We need the bigger, better deal Every English teacher I know is looking for the bigger, better deal when it comes to assessing novels. We've moved WAY beyond the simple book report (I hope), and into the realm of critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis. In recent years I've tried the mandala (which you can read… Continue reading The Character Study One Pager- An Assessment for Any Novel
Category: Teachers Pay Teachers
Is Anyone Reading This? My Blogging Frustrations
If you are reading this, then it's a damn miracle because there are billions of people in the world, and about 2.5 of them actually read my blog (that's actually 2 1/2 people, not like 2.5 million or anything). I mean, hey, I think I'm pretty funny, and I have a lot to offer other… Continue reading Is Anyone Reading This? My Blogging Frustrations
Seeing Red: Teaching Symbolism by Close Reading Text and Film
Last week I got to do one of my very favorite lessons of all time. Don't you love those days? You can go to school knowing that you're going to get to teach something way cool that you feel good about all day long. In my case, I got to teach it for two days… Continue reading Seeing Red: Teaching Symbolism by Close Reading Text and Film
Game on! Using games as test prep in the secondary classroom
Changing my mindset Five years ago, I moved from teaching in a public school to teaching in a charter after 15 years. One of the hardest things for me to wrap my brain around was that my new school did not focus on state testing. They knew it was a necessary evil, and our… Continue reading Game on! Using games as test prep in the secondary classroom
Hero’s Journey and Annotation
A long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away), I started teaching hero's journey when a colleague and I began teaching Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman. If you haven't read that book, or any of his work, PLEASE DO. He is one of the best YA authors out there, in my humble opinion.… Continue reading Hero’s Journey and Annotation