Theme Graphing

My seventh graders are learning about theme, which is one of my very favorite things to learn about! We've already learned about what theme is and how to find it, so today it was time to take it to the next level. One of our standards says students have to analyze the development of multiple themes throughout a work of literature -- which sounds a little daunting for kiddos who spend the majority of their days flipping bottles and dabbing randomly for no reason whatsoever. A lot of my students are visual learners, so I decided to have them graph the themes in our book with different colors. Each student had to pick two themes and assign a different theme to each color. Each chapter of our book (Island of the Blue Dolphins) has a column on the graph. Students had to review each chapter to determine how strong they felt their themes were in that chapter, and then they plotted the themes on a scale of "absent" to "incredibly present" (or low to high). I heard my students discussing the themes, saying things like, "Death is a theme if animals are dying, right?" "I think the theme of loneliness is strongest in chapter 8 because Karana had just lost Ramo and hadn't found Rontu yet." I was so happy with them! Tomorrow we will start finding quotes to support the themes they chose.  I definitely think this is a project to repeat next year. How do you make themes tangible for your students?

 

  

Symbol Cymbals!

     This year my eighth-grade students are reading Audacity, by Melanie Crowder, and we are looking at the many symbols presented in the novel.  Of course, symbolism's subtlety can cause middle-school students confusion and frustration, so this year I decided to teach symbols with the most un-subtle thing I could find:  CYMBALS!  I borrowed a pair of the finest cymbals from our school's band director (conveniently my husband) and waited for class to start.  As the eighth-graders filed into the room, the shiny cymbals immediately caught their attention.  

     "I want to play the cymbals!"

     "No, I actually know how to play them!  Can I play them?"

     "She gets to play them all the time!  This is my only chance!  I want to play the cymbals!"

     After the initial commotion, the students settled down, eyes fixed on the cymbals at the front of the room.  I explained that the students would be taking turns playing our symbol cymbals, and I chose a student to take the first turn (next time, I will probably use an app to randomly select students).  The student stood at the front of the room as I read from our novel aloud.  During the first class, I asked the symbol cymbal player to clash the cymbals each time he heard something that may be a symbol.  Finding the symbol seemed to put the cymbal player "on the spot" more than he wanted, which was ironic since he wanted to clash loud metal disks together with all of his might and with a classroom full of peers watching.  Still, I decided I needed to adjust for the next group.  For them I put a symbol cymbal player at the front of the room, but had the class find symbols.  Each time they found a symbol and explained its meaning, the cymbal player got to clash the cymbals, and another classmate was able to take his or her place.  This was extra motivation for the class to find a symbol and its meaning, because the more symbols they found, the higher their chance was of getting a turn at playing the cymbals up front.  

     The cymbals probably would not have worked before my students understood what symbolism meant, but my students' problem was not a lack of understanding -- they simply did not notice the symbols because they were not actively searching for them.  Our symbol cymbals helped to draw attention to the symbols as they read, and that was exactly what my kids needed.  

     How do you make symbolism obvious for your students?  I would love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

My Happy Grading Stamp

Hi, my name is Olivia, and I am a red-pen-aholic.  Give me an error-ridden essay and a red pen, and I will make that paper bleed.  My desk looks like the Boston Massacre, and so does every event program, church bulletin, or other piece of print that dares to come my way.  Unfortunately, my inky addiction can hurt those closest to me, including my innocent, well-meaning students.  I know that students need affirmation and positive feedback, but when time is limited, it’s easy to get caught in the pen’s crimson grasp and forget to leave words of encouragement.  This year I ordered a happy yellow stamp to pump up the positive in my feedback.  It says, “You Just Made My Day! –Mrs. Gold,” and while I know this is only a start, I know that I will look for any excuse to stamp my message because it is so bright and cheery!  

 Here’s to hoping my hyper-sensitivity to good work will help me write more meaningful feedback, as well.  What are some fun ways you have found to leave positive feedback?   

Surviving Teacher Orientation

Today marks the beginning of a brand-new school year at a brand-new-to-me school with a brand-new-to-me job.  This year I will teach seventh and eighth grade reading to one hundred and fifty unsuspecting middle schoolers, and I plan to enjoy it thoroughly.  Of all the high school grades, I've always liked teaching freshmen best, and I figure seventh and eighth graders are just extra freshman-y.  Right?

