Teacher Tuesday: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
I couldn’t resist creating another post about the children’s classic novel, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Writing about it last week reminded me of fun moments in my classroom when my sixth graders and I analyzed the novel. We drew a Ferris wheel on the chalkboard (yes, I’m that old) and placed the characters from the novel on the Ferris wheel, and discussed who was controlling the ride, and who were the passengers. A great introduction to symbolism. Then after finishing the book, we created a trial, which students love to do. The lesson here, though, was based on a “missing chapter.” What if Mae Tuck had not escaped prison, and instead went to trial? What would have happened? Would she have been found guilty of killing the Man in the Yellow Suit? And then what would happen? Students loved taking on their assigned roles – judge, lawyers, jury, Winnie, Mae, Tuck, Miles, and Jesse. We then spent a few class days preparing – analyzing passages from the book, looking closely at dialogue, description, and plot. When they were ready, we had our trial, and it was fantastic. Any time teachers can generate enthusiasm like this in a classroom about a book, it’s a win-win.
Art in the classroom: Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell’s High Dive is the perfect choice for a ‘back to school’ writing assignment. Writing prompts can be: what I did over the summer; when I did something I was afraid of; when I accepted a dare; when I did something because everyone else was doing it. The possibilities are endless. The boy’s expression as he looks down at the pool below him is the epitome of anxiety, fear, and the “what do I do now” question that students often find themselves in. Personally I can relate to trying the high dive at our town pool, Woodlawn, and turning to go back down the ladder only to have the life guard blow his whistle and point, telling me to jump. I still remember my legs shaking so much that I thought I would fall off the side. I closed my eyes, walked to the edge, and jumped – or fell – off and never did it again. Students will enjoy sharing stories, or find comfort in sharing their anxieties, knowing that they weren’t the only ones to feel that way. I find that writing prompts about what goes wrong tend to yield better results than what went right.
Short Story Spotlight: “Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry
Summer is the perfect time for teachers to look for new material to enhance their lessons for the upcoming year. As an educator in higher education, I have more flexibility than many teachers in middle school and high school. That being said, adding a short story or poem that is not in the curriculum may not be an option for some. But if you do have the freedom to complement your lessons with ‘outside’ materials, consider one of O. Henry’s less popular short stories: “Hearts and Hands.” A woman traveling by train is joined by two men who are handcuffed together because one of them is taking the other to jail. The story would work well in a unit on unreliable narrators, point of view, and dialogue. I plan to find a place in my first-year college writing course for this story, and I hope you can find a place for it in your classroom too.
Teacher Resource: “Tender” by Cherline Bazile, found in The Best American Short Stories, 2023
Teachers, looking for a short story that can evolve into a two or three day lesson? Take a look at “Tender” by Cherline Bazile, which appears in The Best American Short Stories, 2023. Bazile’s story tells of two Black immigrant students who become friends in their predominantly white high school. The story details the girls’ interactions with each of their families and how one wishes for the kind of family the other one has. It is about friendship and family, and also about identity and kindness. Students would relate to the characters and would appreciate a modern short story.
Teacher Inspo: Hearing from a former student
One of the best parts of being a teacher is hearing from a former student. Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending an art show for a former student who is graduating as an art major at Montclair State University. I was honored that Salena invited me, and flattered that she remembered our class from her first year of college at a different university where I teach, Caldwell University. Not to mention that her artwork is amazing! I’m so proud of her and I’m excited to see where she goes next. Thank you, Salena! Congratulations!!
Teacher Resource: All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat
Teachers, looking for something different for the end of the school year? Immerse your classes in the incredible true account of the Thai boys’ soccer team that was trapped in a flooded cave six years ago with Christina Soontornvat’s All Thirteen. Their dramatic and risky (understatement) rescue is truly a miracle of people working together under tremendous pressure. Students can study geography, weather, diplomacy, faith, and much more in this all-encompassing story. There may not be time to order and read the book, but taken in parts, students can make presentations on the scientific aspects while the teacher fills in the dramatic events. Alternatively, students could research this and other weather/geography/natural disaster related incidents involving rescues of people in dire circumstances. A bonus to All Thirteen is that it was made into a movie called Thirteen Lives starring Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell.
