Amanda Louden

Amanda from Cohort 28 of the CSUSM Middle Level Program | ELA teacher in training 📚 ✏️ 👩‍🏫

[Laurie Stowell @LaurieStowell]

I started a padlet of resources for educators during school closures due to the Coronavirus. Please add to and share! We're all in this together!
https://t.co/Hxy3itU3QJ

[Laurie Stowell @LaurieStowell]

San Diego County Schools serving meals during school closures. The County Office has a list (but it’s not as complete)
A few districts are still working out the details.
Community Food Resources at the end of the school list.
https://t.co/afts4r8I1s

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

@BooksRuleBrown

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Smith) (1/2) This article had many quotable moments, so I’ve inserted one of my faves. When people find out I am going to school to be a teacher, usually the first question s/he ask is, “Which grade?” I reply MS and his/her face drops, #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

As an ELA teacher, I think I can work on teaching my students this skill in many different ways over the span of a school year, especially as they are expected to use reliable sources in their papers.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Fake News) I think one of the most important things right now is teaching kids how to acquire information and sort the lies from the truth, which is difficult, especially when the adults in their lives may not know how. #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Wiki) I never thought about having students use Wikipedia in order to make information more credible by researching things. I think Wikipedia has a lot of great resources within its pages and I use it frequently. I would be open to exploring it in class. #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

...which books she would like is just 🤯. That first step seems so simple, yet so important for our young English Learners.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Birm.) FVR essentials: providing students with “access to good things to read, time to read, and a place to read” (26). Jenny’s story is SO interesting. The fact that she began to like English after her 6th grade teacher helped her figure out... #CSUSMMiddlelevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(2/2) In college, I got much more of the why in my science classes. I think it’s important to have kids read literature in math and science that supports the why of what they are doing.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Cervetti) (1/2) When I reflect on my experiences taking math and science in school, most of the time I was told to do something without knowing the why. Solve the equation this way because that’s what you do, when really there’s a reason why behind it. #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(3/3) Social media in the school setting is an extremely negative thing. The kids get in a lot of trouble if they are caught on SM (in my experience). So, bringing it into the classroom in current conditions seems unnatural to me. Just some shower thoughts for you all.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Lesley)(1/3) I love the idea of finding different ways for students to comprehend scientific texts and I would totally incorporate these methods into my own classroom. However, I think it’s important to make sure we’re keeping up with the times. #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(2/3) I use twt regularly, but I don’t know many people under the age of 18 who do. Many kids currently use Instagram and Tik Tok. And this will change in the next couple of years. Additionally, I think we need to reform our social media culture in schools if we want to do this.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(2/2)Instead of asking our kids to restory because they can’t see themselves in the literature, how can we make a difference and push more diverse literature? I know this is a big question, but really...

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Thomas)(1/2) I like the idea of having kids “restory,” but all of the trading from this semester (and last) have me wondering why no one is changing the curriculum. I’m sure it’s a power thing, but I don’t see a lot of ELA teachers fighting for change. #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

@nield_e I agree - I’ve seen some really harsh-grading teachers and some extremely lenient ones in the same grade level at the same school.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

@LaurieStowell My kids this semester read their choice novels independently for the first 10 minutes of every class. There are also many instances where they read other material independently. I have definitely noticed a lot of them don’t actually read during these times.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Text sets) (1/2) “...A focus on skills limits knowledge and reading comprehension” (3). I keep trying to figure out why most of my 7th graders are reading at a 3rd-4th grade level. I think this may be one of the reasons. In my brief experience so far... #CSUSMMiddleLevel28

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(2/2) that we help them convey what they already know.

[Amanda Louden @AmandaCohort28]

(Brett)(1/2) “Authorial empathy and its constructs are important and valid because they allow for students to become more aware of and competent at conveying what they already know” (3). I love this. Our kids already know so much and it’s important... #CSUSMMiddleLevel28