Book Talks – Demonstrate then Delegate
Introduce Students to Books Old and New Select three books that you can link to what interests your specific students. Create two-three slides for each book that include images from book covers or of a key event in the book. On each slide write a probing question, a summary…
Gaining Cultural Insight: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Gaining Cultural Insight This opening of the school year assignment, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? is a novel way to invite students to write a narrative essay based on two different books or literary works. It also can be adapted for history, science or math classes. Rather than focus on…
Understanding Non-Fiction Text Features
Non-Fiction Text Features Here's an efficient way to introduce/review the concept of text features with your students using slides, a short video, a check list and copy of their textbook from science or history. 1. Show the Text Features Slide that points out different features one may find in non-fiction…
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…