May 1, 2021

John Lewis March Book One

Intentional Planning

John Lewis March Book One is a must-read during a civil rights lesson. It’s not surprising today that my “March“ mini-lesson plan is one of my top sellers in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop. Teachers are looking for ways to talk about rioting, action, inequality, values, and change. When I teach a lesson about equality I begin with teaching students the importance of values. Students look to educators to set an example and answer questions for what to do in situations like George Floyd. What can we do? What can I do? How can a navigate change safely? There is no magic answer, but it is essential that we handle these inquiries with a lot of careful thought and intentional lesson planning.

Values

When I teach any of the standards for tolerance, (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) I like to begin with teaching tolerance starting small with an assignment on identity. First we start with the identity of the students by looking at their values. I provide a long list of values and they choose 7. The list of values is as follows:

Awareness Optimistic Courage Power Creativity Philanthropy Growth Success Love Strength Integrity Privacy Tolerance loyalty Respect Passion Responsibility Discipline Resourcefulness Preparedness Spirituality Punctuality Peace Spirituality

Once they have chosen 7 values, they explain why they chose them, and then narrow it down to their three core values. Once they have a clear understanding of what their values are we take a look at identity and align how those values create their identity. See Social Emotional Learning at the bottom for my social emotional learning lesson.

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Cultural Goggles Poster

Students are to next create a teaching tolerance poster, called, the “Cultural Goggles“(Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) poster. “Cultural goggles” can be defined as a set of beliefs and values that we carry with us that affect the way we see the world and how we operate in it. Our “cultural goggles” is bias that is unique to our particular background in understanding that each person comes with their own set of “goggles“. We can hopefully eliminate assumptions and instead grow respect for one another. Requirements for the assignment must be a pie graph with four sections with labels that make up the students identity. For example: religion, family, friends, and school. Students are to explain how each section is unique to them. Once students have a clear understanding of their own identity it is much easier for them to identify character values. You can even have your students create a “cultural goggles” poster for a character you are reading about.

Edmund Pettus Bridge

The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of the conflict of Bloody Sunday on March 7th, 1965, and police attacked civil rights movement demonstrators with horses, Billy clubs, and tear gas as they were attempting to March to the state Capitol. It’s important to talk about John Lewis and his participation in the March. You can also show interview clips where he discusses his participation and make it relevant by showing a short clip of his recent passing. Events are more relevant to students when they have a clear picture of the time period.

Moving backwards leading up to the march, discuss those people and events that were the catalyst to the big event. The March was the biggest event that has ever existed in Washington followed by JFK’s presidential inauguration. Important figures to mention are Rosa Parks and how she refused to sit in the back of the bus and was arrested. A catalyst to the civil rights movement. Students learn about Parks when they are young but putting it into context here is essential in their understanding of what led up to the March.

John Lewis and James Lawson

James Lawson held workshops that included simulations in order to prepare the students to handle verbal and physical harassment that they would ultimately face during the civil rights protests. These were psychological exercises to support students through the atrocities of trauma they would face. Can you imagine? People fighting for equality are treated with such disdain it would bring about a traumatic experience in their lives including PTSD. Many students didn’t make it through Lawson’s training and this was a simulated experience.

Sit-Ins

The protests began with peaceful Sit-ins, which lasted six months were part of a nonviolent direct-action campaign to end racial segregation at lunch counters in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Students would meet at a specific time in a restaurant that segregated black people from white people and they would sit up at the lunch counter, which wasn’t allowed for black people. They would sit peacefully and not say anything. They were taunted and verbally abused by owners, but they just sat and remained silent. It’s harder to become violent with peaceful protesters than it is with violent protesters or protesters who are antagonistic. How does one justify their own raunchy behavior if someone isn’t doing anything wrong. These students became significant leaders in the civil rights movement.

The first sit-in was the Greensboro sit–in. The Greensboro sit-in was a civil rights protest that started in 1960, when young African American students staged a sit in at a segregated Wolesworth lunch counter in Greensboro , North Carolina, and refused to leave after being denied service. The sit in movement soon spread to college towns throughout the South. Students continued a peaceful protest. They allowed others to commit violence to them but would not lift a violent hand back.

