Group items tagged

Banning books in the high school classroom... What constitutes a banned book? Who gets to decide what books are banned?

I read your article and it amazes me how many known books are now considered inappropriate to be taught in the classroom. I guess my question is when a book is too inappropriate to be taught. I am of course assuming the lower the grade of the students the more controversial it is to break away from the set course of what they should be reading. It is strange how some books are now considered inappropriate when in the past they would be held as literature and how some banned books are now appropriate. Also, are children now unable to read books that might not be appropriate simply because the parents believe it to be? Should students be restricted in what they read? I guess eventually the banned books list will continue to grow until most people are happy or they will make different version of "The Hungry Caterpillar". Oh also did you see the new banned book that just recently came out, "The Pedophile s Guide To Love and Pleasure A Child Lover". What are you views on this new addition to the banned books pile? Honestly I don't see how this book could be taught in school unless in Criminology class.

I'm very hesitant to ever say that a book should be banned. It goes against our most basic constitutional beliefs of freedom of expression, and it prompts the questions "who get to decide the criteria for a banned book?" and "how far are we willing to go with nixing books off the list just to please some people?" HOWEVER if ever there were a book that I would recommend be nixed, it would definitely be a book for teaching pedophiles how to best prey on children. That's just ridiculous. I don't think a book like that would ever be able to make it into any sort of a classroom curriculum.

Practical advice about classroom management from a teacher who taught at Fresno High for 20 years.

Interesting blog about how we repeatedly introduce "new" programs and ideas in schools, only to abandon them for the next wave of "new" ideas.

Outlines the curriculum for California classrooms as well as the instruction for the CAHSEE.

Article revolving around EL learners... Is enough being done to help these students?

This article is about teachers who are fighting for literature in the classroom.

wow this article really makes me reconsider becoming a teacher. In fact this was a nightmare of mine, teaching no complete books and novels. How can students question texts critically if they cannot even finish the book. I find this new age teaching style insanely counterproductive because like the article stated some text provide a spark for the students to begin to question critically. If we continue to only use sections of full texts then the students are missing out on more possible discussion. The future seems darker for not only the students but for the teachers that once had to read a whole book and think.

This article examines how scripted curriculum can reach every student. Classrooms are made up of diverse students from different ethnic groups and cultures. How can one scripted curriculum a one dimensional way of teaching reach every student?

Twitter in the classroom?

Interesting ideas about how to use a new web 2.0 tool

A brief article about teacher preparation programs. CSUF is considering the co-teaching model. What do you think?

An interesting article that discusses how to use technologies students have at home

My book review of Bruce Penniman's Building the English Classroom

Article outlining several ways to use technology in the classroom.

Video that reviews Pearlltree, a diigo alternative for the classroom.

Using twitter in the classroom

How to integrate technology into your classroom when you have few resources

I am reading this in my CI 151 class. An actual teacher who is concerned with student voice and making his class relevant to his students. Good description of his classroom and 'success' story.