A Gem of a Poem: “Do you carrot all for me?” by Anonymous
Teachers, looking for a creative poetry lesson? Try having students create poetry using homonyms – or near homonyms – that work together. “Do You Carrot All For Me?” is a perfect example. Students will see that the goal is not perfect matches, but words that go together in a theme that are close enough to work. Sports, bugs, names of cities, even review words for a test can create poetry. Again, perfection is not the goal. Fun, creativity, and looking at words in a different way will generate unique poems and keep students engaged as the year winds down.
Teacher Resource: Board Games to cure boredom
Teachers, looking for a “year in review” type of activity that will keep your classes engaged? Ask students to pick one reading from the school year – short story, novel, play – and turn it into a board game. Students can create a “Candy Land” type of path with symbols, colors, playing pieces, etc. This would work for any hero’s journey or survival themed story, such as Lord of the Flies, “The Most Dangerous Game,” The Odyssey, The Great Gatsby, or even To Kill A Mockingbird. Students have to make specific choices from the works – what would molasses swamp be if this was about Gatsby? What would the candy castle be if this was “Most Dangerous Game”? What would the short cuts be if this was Lord of the Flies? Which cards are lucky, and which would send you back to the beginning? Other games to try are Chutes & Ladders, Jenga, Monopoly (good for several short stories, or a long work like The Odyssey). After they create them, groups can take turns playing each other’s games. Fun and creative, but meaningful and engaging too.
Teacher Tuesday: “The Fly” by Katherine Mansfield
Teachers, looking for a short story to teach symbolism? “The Fly” by Katherine Mansfield (author of “A Dill Pickle”) may work nicely in your lessons. The story is also historical fiction – set after World War 1 in England – and would complement an historical unit on war. Mansfield’s word choices, details, and narrow point of view all play to the theme of the story. What readers first may believe to be the focus, turns out not to be the focus, and yet completes the story. Two men, one a retired employee and the other his boss, two families, two sons lost in the war, and a fly drowning in ink. And yet it all works. A story for older students who are skilled at close reading, “The Fly” may be a perfect short story to add to your lesson plans.
Teacher Resource: The Idea Stone
Teachers, looking for a different, tangible writing prompt? Try using an “Idea Stone,” as suggested by Ashley Lister in his book, How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published. His suggestion is to bring in a stone and pass it around the room, and each student must offer a topic to write about that uses the stone as the subject. Suggestions include: “It’s not a stone; it’s an alien egg,” and “The stone is a cure for hiccups.” In the classroom, I would adapt the exercise to incorporate different objects: seashells, buttons, crayons. Anything of little value that can be handed out to everyone or passed around. This activity provides students with a welcome break from the inspirational quote or seasonal writing prompt. It may even spark creativity they didn’t know they had.
A Gem of A Poem: “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
Robert Frost poetry is accessible to students, provides writing inspiration, and demonstrates a variety of poetic techniques. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is a true gem for many reasons. Yes, it is quoted in S.E. Hinton’s YA novel, The Outsiders, but when fans of the book take pause and examine why Hinton chose this poem to share between two troubled teens they will discover theme, metaphor, and symbolism. Students will learn that poetry can convey feeling and emotion in a way that dialogue or other prose cannot. They may even be inspired to write their own poems or create metaphors to use in their writing. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is relevant to science or nature themed lessons about the changing of seasons. What does “early leaf’s a flower” mean? Why does it last “only so an hour”? Can they find an example and take a picture? This poem can also connect to JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, although I’m not sure that is taught as frequently as it used to be. Regardless, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” is a versatile, worthy addition to your English classroom.
