Today we started the film The Matrix and the kids are enthralled. What a great feeling to know they are learning the literary devices and analyzing while enjoying the process. Also, I introduced the double-entry journal, the Christ-like character attributes, and the heroic cycle. Everyone dove right in to the the work. While watching the film I ...

Some urban legends are quite popular such as: the man with a hook on Lover’s Lane who loses it on a couple’s door handle, the kids who drive without headlights until flashed by another car, and then they follow and beat the person, the percentages of HIV positive donated blood, babies born in-flight are given free flights forever, ...

I can’t recall where I heard this, and I’ve heard it a couple different ways, but I always liked this one. A Creative Writing teacher created a writing assignment for his students to complete over the weekend, and the tale he deemed the best would win a free pizza. He asked his students to compose a [...]

I turned the movie evening with my students into a hot dog feed. While they watched the movie (Minority Report because of reading Julius Caesar), I barbecued hot dogs and provided chips and pop. It was great! The best part was watching the kids figure out why I showed them this Tom Cruise action flick. Suddenly [...]

It’s state testing day number 6 today! Woo-hoo! I’m amazed how much time it takes to give our state test, the WASL. Just reading the scripted introduction and providing the instructions can take ten minutes. Then, the exam itself takes 2-3 hours per test. Yikes! Those poor kids. On the bright side, I love proctoring the WASL. ...

Everyone deserves a dance. And, everyone deserves a chance to dance. This story is one of those which reinforces why I love working with educators and why I have faith in our youth. Students, alongside teachers and parents, made an often overlooked group of young people feel as lucky as the Prom King and Queen. [...]

I use a lesson format I call the fish bowl. Really, it’s a modified Socratic Seminar except that every student is not required to be an active speaking participant. I have 8-9 students circle up in the middle of the room with their notebooks and texts while the rest of the students make a circle [...]

Eureka! I created a way to keep my bulletin boards changing frequently without increasing my workload. I know it’s not rocket science or a monumental unearthing of educational knowledge, but I got the students to do the work. I copied off a lengthy list of events, people, and items dealing with the 1920s in preparation for [...]

I had 155 students in five classes this semester, and I only had three students earn an ‘F’ grade. It feels great! I have wrestling districts this weekend, so I will try and post some ideas I have on another topic tonight before I leave town. Have a great weekend everyone! [...]

I finished the final grades in two of my classes, and for the first time ever, not one of my senior Mythology and Writing students failed the class. I know that sounds odd, and I’m not sure if it’s more of a commentary about my current or former students (or me then and now), but [...]