The judge found the college students who sat at the lunch counters guilty immediately and put them in jail. This brought the attention to white people who primarily were not in favor of segregation. Once white people began to take action the movement took off even more. This is why it is crucial that all people take action when there is inequality. More and more students continued to march to store counters. Peaceful protests began working as it was more difficult to beat someone up who wouldn’t fight or yell back. Dynamite went off out front of Alexander Looby’s house, an NAACP activist attorney. This was a pivotal movement for the March on Pettus Bridge.

Questions

Once I have completed a lesson that is emotionally charged, like the one above, I complete the lesson with some social emotional learning (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) and have students participate in a breathing exercise like the one below.

Observing is bringing your mind back to the sensations of your body and mind. Observe your breath: Breathe evenly and gently, focusing your attention on:

1. The movement of your stomach.

a. As you begin to breathe in, allow your belly to rise in order to bring air into the lower half of your body.

b. As the upper halves of your lungs begin to fill with air, your chest begins to rise.

c. As you breathe out, notice your belly, then notice your chest. Don’t tire yourself.

2. The pauses in your breathing

a. As you breathe in, notice the brief pause when your lungs have filled with air.

b. As you breathe out, notice the brief pause when your lungs have expelled air.

3. The sensations in your nose as you breathe in and as you breathe out.

a. As you breathe, close your mouth and breathe in through your nose, noticing the sensation in your nostrils.

4. Your breathe while walking slowly, breathe normally.

a. Determine the length of your breath the exhalation and the inhalation by the number of your footsteps

b. Watch to see whether the inhalation also lengthens by one step or not after 20 breaths. Return to breathing

A breathing exercise helps to ensure that they leave the room feeling calm and at peace rather than confused, scared and on high alert for their next class or lunch. It’s important for them to know that they are safe.

I would love to hear how you teach students about action, like the March on Washington! Or how you discuss the riots happening today. Please leave a comment in the comment section below!

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If you would like to learn more about social emotional learning visit my blog post HERE

April 23, 2021

9 Best Halloween Lesson Plans for Teens

Spooky Short Stories and Poems

Halloween lesson plans are a must in October. This is my most favorite time of the year to teach lessons! Students love spooky stories and poems-they don’t care what it is they just love to be scared. I have taken years to build up my Halloween curriculum and I will share student favorite Halloween lesson plans with you here. Full lessons for the stories below are listed below:

Egg Horror Poem and Incident in a Rose Garden Combo. Lesson

Lamb to the Slaughter

The Yellow Wallpaper

The Veldt

The Elevator

Bundle of Scary Stories

Edgar Allen Poe Bundle

The Masque of the Red Death

The Tell Tale Heart

The Raven

Halloween Lesson Plans: “Incident in a Rose Garden” Poem by Donald Justice

I begin by passing out a copy of the poem. Students and I go over figurative language as a review. We also review how to read a poem-whether you pause for a period, coma, or hyphen; intonate for a question; add emotion for an exclamation. Once we have reviewed figurative language and how to read a poem, we read it twice. The first time to process and the second time for anything that was missed. Students next take time in small groups to practice a close reading on the poem and answer questions. “Incident in a Rose Garden” is a fun poem about a gardener who is working for his employer when something resembling “the Grim Reaper” appears. The gardener flees to his master quitting his job and proclaiming he is going to go live the last moments of his life to the fullest. The frustrated employer, walks to find the grim figure and when he does, the employer scolds the grim ghost for scaring his employee. It is at this point we learn that the grim reaper is not there for the gardener but for the employer.

Halloween Lesson Plans: “Egg Horror Poem” by Laurel Winter

I pass out a copy of “The Egg Horror Poem” as well as a list of literary devices. I review literary devices with students prior to reading “The Egg Horror Poem”. The poem is about eggs that are personified and brought to life. They wait in agony in the fridge while the owner opens the fridge to make an omelet, egg salad sandwich, or the worst- the meringue pie, which requires the most eggs and egg beaters- the most painful of the egg tools. This poem seems more comical at first until students begin to make connections to similarities in events such as the Holocaust and other horrific historical events. This is when it becomes bone chilling rather than funny. Students spend time answering questions and then create their own food to be personified in a spine tingling manner.

Halloween Lesson Plans: “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” by Emily Dickinson

“Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.”

Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Because I Could Not Step for Death” is a great poem to teach rythme and rhyme. It also is a reminder that we are all unaware of when we will go and to keep life’s beauty and timeliness in perspective.

