Oedipus The King....one play that I wasn't looking forward to reading and I don't think 10th graders would feel very different. Two weks later after cooperating at Central all that has changed. For one thing I like this play...it is interesting...on the other side the students at Central don't love it but don't hate it also. They are excited to participate in the reading, they know the story, understand it and are participants in learning about this play. What schocked me the most is how well they make connections!!!
As a teacher one thing that you desire is to make a work that you are reading relevant to your students. It is one of the guaranteed ways that they will be involved in their learning and that this is learning that they will take with them. Students we have been working with have been able to do this easily, from a writing prompt about what happens in families when there is conflict to today's writing activity that asked students to ask a question about the play.
As the discussion fueled a key moment knocked the classroom door. A student mentioned that there are still shows which have mothers and sons falling in love. Of course they were all schocked by this part of the play, but I got to take advantage and use this opportunity to apply what I had learned many times in my education classes. I quickly raised my hand and directed myself to the students, I talked about how sometimes we ask ourselves why we read works of literature that were written centuries ago and that we might not care for. I mentioned what they had just said about the show they saw and what was going on in the play. They made the connection and I just helped them see this in a more concrete way. I took advantage of a teachable moment and told them that even though this play was written a long time ago, issues that we were encountering were still relevant to our society today. The play might have been written long ago but this issues still exist today, cases like what happened between Oedipus and his mom still happen; only the Oedipus was not by choice. This is why literature is still important, it helps us put issues into perspective and explore other societies that might not be too different from us.
I was extremely fullfiled that I could provide my insight and opinion. I was happy that I could make them see something that they had put together but was hanging in mid air. I saw for the first time the value of a teaching moment. I understood how important it is to grasp it and exploit it. My observations are sure teaching me and nevertheless giving me tools to put in my teacher toolbelt.
Dear Lucy--Your description of this "teachable moment" is fantastic. These moments require that teachers are always listening with intent and seeking opportunities to make connections for students. One student makes a comment and then, suddenly, the whole instructional unit suddenly has purpose and relevance outside of these two book covers, outside of the English classroom, and outside of Central HS. Amazing! I am so happy that your experience is also dispelling the myth that "classic" literature has no place in an urban classroom. Often, we look at canonical literature, like Oedipus, as old, musty and irrelevant. It's no wonder our students see it this way, too. But, when "old" literature is presented as though it is timely and could have been written yesterday, it suddenly radiates with a power and a light that didn't seem possible before. Your description of this moment here is priceless, and I am so glad you were able to step in and seize the moment in the classroom. Brava! Thanks for writing this story!
ReplyDeleteThe key here is that this text was made accessible by Ms. Friendson in the beginning, and yet the students still needed you to make the connections to their own lives concrete. These stories--this "lore" of humanity--and Oedipus matters, are part of the shared experience of living in this society. Kids need to know that, as it's cultural knowledge. Nice job seeing the teachable moment "hanging in the air" and not letting it go!
ReplyDeleteLucy I think it is so great that you helped them see the connections they were making in a clearer light! It's so important for teachers to see these moments and take hold of them and teach from them, so that their students know just how smart they really are!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your wonderful and thoughtful comments. I am glad to be learning in a classroom setting and to see that making connections is so important to the work that we do. I am happy I was able to act quickly and seized the moment.
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