Tag Archives: writing

The Voices of Others in Your Own Writing

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Poem: “To ____” by Edgar Allen Poe 

Statement of the Whole:  How does what you read affect how you write?  Is it good or bad writing to see something of other writers show up in your writing?  How does this question affect the teaching of the writing art?  The Backporch boys take on a listener’s question and wind up meandering all through a number of sub-questions regarding the reading life, the writing life, and how the two are intertwined.  Learn, laugh, and listen in as they consider this question.

The Joys of Research

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Poem: Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room, by William Wordsworth  

Statement of the Whole: Research this!  The dust clouds billow up and the sneezing begins.  Most students unfortunately have been taught to despise the task of research.  Jason and Steve beg to differ, viewing it as inquiry into the unknown, the natural result of wonder and questing for truth.  Join them for some thoughts on how to turn this task into a life-long pursuit.  No Googling going on here! 

Resources: 

TED on procrastination 

Help with Boontling

The Role of Seminar in Education, with John Donohue

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Poem: none 

Statement of the Whole: Talking.  Conversation.  Dialectic.  Can words that pass between us really change the world?  In this podcast, Steve brings in a guest, John Donohue, to chat about the use of Seminar in education.  What are the benefits and possible pitfalls of just having a conversation be the central method of a classroom?  Join in the conversation. 

Resources: 

Great book on using Seminar with younger readers: Socratic Circles 

Steve’s written description of his high school Seminar Course 

Old video about Steve’s community roundtable, an evening type of Seminar for high schoolers in his town 

How Do You Write Good?

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Poem: “An Unstamped Letter on our Rural Letter Box” by Robert Frost 

Statement of the Whole:  Any art can be taught, but it is not taught in the same way that information is imparted.  Jason and Steve share various experiences and teaching ideas about the mystical art of teaching writing.  Join in the conversation and red-line their ideas. 

Resources: Some helpful websites for good programs of composition 

Circe’s Lost Tools of Writing 

Institute for Excellence in Writing 

Have You Seen? “Finding Forrester”

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Poem: How Wonderful by Irving Feldman 

Statement of the Whole: In this episode we look at a film that reflects on teaching.  Is there redemptive value in the teacher/student relationship?  Can education bring together people who have almost nothing in common?  What is the role of cross generational relationships in education?  Steve and Jason talk about a film that takes on these questions and a whole lot more. 

Finding the Movie: 

Amazon Prime video carries it 

Themes to explore: 

Friendship, Coaching, Mentoring, Writing, the tension between Academics and Athletics, Courage