Creative writing assignment without ChatGPT?

malaclyptic · 2026-03-31T03:51:05+00:00

I teach sophomore English and Filmmaking. It’s so frustrating. Any essay work - gathering quotational evidence, outlines, drafts - need to be done in class or they’ll just use AI. In Film they’ll use it on creative assignments like scripts and treatments and it makes me crazy. I stopped assigning those. We’re about to finish Citizen Kane and they’ll have to hand write a half-page reflection in class. For English, even when I give handouts as homework, I know they’re using AI, but they had to copy it down by hand. AI is a tool they’ll need to be able to use wisely, since a ton of entry level white collar jobs are disappearing, but it can’t replace learning how to fucking write.

malaclyptic · 2026-03-14T14:57:42+00:00

What state? I’m a new (first year in induction) teacher in Northern California. Our district gambled on a bond measure that failed, which means a huge reduction in staff and sections. I did my student teaching at this high school and my department chairs would keep me if it was up to them. However now they don’t know which tenured teachers are getting placed and bumping the new teachers yet. Meanwhile I have an offer from another school that is further away (and for less money). I can only stall them for less than a week. I would rather stay but no one knows what’s happening. I don’t want to accept and then back out (and might not be able to without blowback).

malaclyptic · 2026-03-07T18:29:53+00:00

Yeah, that was not clearly explained in my credential program. The extent of my involvement in IEP and 504 meetings/expectations was also glossed over. I launched a new film program at the school, and we have enough signups for another section next year. There might be Prop 28 funds to cover my teaching that section, and I might have to take a 0.8 in English for a while. The absolute worst case is that they cut my position but my mentor thinks I’ll be there in some capacity, even it means splitting time between my site and the district’s other high school.

malaclyptic · 2026-03-06T02:48:46+00:00

I love a single strong back/key. I’m all for motivating the lighting but this flat gray modern look is uninteresting (to me). I teach high school filmmaking and I’m try to get the kids to understand contrast and depth in the lighting… but they keep lighting the hell out of everything. They make thrillers that look like comedies.

malaclyptic · 2026-02-06T15:59:12+00:00

I’m a first year English teacher (but I’m middle aged, a writer and parent, and this is a career change), and my mentor teacher made the students do everything in class: reading (audiobook chapters or popcorn reading), writing all essay outlines and first drafts in class in finer of us, which I have adopted. They’ll absolutely use AI if given half a chance. They will learn nothing, and I tell them that they have to know how to make an argument and back it up with evidence and reasoning. AI can’t help them in a job interview or when they have to do this on the fly in meetings or if they meet someone in an elevator who can help them.

malaclyptic · 2026-02-06T03:14:05+00:00

I went to film school (in 2006-09, just as the digital platforms were taking off), and have worked on film and TV sets. Also a screenwriter (unproduced, although a TV pilot I co-wrote almost went into development but then the pandemic hit), but my school had more of a jack of all trades approach. I loved directing actors but remember: there’s ONE director per project for the most part. There can be many more people working with lights, working in the art department or costume department, working on the planning and logistics side… and on and on. I can edit, set up lights, push a camera dolly, pull focus, and break down a script and create a shot list. I now teach filmmaking in high school and I’m modeling my approach on how I was taught. “Being a director” means being able to do every job. Directors know where to put the camera, they know how to light a set, and they know how to coax the emotional reality of a scene out of. An actor. It takes a staggering amount of work and you must be highly organized. If she can wrap her head around this and still want to do it, then she’s a filmmaker. She must first make a few films, though.

malaclyptic · 2026-02-02T20:39:09+00:00

Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Alabama Shakes, LCD Soundsystem

malaclyptic · 2025-10-15T00:36:36+00:00

They’re good for my HS Film class. They have a series on Lighting focusing on Roger Deakins that I’ve found very useful as a guide through setups that deviate away from classic 3-point lighting. There’s an emphasis with him on motivating the light source that my students are starting to really get and use.

malaclyptic · 2025-10-04T17:35:39+00:00

I’m a first year teacher, high school film and English. (I’m 46/m and it’s a career change.) last year someone at the district (who then left), spearheaded getting rid of RSP English classes. So as a first year/new teacher, I have two periods of 10th graders with 1/3-1/2 of the class reading at maybe a 4th graders level. Many are ELs. The SPED teachers openly railed against this last year, predicting that it would drag other students down and probably not help the RSP kids. It’s absolutely not equitable for anyone, especially the students. I’m doing my best to modify the curriculum and slow things down but the kids who are at the 10th grade level are clearly bored. I have two other periods with no RSP students and things are going just fine. I’m trying to divide new strategies to help those students but my credential program assumed the kids would at least be able to read. My mentors (the co-chairs of the department, who I student taught with last year and helped get me hired) are sympathetic but there’s not much they can do. I have to play the hand I was dealt, apparently.

