Mrs. Johnson's Tips and Tales of Teaching

The art of imitation is something that people have learned to do, and learned to do well, throughout much of their lives. From their early childhood years-when they are learning how to eat, walk, and talk, to their adolescent years- when they are learning what trends are in style or how to kiss their significant other without looking like a total novice, and even in their adult lives- when they are learning how to interview, or how to parent their children. Imitation is an effective technique, especially when it is used in the Education World. In Chapter 4 of Harry Noden's text Image Grammar, a method of imitation known as the Hamill approach is explored. Hamill learned how to write through imitation of the structure of passages of accomplished authors, while completely changing the content of the text. His approach allows students to become better writers by imitating accomplished writers organizational structures- examining how they use imagery, zooming, layering, and their use...

When reading the article “Involving Parents and the Community” by Samway & McKeon (2007), a lot of the information  presented was not a surprise to me. I don’t know if that is because I have teachers in my family that have experienced and expressed difficulties with involving ELL parents/guardians, or if perhaps because I have already read about and discussed the matter earlier in my classes. The portions that did stick out to me however, were those that offered solutions to a prominent problem in education’s communication with parents/guardians and the community. For example, the first section of the article argues that Menacker, Hurwitz, and Weldon’s (1988) four categories of parent involvement (listed on pp.163-164) do not include two roles that parents/guardians can assume- the roles of Expert and Collaborator. Instead, we (educators and administrators) are often under the assumption that we must be the connecting piece, the central station for all exchanges of infor...

     At the beginning of this year, I was the type of person who strove to be fifteen minutes early to all important meetings; I considered fifteen minutes early to be on time. If it wasn't an important meeting and more of a "social call", I strove to be 3 minutes early so as not to keep anyone waiting, have time to settle in to my surroundings, and small talk a bit with whomever I was meeting.      Now, I feel like I am constantly running late (even if by normal standards, I am technically on time), and I feel disorganized, ill-prepared, and/or just overwhelmed by the work that has to be done that day, or the spill-over work that I failed to get done the day(s) before. Do any of my peers feel this way? Does it ever end?? Is it a personal problem ??? According to friends/mentors who have been or are currently in my position or similar situations, this feeling never stops. They say that I must embrace my new normal- embrace the stress, the occasional mes...

I'd first like to start this blog apologizing to my readers, peers, and university professor for blogging late. Anytime I open my laptop or other technology with a screen with my son nearby he tries to eat it, and the last two weeks my husband's been working extra late, on top of us packing to move houses, so homework deadlines have been a little bit hard to keep up with- again, my deepest apologies!  Now, on to the blog! Last Thursday and Friday, I attended my very first Kansas Association for Teachers of English (KATE) Conference, and it was AWESOME! Not only did I get to meet Author Bill Konigsberg, but I also got some helpful tips and tricks from Editor Stacy Whitman! (And yes, I did do my little fan-girl squeal...don't judge me!)  I must say though, Of all the sessions I got to choose from the three that were the most inspiring or informative to me were "Publishing a YA Novel" with Mr. Konigsberg, "Student Teach to Teacher" with Holli Boyd and K...

Here is my genre reflection assignment. I chose to do it as a poem this time around, since I haven't written a piece of poetry in about a year and a half to two years. I hope you enjoy!  "A Look Inside" I took a look inside today, To see what I might find Among the blank masks of sitting statues At their desks so neatly aligned. I took a look inside today, Eyes watering from the strain Of cataloguing every detail Praying my actions wouldn’t be in vain. I took a look inside today, And still nothing came to light I try and reason with myself Whether it’s worth it, to stay and fight. I took a look inside today, And I was doubting I would ever see The people inside those hunks of stone- That they would remain a mystery to me. I took a look inside today, Not at their faces, but at their written works. The letters slanting this way and that, Revealing flaws, and troubles, and quirks When I took a look inside today, Thei...

     I've always placed significant value in the reflection process that keeping a journal provides, both in and outside of the classroom. I think they are a wonderful way to work through one's emotions with the journal acting as a confidant or therapist. Keeping a daily journal can drastically improve one's writing (and hand-writing- if they are doing it the old fashioned way). Not to mention, if you are documenting memorable occurrences in your life as they present themselves, and continue this for several years you can later look back on them and see how you have progressed (and grown!) overtime. You may be able to review your past mistakes or accomplishments and use those recordings of the past to avoid future mishaps and increase your chances of success. Suffice it to say, I want to encourage my students to keep a journal throughout their time in my class (and after if they choose to do so) to document their individual journeys through their lives and throu...