Tom, HS lit and cs teacher, Maryland.
Humongic (made up by my young son several year ago) and
But ("biggest little word in the English language" - former teacher Buck Offutt). #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A1 I dunno if its my most evocative, but the one that stands out the most right away (and this is so "on brand" it's gross) is reading those early Henry Rollins books of poetry and being emotionally affected.
#WeirdEd I’m late (as usu), I’m from IL, I’m a HS tech coach/Lights & sound director and I love TOO MANY WORDS, but I really like “twitterpated,” “mellifluous,” and most swears. I don’t like the word “slacks.”
A1 Several poems in Brit Lit by aforementioned Buck Offutt. Started with entire class’ misreading “wind” in “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” and seeing how we needed to pay close attention or else. #WeirdEd
A1: I can recite a bit of "The Raven" and (almost) all of "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out". The moment when I put the book down and keep going---and the look on the kids' faces when I do it. That's the good stuff. #WeirdEd
A1: I've never cried at a funeral...until my grandfather's (that's another story) and always felt awkward for it, hence why Donne's "Death Be Not Proud" always resonated with me #weirded
A1: I don’t remember his name or his poems, but we had a poet in residence my freshman year of HS and he was awesome. He had long red hair and a beard. I wrote my first real not-too-crappy poem in that class. It had a lot of assonance. I felt cool. #WeirdEd
A1: Read "Words with Wings" by Nikki Grimes, loved it, autographed copy. Put it into a 3rd graders hands - struggling reader, parents divorcing. That child was living that book and that book lived in his heart. I let him keep it. #weirded
I always show The Simpsons' version when I teach The Raven. And then I cross my fingers that an admin will walk by when I do...because I can defend that shiz. #WeirdEd
Giving my intro after I answered Q1. My favorite word, hmmmm..... I’m kind of simple when it comes to words. Eclectic. I like the way it sounds. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A1 Biggest reactions to poems is going through my father's stuff and finding more of them. He had a flare for words that I didn't quite get. My sister has tried to take up the mantle at Christmas
A1: My hubs (who is sweet, funny, smart, and hot) writes me poems and chooses great poems to share with me often. They always evoke strong feelings. #weirded
A1b: When a student is acting too cool for school I recite 'We Real Cool" by G. Brooks to them. They don't get it, but it makes me feel better. Then I dig in and try to help. #WeirdEd
My online course offerings include the following:
- Game-Based Learning
- Genius Hour
- Technology-Infused Discussion
Groups
REGISTER for our WINTER session TODAY!!
#edchat#edtech#txed#weirded@mallackw@AudraKaplan
Dad used to have a poem and a check in his Christmas cards
But he could dash off a dity to nurse at the VA who caught his eye
or just sitting on a rock in Ireland #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A1 "Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night," especially RAGE RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT and in my head, instantly segues into "Yea though I walk through the valley of death," it just has an epic, defiant RING to it that gets me
Some poetry I have memorized because I had to at some point (for school or extracurriculars), some because I wrote it (not recently), some because I just like it and am willing to use my brainspace to carry it with me. #weirded
I can do Silverstein’s “Sick” by heart. Used to read that when I was a sub. Brought the book with me no matter where I was subbing. https://t.co/SJ4ErvDTQ5#WeirdEd
As a librarian, this brings me a little bit of delight. Even though they had to replace the book and stealing is bad, I love that you wanted it that much. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd from memory:
I was walking in a circle when I spied a piece of paper covered with a picture colored yellow, green, and red. As I picked it up I noticed that it had some writing on it and I knew that I should read it and this is what the writing said: I was walking in++
I always show The Simpsons' version when I teach The Raven. And then I cross my fingers that an admin will walk by when I do...because I can defend that shiz. #WeirdEd
Also, there's a Ross Gay poem about hearing your kid's heartbeat for the first time that WRECKS me. (Can't remember the title from all the feels) #WeirdEd
I THINK ABOUT THIS CONSTANTLY. Luckily I teach in such a way that I can constantly revise my lesson to make sure I use best possible verbage. But I host trivia on the side, & we have to be darn careful in writing/saying questions or else you're asking for fights #weirded
A1 I grew up in the woods, in the mountains. Assault by Edna St. Vincent Millay always brings me to a particular memory of walking in the woods at night #WeirdEd
A2: I can't think of one, but literally, it took a week and a half for me to be able to speak intelligently when addressing my classes after the break. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A2 Not a specific example, but I just kinda realized that not using specific language can lead to vague, confusing, and frustrating with myself because Ss don't understand what I'm saying/directions
A2: Every time I’m not clear in what I expect from a student, it backfires. Even in giving simple directions, it’s important to be specific and clear. I’m getting better at it, but sometimes the brain part doesn’t make the mouth part say all the things. #WeirdEd
We wear the mask that grins and lies
it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes
this debt we pay to human guile
with torn and bleeding hearts we smile
and mouths with myriad subtleties #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A2: 7th graders are very literal-minded. Do NOT accuse them of "climbing the walls" unless they are literally climbing the walls. They were call you a liar. +
A2: My son said he wanted to do some sports team and I said, "I don't care." He burst out crying (poor guy!) I was shocked! I was giving him permission. He thought I was saying I didn't care what he did. #weirded
Oh, gawd...told a girlfriend I was breaking up w/ that she "had to let me go," I meant figuratively, but she took it literally b/c she was hugging my arm, she shot back "you need to care more." Didn't explain myself, not sure why #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A2 This isn't a good example, but I accidentally said that a character in a story was SOL in front of my students before my brain jumped in front of my mouth.
