For the second year, I assigned a Thematic Art Project as the summative activity for Night. I have to admit, when I first assigned it, I was super nervous about what the kids would come up with. This year, I was just excited because the last group did such an amazing job. Well, they did… Continue reading Thematic Art Project: Teach Your English Students to Speak Without Saying a Word
Tag: engagement
Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Three of a Week of Professional Development
An English Teacher's Rock ConcertI would like to thank whatever English teacher fairy blessed me with the knowledge of the existence of the TALE Conference. TALE is the Texas Association for Literacy Education, and before this school year, I had never heard of it. How is that possible? I've been a secondary English teacher in… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Three of a Week of Professional Development
Gettin’ My Learn On- Part One of a Week of Professional Development
Who goes to these things?There are two types of teachers: 1) Actively avoids any type of PD and 2) Seeks out opportunities to learn. I feel like the first teacher hasn't been to many good sessions, and I feel their pain. Bad PD is like the fourth circle of Hell. Who wants to sign up… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part One of a Week of Professional Development
Annotation Academy- Teaching Your Secondary Students to Annotate
My Introduction to Annotation Several years ago, I was attending AP conference at TCU and heard the term annotate for the first time. I say several years, it was probably more like a decade ago. Of course, as an English student, I knew what interacting with a text was, but I don't remember hearing the… Continue reading Annotation Academy- Teaching Your Secondary Students to Annotate
Using Songs and Their Videos to Teach Perspective and Poetry in Middle School
I'm a genius sometimes. No, really! I have lesson ideas come to me at the most random moments during the day. And they always surprise me because it happens when I'm not thinking about lessons. You know what I mean? So anyway, back to my genius. This is a little trip into the inner-workings of… Continue reading Using Songs and Their Videos to Teach Perspective and Poetry in Middle School