But before the kids show up, we have teacher orientation, which started today.  I knew it might be a long day for those of us not particularly enraptured with blood-borne pathogen statistics and dismemberment insurance policies, so I made this BINGO game pictured below:

Somewhere on Pinterest, I remembered seeing teachers who did this for their school's faculty meetings, and it definitely did keep things interesting.  I gave a copy to my sister-in-law (who also has a brand-new-to-her teaching job) and kept the other copy for myself.  Unfortunately, I failed BINGO miserably because we did not see any new teachers using gel pens and we did hear an educational rap from the mic.  And let me tell you, I didn't think anything could get more awkward than an educational rap about reporting abuse, but then it did when we watched a video of kids hugging each others' knees as they ran in circles, and we were asked to do the same.  Sometimes I wonder what non-teachers do in their meetings.  Like sit?  And talk?  I really cannot even imagine.

How do the rest of you teachers make the time pass during long meetings?  

Washi and the Novel

It's that time of the year again -- the time of year when a big brown box shows up in the front office, packed to the brim with copies of new-smelling novels for my freshman English class.  This year I decided to try something new with my teacher copy because after the first two class periods of our To Kill a Mockingbird unit, I was already driving myself crazy with the constant flipping back and forth, back and forth . . . trying to find students' questions, their favorite quotes, and the wonderful points they brought up in class.  I can easily use bookmarks to hold the place of my favorite quotes and insights, but I thought it might be helpful to find a more subtle way to mark each chapter of the book for future reference.  I have quite the stash of washi tape in my craft collection, so I lined the first page of each chapter with a variety of tapes.  I can now easily flip through the chapters with ease, and I am in love with the new look!

 I first cut a piece of washi tape long enough for the page, then pressed it down and folded it over to the other side.  I let the fold extend about 1/16" from the edge of the page so my fingers can easily find each chapter.  I also love the way this makes the pages look when the book is closed.

Have any other fun ways to section off a book in style?  I would love to hear all about them in the comments!

Canterbury Tales Playlist

As the wife of a music teacher, I find myself surrounded by a cacophony of musical inspiration each day.  Inevitably, this music works its way into my English lessons, as it did this week in the case of The Canterbury Tales.  This year my senior British Literature class took about five days to read through the Prologue, and after the first day of reading, I was already sensing some yawns and drooping heads.  I decided to break up the monotony with a daily "Canterbury Playlist" for the remainder of the week.  At the beginning of each class period, I played a song that reminded me of one of the Canterbury characters, and I picked a lucky student to guess which one.  We had a good laugh and tried another song until we had reviewed each of the characters from the previous day.  Then I had my students send me links to YouTube songs that reminded them of various Canterbury characters.  This is the most fun I have had with Chaucer's prologue in the four years I have taught this unit!

Here are the songs I chose for the different characters (I only played about 30 seconds of each):

Knight – “Battle Scars” Lupe Fiasco

The knight bravely fought in many battles.  Obviously, this song is talking about figurative scars, but it reminds me of the knight's courage regardless!

Squire – “I Get Around” Beach Boys OR “I Feel Pretty” West Side Story

I played "I Get Around" for my students since they seemed particularly amused by the Squire's exploits with the ladies, but next time I might play "I Feel Pretty."  This guy was dressed like a meadow, for goodness' sake!

Yeoman – “I’m Still a Guy” Brad Paisley

Any pilgrim wearing camouflage deserves this song played in his honor.  My students caught on to this one right away! 

Prioress – “Mr. Lonely” Bobby Vinton

Because The Canterbury Tales was written in a time when older siblings had to marry before the younger could enter matrimony, unattractive elder sisters were often given to the convent so their younger siblings could marry.  The Prioress is described as a very large woman with a forehead the width of an outstretched hand, making this scenario extremely plausible.  The poor, lonely, nun. :(

Monk – “My Way” Frank Sinatra

The Monk is known for breaking all the rules.  He does everything "his way." Clever, right?
  

Friar – “I’m Gonna Marry for Money” Trace Adkins

This one is more of a stretch, but the Friar is Mr. Charming in any situation that could get him a dime.  He sweet talks and gives gifts in order to beg for money.  "Marry for Money" follows the same theme.

Wife of Bath – “I Do” Colbie Caillat

I recommend starting this song right at the chorus.  The multiple I dos fit right in with our chatty, gap-toothed wedding addict.

