3.3.2014

Today, my sophomores used the laptops computers to craft an essay during class.  I assigned the students to analyze the song of their choice, after having spent a few days doing a mini song analysis unit with the class.

This task worked particularly well with the standard level students.  In fact, it went EXTREMELY well.  All students were focused on writing their essays throughout the entire period.  When students raised their hands to call me over to share their work, I was consistently impressed with their work.

When this group of sophomores are allowed to write essays during class on the computers, they really excel. This particular group does not always submit their formal essays on time, and some students don't submit them at all.  This will provide an opportunity for all students to complete work during class, get credit for the assignment, and properly prepare for the MCAS while developing writing skills.

I will do more in-class essay writing on the computers with this group.  The downside may be that it takes the focus away from the students to be responsible and accountable to get the work done outside of school, but the upside is that all students get the work done. 

Thanks for a great class, period 2, and thanks for showing how focused you can be!

3.13.2014

PARCC test sample items are online.  I used them today with my honors class.  We should use these more regularly for all classes, to stay ahead of the curve for MCAS preparation.

4.3.2014

At a recent unit meeting, Mr. Kain and Mr. Esner presented ideas about using the Socratic seminar format in class.  This was something I used a lot during Mr. Esner's student teaching and in the years that followed, but I had kind of gotten out of practice with using it in a formal way.

My big takeaway was what Mr. Kain said about talking less and allowing the students to talk more (thereby making their own discoveries about the text).  I utilized the Harkness discussion model yesterday (with Gertrude and Claudius for the juniors and Animal Farm for the sophomores) and the format went really well.  I must continue to have students generate questions and facilitate their own discussions, because they rise to the challenge.

4.3.2014

Last year, I did not do as well as I would have liked to have done when it comes to teaching kids research skills.

As I talked to Freddie and Jamie today during yearbook class, it really reaffirmed my decision to work with students on research skills for college and career readiness.

I am glad that I showed the kids how to use the school databases and Google Scholar, and how to create an annotated bibliography.  I will definitely continue to do more with this in the coming years (and even this year) to be sure kids know these basic 21st century skills.

7.3.2014

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens unit is working pretty well with the summer school group. Consider doing it with the sophomore standard class this year as a nonfiction informational text.

7.3.2014

Should definitely do this with sophomore students this year, both honors and standard.  See summer school 2013 for lesson plans (including a cool website). 

9.4.2014

Let's have the freshmen do this, because it works better for the Harlem Renaissance unit, and we don't want to be redundant.  

9.8.2014

Be sure to look at the district priority goals and ELA department goals when determining SMART goals.  See SMART goals evidence link for more brainstorming.

9.24.2014

Small groups for these activities work really well.  See the Twitter for some great examples of work in progress.

10.21.2014

Tracking diagnostic scores is so helpful when trying to be data informed.

However, it is important to have students record their scores from a formative assessment immediately after the activity, in a ticket out, rather than waiting a few days, during which time they could misplace these items.

11.22.2014

The Knight's Tale movie works really well with the standard level class.  They really like it a lot, and learned a lot from it.  Take three days to do it; use guided viewing sheet.  The movie engages all types of students at the standard level.  Keep doing this.

11.22.2014

Students did well today sharing their personal narrative essays in a large circle.  It was very emotional for some students as they read.  The other students really appreciated hearing their classmates' narratives.  Keep doing more of this, so students can share their writing as you did in Maddy Blais's class.  Consider using Moodle to post essays for student feedback.

5.1.2015

It was great today to get back into doing outside reading, particularly in the standard level class.  This will be a focus priority for us during the months of May and June.  Be sure to have the students write a 5-minute journal entry in their notebook after reading for 10-15 minutes.  Have them use these journals to complete a project at the end of the year.  Get them to love reading!

5.22.2015

To go from being a good school to being a great school, we all must together acknowledge that sometimes there are experiences for our students that are more important than what we might be doing in our classroom on a given day.  These field trips and other experiences might be the most memorable part of their high school career.  They will remember the day they went on the field trip to Boston, or saw the play, or attended the preschool graduation.  They may not remember what lesson you gave on the 162nd day of school.

5.22.2015

Writing prompt or personal narrative idea for the Gatsby unit:  Who is your Dan Cody?  Who is the person who mentored you that you tried to emulate in life?

7.9.2015

Today, completed an activity based on "Humans of New York."  Worked well with Snapshots unit and summer program kids.  Expand and formalize to work with junior honors group in the fall.

7.16.2015

Grade 10 - Samuel Pepys and The Diary

Grade 11 - Speeches (MLK, JFK, Clinton, Lincoln, Fisher, Valvano, analysis, write your own)