Random Quote
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
---- Arnold Lobel
If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur.
---- Doug Larson
It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it.
---- Arnold Toynbee
Technology will not replace teachers...teachers who use technology will
probably replace teachers who do not.
---- Ray Clifford
Arguments over grammar and style are often as fierce as those over IBM versus Mac, and as fruitless as Coke versus Pepsi and boxers versus briefs.
---- Jack Lynch
A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.
---- John Ciardi
We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.
---- Thomas A. Edison
Those who know nothing of foreign languages, knows nothing of their own.”
---- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749 -1832)
This may be the most interesting blog theme I've ever seen. http://eflgeek.com/index.php Definitely in my top 5 at least.
---- Steve Dembo
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.
---- H. G. Wells
Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
---- Fred Allen
Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
---- Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818)
No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
---- Sheik Abd-al-Kadir
Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.
---- Leonardo DaVinci (1452-1519)
"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.'"
---- Sam Levenson
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.
---- Gail Godwin
I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later.
---- Mitch Hedberg
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
---- Thomas A. Edison
Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.
---- Malcom Forbes
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
---- Albert Einstein
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
---- Franklin D. Roosevelt
To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three men, two of whom are absent.
---- Robert Copeland
it's probably not a good idea to underestimate my ability to make an ass out of myself—just when I seem to have it under control, I'll turn around and surprise you.
---- Tenser said the Tensor
To have another language is to possess a second soul.
---- Charlemagne
The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.
---- George Orwell
Hot for Teacher
As mentioned previously I have been planning a lesson using Van Halen’s video Hot for Teacher. I’ve finished the lesson but am unsure of whether to proceed with teaching it. The order of the handout is not in the same order that I would be teaching it. The class is for advanced students and is all male. Feedback appreciated - the hand out is here in pdf format hot_for_teacher.pdf
for the record, this lesson is going to be taught 28 hours from now, quick feedback needed.
Update in the extended entry
Yesterday, I taught this lesson and it went over very well. The students were very talkative, except for the ones that shouldn’t be in an advanced class. THere were no embarrassed faces or awkward silences. I discussed the lesson with several colleagues before teaching it, including one female teacher, and everyone was positive but cautious. Last night at a dinner gathering another female colleague told me she tried to comment on this entry, but the internet ate her comment. Essentially as I remember she thought the materials were good and thought the lesson could be taught.
Based on my experience I will teach it again. However I will only teach it in an all male class. If anyone else teaches this or a similar lesson I would like to hear about your experience.
Sean. inscribed these words of wisdom on Thursday Mar 15, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Teaching | Lesson_Plans | Video | Materials |





fencerider wrote 209 words on Thursday Mar 15, 2007 at 09:05 AM
I know I could never teach this lesson since my students are nowhere near the level necessry. It Looks like a well thought out lesson and probably a good deal of fun for the students as long as the subject matter does not offend. Since the class is all male students (and I assume they are all adults), I would say in most cases you are safe with it, but I am sure you know that a class with female students might be uncomfortable with it.
Good luck with it.
On the other hand, you still might find some more conservative students who may wonder why you are discussing these types of things. Of course, you know your students I suppose. I think that subject matter of ALL kind needs to be presented to advanced students since they will be presented with it in the news, movies and other media. As long as you feel comfortable with it within your class context…go for it.
The questions look interesting and i am assuming an advanced class is talkative and not afraid to express their opinions. I do think a few of the questions might be met with blank stares and/or uncomfortable looks but, hey…I guess they gotta open up sometime.
JMac wrote 122 words on Thursday Mar 15, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Much the same as fencerider - well thought out, but touchy topic. Even though I teach all grad-level students, I’m not too sure that I would attempt this as 1) the topic of sex is hard to defend to admin if (any) students happen to complain, and 2) anytime I’ve had the topic arise (think ‘Spectrumgate’) it just doesn’t turn out well - for whatever reason.
If the idea is to get them to do critical thinking and support of position, I often do topics such as downloading, mitiary service, etc. that they all have a position about but, as I said, are a little ‘safer’.
Anyway, my two bits worth. Let us know how it goes if you use it.
-JMac
joe wrote 19 words on Thursday Mar 15, 2007 at 12:15 PM
this is tough and heavy material.
but it’s about all women teachers and male students, it might be fun.
Sean. wrote 55 words on Thursday Mar 15, 2007 at 08:20 PM
I’ve decided to teach it based on comments here and discussions with colleagues. If there was even one girl in the class, I wouldn’t. I do think this lesson will be fun and I’ll follow up with a what did you think of it? questionaire to guage this activity and help plan follow up ones.