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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s June. I know that some of you are already done for the year. I know that many, like myself, are in the homestretch. Next week is our last week of classes, followed by exams. So, naturally, I’ve been discussing with my students the nature of their final. My team and I have had a […]
Mentor Text: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo Writing Techniques: Writing biography Focusing presentation of research Background: It’s almost June! That means the last couple weeks of school for me, and in Grade 10, it means we’re launching into the Rebel Project. It’s one of my favorite projects […]
This time of the year is a maddeningly reflective time of year. Though I have just over a month left before I dial up Alice Cooper’s ‘School’s Out’ and tear out of the parking lot, I feel deep in reflection mode. I’ve already met with my principal about my year-end reflection. My team and I […]
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