Engaging every learner

Summary

In a literature class focused on essays, the instructor emphasizes the importance of interrelating texts like 'The Bell Jar,' 'Jane Eyre,' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper' to enrich student essays. To address students' hesitance to speak, group discussions are planned to encourage participation and peer sharing. The instructor also highlights the value of reading aloud to connect with students, build confidence, and avoid a teacher-centered class. Specific questions are crucial for effective group discussions, and the use of quotes from texts provides a foundation for exploring themes and ideas collaboratively.

Takeaways

• 📚 The class focuses on essay writing, aiming to enrich students' essays by interrelating various literary texts.
• 🤔 A think-tank approach is used to brainstorm ideas for essays, encouraging students to draw connections between different texts.
• 🗣️ Group discussions are planned to facilitate student participation, especially for those who are hesitant to speak out.
• 👥 The teacher is aware of the need to balance a teacher-centered approach with student engagement and interaction.
• 👩‍🏫 The teacher uses the strategy of having students read out loud to connect with them and build their confidence as readers.
• 🧬 A discussion on 'The Bell Jar' includes the concept of genetic predisposition and its relevance to the characters' mental health.
• 👩‍🏫 The teaching candidate, Katie-Rose, is encouraged to ask direct questions to scaffold student discussion and guide the conversation.
• 📈 The use of quotes from texts serves as a starting point for discussion, allowing students to explore and extract multiple ideas.
• 🖊️ Writing ideas on the board is highlighted as a natural way to involve students and capture the dynamic of the class discussion.
• 🔍 The teacher emphasizes the importance of specific questions to stimulate student participation and ensure a productive class dynamic.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the class session described in the transcript?

The main focus of the class session is to work on essay writing, specifically brainstorming ideas that can be interrelated across different texts to enrich the essays.

Why is it beneficial to interrelate different texts in essay writing?

Interrelating different texts in essay writing enriches the essays by demonstrating the ability to draw connections and comparisons between various literary works, which can showcase depth of analysis.

What is the strategy to address students' reluctance to speak out in class?

To address students' reluctance to speak out, the teacher plans to have group discussions, allowing students to share their thoughts with peers first, which may encourage them to later share with the whole class.

How does having students read out loud contribute to the class dynamics?

Having students read out loud can make the class less teacher-centered, engage students more actively, and help the teacher connect with the students on a personal level, while also building their confidence as readers.

What is the significance of the phrase 'stepping over a husband' mentioned in the transcript?

The phrase 'stepping over a husband' is used metaphorically to suggest a sense of liberation or empowerment for women, indicating a shift in power dynamics traditionally associated with gender roles.

Why is it important for Katie-Rose to have direct questions during the group discussion?

Direct questions are important for Katie-Rose to ensure that the group discussion is focused and that students are guided towards the topics she wants to explore, facilitating a more productive and structured conversation.

What is the role of the students in writing down ideas during the class?

The role of the students in writing down ideas is to capture the dynamic thoughts and discussions happening in real-time, which can be used to further the analysis and understanding of the texts.

How does the use of a PowerPoint with background information and discussion points aid in the teaching process?

Using a PowerPoint with background information and discussion points aids in the teaching process by providing a visual aid that can stimulate thought, organize the discussion, and serve as a reference for complex ideas.

What is the significance of the genetic predisposition mentioned in relation to the texts?

The genetic predisposition mentioned in the texts is significant as it suggests a biological or inherited component to the characters' mental states, which can be a point of discussion on the nature versus nurture debate in the context of the characters' experiences.

Why is it suggested to begin the class with a challenging quote from 'The Lady of Shalott'?

Beginning the class with a challenging quote from 'The Lady of Shalott' is suggested because it contains many ideas that can provoke thought and discussion, setting the stage for a rich and engaging class session.

How does the teacher plan to utilize students' skills to enhance class participation?