Art in the Classroom: Starry Night by Van Gogh
When I taught middle school, Fridays were days when I wanted to do something different. After sticking with the curriculum for the other four days of the week, I looked to Fridays for creativity, inspiration, a relaxed atmosphere. Often, we would arrange our desks in a circle rather than rows, and I would call our class “WWF” for Writing Workshop Fridays. Bringing in art for writing inspiration is a great way to give students a place to start a creative piece. So often, wondering what to write about could take up a whole class period. Using a painting like Van Gogh’s to generate a list of questions could inspire short stories, poetry, or memoir. Whose perspective is the painting from? Who lives in the village? Is this a view along someone’s journey, or the image of their beloved home? Students could even place a character from something they’ve read into the scene – Tess of the D’ubervilles; the Count of Monte Cristo; Werner in All the Light We Cannot See. The possibilities are endless. Students will surely have fun with an assignment that stems from a beautiful painting.
Art in the Classroom: Henri Matisse’s The Snail
Today I suggest using the colorful art of Henri Matisse in your English or language arts classroom. The piece that I have chosen, The Snail, is fun, bold, and daring. Much of Matisse’s work is less abstract, but I chose this one for its abstractness. Students could try to create a similar piece and let others guess the title; they could write a descriptive essay explaining their choices and how their piece represents the subject. Matisse once said, “Creativity takes courage.” How does this piece reflect courage? I love lessons that show students how art is all around us and how writing can develop from anything, just like art. The more art our students see, the better.
Perfect Pairings: H.H. Munro’s “The Open Window” with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Teachers often request a shorter work to pair with Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, and yesterday I found one. On the website, AmericanLiterature.com, I stumbled upon H. H. Munro’s “The Open Window,” and my first thought was that this would pair nicely with The Crucible. A young girl, alone with a guest, realizes that he knows nothing about her aunt whom he is visiting, so she fabricates a story about why the French window is kept open, even though it is October. And the visitor believes her. Upon the newcomer’s abrupt departure, the girl tells another lie, but to her aunt about why the visitor left so suddenly. One of the challenges in teaching The Crucible is understanding how young girls can terrify adults with their lies and accusations. “The Open Window” is much lighter and shorter, but it makes the point. Hope this pairing helps in your classroom! [Image is “By the Open Door” by Nikolai Astrup]
A Classic to Consider: “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
This time of year, reading teachers cannot help but think of the classic story, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. The ideal short story, it contains identifiable literary techniques that students can discuss. The story is, however, somewhat dated. Not many of us can relate to cutting our hair and selling it to buy a gift. One way to incorporate the theme of the story into a valuable lesson is to ask students what their most prized possession is, and would they part with it to get something for someone they love. Since our students are most likely not married, it may be hard for them to fully grasp the sacrifice, but they all have possessions that are valuable to them, and parting with them for the benefit of someone else is the point. Students can re-write the story with a modern twist in a modern setting and see where it goes. Writing and then presenting a scene would be a fun way to spend a class period while counting down to winter break.
A Gem of a Poem: “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
There are few poems or stories that I can remember reading for the first time, and Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is one of them. I remember finding a picture book in the library of the poem. Each page had just a line or two with dark but vivid pictures illustrating the words. I’ve loved the poem ever since, and I enjoy Frost’s other poems as well. There is something familiar, and yet new at the same time about the images in his poetry. Frost’s poetry is accessible to reluctant readers and even more so to those who love poetry.
Art in the Classroom: Norman Rockwell’s The Jolly Postman
‘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 springboard discussion, creative writing, scene building, poetry, descriptive writing, and so much more. The Jolly Postman is one Rockwell painting that can be used for all of the above. Students can write a script of the scene, or write a modern version – the Jolly Amazon Driver – and draw a picture to go with their poems or stories. Rockwell captures children so well – their excitement is evident in their eyes and in their smiles. Even the dog is excited for the packages to be delivered. Enjoy the countdown to the holidays!
A Gem of a Poem: “Student of Clouds” by Billy Collins
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 emotion is to be found in the clouds,/not in the green solids of sloping hills” (1-2). Right away the poem presents imagery that students can visualize – clouds vs. hills. Questions arise: What is the speaker saying about the clouds? How are the clouds different from the hills, according to the poem? The metaphor continues and science, nature, and poetry unite, but really, in poetry, don’t they always? Give Collins’ poems a try in your classroom. I’m sure you will find several gems.
Teacher Inspo: The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry
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 his students and their ability to learn and achieve, if he can only figure out how to reach them. Teachers, looking for something different to show in class? I recommend The Ron Clark Story. Yes, it is the average white man helping the underprivileged, but it’s based on a true story and it stars Matthew Perry. Enough said
A Classic to Consider: The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
Teachers and students who are looking for a creepy children’s mystery novel this time of year will find exactly that in Virginia Hamilton’s The House of Dies Drear, and its sequel The Mystery of Drear House. As the new resident of a mansion that was once part of the Underground Railroad, young Thomas learns of secret tunnels and ghosts of runaway slaves living within the walls of his house, which was built by abolitionist, Dies Drear. History and mystery abound in this classic novel that will have students engaged. Add this book to your classroom library and independent reading list, or make it a part of your creepy curriculum. You’ll be glad you did!
Art in the Classroom: Andrew Wyeth
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 painting (her dress; the structures; the color choices)? Students can create scenes, poems, or short stories to answer these questions. Is she in despair? Is she hopeful? Seeking help, or hiding from danger? Perhaps presenting the art without including the title would lead to even more in-depth writing. What title would students give? Why? Bringing renowned works of art into the classroom is an effective way to inspire great writing.
Sensational Sentences: The Lake House by Kate Morton
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 the masters to read over and over, and attempt to imitate in my own writing. When I taught College Writing to first-year students, we would look at and discuss specific sentences in their assigned readings. What word choices are most effective? Why does a short sentence work so well? What effect does a long, winding sentence have on the meaning of the work? Students would then write similar sentences in their papers. Their choices had to be deliberate, and impact the work as a whole. There would be specific points in the grading rubric to account for those sentences.
In reading Kate Morton’s The Lake House, almost every sentence qualifies as a ‘sensational sentence.’ Here’s one I liked in particular that I added to my journal: “Even the birds were more brazen than before, criss-crossing the hazy clearing with calls that sounded like laughter, and the insect choir was growing louder with the day’s expanding heat.” {swoon} The alliteration (criss-crossing, clearing, calls, choir), the simile (sounded like laughter), and the figurative language (insect choir) all add to the beauty of the sentence. We can hear and see the birds; we can hear the insects; we can feel the heat.
Teacher Resources: Public Speaking World Champion
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 not precede presentation day with a few tips from a World Champion Public Speaker? Yes, that is a real title! I recommend checking out Dananjaya Hettiarachchi (that is his name) on You Tube. He is a multiple-time world champion of public speaking. Students can watch his award-winning presentations, and learn from his tips – much more than “make eye contact with your audience.” I showed this clip to college freshmen and they were impressed and learned a lot . We then discussed other speakers from pop culture and watched for what worked and what didn’t. It’s a fun lesson, and gives the students a confidence boost. Hope you find this helpful! Enjoy.
A Classic to Consider: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Teachers, as you revise your reading lists for the next school year, I recommend taking a look at The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Over the last few years I have seen many teachers asking for ideas on how to teach The Odyssey [TO] because students were struggling. I love TO and I loved teaching parts of it when I taught middle school many years ago. Students often find the text, plot, and themes difficult to relate to. Another great, classic option is The Count of Monte Cristo. It is the story of a hero’s journey, and he is a hero readers can cheer for, unlike Odysseus whose morals are questionable at times. Students will find Edmond Dantes a relatable character done wrong, and will want to follow him on his path to revenge. The prolific author Alexandre Dumas, also known for The Three Musketeers, is of French and African descent; his father was a general for Napoleon. The Count would pair nicely with short stories like “The Most Dangerous Game,” or movies like The Fugitive, or Shawshank Redemption. If you have found success teaching TO, stay with it! However, I do recommend The Count of Monte Cristo, a classic that is often overlooked, to be considered as a new addition to your curriculum. Happy Summer!
A Gem of A Poem: “Dreams” by Langston Hughes
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 you! Try using Langston Hughes’ poem “Dreams” for a one-pager where students illustrate the poem, add their dreams, their dream vacations, goals for next year, or whatever inspires them. Another idea is to ask students to generate a symbol of their dreams – either dreams they have already realized (college acceptance, new job, new car), or dreams in their future (career, sports championship, leading role). What do these dreams feel like? What symbol captures that feeling? Can they write a simile or metaphor to capture what their dreams mean to them?
I hope these ideas help you get closer to the end of another great school year, or even spark an idea to use in class next year. Try Hughes’ poem and let me know how it goes. I hope you’ll agree that it’s a gem of a poem.
On My Bookshelf: Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Recently, I was reminded of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, one of the first books I read for eighth grade English in grammar school. This picture is the exact one I read in eighth grade – my name and homeroom, “8A,” are written on the inside cover. I remember following Jonathan’s journey to get faster and faster, and watching him practice over and over. I think his story is relevant today, and a good one for a teacher to assign students who may be looking for an extra credit book report to boost their grades at the end of the year. It’s a short, quick read, but full of meaning. It’s also a good read for anyone looking for inspiration or motivation, but not a self-help book. “We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same” (62).
Perfect Pairing: Candy Land & “The Most Dangerous Game”
Looking for a fun way to end the year that is still about literature, but is not an essay or a test? Try transforming a short story, novel, or poem into a board game. For example, Candy Land is a great game that fits a journey or pursuit type of story. Students can use an old game board (or buy a new one at the dollar store), or use poster board to create a new game. For the short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell, students can make images of the chateau, Death Swamp, the Burmese tiger pit, and the Uganda knife trick. The playing cards can have “special” cards with whatever brought Rainsford luck – the cartridge, Zaroff’s cigarette, his knife. Students can examine language, imagery, and dialogue to create board games that connect thematically with the short story. I’ve used Candy Land with “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” also, and it works just as well.
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 each time. It’s an accessible poem that students could imitate using their name or their friends’ names – the alliteration wouldn’t necessarily work, but that’s okay. Other poetic techniques to try are simile, imagery, rhythm, rhyme, and many more. If four friends went to the beach, or the park, or the mall or the ballfield, what would they find? What would the ‘conclusion’ be? Cummings’ poem goes from the specific to the universal, and that is its appeal. I think this poem would make a fun creative writing prompt to help fill the end of the school year doldrums. Aren’t we all dreaming of the beach?
maggie and milly and molly and may
By e. e. cummings
maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and
milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and
may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.
For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea
A Gem of a Poem: “Morning Song” by Cat Stevens
This time of year, most of us are looking for signs of spring – light green buds on the willow tree, yellow blooms of daffodils and forsythia. For those of us who live in climates where the beauty of winter becomes gray and dreary by March, April brings the promise of warmer temperatures and vibrant colors. Cat Steven’s poem “Morning Song” is a celebration of the morning as a new experience every day. Teachers can use his poem any time of year, but especially in the Spring, when we are looking for newness and rebirth. Poetic techniques such as simile, metaphor, imagery, and repetition would give students the language to analyze the poem and look for meaning. Students can write their own poems to celebrate their favorite time of day (probably not the morning if you teach teenagers) or favorite time of year. “Morning Song” is indeed a Gem of a Poem. Enjoy! Happy Spring! [the line and stanza spacing unfortunately is not correct in this copy; the error is mine]
Morning Song
by Cat Stevens
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
A Gem of a Poem: “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth
The change of seasons is an ideal time to assign creative writing, especially poetry. Connecting feelings with themes of change and hope can inspire even the most reluctant student to take a chance at waxing poetic. While each season has natural changes to anticipate, something about sighting the first flowers of spring makes anyone smile at the relief of longer days of sunshine and warmer temperatures ahead. Mother Nature has given us daffodils early in the season and kept them safe from deer and squirrels. William Wordsworth’s poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” celebrates the unexpected sighting of daffodils. What do your students look forward to when the seasons change? How can the change of seasons be used as a metaphor? Does the change of seasons mark the beginning, or the end?
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, by William Wordsworth:
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Art in the Classroom:
Are you stuck for a different writing prompt for your students? I love to visit art museums, and on a recent weekend trip to Boston, I visited the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I find that I am drawn paintings with light used in surprising or unusual ways. In the painting above, similar to one that I saw in Boston MFA, the glare of an unseen window shines on the wall next to another window where the woman sits. Questions come to mind: who is she? why is she at the window? is someone coming? does she want to leave? All of these can lead students to writing a short story or poem. Students can also imagine themselves in the room: have they ever had to wait a long time for someone or something to arrive? In the modern day, students are accustomed to instant answers and immediate deliveries. The concept of waiting is often lost in today’s world. A simple writing prompt of “waiting” will bring about creative and unusual pieces from your young writers. Pairing “waiting” with a work of art such as Holsoe’s could add even more thoughtfulness to their responses. What works of art inspire your writing or teaching?
A Gem of a Poem: “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams’s poem, “The Red Wheelbarrow,” takes a quaint, domestic scene and turns it into a metaphor. A metaphor of what? That is up to the reader. When teaching in New York City many years ago, a colleague used this poem as a springboard for students to write short poems centered around an object and color. She later created a bulletin board with their work. I remember one student described his mother’s eyes as “black like frying pans.” Williams’s poem is accessible to young readers and to high school students, and can be incorporated into a variety of creative writing assignments that focus on themes of dependence, setting, metaphor, contrast, and color.
The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens
A Gem of a Poem: “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
I often see requests from teachers for short poems that demonstrate various poetic techniques. Whether for a quick bell ringer lesson, an intro to a longer unit, or a variation on a theme in a longer work, short poems are excellent tools for teachers to have in their toolboxes. On that note, I suggest using the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes. It fits several needs: it’s short, easy to read, and full of poetic techniques. The poem demonstrates metaphor, extended metaphor, speaker, dialect, imagery and audience. I have used this poem in my college classes to demonstrate metaphor, and then assigned simile or metaphor to be included in their personal narratives. The students had to choose a place in their narratives where a comparison would help the reader understand an experience or emotion that they felt in the time the story took place.
I have included a copy of the poem below. Please enjoy using Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son” in your classes. Let me know how it goes!
Mother to Son by Langston Hughes
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
(to return to home page, click on “Line by Line” above)
Perfect Pairings:
Teachers, do you want to incorporate new shorter works within your courses, but do not have the time to look for them? On this page, I plan to post pairings of poetry, short story, and essays with longer works often found in high school curricula. Stay tuned for twice monthly perfect pairings, and submit your email address to receive more in-depth lesson plan ideas, writing prompts, and other project ideas. If you would like to request pairings for a specific longer work, please send me a comment. I hope to make your life easier because we all know that being a teacher is the toughest job on the planet.
