Struggling students read the text or follow along with the text. It is beneficial to help validate or correct some of their assumptions or conclusions with showing the chapter summary or movie clip scenes for each chapter. For most of your classics, the movie follows the book. For example, the Outsiders by Hinton is prettyContinue reading “Showing movie clips after each chapter.”
Monthly Archives: March 2022
Drawing Conclusions Anchor Chart Freebie
Comparing State of the Union Speeches during war times.
If needing a quick idea to add to any unit or week’s lesson plans, have students read two State of the Union Speeches made during times of war for either America or supporting other countries. Most of the time, an element of the speeches can be applied to the unit being taught. For example, Monkey’sContinue reading “Comparing State of the Union Speeches during war times.”
Paired Text Unit Idea for: Word Choice Matters
Teaching young people to be careful what you say and how you say it is an ever happening process. What about making it a unit to teach? How about adding the element of having texts that all have a surprise ending. Essential Question Ideas: How does word choice effect your daily routine? How do others’Continue reading “Paired Text Unit Idea for: Word Choice Matters”
How many novels can be taught with the start of posting “Starry Night” by Van Gogh? Tons!
Paired units are not something new to teachers who have taught themed units all or most of their teaching career. We called them by the names current educational standards have need of, and we cater them to the level needed to be taught with upping the rigor, but they are still the same classic (orContinue reading “How many novels can be taught with the start of posting “Starry Night” by Van Gogh? Tons!”
What is your favorite Shakespeare quote?
Okay, so this is a hard one. But if choosing, I am going with a few from Macbeth. The story is so rich with saucy comebacks, hidden meanings, and backhanded statements that only us, the reader, gets. And don’t pick the obvious ones oh, wicked one, for thy spots will not come out even ifContinue reading “What is your favorite Shakespeare quote?”
Top 10 Poems to read at the start of Spring!
Kick off the season with motivating students to get outside more, exercise, play a sport, plant something, take flowers to mom, appreciate new growth and life, etc. 1.”Spring” by William Blake 2. “A Light Exists in Spring” by Emily Dickinson. 3. “Spring” by Rossetti 4. “The birds around me hopped and played, their thoughts IContinue reading “Top 10 Poems to read at the start of Spring!”
How can I add music to my ELA classroom? Poetry in Motion with the Blues.
Teaching poems by Langston Hughes, known for his early 20th century writings about life in African American culture during the times of the period often called the Harlem Renaissance, have distinctive rhythm and rhyme that can be sang to the beat of a blues song. B.B. King music is a great start. Listen to “HowContinue reading “How can I add music to my ELA classroom? Poetry in Motion with the Blues.”
Great poem alternatives on snow days.
What about the students that need a break from snow. What poems can be taught in isolation or paired with a unit and taught on the fly in a teachable moment. Some that may even create a bit of irony or focus on tomorrow. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost. (Yes, it means theContinue reading “Great poem alternatives on snow days.”
What are other ideas I can use to start a lesson set? Ideas to motivate students to read the novel or paired texts unit you are planning.
Look around for: Quotes, novels, novellas, short stories, poems, song lyrics, paintings, cartoons, historic events, current events, news articles, biographies, diaries, memoirs, ship logs, newspaper clippings, jokes, statistics, list of facts and website they came from, picture books, real-life pictures, playing a game, live visit from guest speakers, book trailers, movie clips, personal stories, reader’sContinue reading “What are other ideas I can use to start a lesson set? Ideas to motivate students to read the novel or paired texts unit you are planning.”
ELA On The Move 