An archived stack of papers: March 2007

Challenging All Students

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Mar
  • 28
  • 2007

We’re reading Macbeth. We’ve watched movie clips, acted a few short segments, dissected very few quotations, summarized scenes, started a class blog, drawn 8-panel comics, and written briefly about theme. We have not had many class conversations, nor done any writing of significant length, nor connected the play to current events, nor related the decisions to choices we make. A set... read more

A Drastic Grade Policy

In a stack of papers called Writing.

  • Mar
  • 26
  • 2007

My juniors spent about 2 months working on timed writing. The rubric I use is based on the SAT rubric and the English Placement Test rubric for the state college system. We are preparing for two fairly significant tests in their academic future and reasoning skills needed in their employment future. We wrote paragraphs, examined samples, rifled through the rubric, and sketched skeletons of arguments... read more

Take Back Your School: Part 1

In a stack of papers called Reform.

  • Mar
  • 25
  • 2007

“If my child was in a classroom with a bad teacher, one who is a painful and obvious discredit to the profession, one who isn’t actually teaching the students, what steps would I go through to get that teacher removed?” In the coming weeks, I will ask a few parents, teachers, administrators, and union representatives. If you have had success in kicking out a bad teacher in the past or... read more

Macbeth Multiple Ways

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Mar
  • 16
  • 2007

Get yourself copies of three different film versions of Macbeth. Cue each tape/disc/media file up to act III, scene iv. Give your class a handout for notes and very few verbal directions. “Pay attention to how these different directors treat... read more

Online Writing Drafts

In a stack of papers called Technology.

  • Mar
  • 12
  • 2007

What a drag. AOL’s Writing Wizard is no longer free. You need to create an account to access a 30-day trial, but if you select “No thanks” at first, you’ll get a form to fill out for a 50-day trial. They want you to play hard to get.

Is there another free tool online that will check... read more

Wasting Time

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Mar
  • 03
  • 2007

I hate wasting time. As with most jobs, there are countless things teachers do every day. There’s a lot to keep track of, progress to make, skills to address, mastery to assess. So when I have to do something that wastes my time, I get angry.

Standards To Students?

One such thing is posting the standards that we are covering each day. This is not something I do, but other teachers... read more