Note Writing
Writing in high school? What's that? My life in high school was consumed with friends, sports, and family. Being completely honest, I didn't have a large interest in writing, or really any subject in high school. I would much rather find out about what's going on for the upcoming weekend or who's house I am staying the night at. My main form of communication was note writing- my favorite type of writing in high school. I must say, I was pretty good at it. I was also pretty good at folding the letters to look like little footballs to give to my friends in between class or sneaking letters during class. I was also fortunate enough to never get caught passing a note during class. Although this is probably not an ideal way of writing I was still writing to an audience. It was a major form of communication my friends and I used and enjoyed!
"Wildcat Beat"
I thought I had strict teachers prior to 10th grade with Ms. MacNeme. Boy, was I wrong! When you walked into her classroom you were silent. You instantly picked up the “Article of the Day” went to your seat, read the article and quietly awaited for discussion. Everyone made sure they read it too, because she would totally call you out if you didn’t know the answer.
Ms. MacNeme was strict but by far the best English teacher I have ever had. She taught me skills that were essential in my college endeavor. She did NOT use the 5-paragraph paper as her main form of teaching writing. In fact, I can’t recall a specific type of writing style she used. We wrote in so many different ways. I never achieved anything higher than a B+ in her class, but what I learned helped me shape the writer and reader I am today.
There were some elements that made her style of instruction that are similar to a literacy event. I remember one assignment that had several elements of a literacy event. The assignment that I remember specifically was a “How To” assignment.
Ms. MacNeme allowed each student to choose any topic they wanted as long as it was teaching someone how to do something. This is allowing the student to be in control and not the teacher. Ms. MacNeme could have easily told us what our “How To” speech is to be about or gave us a list of options to choose from. By allowing the students to choose what their topic is about almost automatically got every student engaged.
Students were all over the board with their “How To” speech. In fact, one student created their “How To” speech on “How to Wash a Cow.” Ms. MacNeme never said a word. In fact, the whole class went outside and watched our classmate instruct us on how to wash a cow. I must say, I did learn something.
We didn’t have an option of whom we were speaking to as a literacy event does (we didn’t have specific “identities”), but it was entirely up to each student how they wanted to teach their “How To” assignment. Some student’s videotaped him or herself, some students taught in front of the class, some students wrote a speech, etc. By allowing students to choose how they want to share their final product is an example of a literacy event.
I remember doing my “How To” speech on “How to Wrap a Christmas Gift.” I really enjoy wrapping gifts and picking out the wrapping paper and bows. Because this was something I enjoy to do I was instantly engaged. I couldn’t wait to start this project! I chose to videotape mine “How To” speech because I really hated talking in front of my peer’s. I spent many hours perfecting this assignment. Many more hours than I would if I was assigned a “How To” assignment.
This is just one example of how Ms. MacNeme was the best English teacher I have the privilege of having. Also, for every paper we wrote in her class she never specified how long it had to be. Her response was always the same, “Long enough to complete the assignment.” Her assignment descriptions were too specific either. In fact, they were very brief. As a student this drove me crazy. Many students, including myself, always thought she was just never prepared and a lazy teacher. Now that I have a decent amount of education the education area, I am able to realize that this is what really prepared me for college. She allowed all student to think to his or her highest capacity. By her vague assignment descriptions it allowed each student to decide what should be included in a paper and what should not.
Ms. MacNeme in my opinion is an ideal English teacher. She was extremely knowledgeable about this content area and was passionate. She was an avid reader and writer. She frequently shared her writing samples to her classes. She always had a “Book of the Month” with a description about it that she was reading.
Ms. MacNeme was strict but by far the best English teacher I have ever had. She taught me skills that were essential in my college endeavor. She did NOT use the 5-paragraph paper as her main form of teaching writing. In fact, I can’t recall a specific type of writing style she used. We wrote in so many different ways. I never achieved anything higher than a B+ in her class, but what I learned helped me shape the writer and reader I am today.