I covered by saying S was for So and then rushed forward
A2: At the start of the Internet, a kid used his computer to hack my "How many words can you find in the word 'paraskavedekatriaphobia'?" contest. I still let him win because, hey--that was impressive. He had thousands of words. I learned about the Internet the hard way. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A2 also, not spectacularly backfiring, but when I write/read, words like "happy!" just kinda sounds so mundane and doesn't really invoke the true depth of emotion in a written work. Word choice and all that. Also allows me to have Ss think deeper
A2 oh good god. I had so many explanatory phone calls with a parent with one particular student. He was so literal and categorical and I really had to keep my rhetorical flourishes and hypothetical Qs in check #WeirdEd
Oh my gosh! Work with 1st Graders and Chromebooks without touch screens and tell them to “Click on this icon” and see how many of them touch the screen! #WeirdEd
We wear the mask that grins and lies
it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes
this debt we pay to human guile
with torn and bleeding hearts we smile
and mouths with myriad subtleties #WeirdEd
A2: Our school district is trying to move towards "common language" in writing so that students can hopefully transfer knowledge/skills across curricula - types of writing, etc. Makes us all more mindful of different terms we keep falling back on #weirded
I had a teacher who made us come up with 100 adjectives we could use instead of "nice". Then we wrote "nice" on a slip of paper, took it outside, and buried it. #WeirdEd
A2: So I learned in a previous job that if you accidentally say "orgasm" instead of "organism" in a Catholic middle school science class, the sixth graders won't notice but the seventh graders will. #weirded
I LOVE this poem! Here is another great one on a similar theme. https://t.co/kJC8lepeNr Sometimes we toil but don't see the fruits for years to come. #weirded
Man, my 3rd graders last semester had a list of adjectives for different emotions, they STILL defaulted to "happy," "sad," then again majority were EL, so.... #WeirdEd
A2: When a kid joked about loving an animal, I jokingly told them that we'd cover that in class later, knowing we'd be reading Midsummer Nights Dream. They ask, now & then, when we'll be talking about beastiality. #WeirdEd
A2 Half the things I type on Twitter I cringe and hope they are taken the way I intend because I have difficulty not being sarcastic. (Which I’m NOT being right now)
(Straight up)
#WeirdEd
Glad I teach high school now
Save my best sarcasm for the seniors -- they get it, and appreciate it the most.
Underclassmen, you have to have a good relationship with first, then maybe
#WeirdEd
This relates to a discussion I had at an ESOL PD a couple months ago about how we can standardize certain academic terms across content areas. I'd be interested to know how successful your common language is #WeirdEd
Not sure how it's going in that area specifically, but I definitely get the reason for it. As technology resource teacher, it definitely helps me help you when we're using the same words to talk about a device or idea. But your "thingy" could be any of 100 things. #weirded
A3: between literature & pop culture, we're so laden with "universal" fig. Language that were specifically using figurative Lang. to communicate specific ideas or intent. Symbols, allegory, metaphors, are part of our cultural knowledge now.#WeirdEd
I can't talk about poetry without mentioning Supreme Clientele. I love this line: "hit the gym for two weeks/my back all chiseled/eyebrows unique now meet the new me." #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A3 OH! I can do this one!
Figurative language paints a picture, making it easier to internally connect to a concept. You're linking idea with story.
