Reading and Writing a Literary Critique Use the Nine Yardsticks of Value Chart to show how you rate the autobiographical novel Monkey Bridge by Lan Cao. Also, carefully read the following critique and use the chart to indicate what you believe to be the values of the author, “Monkey Bridge,” Cao has a distinctive style [...]

April 22  is Earth Day as proclaimed by the United Nations in 2009.  Here’s an English Language Arts  activity you can incorporate into your lessons that will raise awareness of some of the issues important to humankind and especially to Michael Jackson as expressed in his “Earth Song“.  Focusing on lyrics fits in nicely with [...]

In the United States, February is Black (African-American) History Month, a time when many teachers tailor lessons to feature the contributions of African-Americans. Since the oral tradition is significant in African-American history, and since oral language skill is one of the English Language Arts and Common Core Core Standards for ELA many are expected to [...]

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 [...]

 Looking for a poem to evoke conversation and teach patterning?                              “Dayrbeak in Alabama” by Langston Hughes is an excellent poem for any grade because it subtly addresses current social and political issues of diversity, it demonstrates the use of similes and an extended metaphor, and appeals to the senses in a way that students of all [...]

A powerful way to combine media literacy and writing is through the use of photo essays. At the same time, however, as I look at the photo sites available on line, an alarm bell goes up. We have the responsibility to select photos for our various units and must be careful. In fact, we should [...]

With or without using technology, book reports don’t have to be same old, same old, same old thing.   See the NY Times Learning Network for alternative ways to engage students in reading, then writing and talking about books. Remember to include non-fiction titles on your lists of suggested books.

  Looking for ways to incorporate technology and pop culture in your instruction?  Check out the resources at FLOCABULARY .  You’ll find ideas for teaching literary terms and for enhancing vocabulary study in general. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the literary terms page to see the list of terms taught on other [...]

Looking for a fresh way to have students experience and write poetry?  Take a look at the website, MOTION POEMS,  that shows animated poetry with sound. Here’s an option for your computer savvy students who are comfortable with or eager to learn animation.  What a great way to demonstrate the ways that poets create pictures [...]

    Making Curriculum Pop – A resource sharing community for educators interested in  better practices and teaching with POP culture.