What emotions do the words “Professional Development Day” conjure up in your mind? Fear, love, joy, hatred, anger, dread? The day is meant to be one of enlightenment and wonder, but often times we walk away feeling like it could’ve been used more productively elsewhere. What does a great PD day look like? Does it exist? […]
Literacy
Posted inCommon Core, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy
Digital Writing Text: "Snow Fall-The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek"
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] The blizzard raging outside recalls the looping GIF of drifting snow that opens the 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times feature story, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek.” As a model […]
Posted inElementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, The Student Teacher Diaries
Student Teacher Diaries: The First Lesson Plan
I see lesson plans everywhere! Â I have always been the teacher that goes somewhere, looks at something, picks up a book and can think of ways to bring it into the classroom as a lesson. Â A friend once commented, “It does not matter where we go you think of a way to teach kids.” There […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Eight Ways to Teach Spelling to All Learners
For some of us, spelling comes easily. For others, like me, it is wildly apparent that English is derived from a confusing array or sources. While most good spellers are good readers, not all good readers are good spellers. Still, kids need to be held accountable for their spelling. Every fall parents ask about spelling: […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Beyond a Venn Diagram: Making Movies Work in the ELA Classroom
The students of today are not like the ones twenty years ago, ten years ago, or even five years ago. Our students are used to a world where images change every second. A world where you can buy music, movie, or a book instantly without even going to a store. If you assign a book, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Disconnected Audiences: 2015 Oscars and English Classroom Literature
The Hollywood Academy released the 2015 nominations this past week, and their choices for best picture, best actor, and best director lit a firestorm on social media about the lack of diversity in their choices. Some of the heated discussions called into question the make-up of the Academy, which according to a  2014 Los Angeles Times article is: 93 percent […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy
Literature Circle Roles in New Wrappings
Educators regularly refurbish old ideas with new wrappings.  Take for example, the literature circle. The literature circle has been in education since 1982 when, according to Wikipedia, fifth grade students in Karen Smith’s class, organized themselves loosely into groups, and started to discuss individual novels.  Smith was surprised at the degree of their engagement with the books and the […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School
Teaching with Controversial Topics
The purpose of an education is to create functioning members of society. It is not about what the author meant when he said this, or what degree of angle is this if the other two are this and that. It is about being able to identify a problem and solve it. Sometimes problems can be […]