Halloween Lesson Plans: “Goblin Market” by Christina Rosetti

“Goblin Market” is a long poem by Christina Rosetti. Once I have completed the poetry lessons with students, I use the “Goblin Market” to assess their learning. There are many images, and videos created for the “Goblin Market” that can be used to engage students and enhance learning. If you are teaching middle school, then I would go with “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe. Goblin Market should be used beginning with the high school level. “The Raven” is another classic of Edgar Allen Poe’s that has been copied for generations. The raven is symbolic for bringing news, and for holding the spirit of someone who has passed on. Just look at “Game of Thrones“. “The Raven” is a poem about a man who has lost his beautiful wife Lenore. The Raven continues to visit tapping on the window and at first it is comforting to the man. After this goes on for a while the man becomes agitated and is becoming mad. He cannot get rid of the memories of his wife nor can he move on from her death as there is always something to remind him of her. We watch as the character goes through the different stages of grief.

Halloween Lesson Plans: Edgar Allen Poe

A question that is often asked: Is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? The answer, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. However, I think he should get credit for his original ideas that have been copied and repeated in books, short stories, poems, and movies over the years. Today it is difficult to come up with new material because most ideas have been written about. Imagine having to be the first to create horror stories? This would be even harder. For this reason, Edgar Allen Poe takes the cake on horror stories, which are perfect for Halloween!

“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe

“The Masque of the Red Death” is at the top of my list for short stories by Edgar Allen Poe. “The Masque of the Red Death” pertains to today in that it is about the red death during a time when the death rate was through the roof and even the upper-class couldn’t escape the plague…but they sure tried. The story begins with primarily the lower-class peasants dying at a rapid rate from the black plague. Despite death being everywhere, a rich Prince Prospero decides he is going to invite his rich friends over, shut everyone out and/or in and party through until the plague has passed. He is an arrogant man and the idea of celebrating while so many are dying is as pretentious as it is callous. For a few days everyone celebrates with eating, dancing and being merry. In the castle the prince has rooms that are a different color. Edgar Allen Poe, during a time when authors didn’t use metaphors, was using color as metaphor. The blue room, purple, room, yellow room etc. were happy places to be but no one entered the red room. At the end of the story the music shuts off and a man “death” in a mask (the plague) emerges from the red room to the party. The host charges him and dies immediately and everyone drops and dies in the end. I love this short story for several reasons. First it pertains to today’s pandemic, but it also puts our pandemic in perspective in that we are lucky this is a virus unlike the red death. It shows the audacity of particular groups of people who think they are untouchable and reserve no compassion for those who are less fortunate and vulnerable, and the use of colors, metaphors, symbols and lessons learned are brilliant, especially in this time period!

“The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allen Poe

“The Pit and the Pendulum” should win an award for being the most copied on one of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories list. It is a tale during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. A prisoner awakens in a torture chamber and is trying to find a way out. It is Edgar Allen Poe’s use of anticipation that further positions him as the greatest author of horror stories. It begins with the man trying to keep himself busy by doing exercises, and writing on the wall. This seems like torture until the room opens up and he finds himself tied to the ground with corpse rats charging at him. This is a scene that has been recaptured in several works and T.V. shows. I have seen it in “Criminal Minds”, and “Bone Collector” to name a couple. Rats eating dead bodies at some point sparked the idea of rats eating live bodies and Edgar Allen Poe was the first to capture this horror. The next set of torture is a pit on one side and a swinging sharp pendulum swaying back and forth getting closer and closer to the prisoner. The prisoner has a short period of time to try and outsmart the device and is saved at the end. Can anyone say “Saw“? Saw’s entire plot surrounds same ideas from “The Pit and the Pendulum”. In the end the prisoner is saved right in time by the opposition. This is the second of my favorites of stories by Edgar Allen Poe. This story is copied for generations and continues to be copied, it captures the horror of torture, and it leaves the story with a feeling of anxiety as though the man will end up right back where he started. The Spanish Inquisition was a time when distrust was high and no one was safe.

