Some Advice: Sunday Stanzas & Stories.10.25

On Sundays, I post an idea to inspire a little creative writing among Ethical ELA friends. I focus so much on teaching at times that I forget to make time to nurture the being behind-within the teacher. So here is a little inspiration for today: …

The ethics of grades

No Grading: I Think I Did it Wrong

After spending the summer researching assessment and grading, after meeting with colleagues and my principal about facilitating a no-grades classroom this school year, after resisting numbers and letter grades on student work for nearly nine weeks, after countless hours of writing narrative feedback to students …

first steps

Sunday Stanzas & Stories. 10/18. Firsts

Inspiration: Write a list of firsts and how you felt about what happened (e.g., the first time you ate vegetables, your first job, your first overnight, your first house).  Or, write about witnessing someone else’s first (e.g., your child’s first step). Of course, write about …

Grandpa Baiocchi

Sunday Stanzas & Stories, 10/11, Your Heritage

Inspiration:  I certainly recognize this is a sensitive issue, so if you give it a try, tread delicately. A colleague shared some journals his students wrote about how they lost their heritage language- stories of teachers who wouldn’t let them speak Spanish, stories of letters …

X-Men

Let Them Read Comics by Paul Brzegowy

Why encourage students to read comics in English class? Because reading comics is reading. Because comics are art. Because comics examine humanity and what it means to be vulnerable. Lifetime comic lover Paul Brzegowy talks about the story and art of comics.

Parents

Sunday Stanzas & Stories, 10.4 (Life Before Children)

Write about the life your parents had before you (you, precious person) were born into their lives. Share your poem in the comment section on Ethical ELA.

Writing Midterms

Dear Mom: 7th Graders Write Midterm Letters

How can we communicate learning to students and parents? Self-assessment letters go home with midterm reports in a seventh grade writing class.

Sunday Stanzas & Stories, 9.27

Please watch this five-minute excerpt from Human, a film by Yann Arthus-Bertran, and take a few moments to reflect on what makes us human. Maybe you’ll write a stanza or story inspired by Francine Christophe in the comment section below.