Author Archives: msdickson

6 Strategies to Survive Teaching Poetry

Posted on October 22, 2016 by msdickson

I’m not a big poetry fan.  Just like I’m not a big fan of fantasy novels, professional basketball games or anything coconut.  But as an English teacher, it’s kind of expected to include teaching poetry somewhere in the curriculum.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Activities for Teaching “The Monkey’s Paw.”

Posted on October 8, 2016 by msdickson

This short story about wishes-gone-wrong is a fun creepy story for Halloween.  It can also work well as a study of wishes at any time of the year! Here are some activities for engaging and examining the story: Write a … Continue reading →

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

Activities for Teaching The Raven

Posted on September 26, 2016 by msdickson

What a fun poem of darkness and madness.  Maybe those should not go together, but I do find this tale of a midnight dreary has high engagement, in spite of the length and language.  There are a lot of activities … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Projects, Holidays, Short Stories, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Activities for Teaching “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (Now part of a Secondary ELA Seasonal Blog Hop!)

Posted on September 22, 2016 by msdickson

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a ghostly story that commonly shows up in classrooms around Halloween.  There are a lot of ways to work with the text in the classroom.  It’s possible to stretch this story over a week … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Projects, Holidays, Short Stories, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Stories with Dreams

Posted on September 13, 2016 by msdickson

One way to encourage students to think deeper is to have them make connections across texts.  Building thematic units using unusual pairings based around a shared idea is one way to encourage that thinking.  It also allows opportunities to compare … Continue reading →

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Stories about Science Gone Wrong

Posted on August 22, 2016 by msdickson

As with any theme, it can unify stories that might otherwise not be grouped together.  By pairing less obvious stories, teachers can guide students in examining deeper meaning and comparing texts beyond superficial traits.  This can be a good basis … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun Projects, Short Stories, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Personal Writing Topics for Back to School

Posted on August 15, 2016 by msdickson

Personal writing is a good way to get to know students a little better (and safer for certain students than many ice breaker activities.)  Another bonus to using personal writing at the start of a year or semester is using … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Writing, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Thinking About Online Learning

Posted on August 8, 2016 by msdickson

Maybe you’re thinking about taking online classes for professional development or to work on your master’s degree.  Maybe your school is interested in adding online learning options for at-risk students or to expand your electives.  Maybe you’re considering work as … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Education, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Icebreakers and the Bullied, the Introverts, and the Outcasts

Posted on August 3, 2016 by msdickson

Who I am as a teacher is greatly shaped by my experiences as a student.  And my experiences as a student were largely negative.  Oh, I loved learning– still do!  But as the school years ground onward into the years … Continue reading →

Posted in Secondary Education, Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Giveaway!

Posted on August 2, 2016 by msdickson

For back to school, a bunch of Teachers Pay Teachers sellers, including myself, have gotten together for a give away.  Read more about it at http://languageartsclassroom.com/2016/07/back-school-annual-giveaway.html as well as about how to enter. I have contributed one of my products … Continue reading →

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