Pardoner – “You Lie” Band Perry

Here's another song I start playing right at the chorus.  The Pardoner is such a slimy liar, and this song puts a humorous twist on the lies.  A few of my students suggested "White Liar," sung by Miranda Lambert, and I might actually choose that one next time!

Miller – “Mean” Taylor Swift

All the Miller will ever be is mean.  And mean.  And mean.  And mean.  And . . .  

Summoner – “Bad Boys” Bob Marley

This one cracks me up.  Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when the Summoner comes for you?

Parson – “My Story” Big Daddy Weave

The parson is one character in the Prologue who devotes his life to following Christ's example and practicing what he preaches.  This is where we first see reformation thinking in The Canterbury Tales.  I chose a song about a man who follows Christ for this reason.
  

Oxford Cleric – “Quiet” Demi Lovato

I'm not a huge fan of this song, but the chorus mentions silence and being quiet, which is one of the qualities I was hoping my students would remember about the Oxford Cleric.  Hey, I'll take any chance to remind teenagers that every word counts.  Now, if only I could find a song that had that message specifically!  Leave a comment with any suggestions!

Man of Law – “I’m in a Hurry and Don’t Know Why” Florida Georgia Line Feat. Alabama

The lawyer always appears busier than he is.  When we talked about this character, I showed my students a Seinfeld clip in which George demonstrates the secret to looking busy:  "I just look annoyed!"   This song is all about being too busy without good reason, and it is one of the song choices that I am most tickled with.

Merchant – “Thrift Shop” Pentatonix

First, make sure to play the Pentatonix version of this song to avoid any expletives.  Other than that minor concern, I love this song for the Merchant!  My students guessed this one right away, as the Merchant's secret debt seemed to meet their fancy.

Plow Man – “I’m a Hard-workin’ Man” Brooks & Dunn

Our poor pooper-scooper is best represented with this blue-color song by Brooks & Dunn.  Actually, I'll take any excuse to listen to some good old-fashioned Brooks & Dunn.  I'm still in denial that they have split up!

Manciple – “Smarter” Eisley

This is another song I wouldn't mind replacing if anybody out there has a good suggestion, but I love that it focuses on the singer being smarter than people think.  This seemed to fit the illiterate-but-secretly-intelligent Manciple perfectly.

Skipper – “Calypso” John Denver

Replace the name "Calypso" with "Maudelayne," and you have a poetic description of the Skipper's life at sea.  I used to play this song on repeat as a kid.  It just makes me so happy!

Franklin – “Party Rock Anthem” 

Everything about the Franklin screams PARTY!  Just don't be surprised if the entire class starts busting a move when this song comes on. :)

Doctor – “Stars” Switchfoot

My students are usually surprised to learn that the doctor treats his patients based on the positioning of the stars, rather than their symptoms.   This song immediately popped into my mind!

Reeve – “One Piece at a Time” Johnny Cash

I know the Reeve isn't the only thief among the Canterbury crowd, but because he steals from his work stealthily, just as the singer steals from his job at the car factory sneakily, I thought this was a spot-on match.
  

Cook – “Apples and Bananas” Barney and Friends

Since none of us wants to listen to a song about chicken cooked with the pus from a knee ulcer, I am a big fan of this more innocent take on a cook's life.  Apples and bananas all the way!  And opples and bononos! (Did anybody else sing this as a small child?)
  

Host – “Be Our Guest” Beauty and the Beast

Need I say more?
  

I would love to hear any suggestions you may have for an updated playlist, as I plan to play this game a few more times with my students before we continue with our unit.  For more Canterbury Shenanigans, feel free to check out my Canterbury Tales Speed Dating Printables in my TpT store!

I look forward to hearing your spectacular ideas!

Olivia Gold

Creative English Classroom

My DIY Writer Shoes

The internet is flooded with teacher-specific wardrobe options:  t-shirts that look like notebook paper, knee-socks that look like pencils, and fingernails plastered in handwritten script.  English nerds such as myself would buy every writing-themed article of teacher clothing we could get our hands on if it weren't for our modest teaching salary.  I scroll past each blue-lined t-shirt and sharpened sock toe, practically drooling over my keyboard, but still I held tightly to my dear paycheck.  Then I thought of an option that let me have my paycheck and wear it too.

