We can’t have enough lessons over speeches or the rhetoric within those speeches. There is no end to it. The least we can do is have fun. So… I created a lesson, analyzing Trump’s victory speech and Obama’s victory speech. I wanted to give students a look at a speech that is heavy in rhetoric … Read moreTrump vs. Obama: Analyzing Rhetoric
Wes Anderson. Le Sigh. Here’s the trailer. When this movie came out I was a freshman in high school and I fell in love. This movie is whimsical and quirky and my teenage brain didn’t understand how the story worked but I knew that it just did. And I knew that it was brilliant. And … Read moreIf I Could Get Away With It: Movie Edition | The Royal Tennenbaums
In Texas we have this handy dandy standard: (11) Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Procedural Texts. Students understand how to glean and use information in procedural texts and documents. Students are expected to: (A) evaluate text for the clarity of its graphics and its visual appeal; and (B) synthesize information from multiple graphical sources to draw conclusions about the ideas … Read moreIncorporating Infographics into the ELA Classroom: Writing an Essay
I love Disney. Honestly, at this point, it’s probably a bit irrational. My husband doesn’t understand it. My kids don’t understand it. But Disney movies in the 90s were the companion to an only child, i.e. me. So anytime I can go back to my happy place I will. Therefore, I use a lot of … Read moreUsing Mulan to Teach Gender Stereotypes
Last week I mentioned hashtag summaries and then realized that I had never mentioned them before. Sounds about right… Anywho… #hastagsummaries have changed my life: they’re quick, they’re fun, they’re creative. And I’ve had quite a few kids tell me that this is the easiest way for them to retain information when it comes to those … Read moreUsing Hashtags to Retain Information
Is everyone feeling it? That current of tension that runs through the English Department right before the STAAR test? I’m feeling it again, and I have to admit that, this year, it’s getting to me. But this post isn’t about that. This post is about something I created. I wanted my kids to understand the … Read moreGetting a 4
One of the biggest issues we have in getting prepared for the STAAR is the writing portion of the test. Lucky for us (or unlucky; the tides have yet to determine) they took the analysis paragraph away, so when it comes to writing, I can put all my energy into the persuasive essay. Before ABYDOS, my … Read moreVisualizing Persuasion
I remember somebody telling me that ABYDOS used to be a THING in our district. I remember somebody telling me that ABYDOS was one to the district what other strategies are now. That it was one of those things that the district fell in love with and then decided everybody else needed to be doing … Read moreABYDOS: A Weekend in Review