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe

“The Cask of Amontillado” is among one of the best Edgar Allen Poe tales. What is so farsighted about “The Cask of Amontillado” is that Edgar Allen Poe has so much insight into a level of psychology that was not studied at this time. A man named Fortunado has somehow offended Luchesi. The offense was a mild one as Fortunado puts his complete trust in Luchesi when he agrees to go down to his wine cellar for a cask of Amontillado (wine). Fortunado has plotted and planned this murder for some time and waited for the right moment to kill Fortunado. Luchesi even knows Fortunado’s weakness and makes an offer Fortunado cannot refuse on his weakness’ behalf. Fortunado cannot say no to a good bottle of wine and is willing to take a long journey down to the catacombs of Luchesi’s wine cellar. Fortunado (a very ironic name) willingly walks down the narrow stone steps, coughing as he is already sick, and the damp air is making him worse. Fortunado heads into a hole dug into a wall to get to his hamartia-the wine, when he is shut in by Luchesi. The fact that Fortunado was still willing to crawl into a space suggests that Fortunado was an alcoholic during a time when alcoholism was not understood. Edgar Allen Poe gives a chilling account of anger, bargaining, denial, and acceptance at the grieving of Fortundo’s own death.

“The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe

I hate to say it but “The Tell Tale Heart” is one of his most popular works and is one of my least favorites. However there is still much to be said about Edgar Allen Poe and his writing talents in this short story. “The Tell Tale Heart” opens with a man who is middle aged arguing to the audience that he isn’t mad, which makes you quickly realize that you are dealing with someone who is mentally unstable. He goes on to state that he loved the old man (whom he killed) and “took no offense of him”. He states that he killed the man because of his eye. One can deduce that the old man had blue eyes and a bad case of cataracts. One can also deduce that the man serving him entered into a psychotic paranoid state when he decided to kill the man because of his eye. The next display of his complete paranoia is when he buries the man under the floorboards and the police enter to inquire about the missing man. The middle-aged man continues to hear the beating of the old man’s heart inside his head and yells out confessing that he killed the old man. Like in “The Cask of Amontillado”.

Additional Halloween Lesson Plans to Tingle Your Spine

“The Elevator”, “Lamb to the Slaughter” Roald Dahl, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. “The Elevator” is about a boy who has a fear of riding elevators and of the mysterious large woman who rides in it. “Lamb to the Slaughter” is about a woman who kills her cheating husband with a frozen leg of lamb and then feeds it to the police, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about a woman who suffers from mental illness and begins to see things within the wallpaper, “The Veldt” is about technology and how children can turn away from their parents and towards technology even if it means a lion will eat them.

I’d love to hear how you will spook your students this Halloween! Please leave a comment in the comments section below.

To read my blog on Edgar Allen Poe: Is He Truly the Greatest Horror Author click HERE

Teachers Pay Teachers Products

Egg Horror Poem and Incident in a Rose Garden Combo. Lesson

Lamb to the Slaughter

The Yellow Wallpaper

The Veldt

The Elevator

Bundle of Scary Stories

Edgar Allen Poe Bundle

The Masque of the Red Death

The Tell Tale Heart

The Raven

The Bells

The Cask of Amontillado

The Pit and the Pendulum

April 16, 2021

17 African American Urban Fiction Books You Must Read!

African American Urban Fiction Blog Summary

African American Urban Fiction has become very popular- and that is not surprising considering our cultural climate today. It is essential to begin teaching students African American Literature as they begin to read novels-so elementary school. It becomes most essential when they begin to learn about American Literature in the 8th grade. There are several popular and new African American Urban fiction novels available today and I will help to eliminate the weeding out by providing a list of great African American Literature reading lists for you to get started on in your classroom.

African American Urban Fiction: “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams Garcia

“One Crazy Summer” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Rita Williams Garcia is a book about a girl and her two younger sisters who were abandoned by their mother as young children. They haven’t seen their mom, a.k.a. Cecile in years and do not remember her. Their grandfather believes it is time for them to meet their mother and sends the girls from Brooklyn, to Oakland, California. Cecile is cold, unkind, and anything but motherly as she does her best to welcome them into her home. The story is told from the point-of-view of the protagonist, an 11 year-old-girl and one of Cecile’s abandoned daughters. Cecile is part of the Black Panther Movement and left her children for complicated reasons. Although she is not let off the hook as a mother, we do get a glimpse into the very difficult and impossible life of a young girl that was Cecile. It is a book coming-of-age book about healing.

