Mentor Text: The Taco Boat by Al Ortolani Writing Techniques: Idea Generation Memoir Poetic Form Voice Background: In Twitter edchats, I’ve been part of discussions about what should be part of a teacher’s Twitter feed. One of my go-to recommendations is always poetry. Following poets, literary magazines and other sites that focus on poetry. The […]
On Monday, Allison wrote about the nightmare of the blank planner. I started this week with that nightmare as a reality for one of my classes. I knew exactly where I’d be starting with my Grade 11s and my Grade 12s, but I was kind of blanking on what my Grade 9s would be starting […]
After the Labour Day weekend, my school year officially starts. Staff only on Tuesday, Grade 9 orientation on Wednesday and the full meal deal on Thursday. It’s exciting, and daunting, and a million other things. I spent two days in my school this week, in sessions about literacy, anxiety and even math. Three out of […]
Mentor Text: Coat of Many Colours by Dolly Parton Writing Techniques: Memoir Symbolism Allusion Revision Background: Somewhere along the way, I’m not sure when, the woman I love fell for Dolly Parton. I know it wasn’t a childhood thing, because that’s not really what her folks listened to. But she’s a fan. And I get […]
Wow, Brendan, that’s a great question. I can start with a somewhat facetious answer, in that I find a mentor text that the students can emulate. I channel the spirit of Austin Kleon, and tell my writers to be on the lookout for what they can steal for their own writing. I use this approach […]
Some of you are in the classroom right now. I’m just over two weeks out from those first days with students. It seems, however, that we are teaching in troubled times. Perhaps it is our easy and instant access to media and information, our 24 hour news cycle that makes us much more aware of […]
Mentor Texts: Poetry In Action from The New York Times Book Review E.B. White on Why He Wrote Charlotte’s Web, Plus His Rare Illustrated Manuscripts via brainpickings.org Strategies Used: Revision Background: Aside from noting a few things that popped into my Twitter feed, I haven’t done very much work this summer. July is largely mine. […]
Mentor Text: Wheat Kings by The Tragically Hip Strategies Used: Poetic Narrative Symbolism Background: Waiting for the last day on Friday means I’m in my classroom, wrapping up this year, cleaning up, prepping for next year… that kind of thing. It means a pretty much constant stream of music is playing. I’ve been testing out […]
As I write this, I’m finishing up the school year. The last exam is written, and I’m marking the last dregs of the deadline hugging academic daredevils. Report cards are in various stages of completion. Graduation celebrations are in full swing. I’m getting my family ready to travel halfway across the country in our annual pilgrimage […]
Mentor Text: Ted Wilson Reviews The World by Ted Wilson (posted and collected at Electric Literature, The Rumpus.net and I Am Ted Wilson Writing Techniques: Writing Reviews Humour Satire Background: Perhaps the thing I love most about the Internet is the delightfully random nature of what it manages to put in front of me. This weeks […]
moving writers 