In our school, we teach the difference between conversational language, shorthand (IM, text messaging talk- very appropriate for note taking), and academic language. We do different activities to demonstrate and practice this. We discuss how they talk with their friends vs. how they might talk around their grandparents to give them an example. Another teacher just did an assignment where they had to write a document in text messaging form and then in academic form. I, personally, do not stick up my nose at text messaging shorthand but many teachers in our school do. In my opinion, it is a legitimate part of our digital native students' lives. However, there is a time and a place for it. Makes for some very interesting discussions!
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Heather Poland Sent: Sat 11/4/2006 9:27 PM To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. Subject: Re: [LIT] texting and spelling I just saw Leila Christenbury speak about this! :) I think it has a place. But I also think it should not be in formal essays. Kids need to know that you speak and write in different registers. Christenbury said they already know, but I think some of them do NOT know, and we need to teach them that. On 11/4/06, Bill IVEY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi! > > The most recent ASCD SmartBrief has a link to an article in "The Guardian" > entitled "A million fingers are tapping out a challenge to the tyranny of > spelling." Here is the first paragraph of the article: > > Thank you, Scotland. First John Knox, then the Enlightenment and now the > Scottish Qualifications Authority. In a direct challenge to the English at > their most reactionary, the authority has declared that it will accept > text-messaging short form in school examinations. The dark riders of > archaism will protest and the backwoods will howl. No spells is cast as > dire as spellcheck. But the champions of reason are massing north of the > border and need our support. > > What do you see as the risks and benefits of this policy (both the > so-called "dark riders of archaism" and the so-called "champions of > reason")? What do you do in your own classrooms? > > The full article article can be found at: > http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/comment/story/0,,1938662,00.html > > Take care, > Bill Ivey > Stoneleigh-Burnham School > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > <http://www.literacyworkshop.org/> > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > -- - Heather "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead." --Clarence Day "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little good evidence exists that there's any educational substance behind the accountability and testing movement." -Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " -Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org <http://www.literacyworkshop.org/> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
_______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