The teacher plans to utilize students' skills by assigning roles such as note-taking or writing on the board, which can engage those who may not be comfortable speaking out but can contribute in other ways, thus enhancing overall class participation.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Enhancing Essay Writing Through Text Interrelation

The paragraph discusses strategies for enriching essay writing by interrelating different literary texts. The speaker emphasizes the importance of connecting texts like 'The Bell Jar,' 'Jane Eyre,' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper' to provide depth to essays. To facilitate this, group discussions are planned to encourage participation from quieter students. The speaker also highlights the need to avoid a teacher-centered approach and instead engage students through activities like reading aloud, which can build confidence and foster a connection with the students.

Keywords

💡Essay

An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject, typically one that reflects the author's personal viewpoint and is supported by evidence. In the context of the video, the essay is the primary focus of the class, where students are encouraged to interrelate various texts to enrich their writing. The instructor aims to facilitate a think-tank environment to generate ideas for the essays, indicating that the essay is a central tool for critical thinking and analysis.

💡Interrelate

To interrelate means to establish a connection or relationship between different things. The video emphasizes the importance of interrelating different literary texts, such as 'The Bell Jar,' 'Jane Eyre,' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' to create a more comprehensive and nuanced essay. This approach allows students to draw parallels and contrasts, enhancing the depth of their analysis and demonstrating a broader understanding of the themes presented in the texts.

💡Think Tank

A think tank is a group of experts that work together to discuss and solve problems. In the video, the term is used to describe the initial phase of the class where students are encouraged to brainstorm and generate ideas for their essays. This collaborative approach is intended to stimulate creative thinking and foster a more dynamic learning environment.

💡Group Discussions

Group discussions are a method of learning where students engage in conversation to explore ideas, share opinions, and learn from one another. The video script mentions using group discussions to cater to students who may be hesitant to speak out in a larger group. This method is intended to create a more inclusive and comfortable environment for all students to participate and contribute their thoughts.

💡Apprehensive

Being apprehensive means feeling anxious or worried about something, often due to fear of the unknown or potential negative outcomes. In the script, the instructor notes that some students are apprehensive about speaking out in class, which can hinder their participation. Addressing this issue is crucial for creating an inclusive learning environment where all students feel comfortable contributing.

💡Liberation of Women

The liberation of women refers to the social, political, and economic freedom that women have gained over time, often through feminist movements and advocacy. In the context of the video, the term is used to discuss the empowerment of female characters in literature, such as the metaphor of 'stepping over husbands' in 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' which symbolizes a break from traditional roles and gaining autonomy.

💡Genetic Predisposition

A genetic predisposition is a heightened likelihood of developing a particular condition or trait due to an individual's genetic makeup. In the video, the concept is discussed in relation to the character Beth from 'Jane Eyre,' suggesting a hereditary component to her madness. This discussion highlights the complexity of character development and the influence of biology on behavior and mental health.

💡Teaching Candidate

A teaching candidate is an individual who is in the process of becoming a certified teacher, often through a teacher training program or internship. In the script, Katie-Rose is a teaching candidate who is learning to facilitate discussions and engage students in the learning process. The video script reflects on her teaching strategies and the importance of connecting with students to build their confidence and understanding of the material.

💡Scaffolding

Scaffolding in education refers to the support provided to students to help them understand and complete tasks that would be too difficult for them to accomplish on their own. In the video, the instructor advises Katie-Rose to use direct questions to scaffold her students' learning during group discussions. This approach guides students by providing a structure that helps them build their understanding and engage more effectively with the material.

💡Student Participation

Student participation refers to the active involvement of students in the learning process, such as asking questions, contributing to discussions, and sharing ideas. The video script emphasizes the importance of student participation for a dynamic and effective learning environment. The instructor plans to utilize students' skills, such as note-taking, to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage and contribute to the class discussions.

💡PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a software application used for creating presentations with text, images, and other multimedia elements. In the video, the instructor mentions using PowerPoint as a tool to create discussion points and facilitate engagement. The script describes how the instructor uses PowerPoint to present quotes and ideas, then transitions to writing on the board to involve students more directly in the discussion.

Highlights

The class will focus on essay writing with an emphasis on interrelating texts for a richer essay.

Group discussions are planned to encourage participation among reluctant students.

