Down on the Corner

I just have to start by expressing my thankfulness and appreciation of the blog title for Dis Class: "Bad Moon Rising." Got to love CCR! :)

Now to answer question 1: What does College and Career Readiness mean and how can it be used as an educational goal?

This is a really hard thing to define. As was mentioned in class, a student's readiness for college and/or career depends heavily upon which college or career they choose to pursue. But is there a way in which we can prepare each student no matter where their future leads? I think there may be, but it is hard to pin down.
As much as I do not believe standardized testing to be a very effective means of measuring student achievement, improvement, knowledge, or intelligence, I think there could be a way to use standardized tests as a starting point in determining CCR. I think the tests need to be revised for sure, and rather than looking at the teacher and his/her "lack of effective teaching," we should focus on each individual student's score and what that means for that student. I do not know how to do this, but if there was a way to, instead of measuring knowledge of content, we could use standardized tests to determine if a student knows HOW to read and decode the information, HOW to think critically about what is being asked, HOW to arrive at an acceptable answer to the questions. If a student has the foundation and ability to process information, I think they should be ready to enter any college or career and learn effectively. As Jake mentioned in class, very few of us enter our first college literature class completely ready for what we are expected to do and know. But we adapt and figure it out thanks to a basic foundation of how to perform well in a classroom. If we can send students into whatever college or career they choose, over prepared if need be, then we have done our job.

So on to question 2: In what other ways do I want my students to be literate?

Again, I do think that the need for literacy in multiple areas is somewhat dependent on where a student is headed. Different careers have different expectations. Again, I think a basic foundation will prepare students to springboard from in order to achieve what is necessary for their future. I think one area that students today should have at least a basic literacy in is computers. It is hard to imagine students today leaving school without using computers extensively in school, but I wouldn't be surprised, after realizing how many people graduate high school without knowing how to read, if there were those who don't have enough functional knowledge. I think one of the important ways to include technology literacy is not just to teach students how to use it, but to teach them how to use it correctly. Most kids today have abundant access to technology: cell phones, ipods, ipads, computers, social networks, gaming, etc. However, the habits that many young people pick up through many of these venues (i.e. lack of grammar, IM-ing abbreviations, spelling, etc.) may hinder their abilities in college/career situations. Therefore, I think that teaching students the "etiquette of technology" in more professional settings would be very beneficial.
Honestly, I wish I could make my students literate in any and every way possible and necessary for anything they may ever face. (Here comes the idealism that teachers have). I do know, however, that I alone will not be able to prepare my students for everything and anything; this is why I think the foundation is important. If students have a foundation, they can decide which direction and how high to jump off of it to be successful individuals.

I know that this was a bit cyclical, and there was a lot of not knowing. Unfortunately that's where my mind is on this right now. I have ideas but I have not had to sit down and think these through to this extent yet. I look forward to discussing these ideas in class!