditto for writing. How can you get more relevant? Here is the short list of possible responses to these questions…good communication skills can help you get a good or better job…aka earn more money; help you become successful in your business, career, or trade; help to separate you from the crowd; help establish your credibility and reputation; and help strengthen your relationships. Realistically, these responses don’t really resonate with my students, so I move on to Step Two.
I “turn the tables” on them and ask them, “What life skills can you learn in English III?” Their common answers include learning how to read/write better, how to successfully answer a multiple-choice or constructed response question, how to think for yourself, how to communicate well with other people with whom you may have nothing in common, how to complete a job application, how to google info on the internet, how to read directions for a DIY project, etc. The conversation that follows usually reveals some apathy and skepticism, but this is eventually replaced by a growing interest and, hopefully, ends with mild agreement that English III may actually have a little something valuable to offer them. But they still want to argue over why they have to write that stupid paper!
It seems true that if we can connect with them and establish some meaning in what they are doing, they are a little more apt to give some effort. So here are some specific skills that I offer to my students, which totally transfer to any other subject!
- Use context clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words. Don’t just skip over a word you don’t know; look at the words and sentences around the unfamiliar word, and think about the overall meaning of the paragraph or passage. Expand your vocabulary. (Yes, this takes some effort!)
- Remember that different situations call for different forms of language. For example, dialect, slang, and “text talk” work in informal settings; however, school assignments, job or college applications, interviews, debates, or public speaking events, like the Senior Project.
Presentation, are just a few examples of situations that require formal, standard English. (Or the formal style, regardless of the particular language being spoken).
- When you read, think critically. Don’t just rush over the words, but think about them, ask questions, consider the author’s perspective and context, and respond to them. Think for yourself!
Again, I stress these skills in my classes but remind students--almost daily--that these skills can and should be used in any class. Perhaps if we, together, teach and reinforce these skills, then we will see students become a little more engaged in their school experience, become more inclined to think about the information around them, and, just maybe, begin to see education as worthwhile and meaningful. We may see test scores improve; but more importantly, we may see students begin to take more responsibility for their futures. What could be more relevant?!
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