Chapter 1 isn’t always a student’s cup of tea “In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.” (from The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1) We all recognize that famous first sentence of The Great Gatsby. It’s a quiet sentence, isn’t it?Continue reading “The Great Gatsby: Chapter 1 Challenges”
Tag Archives: teaching
Frederick Douglass Final Project: The Graphic Essay
A fresh way to reflect on Douglass’ heroic life and text Back when I taught middle school ELA, I assigned graphic essays (essentially a dressed-up one-pager) to my eighth-graders after they finished reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. This incredible book, which provides Douglass’ first-hand account of the horrors andContinue reading “Frederick Douglass Final Project: The Graphic Essay”
Poetry Out Loud: Best High School Poetry Activity Ever
Poetry Out Loud builds students’ untapped talents Have you heard of Poetry Out Loud, (POL), the poetry recitation contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation? If you’re needing to inject some excitement into your ELA curriculum, dedicate some time to this contest. Last year, I made Poetry Out LoudContinue reading “Poetry Out Loud: Best High School Poetry Activity Ever”
New Poetry Lesson for High School: Poetry Transcription
Transcribing, slowing down, reading the poem word by word, and pausing to clarify something allowed the poem the time needed to sink in and brew, so we could contemplate the poet’s choices and her reasonings for those choices.
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 5 of 5)
Indulge in literary travel Note: This is the last of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post: Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 4 of 5: Transcribe a Movie. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my mostContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 5 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 4 of 5)
Transcribe a movie Note: This is the fourth of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post: Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 3 of 5: Learn Something New. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my most challenging.Continue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 4 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 3 of 5)
Learn something new! Note: This is the third of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post: Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 1 of 5: Wear Your Reading Passion. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my mostContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 3 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 2 of 5)
Wear your reading passion Note: This is the second of five daily posts on how to spark, reignite, and maintain your passion for ELA. Click here for yesterday’s post, Reignite Your Passion for ELA Part 1 of 5: Memorize and Recite Poetry. Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was myContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 2 of 5)”
How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 1 of 5)
Memorize and recite poetry Other than my first year of teaching, the 2021-2022 school year was my most challenging. Out of eleven years of teaching both middle school and high school, students were more disengaged and more disinterested in literature, writing, and school in general, than ever before. It was tough. There’s nothing worse thanContinue reading “How to Reignite Your Passion for ELA (Part 1 of 5)”
3 Resources for Shakespeare in Love
3 Resources to Build Prior Knowledge and Background Last week, I published a post about the 1998 movie Shakespeare in Love, one of my very favorite movies. That post recognized the fact that while the movie is indeed R-rated, it’s still one you can watch IF you know the parts to skip. In that post,Continue reading “3 Resources for Shakespeare in Love”