Helping Students In Time

Robin Usher, Hungary

Robin Leslie Usher PhD wrote a doctoral thesis `Jungian Archetypes in the work of [science fiction writer] Robert A. Heinlein`, 1992. Teacher of English language and literature since 1994. Science fiction writer, published also in Hungarian. Stories include `Out of This World`, `Ride!` she said, ‘Special Angel Service`, `Valhalla for Starters`, `MAP`, and 'All For Naught Orphan Ufonaut'. Published in the British SF academic journal Foundation (54) `Robert A. Heinlein: Theologist`, and `Male and Female He Created Them Both: Beyond The Archetypes` Foundation (112). E-mail: robika2001@yahoo.co.uk

With time process words a simple rubric; Getting Up In The Morning, for example.

First I shower, next I shave, then I dress, later I have breakfast, after that I get the car from the garage, and finally I drive to work.

first, next, then, later, after that, finally

The student can learn to communicate any series of events and with two step time process words, the student can convey what happens in `between` time.

when, while, as soon as, after, during, before

I`ll pick up the children from school when it’s 5 o’clock.

After 4 o’clock I’ll be going home on the bus.

Using time process words, and two step time process words, students can easily build paragraphs in which they can describe any series of events taking place in time.

First I shower, next I shave, then I dress. While I’m dressing my wife gives the children their breakfast. Later I have breakfast, after that I get the car from the garage, and finally I drive to work. Before I arrive at work, I listen to the news on the radio.

Teachers can present this simple rubric using the few time process, and two step time process words, and drawings of the clock to indicate the passage of time. It’s a really effective way of getting the material across to the students. As an exercise the teacher can ask them to draw their own clocks and complete a time process words’ rubric using two step time process words that refer to the time on the clocks they’ve drawn.

Please check the Creative Methodology for the Classroom course at Pilgrims website.