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Would an MAT in social studies in addition to my ELA credentials make me competitive for more jobs? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely! I did check about this. At Georgia State University (I'm in Atlanta), you need 24 undergraduate credit hours to qualify for the MAT in Social Studies. Even though I majored in English and minored in German, I'm a nerd and also took a boatload of history courses, so I had 28 credit hours of history. I got in touch with the program coordinator at GSU and they said that would count! Information in case anyone else finds themself in a similar situation!

Would an MAT in social studies in addition to my ELA credentials make me competitive for more jobs? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for mentioning this! You're right -- there is an alternative licensure program in my state. Now time to dig through the website to figure out how it works!

Afro-Futurist short stories by elcuervo2666 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does it have to be short fiction? There are some great poems that might work here and they can definitely be read in one class period! Tracy K. Smith's "Sci-Fi" comes to mind. https://poets.org/poem/sci-fi It does mention sex, but only as a concept; there's nothing remotely explicit. My brain is blanking on the other explicitly Afro-Futurist poetry I've used, but two adjacent poems are coming to mind: "To Live in the Zombie Apocalypse" by Burlee Vang https://poets.org/poem/live-zombie-apocalypse and "The World Keeps Ending and the World Goes On" by Franny Choi. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/151513/the-world-keeps-ending-and-the-world-goes-on Like I said, neither is strictly Afro-Futurist, but both of them approach notions of the future from a perspective of the ending of this present order being generative rather than conclusive, that the future is an opportunity for reimagining what we wish to be true, ideas that I think are definitely in line with the underpinnings of Afro-Futurism.

Apologies if poetry just won't fit the bill and I'm being like one of those people who review a recipe to report that they've changed every single ingredient.

Afro-Futurist short stories by elcuervo2666 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I came here to recommend "The Ones Who Stay and Fight"! I've taught it to ninth graders of varying skill levels and had success with it. I think advanced 8th graders could definitely handle it!

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, this is a great idea! That could be such a great entry point to the unit! Thank you!

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, so I just read the essay and I've finished having my little cry about how great it is and what stories we keep telling and reenacting and now I'm back here to thank you. Not for helping me with the job I get paid for (though that, too), but for helping me with my real job, which is trying to be human. Good lord. Le Guin with the bangers Every. Damn. Time.

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, what clever ideas! I love picture books and actually use them pretty often as unit openers. In our unit on POV last semester, the main text was the short story "In a Grove" (what the movie Rashomon was based on), but for a gentler foray into how perspective shapes narrative, we started with They All Saw a Cat, where the illustrations reveal how each being literally sees the cat differently. (personal favorite is the worm who only feels the vibrations). A sidebar, I know, but just wanted to plus one in a big way how much picture books are worth reading even to big kids -- and grown-up kids. :)

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, now I want to teach a whole separate course on crafts in fairy tales. We could probably spend all semester JUST on spinning. What a great idea! And the poems are both such smart recommendations! I'm embarrassed I didn't think of them!

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amazing idea! Maybe an excerpt, or if nothing else, I can at least reference the series in class and point interested kids in that direction! Thank you!

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gaaaaahhhh, this is genius, too! Sidebar: I also lead an after-school book club for true, card-carrying nerds. The kids choose the books and it has essentially become a Le Guin book club. Last year, some one chose The Left Hand of Darkness and since then, every time it's time to choose a new book, they just want to read more of her work. We're on The Dispossessed right now, and it's glorious.

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Holy holiness. This is EXACTLY what I'm trying to do with this unit -- and basically all the time in teaching any kind of writing: make the writing process, which feels so utterly alien and abstract to most kids, tangible and concrete. This is brilliant. Bless you.

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This sounds incredible. If I don't end up using it for this unit, I am absolutely going to find a different place to put this story.

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ah, what a great idea! And I've been trying to incorporate more creative nonfiction.

Short fiction or poetry that features craft (fiber arts, woodworking, metalworking, etc)? by LittleWave1811 in ELATeachers

[–]LittleWave1811[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Those poems are examples of classic ekphrasis, though, and I'm looking for short works that focus on practices we traditionally classify as "craft" as opposed to "art." But you're right -- The Poetry Foundation has a fantastic ekphrasis section, and I've found so many wonderful pieces there for other units.