My first book will be published in October, and I'm planning a big launch party in my community (for friends, family, fellow teachers, administrators, students and families, church members, etc.).  I want to keep my outfit classy, but when else will I have such a wonderful excuse to deck myself out in writing attire?  I determined that the solution was DIY writer shoes -- a pair of thrift-store heels transformed with pages from my own book.  I rummaged around in my closet to find a pair of $4 high-heels I had purchased from Goodwill about 5 years ago, and I grabbed a bottle of $6 Mod Podge from the dining room (because that's where all good teachers should keep their bottles of Mod Podge).  Then I printed out a few pages from my book--making sure to print the passages about shoes, clothing, and the like--and cut out small strips of text to apply to the shoes.

I painted a thin layer of Mod Podge to the shoe and placed each strip of paper onto the shoe slowly, painting Mod Podge over each scrap of paper before moving on to the next section of shoe.  That was all there was to it!  Because I wasn't fond of the heel color, I used some 78-cent acrylic paint (again from my dining room) to paint the heel and platform of the shoe and sealed it with acrylic spray (surprisingly not found in my dining room because it had migrated to the guest room), but even if I had skipped the painting, I think I would have been fairly thrilled with my new-to-me writer shoes.  I can't wait to wear them to my party, and I'm sure I'll wear them to class in the future, as well!  What kind of teacher-nerd/writer-nerd wardrobe options do you love to DIY?

Cough, Though, and Rough -- There's a Reason

We've all heard rants on the confusing irregularities of our English language:  "Why doesn't cough rhyme with though?"  "If the plural of goose is geese, why isn't the plural of moose meese?" Most of us have even seen this image floating about the internet when some woe-is-me English student is especially distraught:

Richard Lederer has a point -- our language can seem confusing.  This is why on the very first day of British Literature class, before we've even taken out our notebooks and pencils, and before we have opened our literature books,  I show my students the image above and tell my class, "English is a crazy language."  I then show them the fictional word ghoti, and inevitably one of the kids sitting near the back will call out, "I saw that on the internet!  It's fish!" The studious kiddos (who are reaching for their notepads already) cast nervous glances around the classroom as I affirm the internet-meme savant's observation.  If you take the gh from laugh, the o from women, and the ti from lotion, these sounds do sound out the word fish.  It's true.  Our language is messed-up, awkward, and seemingly random, but I emphasize that the English language is not arbitrary.  These incongruous spellings, awkward pronunciations, and frustrating usage rules have a rich history that begins with soldiers who painted themselves blue like smurfs and refused to bathe.  (Finally, each student has begun to take down notes, and the real "lesson" has begun.)

This fun attention-grabber is my favorite way to start the year!  What tricks do you use to hook your students' attention for a semester of English class?  Comment below!

Also, check out my fellow ELA bloggers' ideas through the link-up below.  Happy Back-to-School season!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Liebster Award

I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Literary Sherri, Secondary Sara, and Tickled Pink in Primary!  (Thank you, ladies!)  This is a fun way for new bloggers to get to know each other, and I will now accept the nomination by answering a few questions about myself and nominating several other bloggers.  

1.  When did you start your blog?

I started this blog about a year ago but have hardly had a chance to post yet!  I can't wait to begin sharing our fun classroom projects on a more regular basis.

2.  What is the purpose of your blog?

I love having fun with my students in the classroom, and I enjoy sharing ideas with other teachers.  When teachers share their inspiration, there's no stopping us!

3.  What is your favorite blog post so far?

I especially like my blog post about vocabulary games, mostly because that's my students' favorite part of class.  It's fun to watch them get so absorbed in an activity!

4.  What do you like best about teaching?

I love when my students say, "Mrs. Gold, I took your advice and . . ."  Many times, I don't even remember giving the advice!  Either way, it feels amazing to know that kids can take my ramblings and use them toward their future successes.  Go kids, go!

5.  What is one blog post you would like to write but haven't yet?

Novel Shoebox Projects.  Details at Eleven.  (Or in a few weeks. : )

6.  Which blogs would you like to nominate for the Liebster Award?

I have been impressed with the following blogs.  I don't know whether or not some of them have been nominated for the award already, but these bloggers are amazing!

