Comments for Scrollman's Travels: Scrolling into the future of English Language Arts http://scrollman.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:27:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on My Webpage by amandayac http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/my-webpage/#comment-102 amandayac Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:27:00 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/my-webpage/#comment-102 Wow, this looks terrific, Jon! Excellent work. It really has been a pleasure getting to know you this semester. Amanda Wow, this looks terrific, Jon! Excellent work. It really has been a pleasure getting to know you this semester.

Amanda

]]> Comment on My Webpage by sunyprof http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/my-webpage/#comment-101 sunyprof Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:13:31 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/my-webpage/#comment-101 Jon, the website looks terrific. I was drawn in to read every work and image. That's good design. Thank you for your diligence in working on it late last night. I hope you will continue to add to it next semester--when you will have access to macs. Yes? KES Jon, the website looks terrific. I was drawn in to read every work and image. That’s good design.

Thank you for your diligence in working on it late last night. I hope you will continue to add to it next semester–when you will have access to macs. Yes? KES

]]> Comment on The Final Blog Prompt: reaching the ever expanding frontier of ELA by amandayac http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/the-final-blog-prompt-reaching-the-ever-expanding-frontier-of-ela/#comment-98 amandayac Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:23:59 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/the-final-blog-prompt-reaching-the-ever-expanding-frontier-of-ela/#comment-98 Your post hits on so many of the key points that we've explored this semester, but, as Karen probes in her comment here, in many cases, we still have to scratch our heads and ask just what DO we do in some situations, even if we have the ideology and perspective in check in regard to what it means to have a multimodal, multiliterate classroom. Just looking at the Gatsby scenario here, I do think that there are no easy answers to that problem. Can we ask the question, 'do we teach Gatsby anymore? why do we teach Gatsby anyway?' I know many of us ended up in this field of work because of our love of the classics, but is this something we have to do for our students in order to "do" English? 506 certainly has shaken this idea up for me quite a bit and, as I approach student teaching, knowing I'll probably be teaching those Gatsbys and Mice and Men and such, I'm really interested in our discussion of the question of what we might do to inspire student interest. Jon, it has been a joy watching your students grow via your work on the blog and class discussions, because they certainly have seemed to blossom as you've explored new concepts (and of course, your taking time to do something you're passionate about, creating music)! Amanda Your post hits on so many of the key points that we’ve explored this semester, but, as Karen probes in her comment here, in many cases, we still have to scratch our heads and ask just what DO we do in some situations, even if we have the ideology and perspective in check in regard to what it means to have a multimodal, multiliterate classroom. Just looking at the Gatsby scenario here, I do think that there are no easy answers to that problem. Can we ask the question, ‘do we teach Gatsby anymore? why do we teach Gatsby anyway?’ I know many of us ended up in this field of work because of our love of the classics, but is this something we have to do for our students in order to “do” English? 506 certainly has shaken this idea up for me quite a bit and, as I approach student teaching, knowing I’ll probably be teaching those Gatsbys and Mice and Men and such, I’m really interested in our discussion of the question of what we might do to inspire student interest.

Jon, it has been a joy watching your students grow via your work on the blog and class discussions, because they certainly have seemed to blossom as you’ve explored new concepts (and of course, your taking time to do something you’re passionate about, creating music)!

Amanda

]]> Comment on The Final Blog Prompt: reaching the ever expanding frontier of ELA by sunyprof http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/the-final-blog-prompt-reaching-the-ever-expanding-frontier-of-ela/#comment-97 sunyprof Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:01:11 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/the-final-blog-prompt-reaching-the-ever-expanding-frontier-of-ela/#comment-97 I agree, Jon. Years and years ago I came to the conclusion that I couldn't continue to teach high school English if the courses I taught were focused on "school" work. Long before it was popular to think this way for most teachers (I guess) I was determined to create an authentic literacy learning environment with my students. If the work didn't "count" in the real world, I wasn't interested in kids doing it. I know that those crucible-like years when I was evolving into a constructivist and in most ways a radical teacher form the template for the professor you have in 506. The insistent voice that school work must be real work has just gotten louder in my head. Last night I had a discouraging conv. with a great student teacher who is finishing up a high school placement in a relatively rural district. The kids are reading (or mostly not) Gatsby. They've pretty much refused to read it...another light bulb moment for me. This is a pretty short book--possible for even a disaffected reader to manage with not that much effort. But the kids aren't reading it. And this is a highly charged student teacher who has done everything she can to "make it interesting and relevant." When I think of what you say here about texts/classics, and how much we love them, I think of those kids in this high school and what we do when our love of texts meets their resistance. I'm not sure making videos of Gatsby or wikis about Gatsby or podcasts about Gatsby is going to make much difference here either. Ok, SO, what do we do???? I'd like to talk about this tonight for a bit if we have the chance. KES I agree, Jon. Years and years ago I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t continue to teach high school English if the courses I taught were focused on “school” work.

Long before it was popular to think this way for most teachers (I guess) I was determined to create an authentic literacy learning environment with my students.

If the work didn’t “count” in the real world, I wasn’t interested in kids doing it.