There were some elements that made her style of instruction that are similar to a literacy event. I remember one assignment that had several elements of a literacy event. The assignment that I remember specifically was a “How To” assignment.
Ms. MacNeme allowed each student to choose any topic they wanted as long as it was teaching someone how to do something. This is allowing the student to be in control and not the teacher. Ms. MacNeme could have easily told us what our “How To” speech is to be about or gave us a list of options to choose from. By allowing the students to choose what their topic is about almost automatically got every student engaged.
Students were all over the board with their “How To” speech. In fact, one student created their “How To” speech on “How to Wash a Cow.” Ms. MacNeme never said a word. In fact, the whole class went outside and watched our classmate instruct us on how to wash a cow. I must say, I did learn something.
We didn’t have an option of whom we were speaking to as a literacy event does (we didn’t have specific “identities”), but it was entirely up to each student how they wanted to teach their “How To” assignment. Some student’s videotaped him or herself, some students taught in front of the class, some students wrote a speech, etc. By allowing students to choose how they want to share their final product is an example of a literacy event.
I remember doing my “How To” speech on “How to Wrap a Christmas Gift.” I really enjoy wrapping gifts and picking out the wrapping paper and bows. Because this was something I enjoy to do I was instantly engaged. I couldn’t wait to start this project! I chose to videotape mine “How To” speech because I really hated talking in front of my peer’s. I spent many hours perfecting this assignment. Many more hours than I would if I was assigned a “How To” assignment.
This is just one example of how Ms. MacNeme was the best English teacher I have the privilege of having. Also, for every paper we wrote in her class she never specified how long it had to be. Her response was always the same, “Long enough to complete the assignment.” Her assignment descriptions were too specific either. In fact, they were very brief. As a student this drove me crazy. Many students, including myself, always thought she was just never prepared and a lazy teacher. Now that I have a decent amount of education the education area, I am able to realize that this is what really prepared me for college. She allowed all student to think to his or her highest capacity. By her vague assignment descriptions it allowed each student to decide what should be included in a paper and what should not.
Ms. MacNeme in my opinion is an ideal English teacher. She was extremely knowledgeable about this content area and was passionate. She was an avid reader and writer. She frequently shared her writing samples to her classes. She always had a “Book of the Month” with a description about it that she was reading.
11th Grade
11th Grade with Mr. Decou. He was probably the oldest teacher in the building. He had the reputation of being really difficult. I was nervous going to his required American Literature class. In fact, I dreaded it. I never thought he liked at me as I didn't have him as a teacher and still somehow managed to receive a few detentions from him (for running in the hall). The rumor at Marcellus High School was if you ran cross-country or track he liked you more. So, my junior year I decided to join the Wildcat Cross Country Team. I hated running with a passion. Running to me has always been a form of punishment as I participated on the basketball and softball teams within my high school. Due to the fact I was in basketball season and that was my "primary sport" I didn't think cross-county would be too bad, just running 3.1 miles every Saturday morning. I quickly found out I was wrong. I hated every single minute of cross-country.
I found out that just because you ran cross-county does not mean Mr. Decou likes you more. He treated all his students equally. He also had all students write. Every day students were to write for 10 minutes in their journal. It was free writing. Students were able to write about whatever they desired. Surprisingly, majority of students seemed to enjoy this activity.
Every day he would stress how important it was to write. He emphasized how it didn't matter what one was writing about, but as long as they were writing that was the important part. Like I previously said, all students wrote in their journal's for 10 minutes everyday. When each class is roughly 50 minutes long, that's only 40 minutes of instruction time. Many teachers would think that writing 10 minutes everyday is too long and it takes away from instructional time, however Mr. Decou didn't. This is one quality of his teaching that I truly admire. He truly believed that writing is so important that students needed to write everyday. He was able to figure out how to teach the information we needed in 40 minutes.
