Carl Rosin

AP U.S. History pass rates, according to a Google request. 51% in 2016, numbers around there until 2023, after which the recalibration boosted that into the 73% range.

AP English Literature pass rates, according to my Google request. 52.6% in 2016, numbers around there until 2021, after which the recalibration boosted that into the mid-70s.

AP U.S. History (2016-2024) and AP English Lit (2018-2024) pass rates. The article’s claims about “22-23%” pass rates for APUSH and “250%” increase in pass rates for Lit are way off.

I have many issues with CB and AP, and I don’t oppose CLT, but why would CLT make hyperbolically erroneous claims?

The word “COITION” is rejected by today’s NYT Spelling Bee, but I found it in the dictionary.

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social I’m as prudish as the next person, but even I can admit that the word COITION exists.

Absolutely. “Teacher autonomy” *can* be abused, but within some guidelines it is essential for the health of the school (and the profession). It would be a sin to squash the kind of creative—and super-high quality—things I’ve seen developed by colleagues and peers.

I’m in 100% agreement with Annie on this, and I have many issues with Texas’ list. I want high quality titles (several of which Texas does get right), a rollback of the excerpt model (as Marcus also says), more diversity (not incompatible with quality, y’know!), and better thinking about sequence.

I’ve always said that you are an ideal balance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations

The nation is united in its disbelief over this omission

CONCOMITANT is not accepted by today’s NYT Spelling Bee, but it is in the dictionary

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social It is more painful when a rhythmic and lengthy word like CONCOMITANT is not allowed to occur with or exist according to the dictionary of NYT Spelling Bee

Proposed nickname: “Edgy.” (That’s what all that murdering and teen-cousin-marrying gets ya….)

It astonishes me that professional development “credit” (in-service, not grad credit) does not recognize reading literature as legitimate PD for teachers of English on the secondary level. Reading lit & crit is essential good practice that should be incentivized. (Also: online book conversations!)

Lines from Walker’s story that focus on Dee/Wangero’s condescension toward Mama and Maggie, including her sneeringly ironic introduction of the title phrase.

Your poignant observation about Mama hadn’t crossed my mind (I do “EU” every year, too)—Dee/Wangero’s condescending actions & statements loom so prominently. Your point sharpens the early line about “curse out and insult” but softens the satire against D/W (which my students find satisfying).

From Citizen Kane: “It’s no trick to make a lot of money … if all you want is to make a lot of money.”

Photo of the poem “Mrs Lazarus,” by Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy

My students in Women in Literature & Society dug into this Carol Ann Duffy banger (ronnowpoetry.com/contents/duf...) yesterday. What a phrase: “the grave’s slack chew.”

Interesting note: many of these HS students were not familiar with the Lazarus story, which we read as preparation.

Donne’s “The Primrose”—does it *really* reference “a purpling of rain”? I’ll never tell….

I’m growing more suspicious….

“EMBIGGEN” is not only a word in the dictionary now, thanks to The Simpsons, but it also apparently existed—albeit as an example of “barbarism”—140 years ago.

“EMBIGGEN” is not only a word in the dictionary now, thanks to The Simpsons, but it also apparently existed—albeit as an example of “barbarism”—140 years ago.

“EMBIGGEN” is “Not in word list” for the New York Times Spelling Bee, despite it being a perfectly cromulent word.

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social It’s a perfectly cromulent word!

I second two already mentioned in this thread: the first story in Lem’s The Star Diaries and This Is How You Lose the Time War.

Ho ho huh?

I’m not even worried about AI infiltrating the actual AP exam. I’m mad that CB’s format encourages me to train my students on screens (to prep them for the exam experience). Just 2 years ago, I was incentivized towards having them work on paper. @annieabrams.bsky.social, have you written about this?

Despite tons of research indicating that it’s better to get students away from screens while AI also undermines typed work more than ever, no less a 500-pound gorilla than the College Board STARTED requiring online writing in ‘25, incentivizing teachers AWAY from asking kids to write by hand. 🤦‍♂️

I’ll tell you one thing: as much as I like many of the texts they promote, when they hint at “And that’s why America is a Christian nation,” this Jewish teacher shuts right off. They *should* love their religion, but the denial of pluralism/freedom of religion shocks me with its anti-Americanness.

We don’t need Ayn Rand, A Separate Peace is 2nd-rate, Sowell makes sense in Econ but why in lit?, why prefer Up From Slavery to Douglass’ Narrative? why so few female voices? why constrict teacher choice so much? etc. The conversation demands discernment, for which online convos are not built. 2/2

I’ve read a lot about it. Some of it is really good. Unfortunately (IMO), nestled alongside that good stuff are things that have a whiff of propaganda, some of it religious. The new Texas curriculum is a good example: lots of excellent choices with questionable choices sprinkled next to them. 1/2

You & I don’t, of course; I worry doomsaying articles—which proliferate in part because they get more clicks—may convince others that a nontrivial problem (an issue does exist & should be addressed) is in fact overwhelming/dominant. People need perspective…and good news about what’s going right!

I know *many* left-leaning parents, including those whose kids I teach/have taught (suburban public school), and every one I have ever talked to about books wants not merely books but high-quality literature. (True of right-leaning parents, too.) I have always believed in such books and always will.

I agree. One of the great frame stories in all of lit (with marvels like 1001 Nights and Frankenstein). A great frame story requires not only a vivid story within the frame but also a frame worthy of holding it. I also love the transition into the telling, with “soft, easy phrases” in ch.2.

I hear there’s a golden Nobel Peace Prize being passed around in DC—that terrapin deserves it as much as some would-be candidates….

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social It looks like Spelling Bee “anticipated and prevented and eliminated [my ability to earn this pangram] by [the] effective measure” of removing the word from its dictionary.

I do like the phrase “English Literature & Composition” (but it doesn’t mean I’m a fan of College Board…).

HONEYBUNNY: not in the New York Times “Spelling Bee” word list, but obviously a favorite pet name for cloying spouses to use

@rejectednytwords.bsky.social What’s next, NYT Spelling Bee — are you going to tell us that “Pumpkin” isn’t a word either?

If you saw the excellent SNL UberEats Wrapped skit, consider Prof. Wilson-Bates’ post as “UberYeats* Wrapped.”

*Yes, I know the correct pronunciation