critical thinking – Teaching English Language Arts

Invite Students to Connect Literature and Current Events

August 23, 2022August 24, 2022 by admin

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Most of us are required to teach both fiction and non-fiction reading and writing. One assignment that pulls the two kinds of reading and writing together is based on what could attract attention, reaction, and/or response from literary characters. The strength of this assignment is the student choice within the…

We Share Across Curriculum

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 by admin

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Mrs. Roseboro, I wanted to thank you for putting together your collection of math practice sites on your Cross Curricular Resources page! As a library media specialist, I've been handed the task of updating our media center's reference guides with the help of some student volunteers. We're currently working on…

Nine Yardsticks for Deeper Reading

October 16, 2021October 16, 2021 by admin

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Readings: Responding Deeply While the Nine Yardsticks of Value originally were written for use in evaluating fictional works, they can be adapted for deeper reading of more kinds of writing. Take a look below, then download Responding to Reading for use in your classroom to aid students in reaching Common…

Students Starters Enhance Teaching

August 10, 2020November 22, 2020 by admin

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Student Starters in Virtual Setting Now is a good time to plan on releasing more responsibility for learning to your students. The first quarter/semester is when you model reading and writing strategies, making, connections, incorporating a wide variety of examples in your own instruction, and also informing the students that…

Non-Fiction Picture Books for ELA Classes

December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 by admin

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Picture Books and Common Core A significant component of the many state 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…

Ted Talks for Middle School Speech

October 6, 2019July 31, 2019 by admin

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Amy Cody suggests these TED Talks for use in Middle School and says, "I used these for a speech unit to point out various techniques used in a speech- but my 8 graders really got into all of these." Consider them for speech classes and also as springboards for writing…

Values, Beliefs and Attitudes

August 31, 2019August 31, 2019 by admin

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It's important to know the values, beliefs, and attitudes that motivate behavior in order to write an effective persuasive speech or argumentative essay. It also is important to understand ways that speakers and authors reveal these motivators in their writing. Tasks: Locate website for creating word clouds as a kick-off…

Ready for New School Year?

August 3, 2019May 20, 2021 by admin

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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

July 18, 2019July 27, 2019 by admin

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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…

AUTHOR PROJECT: Reading and Research

April 26, 2019April 26, 2019 by admin

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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…

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