Bringing Fanfiction Into the Classroom
Fic does something that my traditional English classes cannot: it places the power in the hands of the student.
The students were fighting. They were trying to keep their voices at a whisper, but halfway across the classroom, their tone was still clear. I quickly peeled away from the student I was working with because the last thing any teacher wants is a fight. It brings tension into the classroom culture, and usually warrants calls home.
Across the room, the girl’s face flushed red, while the boy gripped the edge of the desk preparing to knock it, and her belongings, to the ground. It wasn’t until I got closer that I was able to make out the conversation.
“Yellow is for those who value knowledge and balance,” the girl said.
The boy threw his hands up in exasperation, sending her desk tumbling to the carpeted floor. “I just like purple!” he yelled back.
It was then that the nature of their argument hit me. They were talking about lightsaber colors.
Both of their heads snapped up when I approached them and helped to pull the desk upright.
“Hey, let’s take it easy,” I said, unable to hide my smile—I was happy to see my kids so dedicated to something, even something as unconventional as lightsaber colors. “It’s fanfiction. You can do whatever you want.”