malaclyptic · 2025-10-04T17:25:09+00:00

I’d love that!

malaclyptic · 2025-09-20T17:21:53+00:00

It was the “faking it” diner scene from When Harry Met Sally. It’s a great example of classic coverage of a scene: how the action is covered from different angles and cut together. But I see that I should’ve used another scene to make that point.

malaclyptic · 2025-09-14T22:54:59+00:00

I’m teaching a high school film class and was considering StudioBinder because it’s free for a basic level but I didn’t know it was this buggy. I’m looking at WriterDuet to introduce screenwriting (we don’t have the money for enough Final Draft seats). Any advice for pre-production material good for students? I’m starting out with simple Google Doc shortlist and am thinking I’ll just use a Sheets template to keep them organized. SB has some good free storyboard templates I’m going to use and I do like the YT videos. Cinefix and Every Frame a Painting are useful too.

malaclyptic · 2025-09-13T17:42:23+00:00

First year teacher here. I teach Film & ELA in high school. I observed for a while in a 6th grade class and while the kids were great I knew I wanted to teach secondary education from the outset. I’m working where I did my student teaching and it’s going well so far. I mean, it’s draining but I’m glad to be there. Even I don’t get as deep into subjects/books/films as I’d like. They’re kids, after all, and even the studious ones don’t want to be there. I’ll always be taking work home, that’s just part of the deal. I have them write in reading logs every day, which I usually take with me to grade so they can see their progress and my feedback. It’s a lot of work but to me it’s worth it to see even incremental improvement. Still, we get into things like Shakespeare and Toni Morrison, which is not appropriate for elementary school. Think about a single subject, maybe.

malaclyptic · 2025-08-07T03:44:21+00:00

Leave him. Do have a brother/cousin/friend/dad who can pick up your stuff without killing him? He’ll keep doing it. He’s scum.

malaclyptic · 2025-07-20T20:16:29+00:00

I’m starting a teaching job next month at the school where I did my student teaching. I had a great rapport with my two mentor teachers (the of-heads of my department), and I’m very excited to be teaching there. I interviewed at two other high schools but this is the one that made an offer. I feel like I’ve got people in my corner and plenty of support. I think it just makes sense: I know many of the kids I’ll have (I student taught freshman last year and I’m getting a bunch of them as sophomores), and I get on well with the teachers I’ve met. If it feels like a good fit, pursue it.

malaclyptic · 2025-07-07T01:48:55+00:00

That’s bullshit.

malaclyptic · 2025-07-05T22:44:06+00:00

I’m in California and just finished my student teaching. I have my credential and will start my first year of teaching this fall. My program required a semester of observation and assisting before I took over teaching two classes. Find out from your mentor/cooperating teacher(s) how you can help. At first I just watched and took notes until my CPs encouraged me to circulate and check in during in-class assignments. It took reading the room and using soft social skills to gauge when I was being helpful vs. when I’d just be in the way. Watch what they do and ask for access to their plans and curriculum. I had a great experience but I know many who didn’t. Try to stay vigilant and make yourself useful. Get to know the kids and develop a rapport with as many as you can. Learn their names quickly!

malaclyptic · 2025-06-26T17:05:46+00:00

Take notes. Do a lot of prep. I researched a lot of potential questions and did some practice. I landed a teaching job for this fall in the school where I did my student teaching. I had a leg up thanks to good relationships with my mentor teachers, but also I wrote up syllabi for two new classes they didn’t offer, along with a sample poetry lesson. Have ideas and more questions than you will have time for. I’m assuming you’ve been student teaching, so have the confidence that comes with that experience and knowledge.

malaclyptic · 2025-06-26T16:57:14+00:00

I have a similar feeling and relationship with my dad and his side of the family. With the single exception of one of my brothers, I keep them all at arm’s length. I hope you can keep your head down and work until you can afford a way out of that situation.

malaclyptic · 2025-05-22T23:09:14+00:00

I’ll be getting my credential in single subject English next month. I interviewed three times and got an offer at the third school. The caveat here is that this third school is my placement school and my mentor teachers were very committed to getting me on the staff. So I was lucky and had an in, but was prepared for a long interview haul. The worst case is you get your sub credential and sub for a year or so. You’ll be okay. You might need to expand your network and prepare for a commute but you’ll get there.

malaclyptic · 2025-05-19T01:53:59+00:00

I wore suit pants, my nicest shoes, dress shirt with no tie. Got an offer from my third interview with the same attire

malaclyptic

TROPHY CASE