To be touched by manifold whys

“In fact, a deed, a gesture of rage or love, a poem, a painting, a song, a book are always wrapped in thick wrappers. They have been touched by manifold whys.” - Paulo Freire Your delight and joy has taken root within my body. Yet, we are blessed with the ability to nurture thoughts and feelings, … Continue reading To be touched by manifold whys →

Functional Grammar and Writing Workshop: A Hybrid Approach to Teaching Literacy to English Language Learners

I suggest that students must be taught the codes needed to participate fully in the mainstream of American life, not by being forced to attend to hollow, inane, decontextualised sub-skills, but rather within the context of meaningful communicative endeavours; that they must be allowed the resource of the teacher’s expert knowledge, while being helped to … Continue reading Functional Grammar and Writing Workshop: A Hybrid Approach to Teaching Literacy to English Language Learners →

The Stand-off

The offer struck me as ludicrous, insulting. They had me over a barrel and they knew it. I wanted to laugh, throw it back in their faces. I wanted to say 'How dare you? Is this how little you value me? Well you've made a big mistake!' Then I would turn slowly, leave, and never … Continue reading The Stand-off →

The Chocolate Ghost

Once upon a time there was a girl named Star. Star was a very funny little girl. She liked to play tricks on her family and friends, but she didn't like it when people played tricks on her. Sometimes she would sneak down to the kitchen and take extra cookies and chocolate from the cupboards … Continue reading The Chocolate Ghost →

The Gift of Stories

I am engaging in the SoL classroom challenge this month and it is very exciting! For the challenge I promised my students that I would write a story based on each of them (so 23 stories throughout the month). It's a good thing I had the March SoL to train me properly! I have no … Continue reading The Gift of Stories →

Beer Share

This post is inspired by Tammy B at Tammy's Reading and Writing Life, who today used the Coffee Share format. I, however, am in Belgium, so we will be drinking beer. Today we are having a beer at a fancy Belgian beer bar where they have about 30 beers on tap. You select your beer … Continue reading Beer Share →

Pillow Talk

"Oh and my Dad only eats oats for breakfast." "We have some." "What really?" I ask, suspiciously. "Where?" "I don't know, in a box somewhere." "Oats, not barley." "Yes, oats." "Oatmeal oats." "Yes," he replies, exasperated. "Goldilocks oatmeal oats?" I press further, now teasing. "I'm sorry, did you say 'goats'? Your father only eats 'goats' … Continue reading Pillow Talk →

What I learned about teaching from my favourite teacher

Today I gave my grades 3/4/5/6 beginner English Language Learners an assessment and, as I often do when I give an assessment, I was thinking about my favourite teacher. My favourite teacher was my university Arabic professor. Her name was Ghada. She was a Palestinian woman from Jerusalem. It was really difficult learning a new … Continue reading What I learned about teaching from my favourite teacher →

The Talking Circle

In this story I am including a short story that I wrote with my grade 3 Foundational English Language Learners. I would like my students to join the SoLSC classroom challenge in April, so I am setting them up with an account through Kidblog. I am not sponsored by Kidblog in any way, and I … Continue reading The Talking Circle →

A new friend

(Blackout. Lights brighten to reveal a middle-aged woman in a hoody and pyjama pants curled up on a couch. She grasps a mug of tea with the tea-bag string visible. As she speaks, she uses her hands to emphasise her words, which is made comical or awkward when she she holds the mug. She speaks … Continue reading A new friend →