The best part about teaching came on Wednesday when my students came into my classroom for the first time this year. This year’s Freshman class at Nipmuc is an excited bunch. Even the sweltering heat of last week could not stop their enthusiasm. Together we started to create some idea of what our class will look like. In Communication and Literacy, the classes worked in groups to answer the questions: Why do you communicate? How do you communicate? and What is “literacy”? One classes’ answer, “We communicate so we can understand others, to share thoughts and ideas, to get answers, and so we can help each other out”, demonstrates the thoughtfulness of the class. Another group argued to include “non-verbal” communication in how they communicate, extending the idea beyond words. The third class tied literacy to comprehension saying, “Literacy is the ability to comprehend and understand vocabulary.” This definition emphasizes the power of literacy as a source of knowledge. Next, the classes turned inward as they studied three great writers’ quotes about the Self (shared below). Each student chose one quote that resonated with them and shared what it meant to them. This lead to a great discussion about how we see ourselves in relation to each other and to the world. In English 9, students handed in an array of creative and thoughtful summer reading assignments, from timelines, to poems, to character scrapbooks, and even a clay bird. The projects demonstrated a range of interests as both readers and creators. I am excited to see how this passion manifests itself in our classroom. With so much learning, reflecting, and sharing already happening, it is exciting to imagine what is in store for the rest of the year! Mr. Diamond Here are the three quotes we looked at in class (they are also posted on the wall). Which is your favorite https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19H1cz_ea_9eqApTN93wgHCyZ9_RLePGZfmrmTi_XvgY/edit?usp=sharing
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