Propaganda, Persuasion and Play-writing Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee Adapted from McDougal Littell Conversation: Lessons of History Includes links to Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts Download Inherit the Wind Lessons  Though based on the famous Scopes “Monkey Trail” where William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow clashed over a [...]

Valentine’s Day Activity Refer to the most recent reading or topic you’ve studied with your class. Ask students to consider way(s) that love could have helped resolve the issues faced by the characters/people in that reading? This, of course, should lead to discussion of different kinds if love – affection, friendship, eros, and charity. Consider [...]

Do hope your school year is coming along well.  With the end of the year coming, many educators find schedules disrupted by athletic games and artistic events that draw students’ attention away from day to day class activities.  Don’t fight it.  Roll with it.  Invite students to write about their experiences in connection to the [...]

Students often are surprised to learn how much they already know or can gather from resources other than the Internet. This  Information Hunt  can help get your students off to a good start researching information for writing or speaking assignments.  Assigning the questions can be a way of introducing inexperienced researchers to a variety of resources…including themselves. [...]

An approach proven successful for me has taken several years to develop.  But it does seem to encourage students to do their best work the first time.  This approach includes incremental grading, allotting in-class time for peer responses to second and third drafts, including the class general grading guideline and a specific grading rubric for [...]

Michael Blau recommends this site with links to videos for teachers. “Bringing multimedia into the classroom is a great way to engage students in learning. Supplementing lessons, opening up new interests, and offering inspiration, online videos make for an incredible teaching tool. In 2010, we covered our favorite 100 video sites for educators, and we’ve [...]

As I learn of them, I’ll be adding links to resources to assist you in designing and adapting lessons that reflect goals of the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.   Teri LeSage shares this LITERACY HISTORY Project written to accompany study of Night by Elie Wiesel and All Long Way Gone by Ishmael [...]

A significant component of the new Common Core Standards is the reading non-fiction informational texts across the curriculum.  Here are ideas to get you started incorporating non-fiction to support and expand your lessons in English Language Arts.  Use these books to help establish context for both fiction and non-fiction readings you plan to assign and [...]

Teacher Resources You May Find Useful Click on any of the lines to be taken to explanations, assignments, and other examples of ways to enhance teaching and improve learning. GENERAL GRADING GUIDELINES General Grading Guidelines for Writing Assignments General Grading Guidelines – Slides BOOK REPORTS Collage on Common Book or Story – See Chapter 1 [...]

Brooke, a student teacher in Middle School Science class finds useful strategies she adapts for use with  students 7th grade in Life Science class.   Hi Mrs. Roseboro, …The main teacher with whom I am working with was *** teacher of the year in 2008. The other teacher has been teaching for 37 years and [...]