Is thinking deeply a thing of the past? As I mentioned in my 2022 year-end post, I’ll be spending 2023 reading and researching on the loss of focus (and the disengagement it fosters) that we are witnessing in students today. To that end, I’m on a personal quest to read more about the phenomena thatContinue reading “Checked Out: Student Disengagement in the High School Classroom”
Category Archives: The Teaching Life
High School Students Can’t Focus and Here’s Why
We need to reclaim our ability to focus. Is it possible students are suffering more anxiety and stress because they know deep down inside they’re falling short of their potentials? Johann Hari discusses how to think deeply again in his book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention.
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 5 of 5)
Indulge in literary travel Note: This is the last of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post: Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 4 of 5: Transcribe a Movie. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my mostContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 5 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 4 of 5)
Transcribe a movie Note: This is the fourth of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post: Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 3 of 5: Learn Something New. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my most challenging.Continue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 4 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 3 of 5)
Learn something new! Note: This is the third of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post: Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 1 of 5: Wear Your Reading Passion. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my mostContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 3 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 2 of 5)
Wear your reading passion Note: This is the second of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post, Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 1 of 5: Memorize and Recite Poetry. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was myContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 2 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 1 of 5)
Memorize and recite poetry Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my most challenging. Out of eleven years of teaching both middle school and high school, students were more disengaged and more disinterested in literature, writing, and school in general, than ever before. It was tough. There’s nothing worse thanContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 1 of 5)”
Enthusiasm in the high school classroom
I can’t tell you how many times students enter my room and say something like “I’m SO tired,” or “Man, I’m exhausted,” or “Mrs. Yung, I’m gonna sleep in class today because I CANNOT keep my eyes open.” This happens not just during my 8 a.m. first hour class, but all day long. I bet I hear someone tell me they’re SO TIRED about nine or ten times a day.
“A Sea of Troubles” Offers Text Pairings for Greater Relevance
A Sea of Troubles performs the task touted on the cover: it pairs texts for greater relevancy in contemporary times. However, its untouted task, fostering and teaching civility, is the cherry on top.
Holy On-Time Homework, Batman!
How I got my students to turn in their assignments on time