I know that those crucible-like years when I was evolving into a constructivist and in most ways a radical teacher form the template for the professor you have in 506.

The insistent voice that school work must be real work has just gotten louder in my head.

Last night I had a discouraging conv. with a great student teacher who is finishing up a high school placement in a relatively rural district. The kids are reading (or mostly not) Gatsby.

They’ve pretty much refused to read it…another light bulb moment for me. This is a pretty short book–possible for even a disaffected reader to manage with not that much effort.

But the kids aren’t reading it.

And this is a highly charged student teacher who has done everything she can to “make it interesting and relevant.”

When I think of what you say here about texts/classics, and how much we love them, I think of those kids in this high school and what we do when our love of texts meets their resistance.

I’m not sure making videos of Gatsby or wikis about Gatsby or podcasts about Gatsby is going to make much difference here either.

Ok, SO, what do we do???? I’d like to talk about this tonight for a bit if we have the chance. KES

]]> Comment on Making Original Music Videos Part I: How I did it by katefrazer http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/making-original-music-videos-part-i-how-i-did-it/#comment-94 katefrazer Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:30:02 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/making-original-music-videos-part-i-how-i-did-it/#comment-94 Jon, as Amanda said, your final product was amazing. Using images from your own life definitely created a personal connection. Just the amount of work you put in and your excitement about the process and the final product is going to make your kids want to want to create something great too! Jon, as Amanda said, your final product was amazing. Using images from your own life definitely created a personal connection. Just the amount of work you put in and your excitement about the process and the final product is going to make your kids want to want to create something great too!

]]> Comment on Making Original Music Videos Part I: How I did it by amandayac http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/making-original-music-videos-part-i-how-i-did-it/#comment-93 amandayac Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:56:36 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/making-original-music-videos-part-i-how-i-did-it/#comment-93 Jon, Thanks for sharing with us what seems to be quite a crazy but rewarding experience! Based on how great your final product was, it seems quite clear to me that you overcame the obstacles that Band in a Box presented quite nicely. The adaptability you present here is a prime example of how we really need to be when we encounter new tools, as they are ever-changing. I'm amazed by how many powerful images you managed to weave into your video; they all came together in the way you used them to craft a tale. Amanda Jon,

Thanks for sharing with us what seems to be quite a crazy but rewarding experience! Based on how great your final product was, it seems quite clear to me that you overcame the obstacles that Band in a Box presented quite nicely. The adaptability you present here is a prime example of how we really need to be when we encounter new tools, as they are ever-changing.

I’m amazed by how many powerful images you managed to weave into your video; they all came together in the way you used them to craft a tale.

Amanda

]]> Comment on Time to get selfish by sofiapenna http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-92 sofiapenna Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:01:07 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-92 I agree with Dr. Stearns! Your music video was superb on Thursday night. I also find that Amanda's advice on recentering your own passions in order to drive energy into your classroom is a very wise thought. It looks like this video has really helped you do that, Jon. Nice work. -Sofia I agree with Dr. Stearns! Your music video was superb on Thursday night. I also find that Amanda’s advice on recentering your own passions in order to drive energy into your classroom is a very wise thought. It looks like this video has really helped you do that, Jon. Nice work. -Sofia

]]> Comment on Time to get selfish by sunyprof http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-91 sunyprof Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:56:42 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-91 It was wonderful to share your music video with you on TH. night. Now I'm excited to see how your students, inspired by you, will respond. Can you post the link to the video on your blog Jon? KES It was wonderful to share your music video with you on TH. night. Now I’m excited to see how your students, inspired by you, will respond. Can you post the link to the video on your blog Jon? KES

]]> Comment on Time to get selfish by sunyprof http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-90 sunyprof Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:55:57 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-90 Very wise Jon. I look forward to your podcast. I wonder what your kids might want to podcast if left to their own devices to as Amanda says, just play? KES Very wise Jon. I look forward to your podcast. I wonder what your kids might want to podcast if left to their own devices to as Amanda says, just play? KES

]]> Comment on Time to get selfish by amandayac http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-89 amandayac Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:16:45 +0000 http://scrollman.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/time-to-get-selfish/#comment-89 Jon, I'm really excited to hear your song once you've finished it! I do think it's important to stop, take a step back, and recenter on your own passions and interests because it truly does drive the energy and excitement into your classroom (hence you opening options up to your students and their interests). Your experience getting acclimated with the music production software sounds quite similar to what Mandy and I went through in our rather bumpy introduction to iMovie. I do think it is so important, though, to take the time to mess around with the tools available to us and discover the ways we can create with them. If I ever have a free moment or day, I'd really like to sit in front of a Mac and just play! Amanda Jon,
I’m really excited to hear your song once you’ve finished it! I do think it’s important to stop, take a step back, and recenter on your own passions and interests because it truly does drive the energy and excitement into your classroom (hence you opening options up to your students and their interests).

Your experience getting acclimated with the music production software sounds quite similar to what Mandy and I went through in our rather bumpy introduction to iMovie. I do think it is so important, though, to take the time to mess around with the tools available to us and discover the ways we can create with them. If I ever have a free moment or day, I’d really like to sit in front of a Mac and just play!

Amanda

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