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ELA Brave and True by Marilyn Yung

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Category Archives: Writing Instruction

Holy on-time homework, Batman!

How I got my students to turn in their assignments on time

Posted byMarilynFebruary 22, 2021February 23, 2021Posted inMiscellaneous, The Teaching Life, Writing InstructionTags:Accountability, Education, Homework, Missing assignments, teaching2 Comments on Holy on-time homework, Batman!

My Top 12 Posts of 2020

I packed this post with links to the 12 most-read articles of 2020 from my blog. Click away!

Posted byMarilynFebruary 1, 2021Posted inMiscellaneous, Reading, Writing InstructionTags:Edublogger, Education, ela, Reading, WritingLeave a comment on My Top 12 Posts of 2020

An idea’s best friend: “In other words,”

These three little words — In other words, — help students develop their ideas

Posted byMarilynJanuary 25, 2021Posted inMini-lessons, Teaching Theme, Writing InstructionTags:Education, Mini-lessons, Walter Mitty, Writing, Writing tipsLeave a comment on An idea’s best friend: “In other words,”

Ekphrastic poem mentor texts by high school students

Use these six student-written poems as mentor texts for teaching ekphrastic poetry

Posted byMarilynJanuary 18, 2021Posted inCreative Writing, Lesson Plans and Projects, Poetry Lessons, Writing InstructionTags:Education, Ekphrastic poetry, High school, Poetry, WritingLeave a comment on Ekphrastic poem mentor texts by high school students

Writer’s Workshop for high school

Get to know students with creative projects in a writer’s workshop for high school

Posted byMarilynDecember 7, 2020December 14, 2020Posted inCreative Writing, Writers Workshop, Writing Contests, Writing InstructionTags:Education, High school, teaching, Writers Workshop, Writing1 Comment on Writer’s Workshop for high school

Eight poem ideas for high school students

Poetry: It’s what the world needs now. Choose from these 8 poem ideas for high school students.

Posted byMarilynNovember 30, 2020November 30, 2020Posted inCreative Writing, Headline poetry, Poetry Lessons, Writing InstructionTags:Creativity, Education, High school, Poems for Kids, PoetryLeave a comment on Eight poem ideas for high school students

Poetry and high school students

Use poetry’s trendiness to encourage high school students to write poems.

Posted byMarilynNovember 22, 2020November 23, 2020Posted inCreative Writing, Headline poetry, Poetry Lessons, Writing InstructionTags:Education, English, High school, poems, Poetry, Poetry communityLeave a comment on Poetry and high school students

Three poem ideas for Veterans Day

Try these three poem ideas for Veterans Day with your middle and high school students.

Posted byMarilynOctober 26, 2020October 27, 2020Posted inCreative Writing, Poetry Lessons, Writing InstructionTags:Education, ela, patriotism, Poetry, Veterans Day, Writing3 Comments on Three poem ideas for Veterans Day

Will the phrase “stuck out” please go away?

Here are five alternative ways to say “stuck out”

Posted byMarilynOctober 22, 2020November 4, 2020Posted inCreative Writing, Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Mini-lessons, Writing InstructionTags:Education, English, Stuck out, Synonyms, Writing2 Comments on Will the phrase “stuck out” please go away?

Life lessons from Beowulf

I tried this Life Lessons in Beowulf essay with high school seniors. Here’s how it went.

Posted byMarilynOctober 15, 2020Posted inBeowulf, British Lit, Writing InstructionTags:Beowulf, Education, High school, Poetry, Writing lessons1 Comment on Life lessons from Beowulf

