October, 2019 - Porter Has Class

Red Ribbon Week: Alcohol, Vaping, Juuls in Today’s Schools

Post published:October 27, 2019
Post category:Stories

Introduction Since it is Red Ribbon Week, I was reminded of a story sent to me last school year. This story will shock some, be no surprise to others, but hopefully will serve as a cautionary example of the students that sit in classrooms around the world. Teacher Submitted Story “I haven’t had any alcohol in like three months.” These words proudly proclaimed by a fourteen-year-old girl whose Juul I had confiscated from another student a short time earlier. As is normally the circumstance, when you bust one kid doing something wrong, they are typically not going to go down…

Student Response to The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Post published:October 20, 2019
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read the short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain. A story about a man named Jim Smiley who was swindled into losing a bet involving his trained frog. In an essay, explain how the difference in points of view between the audience and Jim Smiley creates humor for the reader. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response "May be you understand frogs, and may be you don't understand 'em; may be you've had experience, and may be you an't only a amature, as it were. Anyways,…

Student Response to The Tell-Tale Heart

Post published:October 14, 2019
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read the short story “Tell-Tale Heart.” Write an essay describing a characteristic of the main character and how it propels the action to the conclusion of the story. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response “You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing.” These are the thoughts of the unnamed narrator from Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “Tell-Tale Heart.” The narrator spends much of the story trying to convince the audience that he is not crazy while he ironically explains a murder he has committed. As the story ends, the narrator shouts…

What We Do When We Fail

Post published:October 13, 2019
Post category:Blog Student Work

What we do when we fail is completely different from person to person. Some quit. Some continue doing the same thing. Others try to learn and get better. While my blog has not felt like a failure, it certainly has not met my expectations. So, I'm trying new things. “You never know what you can do until you try, and very few try unless they have to.” – C.S. Lewis So, What's Coming? In the coming weeks, I will be posting examples of student writing. Why would I do this? Kelly Gallagher, as well as many other notable educators, advocate using…