Teaching the "huge" text s-l-o-w-l-y: taking your time with Dickens and Comic Books How do you teach a 500- or 900-page Dickens’ novel—heaven forbid a 1,500-page Richardson novel? (1) How do you teach a comic book, like Detective Comics, that has been running since 1937, or a comic strip, like Katzenjammer Kids, that's been around … Continue reading Comics, Dickens, and Teaching by Serial Publication by Michael MacBride
The New Face of Homelessness by Melissa Brandt
You know that moment when you’re at a party or a social gathering and a person you barely know asks, “So, what do you do?” I dread that moment. Not because I’m embarrassed by what I do. I love my job. I love the people, students, and families with whom I work. Their troubles are … Continue reading The New Face of Homelessness by Melissa Brandt
SWOT and the Analysis of Literary Characters by John Banschbach
Like many teachers, I have a collection of teaching activities that can be used in different situations and that require little preparation. Freewriting, for example, can be used as an invention activity for writing or class discussion or it can be used as a classroom assessment technique (e.g., the “muddiest point” assignment). Another activity is … Continue reading SWOT and the Analysis of Literary Characters by John Banschbach
Redefining Literacy with Graphic Novels by Becca James
A line has formed, populated with people holding signs and speaking inaudibly to those that pass by. Move in closer, and it’s evident that the line is composed of high school students. Although they should be in the classroom on this mid-March Friday, they’ve taken to the streets in protest of Chicago Public School’s decision … Continue reading Redefining Literacy with Graphic Novels by Becca James
Teaching English 4/533: Enabling World Texts, Past and Present, to Talk to Each Other by William D. Dyer
I am going to offer, as a means for providing a context for the long student-written collaborative paper that follows as well the brief discussion of how this assignment might apply to other teaching environments and students (written by the graduate student “point person” on that project and practicing high school teacher), an introduction to … Continue reading Teaching English 4/533: Enabling World Texts, Past and Present, to Talk to Each Other by William D. Dyer
Examination of the Cultural Influences Behind The Hobbit by Gillian Singler, Alicia Guthmiller, & Kevin Smith
Introduction The New York Times first pointed out in its review of The Hobbit, that "…there may come the thought of how legend and tradition and the beginning of history meet and mingle…"The Hobbit" is a glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible…this is … Continue reading Examination of the Cultural Influences Behind The Hobbit by Gillian Singler, Alicia Guthmiller, & Kevin Smith
The Hobbit Companion Essay: A Pedagogical Tool by Gillian Singler
The initial topic for this research project was a culturally-based analysis of a text of our choosing. Each group was expected to examine sections of their choice that would highlight the novel’s root culture in addition to paralleling it to our own. As a group, we decided on The Hobbit because it was beloved by … Continue reading The Hobbit Companion Essay: A Pedagogical Tool by Gillian Singler
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