Yes, you can. A few tips are needed to get it to be successful. Remember, use classic poems to reach DOK 2 and 3 for higher-order thinking skills. Try using an excerpt instead of a full text. When choosing an excerpt, be careful to cut out a section that has meaning, metaphorical connections, or themeContinue reading “Can I use harder texts to teach younger grades?”
Tag Archives: teaching theme
Author Study of Emily Dickinson Ideas Teaching Compare/Contrast Teaching Objective
Emily Dickinson’s poems are a great author study for teaching compare and contrast the teaching objective. Using close reading strategies, literature circles, gallery walk, or the Socratic method are all great for teaching the following poems. Using higher-order thinking questions, have students compare and contrast the following poems for similar and contrasting themes, tones, poeticContinue reading “Author Study of Emily Dickinson Ideas Teaching Compare/Contrast Teaching Objective”
How do I have more DOK 2 and 3 in my lesson plans? From the first day of school or right where you are.
“I just don’t know how to do that!” Let me show you. Here a few examples and explanations and how-to’s. Create a paired unit. Having several in mind helps to create automatic questions where students are comparing and contrasting ideas, events, characters, plots, themes, etc. Remember not to go too basic in the middle schoolContinue reading “How do I have more DOK 2 and 3 in my lesson plans? From the first day of school or right where you are.”
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.”
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!”
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.”
Small Group “Switch-a-roo” day-Gathering several related topic short stories for a round robin quick study-Dystopian
Students like the Dystopia craze. They like the idea of standing up for what you believe in. They like the underdog getting to go at the big wigs. Then even like when the odds are against them and losing, then winning, then doing it over again. Anything’s possible. Impossible odds. Oh, the possibilities. Try puttingContinue reading “Small Group “Switch-a-roo” day-Gathering several related topic short stories for a round robin quick study-Dystopian”
Study guides should be more than just recall facts. Adding higher-order thinking to their studying helps them and you.
There are times simple vocabulary should be part of or the subject of a study guide. Whether studying test oriented words like Larry Bell’s 12 powerful words (see website and attachment) or text-dependent vocabulary that increases understanding to make connections in a text it is important to have them to study. Using an online vocabulary sourceContinue reading “Study guides should be more than just recall facts. Adding higher-order thinking to their studying helps them and you.”
ELA On The Move 