[pdf version here: Burns, Heidi--News Summary Activity] (Burns also has a new book forthcoming, which contains similar activities ready to plug into your classroom. Check it out here: http://amzn.to/1U4195g) Civic-minded students are those who are both engaged and informed about the realities that exist outside of their world as students. College composition classrooms are a great … Continue reading What Is a Civic-Minded Student and How Can We Foster This in Our Classrooms? by Heidi Burns
Five Ways in Which High-Quality Literacy Instruction Can Increase Student Interest in Our Content Areas by Kelly Birkett
[pdf version here: Birkett-FiveWays] Each year, on the day after Labor Day, the invasion begins. We stand in the hall next to our classrooms at the sound of the warning bell, and feel the adrenaline rush through our veins as we hear the sound of excited chatter of our new students. It continues to pulse … Continue reading Five Ways in Which High-Quality Literacy Instruction Can Increase Student Interest in Our Content Areas by Kelly Birkett
Building Literacy in all classrooms by Melissa Brandt
[pdf version here: Brandt-BuildlingLiteracy] As new teachers embark on the challenge of the classroom, they are given a barrage of guidance: be nice to students, but not friends; care, but be firm; establish rules, but let the kids work out the procedures; incorporate high-quality literacy, but … Continue reading Building Literacy in all classrooms by Melissa Brandt
Making Literacy Teaching a Priority in a Culturally Diverse Classroom by Adrienne Rische
[pdf version here: Rische-LiteracyTeachingCulturallyDiverse] Implementing culturally relevant pedagogy in the classroom has become an increasingly important priority for English teachers. In this piece, I will explore the difficulties that come with selecting culturally relevant texts and many of the misconceptions that teachers have about teaching literacy in culturally diverse classrooms. It has not been long since … Continue reading Making Literacy Teaching a Priority in a Culturally Diverse Classroom by Adrienne Rische
Technology and Critical Thinking by Jennifer Hiltner
[pdf version here: Hiltner--Technology and Critical Thinking] In education, a tidal wave of technology is upon educators, administrators, and students. The message to teachers by students and the media is clear: get on your board; we are ready to ride. However, some conservatives, dubbed as technophobes, are hesitant to put on their flippers. There is … Continue reading Technology and Critical Thinking by Jennifer Hiltner
Daylight Savings Time Vocabulary in Context by Bill St. Martin
Daylight Savings Time Vocabulary in Context Bill St. Martin Irondale High School Focus Composition Name ______________________________ Vocabulary In Context Building your Personal Thesaurus Hour _____________ http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/daylight-saving-time-is-terrible-heres-a-simple-plan-to-fix-it/281075/ Column ATarget Word Column BBased on the context, what do you THINK it means? What does it sound like/look like? What parts of the word are familiar? Column CLook … Continue reading Daylight Savings Time Vocabulary in Context by Bill St. Martin
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
Promoting Literacy Outside the Classroom by Mitzi Watkins
“Ms. Watkins, my family and I took your book bag with us on our trip to Mexico, and we read the books in the car on our way there and back. Thanks for letting me take these books home!"---Esmeralda, 2nd grade student Before my first year of teaching, I had many delusions about what my … Continue reading Promoting Literacy Outside the Classroom by Mitzi Watkins
Social Injustice in Multicultural Literature in an Elementary School Setting by Jongsun Wee & Nicholas Wysocki
Discussing issues related to social justice in multicultural literature can help our children develop an understanding of this concept. (1) These discussions provide a space where children can achieve several Language Arts and Social Studies goals, such as developing critical thinking and comprehension skills concerning social inequalities that require agency on the part of democratic … Continue reading Social Injustice in Multicultural Literature in an Elementary School Setting by Jongsun Wee & Nicholas Wysocki
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
MEJ 