We Wear the Mask
Start of the Year Writing Prompt Here's a start of the year writing prompt based on a poem, "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. In one of my classes, it was the end of year essay prompt. Students were asked to consider three texts we'd studied and identify…
Ready for New School Year?
New School Year - Are you ready? “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.” (Hale, 1870) For many educators, the beginning of…
Planning for Focused Units
Get Off to a Good Start Consider thematic units that may be drawn from Essential Questions. Once you decide on themes or essential questions for the first unit or marking period, you could ask the students to choose the themes/questions for the subsequent ones. Almost any piece of fiction/non-fiction can be adapted…
GETTING TO KNOW THEM
Opening Week Activities to Learn More about Students Here are five ideas that may be adapted for various content areas. See adaptations at the links. The assignments can be as simple or complex as time and resources permit. I've used them all as first week assignment and students do…
Sensitivity to Holidays
Writing About the Holidays The holiday season, for many, extends from November through February. Families will be celebrating Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year at various times during these months. Writing about holidays is a wonderful way to share cultures in words, pictures, and music. Yes, holidays also…
Protected: Music Lyrics and History
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Who Are You? Who Do You Admire?
Creating an ACROSTIC POEM Spring often is a season we begin thinking about end of school year celebrations honoring students and colleagues, and summer events for family and friends. One formula poem that elicits delight and gratitude is the simple acrostic. This also makes for an engaging start of the…
High Interest Summative Assignment
What We Learned! Collage OR Slide Assignment The Task: As a review of the study of literature this school year, you will be working with a group of your peers to present your impressions of ways your author uses various elements of the narrative: point of view,setting, characterization, conflict, symbolism…
Prompts for Writing Poetry and More
WRITING PROMPTS AND EXAMPLES My friend, Sarah J. Donovan, offered a POEM A DAY project in April 2019 and consented to share the links with you through me. See the kinds of prompts on the chart below, click on the chart to go to the prompts of your choice. Enjoy…
AUTHOR PROJECT: Reading and Research
Writing about Literary Favorites After introducing students to the Nine Yardsticks of Value, a good way to determine how well they understand the concepts and can apply them to an independent project, is to assign this author project. Each year, I'd choose to read one of the Nobel Laureates who…