Another really cool thing Mr. Decou did was he made his students take home a different classmates journal each week. We were to read it and comment on it. Notice how I said "made his students." I can't recall one time where a student didn't complete this assignment. This was homework given every week to be completed over the weekend. I remember looking forward to this activity. It was a great way for students to get to know about each other.
Mr. Decou is an example of a teacher who truly valued writing. He actually made writing enjoyable. In fact, I didn't even have an interest at all in writing about anything until I had Mr. Decou. I enjoyed writing so much the next year I joined the school's newspaper club. I was a regular writer for the "Wildcat Beat." Looking back participating on the "Wildcat Beat" was one of my favorite memories.
I found out that just because you ran cross-county does not mean Mr. Decou likes you more. He treated all his students equally. He also had all students write. Every day students were to write for 10 minutes in their journal. It was free writing. Students were able to write about whatever they desired. Surprisingly, majority of students seemed to enjoy this activity.
Every day he would stress how important it was to write. He emphasized how it didn't matter what one was writing about, but as long as they were writing that was the important part. Like I previously said, all students wrote in their journal's for 10 minutes everyday. When each class is roughly 50 minutes long, that's only 40 minutes of instruction time. Many teachers would think that writing 10 minutes everyday is too long and it takes away from instructional time, however Mr. Decou didn't. This is one quality of his teaching that I truly admire. He truly believed that writing is so important that students needed to write everyday. He was able to figure out how to teach the information we needed in 40 minutes.
Another really cool thing Mr. Decou did was he made his students take home a different classmates journal each week. We were to read it and comment on it. Notice how I said "made his students." I can't recall one time where a student didn't complete this assignment. This was homework given every week to be completed over the weekend. I remember looking forward to this activity. It was a great way for students to get to know about each other.
Mr. Decou is an example of a teacher who truly valued writing. He actually made writing enjoyable. In fact, I didn't even have an interest at all in writing about anything until I had Mr. Decou. I enjoyed writing so much the next year I joined the school's newspaper club. I was a regular writer for the "Wildcat Beat." Looking back participating on the "Wildcat Beat" was one of my favorite memories.
12th Grade
My senior year at Marcellus High School I chose to dual enroll by taking two college classes at Southwestern Michigan College. One class I chose to take was Freshman English. There were about four students from my school that completed this course with me.
To be honest, I felt like Ms. McNeme and Mr. Decou were better instructors than my instructor at Southwestern Michigan College. My instructor was very direct and specific with assignments. At the time, I liked the college instructor better because the assignments were much easier. I got A's on everything I turned in. All the practice from middle school and freshman year learning about the 5-Paragraph essay format paid off for freshman college at Southwestern Michigan College because I used the 5-Paragraph format for every assignment turned in.
I finished freshman English with a 4.0. I did not feel like I learned anything. I did not find freshman English challenging especially compared to Mr. Decou and Ms. McNeme. Now I can greatly appreciate all the required assignments Mr. Decou and Ms. McNeme made me complete. I am thankful that I did not get an A in Ms. McNeme's class because I really did learn from her. Mr. Decou allowed me to obtain a true appreciation for writing.
To be honest, I felt like Ms. McNeme and Mr. Decou were better instructors than my instructor at Southwestern Michigan College. My instructor was very direct and specific with assignments. At the time, I liked the college instructor better because the assignments were much easier. I got A's on everything I turned in. All the practice from middle school and freshman year learning about the 5-Paragraph essay format paid off for freshman college at Southwestern Michigan College because I used the 5-Paragraph format for every assignment turned in.
I finished freshman English with a 4.0. I did not feel like I learned anything. I did not find freshman English challenging especially compared to Mr. Decou and Ms. McNeme. Now I can greatly appreciate all the required assignments Mr. Decou and Ms. McNeme made me complete. I am thankful that I did not get an A in Ms. McNeme's class because I really did learn from her. Mr. Decou allowed me to obtain a true appreciation for writing.