A3: What could be more specific than detailed, descriptive, evocative language? When I read a beautifully worded poem, I can create a picture in my mind that is probably more meaningful than the one I’d create from a bullet-point list of adjectives. #weirded
A3: Figurative language can give SO MUCH more detail— it’s just a different kind of precise. 😊
Tardy, and jumping right in for the current question! Splash! #WeirdEd
Yeah, well, I made the mistake 2x on the same day. 6th grade first - "oh, phew, they didn't notice!" Then reminded myself repeatedly not to do it w the next class... so obvs I did it again. Kids probably actually picked up on my awkwardness more than the word itself. #weirded
#WeirdEd A3 Coming back to the words like "happy," figurative language can evoke such an image, especially when similes/comparisons are used to bridge familiar with the unknown
A3 Figurative speech doesn't always translate so we get literature that might compare something to an animal, place or activity that students can't relate to #WeirdEd
And did I mention imperial measurements
A3 do idioms count? Figurative language that's incredibly precise--you wouldn't say "out from habit" even though "of" and "from" are often interchangeable, and "out of habit" briefly conveys precise info #weirded
A3 Figurative speech doesn't always translate so we get literature that might compare something to an animal, place or activity that students can't relate to #WeirdEd
And did I mention imperial measurements
Then I am doing all the things wrong. I’m not one who remembers “The Words” very easily. But I can sure tell you what that “thingamabob” does. #WeirdEd
In reply to
@MarciaDressel, @teacherofftopic, @cari_nation
A3: Specific, overly technical language doesn't communicate anything if the audience doesn't understand it. You can bring concepts to your audience with similes, analogies, metaphors, and descriptive vocabulary #weirded
#WeirdEd I apologize but my eyes won’t stay open anymore. The weirdest thing I did today was play a game of Kahoot! with my students which was all about memes.
A3: I also thought of Octavia Butler (I think she said this) saying "I read nonfiction for facts. I read fiction for truth." Figurative language gets me closer to truth. #WeirdEd
There is some research supporting that we understand lessons better when they're couched in a narrative. Generations of fables set precedent for this as well. #weirded
Chucking.😂 Maybe. I think I am more of a doer than any kinds of words person. I’m also an old person, which may have something to do with it.👵🏻 #WeirdEd
In reply to
@cari_nation, @MarciaDressel, @teacherofftopic
A4- sometimes I go into this serious improve/slam poetry mode as I'm responding to a student or telling a story. They might think I'm a bit crazy but it gets their attention. #weirdEd
#WeirdEd I use pacific words internationally so my message is clear and I sound more intelligent. This keeps me from boliviating my points. Interminably.
A4. I have to simplify my language, remove unnecessary words, convey meaning concisely and accurately on the fly all day. But in my case it’s also kind of like dance. #WeirdEd
A4 wow, this is a great q for a non-ELA person. All the ss-appropriate poems I can think of are US II and I teach US I. Chicago, The New Colossus, some Langston Hughes... I need to do some research #WeirdEd
A4 I went from writing educational theater to edtech that uses cartoons and media. I have learned that effective sound bites are actually poetry. Poetry bypasses resistance. #weirded
A4- also, as a history teacher, what's a better way to understand an era/society than by its art/music/poetry ? The WWI poetry always captivates #weirdEd
Also I know twitter educators as either morning or evening people but the reality is that you are all the opposite of when I know you. It was weird when I was in the US and doing morning chats in the evening #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A4 I think my teaching is poetic. Teaching is a dance, it's rhythmic. It's playing with words until the widest audience gets the most specific ideas.
Plus sometimes I rhyme things for fun.
Description helps. I don't know what "thingy" is, but when you tell me "white thingy you stick into the computer to make the projector work," I know exactly what you mean. (At my school we call it a pigtail but it's formally known as a Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter) #weirded
In reply to
@korytellers, @cari_nation, @MarciaDressel
#WeirdEd A4 I think my teaching is poetic. Teaching is a dance, it's rhythmic. It's playing with words until the widest audience gets the most specific ideas.
Plus sometimes I rhyme things for fun.
A4: Wow... tough one for me. I guess I don’t infuse it enough, except to recommend that people read really good poems/poets? I love figurative language, but don’t get much opportunity to use it in a lot of my work. But my gears are turning now... #weirded
A4: I don't intentionally use poetry... but I use words I like that sound good, that I think my students would understand. I also have a wall of wholesome memes that has a lot of grammatical incorrectness but the words and images speak to my heart #weirded
#WeirdEd, there are 5 minutes left, and I was going to ask you to write me a poem. (Which you still can.) But I have to tell you that I loved your answers tonight. They made me so happy.
A4: Currently use songs (that’s often poetry) in my math teaching... taught poetry units with a wide variety of types and a poetry slam for middle schoolers when I was the everything teacher. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A4 the answers that relate to the act of teaching itself as poetry is interesting, never thought of it that way, makes sense, considering how much flow and stylin' it takes to be a baller teacher
When I went to adopt my dog, they put her on the treadmill & showed me how she got her exercise. It was the cutest, saddest thing and this gif will haunt me #WeirdEd
