Category Archives: Secondary Writing

Activities for Teaching Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” Speech in High School and Middle School English ELA Classes

The “I Have a Dream” speech is a popular speech to teach. Students often learn about it at younger grades, though there’s certainly benefit to returning to this powerful speech in the older grades as well. This speech is worth … Continue reading

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Activities to Use With “The Necklace”

“The Necklace” is a short story where the problem could have been prevented with honest communication. It’s a good story for teenagers to illustrate the importance of honest communication, in addition to the value as short story study. The twist … Continue reading

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

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

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Skip the Book Report! Analyze and Create Instead!

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

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Personal Writing Topics for Back to School

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

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How to Differentiate With Literary Essay Writing

There they sit.  Some twenty to thirty students, just finished with a piece of literature and ready to receive instructions for writing a literary essay.  While, in theory, they should all be writing at or around grade-level, in fact, students … Continue reading

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5 Ways to Make Students HATE Poetry (and 5 Things They’ll Like)

Follow this sure fire method to make sure your students come to hate studying poetry in class, or better, reading it at all! Continue reading

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5 Activites for Teaching A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a story that tends to fit nicely in the two or three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Depending on the class and the time available, the activities included may vary. It’s a story … Continue reading

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I’m Thankful for the Thanksgiving Rap or Rhyme

We always have a short week before Thanksgiving break.  At least two school days, sometimes three.  The students are incredibly difficult to focus.  I’ve found that even if I can engage them in our  current task (unit, story, etc.), they … Continue reading

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5 Activities for LSSU’s Annual Banished Words List

Each year, Lake State Superior University gathers and releases their Banished Words list.  Selecting overused and worn out words from the lexicon to be done away with and spare our ears/ eyes.  Of course, it’s just good fun.  Here are … Continue reading

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