African American Urban Fiction: “Dear Justyce” by Nic Stone

“Dear Justyce” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) is a fictional novel written by Nic Stone. It is the sequel to “Dear Martin“. The reason behind Nic Stone deciding to write “Dear Justyce” is because the main character from “Dear Martin”-Justyce comes from a wealthy, privileged background. It can be predetermined that he would end up on a path toward wealth and prosperity. Stone decided to write the story from Quan’s perspective, one of the character’s from the “Dear Martin” novel. Quan grew up in poverty and was predetermined to end up in prison, as he does. She tells the story from the perspective of the poor kid who lived in an abusive household. Justyce comes back from a visit from college and decides to help Quan. Quan is innocent and is being tried for the murder of Castillo-the same police officer who killed Manny (Justyce’s best friend) in “Dear Martin”.

African American Urban Fiction: “The Boy in the Black Suit” by Jason Reynolds

“The Boy in the Black Suit” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jason Reynolds is a story about a teen who loses his mom and is trying to survive with one alcoholic parent. The protagonist chooses to work in a funeral home because it brings him comfort after losing his mother. Through meeting different people and connecting with those around him and unlikely people who take care of him, it is a very healing coming-of-age novel.

African American Books Young Adult: “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansbury

“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansbury: (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) A Raisin in the Sun is one of the most heartbreaking plays to read. It is about a family that is trying to catch a break, and when they finally do, it is at the expense of Walter Sr. (the grandfather’s death). The break they catch is the check they will receive from the insurance company for his death. Each member of this 5 person family has dreams of what they want to do with the money. Beneatha wants to be a doctor, Walter wants to open a liquor store, Mama wants to buy a new home etc. All of the characters crave the dream so badly that when it falls apart, there is an anger and bitterness that changes each of them forever. The message is that during this time period (post civil war) it was near impossible for African Americans to get ahead. They only experienced “dreams deferred”.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston

“Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston”: The story is about a young woman who doesn’t have much choice in a post civil world, who gets married twice. The first husband she is married off to by her parents and doesn’t love, and the second she runs off with named Teacake who she is madly in love with. The story shows the struggles, trials and tribulations as an African American, specifically an African American woman during post-civil-war-time. The scene where there is a storm is one of the most beautifully written scenes in literature and can be studied independently. Teacake, the love of her life dies from rabies in the end leaving her alone.

African American Urban Fiction Author: “Beloved” by Toni Morrison

Beloved by Toni Morrison: In the beginning a mom slits her babies throats in an attempt to save them from what she thinks is white men coming to take them into slavery. She has lived such a horrific life that she believes it is better to show her children mercy by killing them. This is a lot for high school level students to process, or connect with even a little. There are sexual metaphors, such as the cherry blossom tree that aren’t appropriate to get into as a high school teacher, and should be left for the college level.

African American Urban Fiction Author: “The Stars Beneath Our Feet” by David Barclay

“The Stars Beneath Our Feet” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by David Barclay is a book that I suggest for the typical high school reading list. A story about a boy who loses his brother and is trying to find a way to cope with this loss. He becomes friends with many he never thought he would befriend and he uses legos as a creative way to deal with the pain of his loss. It’s is a well-crafted book with many themes and messages students can relate to and connect with today.

African American Literature Authors: “As Brave as You” by Jason Reynolds

“As Brave As You” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jason Reynolds is a book about a young boy who is taken to live with his grandparents for a length of time. The boys’ parents are going through a divorce and they are going on one last trip prior to a separation. The boy spends the time with his grandparents, his brother, and some townspeople. The boy connects with his grandfather who is struggling with blindness. There are many themes that students can relate to and I think this is a great read for 9th grade.

African American Book Authors: “Ghost Boys” by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Ghost Boys (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jewell Parker Rhodes: is a perfect read for today’s political climate. The book is about a young African American boy named Jerome who is shot and killed by a white police officer who gravely mistakes a toy gun for a real gun. There is a trial and the police officer is released with a slap on the wrist. “Ghost Boys”, visits the unfortunate, criminal issues that have been highlighted in our news. The Ghost Boys Gang includes Emmett Till as the ghost boys’ leader and Jerome goes on a journey of self-discovery, the awakening to American history, and healing.

