Rethinking TTT

I had initially created a page on this site titled “Teacher Talking Time.” It was to include advice and thoughts on teaching, but seeing as the page contained only the written word, the title struck me as somewhat disingenuous. Would there ever be any actual talking?

I’ve decided to ixnay the TTT page on this site in favor of individual posts that contain audio–actual talking. Stay tuned…. In the meantime, below is what I wrote for that now defunct page:

Every January I start off the second semester with 1984 for seniors. This time around I’ve decided to change it up and only teach portions of 1984 and focus on having seniors read M.T. Anderson’s FEED in its entirety.

A colleague gave me FEED a month ago and I ate it up. Great novel. Another colleague had taught it to her freshmen, but that was the first time it had ever been taught at our school, so the seniors will read it fresh (fingers crossed).

1984 is still relevant, and may be even more so in January 2025. But, as one of my female students pointed out a couple years ago, it’s dated in certain aspects. She had a problem with the relationship between Winston and Julia, which, it’s a dystopia, sure, but more current works of dystopian fiction are out there.

Hence, FEED. Years ago I taught an advertising unit as part of Comp 101 at a community college, and I’m bringing that back. FEED was published in 2002, but it’s frighteningly prescient about where we’re head in the 2020s. Everything’s for sale, including us.

And FEED just might be a more enjoyable read for my seniors.