Author Archives: msdickson

Skip the Book Report! Analyze and Create Instead!

Posted on February 26, 2017 by msdickson

After finishing a novel reading, whether whole group or individual, it’s great to have an activity to wrap up.  While book reports and other retelling projects, are a common choice, especially when dealing with multiple or student selected books, they … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Fun Projects, Secondary Education, Secondary Writing, Teaching, Teaching Ideas | 3 Comments

Skip the Book Report: Try these Creative Projects Instead

Posted on February 4, 2017 by msdickson

Book Reports area  common sight, still, in many classrooms, including secondary classes.  They’re easy to implement, for both whole-class reading, but also for the increase in small-group or individual book choice selections. In fact, book reports (and their close cousin, … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Education, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Ways to Group Students (and when to use which)

Posted on January 23, 2017 by msdickson

Group work is a regular activity in many secondary classrooms.  It offers many benefits, including collaboration and cooperation.  Students show increased learning in well-structured group work, related to the discussion of content and problem-solving.  There are also benefits in division … Continue reading →

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

5 Ideas for Studying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Speech

Posted on January 15, 2017 by msdickson

Most secondary students are familiar with the speech, or at least the main idea, by the time they are in a secondary ELA classroom.  And that’s actually an advantage.  That means that additional study can scaffold on what they already … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Education, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Fresh Start for Second Semester (for year-long or new classes)

Posted on January 8, 2017 by msdickson

Second semester is a dividing point in many secondary classrooms.  More so if the second semester class is separate from first semester.  Maybe you have new students from schedule changes or adjustments around semester-based classes.  Maybe it’s a whole new … Continue reading →

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The Value of Teacher Mistakes

Posted on December 31, 2016 by msdickson

Growth mindset.  It’s okay to fail.  Grit.  There’s a lot of talk these days about helping students to make mistakes, to try things and fail, to persevere.  And these are definitely important lessons for our students. But they’re also important … Continue reading →

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Using the Grade Book for Data-Based Teacher Reflection {with Freebie}

Posted on December 14, 2016 by msdickson

The end of a term is a good place to pause and reflect as a teacher.  Maybe it’s the end of the semester, trimester, or even marking period.  Maybe you have most or all of the students again the next … Continue reading →

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Culminating Project Ideas for A Christmas Carol

Posted on November 29, 2016 by msdickson

A Christmas Carol is a timely text for Christmastime, though it can work in other places as well– especially given Scrooge’s new-found desire to “Keep Christmas all year.”  There are lots of options for related culminating projects to expand on … Continue reading →

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5 Ideas for Christmastime in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Posted on November 13, 2016 by msdickson

December is a challenging month.  Even in the secondary classroom.  There are only a few weeks, sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas (Winter) Breaks.  Thanksgiving causes disruptions with a short week, or even a whole week off.  Then there are a … Continue reading →

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5 Ways to Survive the Days Before Thanksgiving Break (And Still Engage in Learning)

Posted on November 5, 2016 by msdickson

Maybe you’ve managed to keep the momentum of learning and engagement up to this point.  You may have even survived Halloween— perhaps with some timely creepy stories.  But now, it’s November.  And there are breaks around the corner, tempting students … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Projects, Holidays, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | 1 Comment