Romeo and Juliet wordle

LITERACY: AN EVOLVING TERM

In creating this blog and lesson plan I have responded to different sections of the various readings.

• After reading Knobel and Wilber's Let's talk 2.0 I changed my original idea from a powerpoint presentation to creating a blog. Blogs speak in the language of a literacy now made up of technology. This blog presents a visual discourse that is, I think, more inviting/familiar to a younger audience and also invites a response from students through posting and 'participation' (2009, 21). Consequently this gave me the idea for the ABC3 lesson plan so students could 'actively produce[ing] media' rather than 'simply consume' it (Ibid).
  
• If this blog is one of Gee's 'discourses' (1991, 24) it is the discourse of me as teacher and can be seen as 'ultimately opposing' (Ibid) the video of me as TV host. This allows me to become external to the discourse and critique my teacher identity. As an English teacher I present books and playwrights I like rather than exploring the wonders of yoga mats, second hand shops and puppets as I do in Twiggy's Big Breakfast Adventure.
  
• After reading about Jaques in Lankshear's Literacy and critical reflection the idea of an introductory project was cemented. By asking students creative questions and getting them to tell me about themselves through technology I subtly become 'researcher' (Lankshear 1998, 119) in order to try and contextualise literacy for my students during the rest of the year. Reading Lankshear also saw me extend my questions to make sure my activity would be more inclusive and purposeful to the wider world; eg. selling yourself in a job interview.

To conclude...
'Would I use a blog in my teaching practice?'
YES

ME ON 3!!!!!

A borrowed idea for the first English task....

This blog is an example of using technology as a medium for self promotion. Here is another.
'Twiggy's Big Breakfast Adventure'

Now it's your turn!

PART 1: The topic is YOU!

• Use film, the internet, photoshop, video games... any technology to tell me WHY YOU should work at OR be a host on ABC3. What are you good at? What kind of show would you work on OR host ? Quiz? Extreme sports? Music? What makes you unique? Why should I pick you?
  
• (If you make a film it needs to be 1-2 minutes. Movies will be stopped at 2 minutes if they go any longer. If filming, get into pairs; one holding the camera, one in front of the camera. Otherwise this is an individual project.)
• You must include the number 3, get creative! A script or storyboard must be written before you start creating. I will mark these before you can start filming/making.
• Remember your target audience. You should appeal to children however be mindful that adults at ABC will be picking you for the job.
  

PART 2: Answer these questions in written form or perform them as a speech. Answers should not exceed 60 words. Argue your point, persuade me, pretend this is a job interview and your life depended on it.

1. Why should I pick you for ABC3?
2. Tell me what makes you tick? What are you into?
3. Name a TV personality/actor that you admire and tell us why they're great.
4. If you were a superhero, what powers would you want and why?
5. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
6. If you had three wishes what would they be?
7. What makes you laugh out loud?
8. Name your top three things EVER?
   

Use this blog to post questions or ideas-www.doublymad.blogspot.com
I will respond to posts before emails or questions in class. Feel free to discuss ideas with me, in fact I would prefer that you do. HAVE FUN!

5 STARS!

Unlike my interest in books and authors my choice in movies and directors is a little bit more concrete.
Here is a list of my favourite directors and movies.

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep by Michel Gondry.
• Pulp Fiction and the movies of Quentin Tarantino.
• The movies of Tim Burton, for example the new Alice in Wonderland.
• The movies of Wes Anderson such as The Darjeeling Limited.
  
• Reality Bites directed by Ben Stiller.
  
• Breakfast at Tiffany's (Or anything starring Audrey Hepburn) directed by Blake Edwards.
  
• Billy Elliot directed by Stephen Daldry.
  

The list could go on.....

A GREAT MIND

From absurdism to minimalism Samuel Beckett is a figure who truly transcends 'discourses.' (Gee 1991, 3). Whilst some may think he is a little 'boring' his depiction of human anguish on the stage is one to really ponder. He is my favourite playwright.
Some of you have probably heard of his most famous play "Waiting for Godot". 'Where nothing happens... twice.'

Martin Crimp is a more contemporary playwright who I also admire. I am also a big fan of Lois Nowra's 'Cosi' !!!!!!

Both of these men have have been called 'anti-theatre' by critics....maybe I don't really like theatre????

AUTHORS THAT ROCK

My love of authors changes with the weather.
This means the following authors that "I love" may change tomorrow with the onset of a cool wind.

Currently....

• I like Tim Winton after reading Dirt Music and Breath nearly consecutively.

• The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas makes me want to read more of his work...this is always a positive sign.

So we go a little bit more global...

• Bret Easton Ellis with his killer American Psycho.
• Sylvia Path and The Bell Jar. Also check out her poetry for a life changing experience.
  

As you will notice these authors are all quite comtemporary however authors that I respect and admire are a whole new topic that can be saved for another day.

TWYCROSS EQUALS "DOUBLY MAD"

Hello Cohort!

My name is Megan Twycross/Miss Twycross.

m.twycross@gmail.com

This blog-

www.doublymad.blogspot.com


You might be wondering why I've called this blog 'doublymad'?
Well apparently Twy means double and cross means mad in old-school Celtic langauge. I think there is no better way to describe me!