All Those English Teachers: ENJOY!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

HOOT by Carl Hiaasen: Researching the Burrowing Owl

Article: The Little Owls That Live Underground

Article:The Little Owls That Live Underground Read ALOUD

PROJECT

Make a REAL TEE or a Paper TEE:  Requirement for the BURROWING OWL SHIRT PROJECT: 

• MUST Have a picture of a Burrowing Owl drawn on the TEE
• Must have 10 (TEN) Facts about Burrowing Owls displayed legibly on the TEE
• Must turn in the ROUGH DRAFT with the finished TEE

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Great REVIEW OR INTRO to Persuasive Techniques with COMMERCIALS

Great REVIEW OR INTRO to Persuasive Techniques with COMMERCIALS!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Taking the Play to the NEXT LEVEL: Writing a Review for The Little Lion

Students will be asked to put pencil to paper and write a review of The Little Lion.  First, we will examine the review of the play in The Richmond Times Dispatch, and then start creating our own!  Look for more to come on writing reviews!

Theater review: 'The Little Lion': How smug we are to think that any of the seven deadly sins — pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth — might ever apply to us.

Richmond Magazine Review of The Little Lion

RESOURCES:

READWRITE THINK

• Write a Book Review with Rodman Philbrick

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Persuasive Techniques: Commericals that Make Your Point!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Her

Reflecting on the Playwright, Irene's Ziegler's Visit: What Was the TAKEAWAY

Ms. Ziegler,
Thank you for coming to visit us!  After reflecting on your visit, I realized that I learned that if you strive for what you want you can achieve it.  Thank you for coming!  JB

Thank you, Ms. Ziegler, for coming to talk to us.  I learned that it takes much preparation and training to be an actor.   I also learned you don't have to be a movie star to carve out a solid career as an actor. RC

Thank you for coming to talk with us, Ms. Ziegler.  What I learned from your visit is that if you want something you have to work hard to make it happen.  TMS

Thank you, Ms. Ziegler, for coming.  I learned lots of things about acting.  I am looking forward to seeing you play, The Little Lion!  CD

How do you make Teaching Drama come alive?

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Persuasive Techiques and Advertisements

Do you use commercials to teach persuasive techniques?  I do, here is one of my favorites. Using ads student can relate to works and it gets students excited about the unit!  

OUTTAKES:  Click HERE

HOW DO YOU TEACH PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES?

A Visit From the Playwright of The Little Lion

Our study of drama just keeps getting better this year. Not only are we going to see THE LITTLE LION at the Swift Creek Mill Theatre, but the PLAYWRIGHT paid us a visit as well.  She is the multi-talented Irene Ziegler, who writes books, acts, and writes plays!  As I said before combining the study of drama with the "authentic theater experience" make this unit priceless. Irene came and gave students the inside scoop on what it is like to take a true story and develop the nonfiction book into a play. She also made student use those DRAMA terms as she explored the comparison of the book Izzy's Fire to the play, The Little Lion..Whooh... what a great reward!  Thank you, Irene Ziegler!

How do you make Teaching Drama come alive?

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Making Drama Come Alive!

Each year at this time it is with great excitement and anticipation that I close our study of Drama by attending a LIVE performance.  Each year the play changes but the awe that a LIVE performance brings to my students is always the same. Combining the study of drama in our textbook with the "authentic theater experience" is priceless. We are lucky to have a local theater in our area, Swift Creek Mill Theatre, and they do a fabulous job of offering school performances of various productions.  This year their production of The Little Lion works not only for the DRAMA unit but also with our BIG PBL Unit. Again, attending a live theatre performance makes the words on the page come alive, and with all that hard work of learning all  those drama terms...Whooh... what a great reward!  

How do you make Teaching Drama come alive?

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

TEXT STRUCTURES

I've found TEXT STRUCTURES hard to teach.  However, this year we did it differently.  I not only used the E Workheets PowerPoints and Worksheets, but we also made fun Mini-TEXT STRUCTURE BOOKLETS.

HOW DO YOU TEACH TEXT STRUCTURES? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS!

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books & Writing!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

What Are You Doing For Black History Month?

What are you doing to celebrate Black History Month?  We'd love to garner some ideas.  Leave us a comment or two.  We love to celebrate the culture and diversity of others and this is a great time to acknowledge the accomplishments of African-Americans in all areas, but especially LITERATURE.  We usually start by exploring the works of Langston Hughes,  How about YOU!

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books & Writing!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

Another Bookish Valentine's Day IDEA

Over at Daily Mayo, you will find they have created a printable containing romantic lunch notes that you can print off and either chose your favorite to use once or put a random romantic lunch note into nine different days of lunches.  Check out their post and see if you want to use them in other ways. Daily Mayo suggests the following options:

Sticking a note to the mirror
Slipping a note into the car visor
Placing a note inside luggage
Adding a note to coat pockets
Laying a note on a loved one's pillow

HAVE A HONEY OF A VALENTINE'S DAY!

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books & Writing!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

LOOKING FOR A BOOKISH VALENTINE? CHECK THESE OUT!

Are you looking for a bookish Valentine?  Well, check out these two sites to see what all the lovelorn bookish types are sending to their unrequited loves!  

Literary Valentines

20 Bookish Valentines

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books & Writing!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here

LET IT SNOW...So I Can READ!

Elsie Dinsmore

Well, it is SNOWING here in Virginia, so schools are closed, and it is time to  snuggle up with a warm blanket and read.  I have been reading an old-timey children's series that is VERY, VERY old. It is Martha Finley's Elsie Dinsmore Series.  I can highly recommend it for many reasons, but I think it best that you judge this series for yourself.  The series is FREE if you want to check it out and decide if the world of Elsie Dinsmore is for you.  The Elsie Series has some controvery out there in the blogosphere, but just like Gone With the Wind the books need to be judged from the historical persepective in which they were written.  Trying to raise an Elsie today using the methodolgy of the 1800s is not the message of the book...How to raise a GOOD PERSON in todays society is the theme whether it be a boy or a girl.   Take a peek and let us know what you think of Elsie.  I've enjoyed reading them because it has been a magic key to take me to a long ago place where otherwise I would never have been able to venture.

Martha Finley (1828–1909)

Happy Reading & Writing☮

The Things You Can Read!

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books & Writing!

Don't Forget To Be Awesome!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am an educator with over 25 years of teaching experience; I currently teach English in the public school system of Virginia. In my spare time, I am an avid reader. writer, reviewer, blogger, writing/art journaler, beekeeper, grad student, and MOTHER. - See more: Here