Pulling Ideas Together

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Writing Better Essays  One useful strategy for getting started is to permit students draft in first person and then revise to third person.  When they realize that they are invited to present their own ideas, reflections, observations, the students tend to relax a bit and write more honestly about the…
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Colors Call Out to Us

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Colors call out to us in nature and in advertisements.  Help students understand the symbolism of colors as it relates to their feelings, as well as why different colors may entice them to behave certain ways, believe certain things, and buy certain products and services. What they learn in these…
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Labels – Who Am I?

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Sara Holbrook's poem "Labels" can be added to the list of poems used to inspire students to think about themselves and to describe who they as based on their genetic and ethnic heritage as well as their own personal interests and passions. Consider a lesson in poetry writing that invites…
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GETTING TO KNOW THEM

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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…
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Sensitivity to Holidays

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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…
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Getting Them Into a Book

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Inspire Curiosity Are you familiar with the INTO, THROUGH and BEYOND strategy for teaching text?  Looking for something that can work in a single period to get students into their next book?  Here’s an idea may work for you this Spring. Distribute the book.  Invite students to look carefully at…
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