While this blog could refer to the exact amount of children my wife and I decided to have, its not. This is a quote from one of my students, complaining about writing a 5 paragraph composition for homework. As a zealous teacher, searching for perfection, I was quickly disappointed when I discovered only 30% of my class regularly turned in their essays. Grasping at straws, I turned to teenagers to see where I verged off course. To my surprise, their response was almost unanimous, “three paragraphs is all I can handle.”
Prior to this decision, I spent a week working with Dr. Vito, who held a PhD in Curriculum from Penn State University. His knowledge of rubrics transformed each of my assignments, concept of ungraded work altered my philosophy of teaching and explanation of scope and sequence led me to delete any units that didn’t fit into my courses. Once I added “the Voice,” an individual within each of my classes who served as the pulse of their student body, I received instant feedback. This leadership position became the eyes, ears and heart of classmates, providing an honest, yet realistic view inside the minds of students, Their input revolutionized my communication with young people, making my last 2 years a success.
Before exiting teaching, conversations with English teachers convinced me to limit 9th grade assignments to 3 paragraphs, 11th grade to 5 and Honors to 6 total. These experiences helped me recognize that long winded writers can quickly lose their audience. Thus, I try to compress my thoughts to a 3 paragraphs. On occasion, 4 or 5 paragraphs may be necessary for complex issues, but for now I will continue to practice KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. I want to thank everyone who has shared, visited or commented on my blog. Since I am more than half way to a thousand, I will continue to write until the Lord moves me in a different direction.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 