Metaphor for the win on this last of our Poetry Pauses for Hope series.
Category: mentor texts
Poetry Pauses for Hope: Day 4
What can a new moon teach us about hope?
Poetry Pauses for Hope: Day 3
Hope can be complicated, and today’s poem explores that.
Poetry Pauses for Hope: Day 2
A recipe poem serves as a mentor text for students to think about what hope requires.
Mentor Text Wednesday: Twilight Zone
Mentor Text: Rod Serling’s closing narration from the Twilight Zone episode ‘The Monsters are Due on Maple Street’ Techniques: Conclusion Background – In my Grade 11 course, we focus on a theme of Society: Power and Voice. Within that theme, we do a dystopian literature study. This year, we studied Fahrenheit 451 and Lord of […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: The Staircase in the Woods
Mentor Text: from The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig Techniques: Introduction Background – I’ve really gotten back into horror the last couple of years. I’ve reclaimed my status a Constant Reader, (IYKYK) and been exploring the wonderful crop of new (and new to me) voices within the genre. The horror folks are eating […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: Life Hacks for a Little Alien
Mentor Text: Prologue from Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin Techniques: Voice via POV Adding detail in unique ways Background – I cracked myself up recently. Because I obsessively open my Libby app to see what books are new at my libraries, I’m perpetually placing holds on titles that grab my interest in […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: Here
Mentor Text: ‘Here’ from Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds Techniques: Setting Background – It’s April, so you know you’re only getting poetry inspired MTW posts. I’m writing this between parent conferences at school, and the last couple books of poetry that I’ve read are sitting on my desk at home, possibilities to share here flagged. […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: Younger Sister, Going Swimming
Mentor Text: ‘Younger Sister, Going Swimming’ by Margaret Atwood Techniques: Imagery Using Parentheses in Poetry Background – I’m writing this on the Monday of our Spring Break, which was actually extended by a snowstorm on Friday. I’m kind of hoping this will be the only time this week that I sneak into work mode, because I […]
Metaphor as an Organizing Force in the College Entrance Essay
March 25, 2025 The college entrance essay: Should we teach it or shouldn’t we? This year, the guidance department of our high school, New Directions Secondary School in the Bronx, NY, asked me if I could teach a unit on the college entrance essay in our Juniors English class. In my career, the college entrance […]
