The more I reflect on our reading and on my path toward becoming an English teacher, the more I come to understand that teaching English is not simply teaching reading and writing; it is teaching critical thinking. Wiggins and McTighe (2005) explain the importance of questioning the text book rather than accepting its claims as fact. Though in English classes we don't often have instructional text books of the kind they mean, it is certainly important to consider the perspectives of the characters and the author when reading novels and plays and short stories and news articles. Philippot and Graves (2009), like Appleman (2009), discuss different literary theories as different lenses through which students can read literature. These theories, particularly Marxist and feminist (and postcolonial in Appleman (2009)), are not only appropriate for looking at literature, but also at the world as we consider current power structures and multiple perspectives. It is important to realize that there is not just one way of looking at the world.

In discussing the best lesson designs, Wiggins and McTighe (2005) mention that they must be both engaging and effective. Good lessons, among other characteristics, are hands-on and have real-world applications. As I mentioned in my fieldwork post, my master teacher took a group of students to Occupy LA this week. Some students had interview questions prepared while some filmed or took photographs. This assignment was an exercise in journalism that was hands-on and not only had a real-world application but actually took place in the real world. In interviewing protesters, students became more politically informed and considered multiple perspectives; I was surprised to hear that many of the protesters do not have the same viewpoints--they just all agree that something needs to change.
I had hoped to include some footage from the students but I don't have any, so this will have to do. It gives a pretty good idea of what we saw, and the music is representative of the mood there yesterday afternoon--peaceful and relaxed.

As a lover of literature and of theatre, my favorite part of the protest was this Oscar Wilde quote written in chalk on the steps: