Category Archives: Education

Blogging My Summer Classes: 2b or Not 2b? (Part 2)

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

One of the more interesting discussions that my students and I had while reading David Crystal’s essay was about the “Txt laureate” poetry contest that T-Mobile held in the UK to celebrate World Poetry day in 2007. Contestants sent their … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Writing | 2 Comments

Blogging My Summer Classes: 2b or Not 2b?

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I am teaching two classes this month, Literature of the Holocaust and Freshman Composition. It’s an interesting combination, since the Holocaust literature class focuses on the use of language to make art, and therefore a kind of beauty, out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Writing | 11 Comments

Because It Is the First Day of the Spring Semester…

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

…and I think this is a worthwhile message to send to all students.

Posted in Education | 15 Comments

Because Reading is Fundamental

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I miss reading. I really do. In a big, big way. And it has, especially over the past couple of days, been making me very, very sad. It started after I read Joshua Bodwell’s article in the most recent issue … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, literature | 11 Comments

Some Help with a Class I am Teaching in the Spring

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I am in the midst of prepping a course on mythology and folklore (an honors section) that I will be teaching this coming semester. I have pretty much decided on the general themes I want to cover, though the way … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Whatever | 34 Comments

Compulsory Heterosexuality in Action

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

It’s been a long time since I’ve read Adrienne Rich’s essay, Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, mostly because I’ve been talking to the student in my class from South Asia whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Feminism, sexism, etc | 26 Comments

There is Way Too Much Drama in My Classes This Semester

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

One of the things I really like about teaching at a community college, and specifically at the community college where I am employed, is that it’s a place where people who might otherwise not have the chance to get a … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 33 Comments

Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, Foreskin Man, Vulva Girl and the Two-Thirds of My Freshman Composition Class Who Are Failing Right Now

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

You know that feeling when there is so much going on, so much you have to do, so many different threads that you need to keep weaving together, or balls in the air that you can’t let drop, or spinning … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Anti-Semitism, Education, Gender and the Body, Jews and Judaism, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 27 Comments

Too Often, the Passive Voice is Given a Bad Rap

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I really enjoyed “Mistakes Are Made,” by Geoffrey Pullum, one of the writers on Lingua Franca, one of my new favorite blogs. We just had a whole conversation in my technical writing class about how to use and not to … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 18 Comments

Help My Wife Inspire Her Kindergarteners to Read – Donate to Her Project at Donor’s Choose

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

Have you ever seen the pride and joy in a child’s face when he or she reads independently for the first time? That is the feeling my wife wants her kindergarten students to have. She is trying to raise money … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 5 Comments