Well, I’m getting used to having places to be during the day. I need more sleep, though—I must get to bed earlier tonight! Two classes tomorrow, then only the one on Friday. Also, today marks the beginning of my second full week standing in front of a classroom.

I got through the rest of the movie trailers this morning, and then the students began writing—most of them looked like they were concentrating. Marvellous! Still, there were a few who weren’t writing at all, and just staring off into space. I don’t know if this is lack of interest of not understanding—I’m going to have to follow it up. I emphasised at the beginning that participation is really important to me, and so when I write up my feedback on the piece of writing they’ve just given me I might have to write a few comments on the participation aspect of the class—both making an effort to contribute to discussion, but also writing when there is a writing exercise in class.

I’ve been collecting articles and blog pieces and other bits and pieces in the last few days. Next week wanting to look at print media—mostly opinion pieces and essays about youth, but also advertising that targets youth and essays analysing the commodification of youth. As it’s all high school students I don’t want to get into heavy theory, but find more accessible articles that still isolate some important terms.

My first session of peer reviewing. At first the comments they gave each other were “yeah, it’s really good. Oh—your spelling is wrong on this word.” So talking to each pair I asked each student to state their partner’s argument, and point to where it occurred in the paper. Then I asked them to describe the structure and if they had any comments or ideas for that aspect of the writing, and finally I asked them to look at the evidence that was provided supporting the central argument and other examples or interpretations that could be given. Following this discussion I asked each student to write a reflection of what they would do next to develop this piece of writing further, based on our class discussion and on the peer reviewing. They’ve each handed in the piece of writing they did out of class time and the reflection I asked them to write in the last twenty minutes or so.

And my pen exploded. I ended up with ink all over my hands and, unwittingly, on my face. Well, not unwittingly. I just decided I could live with it.

Oh, and, apparently, “All you need is love.” Good to know.