Go For Goal! Make sure that your students are not backed into a post.

"A-Boot" a year ago the world was preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics. "GO for Gold" was the mantra up here in Canada.

In the classroom, it is Go for Goal!

What truly is the Goal of your lessons? Do you know it? Do your students?

I was in a classroom this week. I was supporting a teacher and his students with Fractured Fairy Tale writing.

As they began their rough copy, the teacher said,"Remember, only handwriting after Christmas."

Yikes! First draft perfection! Say it ain't so!

Of course, we all know when writing our first draft we just need to get the ideas out. Revision, editing and dare we say perfection, comes later.

As expected the stories got off to a painfully slow start.
"How do you make a G?" said one child mournfully.

Then there was the student who had barely anything written down.
I asked, "Are you not sure what to write?"

He said," I know what to write, I just can't handwrite."

Well that just isn't good is it?

Lessons For All Teachers

Look at you goal (standard, outcome).

Is it clear what you want the students to do?

If it is to create a story...
Could they type it? YES
Could they print it? YES
Could they use presentation software? YES
Could they use storyjumper? YES
Could they use a plume and ink? I guess....

So...please find a place for all your students. If handwriting is the goal? Then have them copy a poem in their best handwriting...BUT...if it is storywriting...please ....please let them create...by any means necessary.

SO how to you make that G...I still don't know...that's why I print!

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven OUT!

The Calvary Ain't Coming!

I am currently reading Chris Gardner's book Start Where You Are

Right into the first section of the book he announces :

"The calvary ain't coming!" translation...wishes are just wishes.

I think that is a mistake we all make. Those goals you have must have some action behind them.

Even those crazy movies of the 80's had goals. Let's take Footloose. Ren could have just gone through the motions, finished high school and moved on...
But no...
Not Ren...he wanted to DANCE.
He stood up to the Reverand in a Town Hall meeting. ACTION
He was shot down but because he made his feelings known, the lovely man at the mill where he worked...slighlty out of town limits said, "Have the dance Here!" ACTION

So Ren and his girlfriend, who was never in any movies after, that decided to round up the resources and hold the best dance EVER!!!! ACTION

After a necessary father and daughter talk and an obligatory "punch out" the old boyfriend scene...

They had the best dance ever. GOAL
...cue the annnoying South African Horns.

So what are your goals....are you waiting for the calvary? Cause they ain't coming!!!!

Until Next time,
Lit Maven Out!