‘Tis the season for motivating students with lessons that embrace the festivities of December because, let’s face it, we’re tired and they’re tired, and we are all in need of something fun to do in class. One option is to bring seasonal works of art to your lessons, and who better than Norman Rockwell to…
All posts tagged #writingteacher
Writing Inspiration: a gift from the past
I received a gift of two antique fountain pens and two lead pencils from my aunt who had them from my grandmother, who passed away a few years ago. There was a note in the box that said they were the first gift my grandfather gave to my grandmother. They were married in 1937, so…
A Gem of a Poem: “Student of Clouds” by Billy Collins
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Gem of A Poem, Teacher Resources, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
Teachers who are looking for poems that straddle two subjects can rely on “Student of Clouds” by Billy Collins. The poem is printed in Collins’ collection, Sailing Alone Around the Room, New and Selected Poems, and is just one of several from the collection that students will find accessible. “Student of Clouds” begins with “The…
Teacher Inspo: The Ron Clark Story starring Matthew Perry
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Teacher Inspiration, Teacher Resources, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
A role seldom mentioned that Matthew Perry championed is his portrayal of Teacher of the Year, Ron Clark, who taught an at-risk class in the Bronx. The Ron Clark Story is an underdog-to-victor story, the hero’s journey in dire circumstances where kids are used to adults in their lives quitting on them. Clark believes in…
Perfect Pairing: “The Split Cherry Tree” by Jesse Stuart and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Teachers who are looking for a short story to pair with To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, may find that Jesse Stuart’s short story, “The Split Cherry Tree” works well. In the short story, the protagonist must stay late at school as punishment, which causes his hard-working father to make a visit to the…
Art in the Classroom: Andrew Wyeth
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Art in the English Classroom, Teacher Inspiration, Teacher ResourcesLeave a Reply
Teachers, looking for a filler/one-day lesson? Try using a work of art to inspire creativity. Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World is a perfect choice. Viewers cannot help but be drawn into the painting. Who is she? Is she running away, or running toward the house? What do we learn about her from the details in the…
Sensational Sentences: The Lake House by Kate Morton
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Sensational Sentences, Teacher Resources, Teacher Tuesday, WritingLeave a Reply
If you are a reader or a writer or both, I’m sure you have come across sentences that make you pause and re-read them, not because they are confusing, but because they are so beautifully crafted you couldn’t take it all in the first time. I have a journal in which I copy sentences from…
Teacher Resources: Public Speaking
If you assign public speaking, oral presentations, debate, or any type of speaking in your classroom, I can bet that you are met with opposition from some shy students. Even our best writers, readers, and thinkers can be intimidated by a presentation assignment. The pressure not to mess up can be paralyzing for students. Why…
A Gem of a Poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Gem of A Poem, Teacher Inspiration, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
Dreams by Langston Hughes Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. Teachers, are you looking for something inspirational, short, and accessible for the end of the school year? I hear…
A Gem of a Poem: maggie and milly and molly and may by e. e. cummings
A poem to add to any teacher’s toolbox: maggie and milly and molly and may by e. e. cummings. Today’s choice is inspired by my daughter, Mia, whose closest friends’ names all begin with “M” (plus one friend whose name begins with “A”). When she speaks about her friends, ee cummings’ poem comes to mind…
