It definitely draws from my book, but expands in some ways because of the more focused and specific audience and also because I’ve spent the fall going to places and seeing what’s happening on the ground. I hope I get to return to the conference someday for sure.
Though giving the NCTE keynote is probably a more important milestone than having someone recognize you on a treadmill, I love to hear that you are getting the recognition.
“Let’s Teach Writing…Rather Than Automation-Assisted Document Production” is a great title and rallying cry.
Thank you for all that you do for students and teachers, for your success related to the NCTE, and for your continued dedication to this column. Two books I just finished that I highly recommend are Just Mercy, by Stevenson, about his work to legally help people unjustly sentenced to Death Row and Quiet, by Cain, about introverts. This week and always, I am thankful for all readers and thinkers.
John, I smiled all the way through this. I have fond memories of NCTE from 47 and 45 years ago. Back in the day, my mother was an editor on the Dick, Jane, and Sally readers (Scott, Foresman & Co) and later, a market manager for their English and spelling books. It was in the latter capacity that she took me to San Francisco and then D.C. Then, the convention was always the week OF Thanksgiving, which may be, in part, why I really don't remember Thanksgivings as a kid.
Wonderful to be known and recognized by the right crowd! Cheers! And Happy Thanksgiving :)
It was great having you at the College Section luncheon and your talk was outstanding. I will read your book while flying home from the NCTE Convention
Many thanks for sounding the alarms, for continuing to speak up and speak out, and for being a passionate defender of our unique human intelligences. It's a deep balm to come here every week and find your unmistakeable voice and sensibility. As a reader, writer, and teacher, and as someone who wants his children and grandchildren to live in a democratic society, you are a gift to the future.
John, I would have loved to see you and hear your presentation. I'm sure that the NCTE convention would be a great place for you and your 💡 ideas. I was a member many years ago, but never made it to a convention except prior to that when our Morris team was engaged to dance at the Houghton Mifflin hospitality room (a lavish spread in a sort of medieval theme) when the convention was held in Detroit. We had a good time and I recall that the teachers were an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, moreso than the typical crowd upon whom we inflicted our performances. This is not to be compared with your serious and essential topics. Also, I'm glad that your writing text is out there working in the world. Safe travels.
Hello John, hope uou enjoyed Thanksgiving. My high school fried, Douglas Hesse, is a retired University of Denver writing and English professor and has bee very involved with NCTE. I wondered if the world is small enough that you may have met at the conference.
I was present for that panel talk! Loved it. Many valuable takeaways:
- the "voluntary de-skilling" when students employ AI instead of using their own critical faculties
- the impact on students' 'expressive agency' by 'outsourcing'
- the meaning of 'engagement' to a teacher vs that of a tech company
- 'doing school' vs. helping them learn
- losing connection to our own processing
- how school district policies are influenced by tech companies
Thank you for your work! I'm fairly new here and just getting started. My dissertation research so far encompasses the trend of scripted curricula for ELA and the de-professionalization of teachers as a result, particularly in the teaching of writing. Through these programs, younger students are not having the opportunity to build a practice of writing - one that allows them to think, feel, and explore. With less academic freedom, teachers aren't modeling writing the way they used to - joy and agency are seeping out. The younger classrooms especially are a place to instill a writing practice and we can easily do this without even uttering AI!
Congrats! I had really wanted to say hi at the conference, but I had to decline my speaking bid with the arrival of my newborn.
Well, congrats on a much larger scale are in order! Congrats!
Thanks! I worded that comment terribly.
And I hope the rest of the conference went well. I liked the title to your talk. Was that taken from your recent book? (It's on my reading queue.)
It definitely draws from my book, but expands in some ways because of the more focused and specific audience and also because I’ve spent the fall going to places and seeing what’s happening on the ground. I hope I get to return to the conference someday for sure.
super wonderful!
Though giving the NCTE keynote is probably a more important milestone than having someone recognize you on a treadmill, I love to hear that you are getting the recognition.
“Let’s Teach Writing…Rather Than Automation-Assisted Document Production” is a great title and rallying cry.
Many congrats, John. Well-deserved.
Thank you for all that you do for students and teachers, for your success related to the NCTE, and for your continued dedication to this column. Two books I just finished that I highly recommend are Just Mercy, by Stevenson, about his work to legally help people unjustly sentenced to Death Row and Quiet, by Cain, about introverts. This week and always, I am thankful for all readers and thinkers.
Congratulations, John. I love this! So deserved.
I love this for you.
John, I smiled all the way through this. I have fond memories of NCTE from 47 and 45 years ago. Back in the day, my mother was an editor on the Dick, Jane, and Sally readers (Scott, Foresman & Co) and later, a market manager for their English and spelling books. It was in the latter capacity that she took me to San Francisco and then D.C. Then, the convention was always the week OF Thanksgiving, which may be, in part, why I really don't remember Thanksgivings as a kid.
Wonderful to be known and recognized by the right crowd! Cheers! And Happy Thanksgiving :)
Congrats! I'm glad you felt some positive recognition! And, I just put Searches on hold at my local library.
It was great having you at the College Section luncheon and your talk was outstanding. I will read your book while flying home from the NCTE Convention
Congratulations on well-deserved recognition.
John,
Many thanks for sounding the alarms, for continuing to speak up and speak out, and for being a passionate defender of our unique human intelligences. It's a deep balm to come here every week and find your unmistakeable voice and sensibility. As a reader, writer, and teacher, and as someone who wants his children and grandchildren to live in a democratic society, you are a gift to the future.
John, I would have loved to see you and hear your presentation. I'm sure that the NCTE convention would be a great place for you and your 💡 ideas. I was a member many years ago, but never made it to a convention except prior to that when our Morris team was engaged to dance at the Houghton Mifflin hospitality room (a lavish spread in a sort of medieval theme) when the convention was held in Detroit. We had a good time and I recall that the teachers were an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, moreso than the typical crowd upon whom we inflicted our performances. This is not to be compared with your serious and essential topics. Also, I'm glad that your writing text is out there working in the world. Safe travels.
Michael Connelly's new Lincoln Lawyer novel The Proving Ground deals with AI. Have you read it? Your review?
Hello John, hope uou enjoyed Thanksgiving. My high school fried, Douglas Hesse, is a retired University of Denver writing and English professor and has bee very involved with NCTE. I wondered if the world is small enough that you may have met at the conference.
I was present for that panel talk! Loved it. Many valuable takeaways:
- the "voluntary de-skilling" when students employ AI instead of using their own critical faculties
- the impact on students' 'expressive agency' by 'outsourcing'
- the meaning of 'engagement' to a teacher vs that of a tech company
- 'doing school' vs. helping them learn
- losing connection to our own processing
- how school district policies are influenced by tech companies
Thank you for your work! I'm fairly new here and just getting started. My dissertation research so far encompasses the trend of scripted curricula for ELA and the de-professionalization of teachers as a result, particularly in the teaching of writing. Through these programs, younger students are not having the opportunity to build a practice of writing - one that allows them to think, feel, and explore. With less academic freedom, teachers aren't modeling writing the way they used to - joy and agency are seeping out. The younger classrooms especially are a place to instill a writing practice and we can easily do this without even uttering AI!