African American Books for 5th Graders: “Class Act” by Jerry Craft

Class Act (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jerry Craft: A graphic novel in the “New Kid” graphic novel series. This is one of the books to read for teens. Once again Jordan returns to middle school finding himself in 8^th grade where he faces new challenges. This is a sequel to “New Kid” focuses slightly less on Jordan and includes more secondary characters and their struggles. The class clown and bully has become isolated, and bullied in this version. I would not be surprised if the next book has a focus on him, and the effects of bullying.

African American Urban Fiction: Middle School-Track Series by Jason Reynolds

Track Series (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jason Reynolds: A 4-part-series referenced as the “Track Series” by Jason Reynolds. Patina is one of the four characters among Ghost, Lu, and Sunny. Each book is written from the perspective of each character as their lives intertwine with one another. They all suffer through different hardships and the one thing they have in-common, and is their grounding force-is track, and their track coach. Patina and her sister Maddy live with their adopted parents because their mom lost her legs due to diabetes; Sunny lives with his father and without his mother because she passed away. Ghost lives with his mother and no father because his father tried to shoot Ghost and his wife with a rifle and is in jail. Lu lives with both mom and dad but struggles greatly with his identity because he is an African-American albino and he doesn’t feel like he fits in either world.

African American Urban Fiction Middle School: “Booked” by Kwame Alexander

Booked (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Kwame Alexander: is a crafty novel that makes the topic of books interesting. Kwame uses poetry, and a lot of imagination to draw the reader into the topic about a young boy whose father forces him to read. This boy is influenced by some amazing mentors: a teacher, librarian, and a new girlfriend and he is led to reading books and even joins a book club by the end of the novel.

African American Urban Fiction High School: “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers

Monster (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Walter Dean Myers: a book about a young man who is on trial for his life for a crime he did not commit-or did he? Either way, if he had committed the crime of staking out a mini-mart to allow a robbery to take place, he should hardly be tried for capital murder. He unequivocally claims throughout the book that he was never in the store that day, however at the end there is a hint that he did in fact stake out the store that led to the death of a grocery clerk owner. This book comes as graphic novel or novel version.

African American Books 6th Graders: “New Kid” by Jerry Craft

New Kid (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) another graphic novel. It’s about a boy in a new-private-middle school who deals with many of the issues that students deal with in middle school: bullying, fitting in, relationships, friendships, puberty, and racism. What I really like about this book is that the themes just mentioned are to the degree of making an impact on students without completely bringing them down. What I mean by this is that there is teasing and unkind words exchanged between classmates, but there isn’t a degree of bullying that students have to eat their lunch standing on a toilet, like there is in other books (Ghost Boys). The main character, Jordan goes to an almost all-white-student body school as an African American, and he deals with students and teachers making comments such as, “I bet you’d be good at basketball”, followed with “I didn’t mean that because, well, you know”. Other than these frustrations the book is light-hearted, each chapter is a malapropism for a movie, and portrays the average middle school student’s day-to-day life. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s important to first begin by teaching students how to read a graphic novel: thought bubbles, gutters, panels, etc. prior to reading a graphic novel. Some ideas during teaching is to cut out a scene, mix them up, and have students decide how to put them in order. You can delete dialogue from circles, and have students predict based on the images, what is being said. Lesson suggestion; I have heard teachers talk about how students are not able to practice critical thinking by imagining up a scene in a graphic novel. You can give the students the dialogue and have them draw what they imagine the scene to be.

African American Books for 7th Graders: “Rebound” by Kwame Alexander

Rebound (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Kwame Alexander: It’s a new and different way to read a novel in that it is multiple poems strung together through the duration of an entire novel. It’s a bit like a string of dreams, or memories. Kwame is a master at writing and uses multiple literary devices on each page. He shapes his poetry to match the topic of a poem, and he engages middle school students in ways that most poetry cannot. The main character, Charlie, in “Rebound” is dealing with a lot. He has to deal with the loss of his father as well as puberty and all that it entails for a boy in middle school. Charlie is struggling to get along with his mom, who doesn’t seem to relate to him on any level. The person who can-is gone-Charlie’s father and Charlie misses him deeply. After Charlie gets into trouble a couple times, his mom decides to send him to his grandparents for the summer. Charlie is unhappy about it, but it seems to be what he needs to get his smile and his confidence back. It’s a coming-of-age book that includes: family, friends, death, and sports: exactly what he needs after his painful loss. Lesson suggestion: take one poem and have students turn it into the parts of a short story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

African American Graphic Novels: “Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jason Reynolds is a summarized version of what happens in the novel. There is a boy whose family has a long history of gang violence and he has lost multiple family members for this reason. Once the boy’s brother is killed, he feels he has to follow the rules which is to now kill the teen who killed his brother. That would then mean that he would be the next victim in line for death or prison. He wrestles with his conscience as he visits the multiple victims from his past in an elevator. There is a great impact in the graphics including when the main character’s brother is shot and killed, ghosts, and other victims that are not illustrated in the novel.

