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Andrea Clifford

What books do you recommend to hook a reluctant reader?

When I can convince a non reading student to try a book, I know this is my one chance to hook them on a lifetime (OK maybe a school year) o…

Started by Andrea Clifford

31 Dec. 22, 2009
Reply by Alan Sitomer
Polly K

Timed Writing Assignments?

Folks, should I or shouldn't I have students compose and type an essay within one class period (78 minute block)? My debate is cheating at…

Started by Polly K

9 Dec. 22, 2009
Reply by Steve M
Robin Simmons

Dead Poets Society

Has anyone used this movie to introduce poetry? I would love to use it and am searching for ideas from teachers who have already used it.…

Started by Robin Simmons

3 Dec. 22, 2009
Reply by James Miscavish
Jeff Lombardo

Matching Teaching Style to Learning Style May Not Help Students

interesting article in The Chronicle of Higher Education http://chronicle.com/article/Matching-Teaching-Style-to/49497/?sid=at&utm_sou

Started by Jeff Lombardo

8 Dec. 22, 2009
Reply by Michael Umphrey
Clairisa Maygren

First Year Teacher- How do I teach grammar?

How do I teach grammar (cohesively with my other curriculum) to my 9th and 10th grade students? This will be my first year teaching (on my…

Started by Clairisa Maygren

47 Dec. 22, 2009
Reply by Dawn Higgs
Ashley Faith

Independent Reading Projects

Does anyone have any great ideas for Independent Reading Projects? I'm looking for something that will challenge my honors students, yet ha…

Started by Ashley Faith

5 Dec. 21, 2009
Reply by Meredith S
diane burrowes

What was your favorite book as a teen?

Just for fun--let me know the book that you read--over and over again. The first ten people who comment on our blog will receive a free co…

Started by diane burrowes

70 Dec. 21, 2009
Reply by Lisa Regan
Leslie Haynam

writing a novel - resources?

I am looking for some reputable resources to suggest for someone writing his own novel. Anyone know of anything good?

Started by Leslie Haynam

2 Dec. 21, 2009
Reply by Sydney Francis
Jim Burke

Kylene Beers' 2009 NCTE Presidential Address

Here is a link to Kylene Beers' presidential address titled, "Sailing over the Edge: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of a World Gone Flat."…

Started by Jim Burke

1 Dec. 19, 2009
Reply by Jon Hampton
Michael Umphrey

The Ethics of Authencity: Chapter 9: An Iron Cage?

Okay, the penultimate chapter. Unfortunately, Taylor comes so far from persuading me that I'm left wondering what game he is playing. The "…

Started by Michael Umphrey

136 Dec. 19, 2009
Reply by Bill Maniotis

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Latest Activity

Michael writes: Most often it's [constructivism in practice] not that extreme, but usually it tends to share in the general progressive antipathy to "mere" knowledge and hostility to the "sage on a stage" or any sage anywhere. This is mere caricat…
4 minutes ago
It seems like a lot of kids don't care for details. Spelling, anyone? I have had the same problem especially with the transfer. You would think that after teaching students how to use parenthetical citation and then correcting their mistakes on thei…
4 minutes ago
I believe comedy is underrepresented. My students often complain about the depressing works we read (12 grade, but they also say that about previous English courses). We added Much Ado About Nothing a dozen years ago as something of a balance to Ham…
5 minutes ago
Hi Pat, I have never done these myself, but there are some great examples at VocabAhead Vocab Videos which also contains links to digital resources to help students create their videos. While most of the videos are done professionally, there is at l…
8 minutes ago
Hi Pat, I have never done these myself, but there are some great examples at VocabAhead Vocab Videos which also contains links to digital resources to help students create their videos. While most of the videos are done professionally, there is at l…
12 minutes ago
Thanks for your reply -- it was very helpful. I think I understand what you are saying -- kids do try to craft a dazzling sentence, rather than one with insight. And something simple can be insightful. But my concern is really the thinking behind th…
20 minutes ago
I would say comedy is underrepresented. My students have nicknamed my class "AP Sex & Death" as we tend to go to the dark side. I do try to use some comedy in preparation for a Q3 comedy prompt. We do use A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Color Purple…
22 minutes ago
Your "rambling" is fantastic. So much good advice. You know, I'm actually looking forward to writing now. I feel like I've got a handle on it. Thanks for all of your comments.
25 minutes ago
I really like "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse. It is short and I think very accessible for struggling students. It won the Newberry Medal. Not only did it help me understand what the big deal was about the duststorms of the time, I thought it told…
33 minutes ago
And what about the fact that often writers don't know what their thesis is until they begin reflecting in writing about a subject or occurrence? Happens to me all the time.
40 minutes ago
Ryan Rish Inviting my pre-service teachers @OSU to join Bill Kist's ECN book club as part of our class, Laboratory Experiences in English Education.
55 minutes ago
Thank you so much everyone! I definitely have a better feel for how essential questions work. I've been able to brainstorm a few and included a few here. Feel free to tell me if I am way off base. What does it mean to be an “Outsider”? What makes…
55 minutes ago
Judith-- One opportunity is Teen Ink (http://www.teenink.com). This is a publication for teens only, ages 13-19, to submit and publish their work. The one draw back I found is that once accepted, Teen Ink keeps all rights to the work. This means ki…
1 hour ago
Bill, You have it wrong. I didn't say the theory has not had wide influence. I never said anything like that. I agree that it has had wide influence. What I said was I've never heard of teachers labeling themselves as constructivists or nonconstruct…
1 hour ago
Alan Sitomer added a blog post
The Ugly Truth is that my number one goal for my students right now has to be to raise their 2010 standardized test scores. I find it disturbing, off-base, heart-wrenching, and almost something shameful to admit. However, NCLB has my entire school'…
1 hour ago
Kathy added a discussion
I am in search of a novel set during the Great Depression/Dust Bowl era. It will be used in a 10th grade history class; most of the students are struggling readers. The teacher would like to stay away from the "big name classics." He wants something…
1 hour ago

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