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During the 2019-20 school term (remember that blissful time?!), I attempted one-pagers (from @nowsparkcreativity) twice, once in both the fall and spring. However, I was less than impressed with the results. I just didn’t receive quality, in-depth work from my students. The work was messy; the drawings were bare-bones. The necessary critical thinking and creativity just wasn’t evident in their one-pagers. In short, it was disappointing. But I didn’t give up. I gave it another go last month and tried one-pagers a third time. This time, I made one simple (like embarrassing simple) change. And y’know what?! It worked! Wonderful one-pagers... finally! Click the link in my bio to read more.
Last month in my junior English classes, we started our journey into Writer’s Workshop. New on the project list this year: ekphrastic poetry. An ekphrastic poem is written in response to or about a work of art. According to the Poetry Foundation, “An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the ‘action’ of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning.” Click the link in my bio for the entire mini-lesson that featured all of us writing about a powerful Frida Kahlo self-portrait.
Book bentos might be a fun and new thing to try. Plus, it might get your kids away from a screen to create their book bento with tangible objects they find around the house. I made this example based on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl as a mentor for my kids. Check out my post about my first attempt with these visual treats and scroll to the end to find the eight things I’ll do differently next time! The link to this post is in my bio.
I’ve been on a Beowulf kick lately with three new posts on my blog about how to reveal this awesome text’s relevance. It was helpful to extend Beowulf to a unit on Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth/The Hero’s Journey... ending with a viewing and discussion of the 2007 western, 3:10 to Yuma. Can rancher Dan Evans (played by Christian Bale) be Beowulf? Why, yes. Yes, he can. See link in bio for this post from my blog.
Yesterday, I read the introduction to this fascinating book for #firstchapterfriday to my juniors and seniors. It’s filled with around 250 styles of hot beverage lids, common items most of us think nothing of because they function so well. Unlike the paper clip, the wooden pencil, and other tools that have reached their “form follows function” zenith, the coffee lid continues to evolve. My students think I’m weird that I collect these things (I have about 30). I just like to give them something new to read and think about... y’know, things like slosh prevention and nose accommodation.
Last Friday, September 11, I read first chapters (or excerpts actually) from both of these awesome books. I was able to add film clips also for both. I teach in Missouri. No one in my area has a family or friend connection to the 9/11 attacks. These books help with that by giving us people we can be inspired by... resilient NYC high school students four blocks from Ground Zero and the mesmerizing Philippe Petit and his fantastical wire walk in the clouds. See link in bio for more info. @stuyvesanthighschool #firstchapterfriday #philippepetit @hbo @steeplechasefilms

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Marilyn Yung: Writing Portfolio

“Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.”  Austin Kleon

marilynyung.com

Recent Posts

  • Holy on-time homework, Batman! February 22, 2021
  • New writing contest for students grades 6-12 February 15, 2021
  • My slightly odd teacher self-care routine February 8, 2021
  • My Top 12 Posts of 2020 February 1, 2021
  • An idea’s best friend: “In other words,” January 25, 2021

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Resumé
  • Contact
  • Student Writing Contests
  • Blog
  • Headline Poetry
    • Articles I use to create headline poetry lessons
    • My Headline Poetry Blog Posts
    • Post these tips while students work
    • My short intro to headline poetry Powerpoint
    • Print these labels for your gallery walk
    • Signs for your bulletin board or hallway
    • Example headline poems
  • My Top 12 Posts
  • Find a Blog Post
    • 9/11 Lessons
    • AOWs and EOWs
    • Beowulf
    • Books, Movies & Apps
    • British Lit
    • Class Discussions
    • Coronavirus COVID-19
    • Creative Writing
    • Distance learning
    • Four-Day School Week
    • Frederick Douglass
    • Grammar, Usage, Mechanics
    • Graphic Essays
    • Graphic Organizers
    • Handwriting & Cursive Writing
    • Headline poetry
    • Hero’s Journey
    • Human Rights
    • Lesson Plans and Projects
    • Memoir Lessons
    • Mentor Texts
    • Mini-lessons
    • Miscellaneous
    • Nanowrimo
    • Nonfiction Texts
    • Poetry Lessons
    • Prior Knowledge Tools
    • Project-Based Learning
    • Reading
    • Research and Students
    • Revision
    • Scientology in Schools
    • Slice of Life Writing
    • Social Media in the Classroom
    • Student Writing Conferences
    • Teaching Theme
    • Technology
    • The Old Man and the Sea
    • The Outsiders
    • The Red Badge of Courage
    • The Teaching Life
    • Triangle Fire
    • Vocabulary
    • Write to Learn Conference
    • Writers Workshop
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ELA Brave and True by Marilyn Yung, Blog at WordPress.com.