Category Archives: Uncategorized

Give Students a Voice on Standardized Testing

Posted on March 31, 2016 by msdickson

No one likes standardized testing.  Students have to suffer through testing.  They often suffer from the pressure of needing to perform, anxiety over how much or little they know, and the stress of getting scores back.  In addition, they have … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

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

Posted on March 18, 2016 by msdickson

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 →

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

Winter Reading for the Secondary Classroom

Posted on January 16, 2016 by msdickson

Even secondary students can enjoy themed assignments.  Not the snow-flake or pumpkin adorned worksheets of primary grades, but themed content done age-appropriately.  It’s much easier to read and imagine winter stories when there is snow on the ground, in my … Continue reading →

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

5 Activites for Teaching A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Posted on December 3, 2015 by msdickson

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 →

Posted in Holidays, Secondary Writing, Short Stories, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I’m Thankful for the Thanksgiving Rap or Rhyme

Posted on November 15, 2015 by msdickson

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 →

Posted in Fun Projects, Holidays, Secondary Education, Secondary Writing, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Why I Don’t Use Multiple Choice Questions

Posted on November 6, 2015 by msdickson

Creating and administering tests is used as an important gauge of student learning by teachers, parents, and administrators.  It’s not the only way, but it’s probably the most common.  In my classroom, when I have to give a test or … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Secondary Education, Teaching, Testing, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

5 Creepy Short Stories for Halloween

Posted on October 25, 2015 by msdickson

Short stories area  great way to work in different themes or study of different literary devices.  And the holidays can provide some nice tie-ins, even at the secondary level. Here are some of my favorites that fit well around Halloween– … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Short Stories, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | Tagged | 5 Comments

5 Activities for LSSU’s Annual Banished Words List

Posted on October 21, 2015 by msdickson

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 →

Posted in Fun Projects, Secondary Education, Secondary Writing, Teaching, Teaching Ideas, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment