Buying books for your classroom? Here’s an inclusive list.
What are your favorite middle-grade books? I have some money to buy books for my tenth grade English class. Suggestions? What books would you recommend for reluctant/high-standards freshman readers? In recent weeks, I’ve seen many posts and tweets of this nature and even more responses …
10 Months.10 Lessons.
Thank you for your readership of Ethical ELA this school year. Thank you for being my teacher-friend. In a typical school day, the only time teachers may be alone is when we use the restroom (until someone knocks on the door). Still, teaching can feel …
Ending at the Beginning with Semi-Choice Reading
I started the year with 9 weeks of choice reading, planning to alternate choice reading with book groups and core texts throughout the year (inspired by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher’s work). I did what I planned, but added in a month of poetry reading, so …
The Countdown: What If I Don’t Want It to End?
“Dr. Donovan,” Isabel whispers leaning over her desk in between student presentations, “can you tell me which poem I should share at Espresso Self Cafe? I just don’t know which one to present, and we don’t have much time.” I kneel beside her desk as …
Reflecting on 30 Days of Poem-ing
Thank you so much for joining us this month to celebrate how poetry helps us make sense of our lives and the world we live in. Let’s reflect a bit. Please respond to all or any of the questions below: What did you learn or …
Poem Twenty-Four: Characters
Inspiration from Colin: Write about a favorite character from a book, movie, TV show , or play. For example, express what your favorite character is and what made them your favorite or write from the character’s point of view about his/her family, friends, hopes, dreams, …
The Pride and Shame of Sharing: Who do I think I am?
There is a big brown envelope in my school mailbox on Tuesday. I order a lot of books from Amazon, but this is not from Amazon; it is from Harvard Press. Inside are two copies of the book Inside Our Schools: Teachers on the Failure …
Pre-Challenge Practice Poem: What advice would you give…
To warm up for our 30-poem celebration (and to test the website), let’s try a pre-challenge poem. Here is today’s poem inspiration but, as always, the prompt is only a suggestion, just poem any way you wish. Inspiration: Imagine you are grown up and have a …
