Author Archives: msdickson

Skip the Romance: Study the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Posted on January 27, 2018 by msdickson

Valentine’s Day in the secondary classroom is a far cry from candy and card exchanges. The emphasis on romance can put a lot of pressure on students– students in relationships may feel pressure to make the day special and students … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Teaching Ideas | Leave a comment

Culminating Activities For Use With “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

Posted on August 31, 2017 by msdickson

Culminating projects are a good way to engage students in digging deeper into a text. “The Raven” is a good text for engaging reluctant readers, with the dark tone and descent into madness. Here are some culminating projects for “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, Teaching Ideas | 1 Comment

The Best Part of Back to School

Posted on August 12, 2017 by msdickson

I’ve always looked forward to back to school. From those early school days– including the first day at Kindergarten when I jumped off the bus steps in my joy– to, well, this year.  The classrooms have changed. The students are … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Education, Teaching | Leave a comment

How to Waste Students’ Time with Binders and Notebooks

Posted on August 5, 2017 by msdickson

Binders, notebooks, interactive notebooks, portfolios and other tools can provide a method to showcase student learning, collect reference materials and teach organization. Or they can be a time-consuming process that fails to do more than provide a sporadic grade. Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Smooth Classroom, Teaching, Teaching Ideas | Leave a comment

How to Plan for Back to School… When You Don’t Know What You’re Teaching

Posted on July 15, 2017 by msdickson

Summer is a great opportunity for teachers to rest, relax… and prepare for next year.  The more that can be prepared ahead of time, the more likely class will run smoothly.  There will be less last-minute lesson planning– and more … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Education, Teaching | Leave a comment

Activities to Teach “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka.

Posted on July 9, 2017 by msdickson

It’s a cultural reference.  It relates to a sudden and unexpected change– something teenagers can usually relate to.  It’s an odd and dystopic story.  Any one of these things make “The Metamorphosis” a good choice.  Even if the language is … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Projects, Secondary Education, Short Stories, Teaching Ideas | Leave a comment

Useful End of the Year Activities

Posted on April 29, 2017 by msdickson

The end of the year can bring special challenges.  Students are wearing down, distracted by summer, or pulled away by testing or other special events.  Seniors may get out early, which can disrupt any class with a senior.  It may … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Projects, Secondary Education, Smooth Classroom, Teaching Ideas | 1 Comment

Engaging Activities for Practicing Literary Analysis

Posted on April 18, 2017 by msdickson

Literary analysis is an important activity, requiring students to dig into the text in a thoughtful way, finding support in the very words and phrases and ideas of the text.  It’s different from research writing or opinion-based papers.  Students, at … Continue reading →

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Reasons to (Still) Use the Five Paragraph Essay in High School and Beyond (Even for Advanced Learners)

Posted on March 13, 2017 by msdickson

The five-paragraph essay is a formulaic, bland, rigid model.  But it is also an incredibly structured, challenging guide.  It is a tool that can either stifle a writer or push them towards growth.   I have something of a love-hate relationship … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Secondary Education, Secondary Writing, Testing | Leave a comment

Texts and Activities for Women’s History Month

Posted on March 9, 2017 by msdickson

March is Women’s History Month.  The month may also include the end of a marking period (or trimester), state testing, and/ or spring break. While it may not be possible to dedicate time to a whole unit related to texts … Continue reading →

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