karlahilliard

April 5, 2018April 5, 2018karlahilliard

5 Things Your Students Can Learn From Blogging

This year, my AP Literature students had the opportunity to participate in a poetry blog share with students from other AP Lit classes across the country (shout out #aplitchat squad!). I liked the idea of this writing opportunity from the get go for several reasons—students would have an authentic audience, sharpen their critical reading skills, […]

February 8, 2018February 7, 2018karlahilliard

5 Reasons Why Analysis Essay & Meeting Your Students Where They Are

One tried and true way I choose mentor texts for my students is to strike while inspiration is hot by building assignments from engaging and effective texts that I stumble upon “in the wild.” Like Michael’s series on Teaching From My Twitter Feed, sometimes the best mentors are the ones that find you. Because it’s […]

January 11, 2018January 11, 2018karlahilliard

3 Ways I Approach Voice & Style with my AP Literature Class

I’d like to formally apologize to my college professors for my “I’m trying to sound smart” papers. I remember cranking out papers in college that, when looking back, make me shudder with embarrassment. How many attempts at “smart sounding” papers did I diligently and dutifully write while holed up in my tiny room in my […]

November 2, 2017November 2, 2017karlahilliard

Beyond Notebook Time: The Journal Explode Essay

With thanks to guest contributors Kevin Mooney, rumored to be the inspiration for the teacher John Keating replaced, he is a lead teacher at North Hagerstown High School in Washington County, Maryland and is in his 22nd year in education. Liz Matheny, AP Language and Composition teacher in Frederick County, Maryland. (Check out a great […]

October 5, 2017October 5, 2017karlahilliard

A Lesson on Beautiful Sentences

There is so much ugliness in the world. Enough to last us all for a good long while. As I was adjusting my classes this week, I thought, why not beauty? My AP students have been fixated on the weird and wonderful language in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. And frankly, I’m not over it, have […]

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017karlahilliard

Preparing Mini-Lessons that are Intentional

Recently I attended my oldest daughter’s back-to-school orientation in her third grade classroom. It was a typical night of excited cafeteria room chatter, squeaky new sneakers, and the exchange of adorable little kid hugs between reunited playground friends. The loudspeaker chimed in and out, prompting us to move from one location to the next, and […]

August 28, 2017August 28, 2017karlahilliard

Ask Moving Writers: Generating Ideas or Narrowing Them Down

Dear Trish, I’m sure we’ve all been on both sides of this problem at some time or another. I know I sure have! And as an adult writer who’s been practicing for many more years than the young writers in my classroom, it’s easier for me to diagnose and treat my writing ailments. Although there’s […]

May 25, 2017May 24, 2017karlahilliard

How To Reflect: 5 Ways to Encourage Reflection in Your Classroom

Today is an important day, a day all teachers cherish. Graduation. How remarkable to be able to share in this milestone year after year, class after class. What a privilege to take some small part in the upbringing and education of so many wonderful young people moving up and onto the next steps of their […]

March 30, 2017March 30, 2017karlahilliard

10 Ideas for Notebook Time

Recently, my seniors competed in a state-wide writing competition, and to aid in inspiration and help launch their writing process, I presented students with unique and exciting, low stakes writing opportunities. After reading my students’ writing contest pieces, I was reminded once again of the importance of time spent journaling—of the freedom and release of a writer’s […]