 

http://myclassroomcallouts.blogspot.com/

http://cantstopsmilinginsecond.blogspot.com/

http://teachingtykesblog.blogspot.com/

http://createlearnexplore.blogspot.com/

http://theresasteachingtidbits.blogspot.com/

http://smartsyandartsyteachers.blogspot.com/

http://gottaluvitcreations.com/

http://teaching-internationally.blogspot.com/

http://twoboysandadadteacher.blogspot.com/

http://www.englishohmy.blogspot.com/

http://firstgradeenigmas.blogspot.com/

http://mrspreziososkindergarten.blogspot.com/

http://caffeinequeenteacher.blogspot.com/

http://www.curriculumandcrayons.blogspot.com/

www.theeslconnection.blogspot.com

http://www.thepowertoteach.com/

http://www.thepowertoteach.com/

http://www.thepowertoteach.com/

http://aharwelltheteachermom.blogspot.com/

www.vivifystem.com/blog

5 Reasons Your High School Students Need to Read Audacity, by Melanie Crowder, NOW

Last week I picked up a young-adult novel and didn't put it down until I finished it four hours later.  This is not normal for me.  But neither is the book.

Audacity, by Melanie Crowder, incorporates everything I love about literature into a relevant novel for teenagers.  Here are five reasons your high-school students need to read this novel today:

1.  Relevant Themes of Courage, Difficult Decisions, and Standing Up for Others

Although this novel is set in the early twentieth century, its themes are spot-on for teenagers in 2015.  Clara, the protagonist, continually pushes herself out of her comfort zone -- even giving up some of her own dreams -- in order to speak out against her co-workers' mistreatment and inequality in the workplace.  These themes spawn excellent discussion questions:  "Which is more important -- the process or the outcome?"  "Who or what has the greatest influence on the decisions you make?"  "Which factors can hold people back from pursuing their dreams?"  The possibilities are endless.

2.  Free Verse

This may initially deter some young readers, but Crowder's free-verse writing style is perfect for teenagers with short attention spans.  Each "chapter" takes only one-three minutes to read, which helps readers find the main point quickly and accurately.  Besides, many teenagers have little to no experience with modern poetry, and Audacity provides an excellent example of this writing style without the seemingly irrelevant subject matter of some older authors.

3.  Stunning Figurative Language

I have never been this blown away by an author's use of crisp, clean imagery.  Both physical and abstract images came to life as I read Crowder's verses, and the many similes and metaphors stopped me in my tracks -- I had to re-read many lines simply because they were too good to read just once!  For students learning figurative language in the classroom, this novel can provide excellent examples of integrated literary devices.

4.  Historical Context

Equality can be difficult to discuss in many classrooms with its heated debates and current events.  Audacity's early twentieth-century setting helps to place distance between its events and students' emotions, while still addressing this sensitive issue.  Clara Lemlich, the novel's protagonist, was a real-life women's-rights activist, and this novel gives students a better picture of her life and mission as they wrestle with the complications of equality today.

5.  Female Protagonist

Clara Lemlich is one of the greatest female role models of the early twentieth century, but her courage and selflessness are worthy of emulation by both male and female teenagers. Let's hear it for powerful women of history!

I loved this book more than I have loved a book in a long time, and I am so excited that books of this quality are still being added to the market.  Have you read the book?  Let me know what you thought in the comments section below!

The Smaller Desk

Some days I miss the smaller desk 

Where I sat and I listened and learned.

I answered when called upon -- that was enough--

And my teachers' approval I'd earned.

Some days I miss the smaller desk

Where I read when they told me to read.

I wrote when they told me to write.  That was all

That I needed for me to succeed.

Some days I miss the smaller desk

Where I kept just a notebook and pen.

I'd write a few lines that I thought sounded smart,

But if not, I could just try again.

Some days I miss the smaller desk

Where I counted down days 'til I'd leave.

The end was in sight, and my thoughts flew beyond

To the dreams that I knew I'd achieve.

Some days I miss the smaller desk,

For now twenty such desks point at me.

But the bigger desk gives me the chance to become

Who the smaller desk taught me to be.

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How to Make Classy DIY Dry-erase Boards

I know I should be using my time to plan and grade, but I simply canNOT pass up the opportunity for useful DIY projects in my classroom.  This past school year, I decided to experiment with individual dry-erase board ideas for my students, and I came up with an inexpensive solution: 67-cent picture frames from Wal-Mart.  I inserted decorative scrap-booking paper and dabbed a few layers of magnetic paint on the pack, and I was able to store the attractive frames with markers magnetized to the backs.  I loved the unique aesthetic value, as well as the financial bargain!  Take a look through the pictures below, and let me know about any other DIY classroom hacks that have worked for you!