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This is a follow-up to my earlier post.
I won’t go as far to call it a breakthrough, but never have I attempted to get my students to write a narrative using heartbreakingly simple words. I have always tried to infuse vocab words into my lessons and gotten them to internalise them as part of their repertoire. But time is running out, and I have come to the realization that bombastic words do not an engaging essay make.
Some of the most profound things I have read are stringed together by the simplest words.
Anyway, so I penned sentences like this:
I was doomed. My heart sank.
To illustrate my point, I gotta tell my students that writing is like boxing. 🥊 You gotta find the right moment to land the impactful emotional punch.
And this was my conclusion:
This incident taught me the importance of sheer resolve. Since I never wavered in my determination, I could apply problem-solving skills to secure a pass. If I never gave up, there was no problem I could not solve. I was delighted to have become more resilient.
I would tell them that writing the ending is like playing Street Fighter. Launching the Hadouken (Wave Motion Fist) - a series of energy blasts - in quick succession. Boxing the exam monster to death. Impressing the examiners with a string of solid punches.
I can’t wait for my lesson next Monday haha
I can’t wait for my lesson next Monday haha
How did it go?
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I didn’t get to carry it out today!
I will let you know tomorrow (Tuesday)
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So I got my students to read my essay in five parts. I explained how they could make out certain parts due to their classmates’ expressive reading (even though the class was generally noisy). I told them that there was the power of punchy sentences.
I think they were all amused by me parenting to box. I wished I had put on real boxing gloves, though haha.
Subsequently, I gave them a timed practice. Some completed writing a story, taking care to apply my advice for writing an ending, whereas others couldn’t even pen an introduction. Some boys were making owl-like noises, which got my ADHD student quite irritated. But I guess I would give myself grace and take that as a win since some students managed to execute what I had taught them! Haha
Thanks for asking
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Thanks for sharing!
I wished I had put on real boxing gloves, though haha.
That's a great idea. A "picture" is worth a thousand words. Something for the future!
But I guess I would give myself grace and take that as a win since some students managed to execute what I had taught them!
You can't have 100% success in any plenary setting, so I'd take the win!
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