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Teachers throughout Southern California use the Los Angeles
Times and Times in Education teaching materials in their classrooms.
Below are some tips from teachers about how they use The Times
to help students learn.
Vanessa Irion-Kraf, Sierra High School in Glendora
says:
I teach my Classroom Procedures for the first week. By the
time we are finished, each of my students could run my classroom
him or herself. This stops many discipline problems from ever
occurring, as the students do not have to test my limits.
I explain my limits to them in precise detail. This practice
engenders a secure atmosphere. I find a gentle, peaceful atmosphere
is best to promote learning.
I structure the class for us all. We all know what we are
doing and why all (or most) of the time. Then, because of
the structure, I am able to be in the present moment with
them. That is where all learning takes place.
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Some thoughts from Vanessa on teaching and learning:
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I always remember, regardless of what a student says,
the human being is an inherently curious organism.
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We all want to learn and feel good when we are learning.
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Kindness is more powerful than meanness.
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The Teacher is his or her best and, in some ways, only
instrument. It is as powerful as lightning and as gentle
as the breeze from a butterfly's wings.
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Learning transcends and transforms both Teacher and
Student.
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Milt Goldman, Hamilton High in Los Angeles says:
I receive my newspapers every Monday, since the Health section
is usually relevant and provocative for my students. I wake
up early Monday morning and type out a series of about 15
factual and inferential questions from different sections
of the paper that I receive at home. Students are asked to
answer each question in complete sentences on a sheet of paper.
Then they are told to write five similar, additional questions
that they give to a class member to answer.
Sometimes, questions are easy to find, e.g., "Why did
thousands of people go to the Swaminaryan Temple on Sunday?"
or "Who will play in college football's biggest game,
the Rose Bowl?"
Other questions are more difficult, such as "Why was
the name 'Prototype' an appropriate name for the horse that
won the race at Santa Anita last Saturday?" or What dilemma
is being faced by the parents of 'Jodie' and 'Mary' (Siamese
twins) in order to keep their children alive?
The only problem I have is when the school photocopier isn't
working when I get to school. I've been using The Times in
class for about four years. It's a great program!
Tips from Teachers features ideas from teachers
who have used newspaper-based educational programs in their
classrooms. If you are a Times in Education teacher and are
willing to share one or two ideas with other teachers, please
send them to nanci.kelly@latimes.com.
If your idea(s) are used on our TIE Web site, we'll
send you a thank-you gift from The Times.
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