So many teachers see point of view on their list of objectives and neglect to look closer at the scaffolding document aligned with the district or state scope and sequence to see that it needs to go beyond just naming first person, third person, etc. As with any objective, look deeper. Point of view shouldContinue reading “Scaffolding Point of View is not being taught the way it should be in the classroom. Let’s step it up.”
Category Archives: reading techniques
Teaching secret-make anything you are teaching into a game. Tech Tip.
SPINNERS! Yes, spinners. Make a spinner two different ways. (Hint: Them make online spinners and phone/tablet apps you can edit.) To fit any worksheet or premade questions broadcast on your screen a set of questions: If you want it to generate for any sheet, make a spinner with up to 30 or 50 numbers goingContinue reading “Teaching secret-make anything you are teaching into a game. Tech Tip.”
How to make anything you teach a game-Shh! It’s not a secret.
DICE! YES, even DIE! Take a worksheet you know the students need the content but hate adding another fiction/nonfiction/grammar/math/science/social studies worksheet, much less making precious copies, and add dice to it. You can get cheap dollar store dice, make your own foam as well, or order 12-sided dice, etc. Your questions are created on aContinue reading “How to make anything you teach a game-Shh! It’s not a secret.”
Monday Literature Spotlight-Poetry at specific times of the year
Teaching poetry is a ton of fun if you make it so. Starting off with song lyrics is always a great favorite. But timing is a great motivator as well. For instance, teach “Summer” by Walter Dean Myers just before school ends leading into summer. Here are some more. “Twas the Night Before School Starts”Continue reading “Monday Literature Spotlight-Poetry at specific times of the year”
Introducing texts with famous, or not so famous, art images (paintings)
Use painting like “The Mona Lisa” by DaVinci to introduce a text. Something simple and yet meaningful is analyzing what she was thinking. Make up a story to it. Show the scene from the movie “Ever After” where DaVinci is asked what she was thinking and replies. Explore what secrets any character can hold thatContinue reading “Introducing texts with famous, or not so famous, art images (paintings)”
Introducing a lesson with statistics.
Introducing a lesson with statistics starts allows a text to have validation. For instance, introduce a Dystopian society book withe real life stories of groups oppressed in the past. Introduce a war unit with actual statistics from that war like World War II. Opening the book “A Night Divided” or “Night” with a statistic fromContinue reading “Introducing a lesson with statistics.”
Paired-Text Unit for middle school-Making Choices
Poetry The Road Not Taken Novel or Novella “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck Short Story Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs The Galoshes of Fortune by Hans Christian Anderson Reader’s Theater Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs Song Lyrics Gold by Imagine Dragons Art Image Vincent Van Gogh’s “Vineyard with a View” offers the idea of this:Continue reading “Paired-Text Unit for middle school-Making Choices”
How to organize lesson plans to include DOK 2 and 3?
Let’s dig right in and give examples, then explain. Close Reading needs to be your BESTIE! Include questioning techniques, vocabulary stops, and text comparisons all throughout your taught text. For the first time you teach a text and having to create your own CLOSE READING guide, add two-three good DOK 2 and 3 questions. ThenContinue reading “How to organize lesson plans to include DOK 2 and 3?”
More Quotes to Introduce “Romeo and Juliet”
“Love at the lips was touch As sweet as I could bear; And once that seemed too much; I lived on air.” -Robert Frost, “To Earthward” “If the heart of a man is depress’d with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears.” -John Gay, The Beggar’s Opera “So when you or I areContinue reading “More Quotes to Introduce “Romeo and Juliet””
Problem Solving in today’s world.
Tackling problems isn’t something new. Tackling something head on with all the needed tools is what we are charged with giving the younger generation with every year they grow older. And then even everyday after that for we are all learners each and every day of our lives. Moving past the textbook is hard forContinue reading “Problem Solving in today’s world.”
ELA On The Move 