Bud the Teacher

    I guess it’s time for me to convert my Flickr account to Pro.  It just keeps getting better.  Just now, I discovered Interestingness.  It’s a collection of the pictures that an algorithm determines to be the most interesting. 
    Worth a look.

rsion coming    Bill’s written about two interesting items in a recent post.  The first is the idea of a learning contract that he intends to use with his students in the fall.  The second is the notion of "seductive teachers."  I’ll let him explain:

At least with
my ninth grade classes, I’ll be using a learning contract. I’m still
tinkering with the contract itself but if you would like to see what I
have so far and give some feedback go here.
I view this approach as a way to allow a lot of student choice within an ever more restrictive curriculum environment.

Read a great book this summer as part of my work for the Boise State National Writing Project Summer Institute. Deciding To Lead: The English Teacher as Reformer
by Denny Wolfe and Joseph Antinarella. The authors issue a call for all
of us,but especially English teachers, to become what they call
"seductive teachers."

Seductive teachers "sell"
students on the learning opportunities that school provides. They win
over students and attract them to seeing their classrooms as safe
havens that can nurture their growth. Many students, increasing in
number, need to be sold on this vision. Seductive English teachers can
win over their colleagues to a similar vision; that is, teachers and
administrators working cooperatively in environments that nurture their
growth, as well. By extolling and practicing virtues inherent in the
humanities–and in their well-honed pedagogical processes–teachers can
help build such working environments. They can help build dynamic
schools where dissenting voices are heard, valued, respected, and
considered.

    Follow the links — good food for thought.  I’m a fan of the idea of negotiated workloads and grades for students.  We need high standards for all kids, but we should have multiple ways of showing proficiencies that engage students’ interests and needs.  Your thoughts?