Reference to 'The Bell Jar' and 'Jane Eyre' as examples of intertextual connections.

The importance of student participation to avoid a teacher-centered class dynamic.

The significance of reading out loud to build student confidence and connection.

The concept of women's liberation as depicted in the texts.

The use of genetic predisposition as a theme in the texts, specifically in 'Jane Eyre'.

The need for direct questions to scaffold students during group discussions.

The strategy of beginning with a challenging quote to stimulate discussion.

The role of student participation in shaping the class dynamic.

Utilizing student skills, such as note-taking, to enhance class engagement.

The use of PowerPoint as a background to create discussion points.

Involving students in writing on the board to add to the ideas presented.

The importance of building on ideas and adding to the discussion naturally.

The challenge of connecting with students within a limited time as a teaching candidate.

The observation that not all students are willing to be vocal participants.

Transcripts

so today in the double we're going to be working mainly on your actually only on

your essay it's the first half we're going to sort of do a bit of a think

tank so get some ideas going that you can write about for your essays so the

first thing that I want to talk about is all of the texts and how they can relate

because something that will make your essays really really rich is how you can

sort of interrelate the texts okay if you're talking about the bell jar if you

can reference Jane Eyre as well or if you can you know reference the yellow

wallpaper that will kind that will look really nice I'm aware of some of the

girls reluctancy to speak and to sort of shout out the answer so to cater for

that I plan on having some group discussions so those students will have

the opportunity to share their answers with their peers and if they feel

comfortable they can then go on to share those answers with the rest of the class

that's probably the biggest issue in this class is sort of students some

students being a bit apprehensive to to speak out and when she says that she

keeps for yourself other than every time he steps over a husband I just found

that you know how lucky fades on the pool and it's like stepping over husband

every time really utter insider in a sense if we're

like looking at women in a sense like the liberation of women like if she'd

like stepping or rivers in like she has more power yeah yeah yeah definitely and

I think that's what those men too I found the one of the beers through risks

with this class in particular is that it become it can become really teacher

centered and I certainly found that the first time that I took the class so I

after watching some of events classes I picked up that the girls were more than

willing to sort of read out loud and it gave them an opportunity to become

involved and they can definitely handle the text I think it's also a way of

getting to know the students when you ask them to read out loud you're

connecting with them and certainly for katie rose has a very short space of

time as a teaching candidate to actually meet students and get to know them it's

a really good way of connecting with them without asking something that could

be arduous they may not be able to answer as well as building of course

their confidences as readers yeah and you can always find three or four girls

that are more than willing to that really enjoy reading and what about it

was Mother's not fathers who caused this it was called a genetic predisposition

it was mentioned Jane Eyre for example rather has the madness but not a problem

yes that's right isn't that interesting about anything that needs because Beth

is the mother was this connection it must be you know

yes and yeah and it was all relevant to two women and that it was a genetic

predisposition one of the things i wanted katie-rose just to make sure that

she had very direct questions so we clarified what the questions would be

because katie rose wanted to have a group discussion which is a really great

way of teaching and so in order to do that i wanted to make sure that she had

very specific questions which would scaffold the students in terms of

teaching they're telling giving them some signals about what she wanted to

talk about and building slightly some answers into the questions and I think

that Katie roses plan in terms of Shalott beginning with that quote which

was quite a chunky difficult quote it was a really good idea because there

were so many ideas in there for students to to read and perhaps pick up on you no

one if not all five or six ideas that were there so what ya one of those

things I just wanted very specific questions because of the dynamic of the

class it really relies on student participation and what I have noticed in

some of the past classes is not all of the students are willing to be vocal

participants so I plan to utilize some of the students skills by perhaps being

ascribed and writing down the ideas that are happening within the class just take

a minute girls to write some of these ideas down because we've been going at

quite a pace oh my god he done an excellent job our names and everything

Oh done it's couldn't even have too much of a PowerPoint you used as a background

yet create a discussion point and then moving to the board especially with

getting Jenny to get up there and actually write on the board I thought

was natural because it meant you could at uni there were additions to the ideas

that you put in the PowerPoint you