Seeking Your Advice
Well, the first days of school have passed fairly well, with one notable exception: Developmental Writing. Our class was at 8:00 on Monday.When I walked in the room, there were seven of the fifteen enrolled students there. Not an auspicious start. A girl came in about fifteen minutes into the class; she was a fine addition. She sat and stared off toward the side of the classroom and occasionally made remarks to the person sitting next to her (followed by snickers--and not the delicious chocolate kind). The other kids were more polite, but it took dynamite to make them respond to anything. Of course, non of them had their books or paper to write upon.
I did find that most of the students in the class had failed dev. writing last semester. With attitudes like that? I am shocked.
Anyway, we need to get a handle on this--AND FAST. Ideas? Suggestions?
I meet with them tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!
Comments
I wish I had advice, but I'm sure, as a college professor, you've heard all of mine. Good luck!
Maybe bring a pot of coffee to class? Vodka? For you, I mean.
I don't know. I learned how to write from the nuns. They used the Write Or Die! method of teaching.
Seriously, discovering who wants to vs. who needs to be in the class and focusing on the objective (getting them to the next level) seems like a joint effort they could buy into.
And after a week or so of that, it's time for a smack-down.
Vodka is also a great idea.
And if you can work it into the syllabi, introduce the writing of David Sedaris. I have NEVER had a teen (though mine are younger) who didn't respond to him.
Good luck. I have often likened teaching to stand-up comedy...some crowds are better than others.
I think all of the suggestions are spot on (especially the ones involving Starbucks and Sedaris) but I think the really important thing to remember here is that this could be an opportunity for you to try something, anything new. These kids are already on a downward spiral for the most part, and I think there is a certain freedom to walking in there knowing that nothing is probably going to work, so why the hell not try anything?
I specialize in putting an optimistic spin on pessimism, though. It's a gift.
Good luck, and try to have fun with it!
Tell them that they have to write for 15 minutes straight. Then everyone just writes.
They can read what they wrote to each other
They can start writing their memoir
They can be shown photos and write about it
They can be given a word prompt and write about it
They can look in a mirror and write
"I remember...
I remember ...
I remember..." (it's a great writing prompt)
Look out the window and write about it...
Get some pen pals for these kids (volunteers anyone?) and have them write letters to pen pals.
And if you write with them and read what you wrote, then you can show them how it's done.
I never learned how to write until I actually started writing and also when I learned that I had something to say. (I was a late bloomer)
Go on Professor J!! Make it happen!! I bet you can inspire some writers in that class.
In addition to Sedaris, you might ask them all to write down the names of their favorite writers, and promise to work one of them into the discussions. I'd suggest Chuck Pahlniuk if I didn't find him odious, but maybe there's some other cutting edgy writer they might respond to. There's always Hunter S. Thompson.
What if you had them start blogs? (Appropriate suggestion here, no?) Is that possible? Rather than journals maybe. Blogging can been really helpful as a writer because you are writing for a real audience. And you can get immediate and really varied feedback. Their assignments can be sort of like memes. And they can surf around reading lots of other good writers on their own blogs.
Good luck! It's hard (or impossible) to teach someone if they aren't interested in learning.