Student Want Ad

At the beginning of each new course I assign my students the following writing assignment to gauge why they want to be a member of my classroom.  The prompt is a take off on the Want Ad the pupil responds to, in the book Ishmael. 

Want Ad

TEACHER SEEKS PUPIL

Must have an earnest desire

to make positive changes in

the world we share.

Apply in Person.

Write a paragraph explaining, why I should select you as a pupil for this class.

I get all sorts of responses from this assignment, but what is most important is to get students to understand that the choice for their learning is not only up to them but also up to me.   Since my message to my students is that I teach thinking and use a raodway called science to travel there, it is very important for students to realize that their learning is a process.  My class is part of their path that will eventually place them in a world where their abilities, to learn, to adapt, to make choices will not only impact them but also me and everyone else in this world.