Mrs. Johnson's Tips and Tales of Teaching

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...