Perfect Pairings: Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” & Lois Lowry’s The Giver
These two texts are made for each other. Students enjoy reading them, teachers enjoy teaching them, and together they make for a lively class discussion. The setting of a futuristic, controlling society contrasts with a traditional, old fashioned town, and yet they are eerily similar. Students can analyze language, dialogue, and writing techniques. When in each story does the reader suspect something is wrong? What clues does the author give, and when, to alert the reader? When is resisting authority appropriate and acceptable, considering the risk? What role do the elder members of each community play? What role do the mothers play? So much to learn and write about from two masterpieces.
Perfect Pairings: “The Yellow Wallpaper” & Jenga
For today’s Teacher Tuesday post, I suggest a combination of a board game and a short story, two of my favorite Perfect Pairings. Board games are the perfect tangible, concrete form to illustrate plot, conflict, resolution, consequences, setting, journey, and many more literary techniques. Board games are also affordable and readily available, and students can create their own versions of their favorite board games with a short story theme.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s masterful short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” is popular among high school English classes, and I’ve used it in my college classes. I believe her story pairs perfectly with the board game, Jenga. In groups, students should scan the story for excerpts that demonstrate the main character’s worsening mental state. Each group takes a turn to play Jenga, and each player reads a quote aloud before sliding out a brick. Just as students remove each brick, causing the tower to weaken, the woman locked in the bedroom with the yellow wallpaper loses her sanity, day by day. They will physically feel the risk and the tension of the story as they watch their Jenga tower sway and wobble with each quote. Have fun with this one!
Perfect Pairings: Beowulf, Grendel, & Toni Morrison
Among the questions in the teaching groups that I follow on social media, I often see requests for an essay or short work to tie in with either Beowulf or Grendel. I want to share a short essay that analyzes Grendel by John Gardner, which many high school teachers are tasked with teaching. In her essay, “Grendel and His Mother,” Toni Morrison discusses good versus evil, conflict versus crisis, and spoken versus unspoken. She references the epic Beowulf also, but focuses mainly on the role of Grendel and his victims. She raises questions about the violence, the absence of a father and presence of a mother, and about a mother who is unnamed and cannot speak. I believe that her essay, while complex in thought and language, will provide students with a perspective of Grendel that they have not thought about.
Quotes from the essay:
“But what seemed never to trouble or worry them was who was Grendel and why had he placed them on his menu?”
“…evil has no father, but it should not come as a surprise that Grendel has a mother. In true folkloric epic fashion, the bearer of evil, of destruction is female.”
I do not have the rights to the essay, and so I am not sharing it here. The essay can be found in The Source of Self-Regard, Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations, by Toni Morrison; Vintage Books, 2019.
Perfect Pairings: Research Paper & Malcolm Gladwell
If you are teaching a research paper, I recommend the essay, “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted,” written by Malcolm Gladwell. I have used this essay in my college freshman English course, and it always works well with the research paper unit. The essay has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion that students can identify and analyze. Gladwell includes several historical references that give examples of his thesis. He also defines terms that are unique to the essay, such as “high-risk activism,” and students discuss what he means, and what examples he gives. We then imitate these skills in their own papers. The essay is challenging, and my students struggle to comprehend it, but with homework guide questions – just a few so they are not overwhelmed – we get through the essay with a beneficial discussion. This essay would also pair nicely with a cross-teaching unit between English and American history. While I do alternate readings for my class each semester, “Small Change” is on my syllabus every semester.
Perfect Pairings: Langston Hughes & coming-of-age writing
The essay “Salvation,” by Langston Hughes, is a quick, heartwarming essay that pairs nicely with a coming-of-age theme. When I use this essay in my college writing class, we discuss how Hughes captured a moment in his life that lasted only a few hours, yet it meant so much to him. When students have to write personal narratives, I encourage them to look for the small moments in their lives, rather than looking at the “Superhero” moments. Often young writers can find meaning in a smaller moment of their lives when their world changes, and these are the moments I want my students to write about. I include this essay in my syllabus every semester, and it always generates a meaningful discussion on growing up, using dialogue in essay writing, and figurative language.