I’d love to hear about what African American Urban Fiction Authors you are teaching in the classroom! Please leave it in the comments section!

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Anti-racist Workbook

“Tags”: Short Story by Walter Dean Myers

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

Blended by Sharon Draper

Teaching Tolerance

Tolerant Teaching

Social Emotional Learning

The Crossover

April 10, 2021

9 Best Antiracist Curriculum You Must Know!

Antiracist Curriculum

Antiracist Curriculum: Racism-It’s Not OK!

Antiracist curriculum is something that unlike the one the news is often not taught in the classroom. Anti-Racist Workbook (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) curriculum is crucial to creating young adults that are not biased, racist, or prejudice. I personally teach and sell curriculum for tolerance and anti-racism for the older students such as middle or high school, but I recognize the importance of starting in earlier years. Opal Tometi, community organizer, human rights activist, and co-founder of #blacklivesmatter shared, “What we need now more than ever is a human rights movement that challenges systemic racism in every single context.” We CAN do this! And it’s easiest and best to start young.

The first thing to understand is that kindness won’t end racism. It is a start but we need more action. Anti-racism is lifelong work, and is worth the sweat and tears it takes to provide a better future for our children.

Antiracist Curriculum: History

The second thing we need to teach students is to learn the history of this land we live in. I chuckle every time I hear a close member of my family (a Canadian citizen) grumble about refugees or immigrants coming into the United States. Something so obviously hypocritical is lost to some adults. This is why we need to teach young children about immigration, Native Americans, Ellis Island, etc. There are many resources such as the NativeLand app, or you can google search “Who were the inhabitants of….” and enter your city name. Learning about the history of the land we live on will help us to accept the past and become better messengers for those who will come long after us. Have students talk about re-writing history books. What could be taken out, what could be added. Take some time to look at some online resources asking questions such as, is this true? How reliable is this resource? An additional activity is to have students interview a family member (preferably the eldest member of the family to gain context into their ancestral history)

Antiracist Curriculum: Values

Elementary school is not too early to teach students about values. Even at a young age students know what it is important to them, to their family, friends, and at school. Provide students with a list of values and have them choose seven of the values that are important in their lives. Next have them narrow it down to three values that are most important to them. This leaves out school, family and others and helps them to find their own identities. You then address how these values will help keep students anchored when anti-racism feels overwhelming, or exciting.

Students will learn the difference between race and ethnicity. Have students next create an anti-racist vision. What would our world be like, look like, feel like as an anti-racist world? How does this affect students directly in our state? country? and world? How will we get there and what is their role as a person or citizen in this process?

Antiracist Curriculum: Identity

Students will create a diagram about themselves that will help to make-up and include topics such as: what is your favorite color, food, friends, pastime, places to visit? Once students have identified simple questions and answers about themselves, you will get into more complex questions such as: education, family, nationality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation (use best judgment here), religion, language, and talents? This is a great assignment to do at the start of the year so that students learn about each other!

Let students know that no matter what age they are, their voice matters. Give examples of young activists, such as Mari Copeny who has been advocating for racial justice since she was eight-years-old. She states, “If they don’t want to listen to you at first, keep talking, they will eventually have to hear you out. And once they hear you out, they will see that you have a unique view of the world and that your opinion matters.”

Anti-Racist Curriculum: Diversity

Students will take some time to look at their own world in relation to diversity. So, what nationality, race, religion etc. are your friends, teachers, family, author’s you read, historical figures they learn about, etc. Once they have established answers to these questions they can gauge how diverse their world is. This is an assignment for the older elementary such as fourth and fifth grade.

Provide students opportunities to reflect and process the material they are learning. This curriculum can be daunting for some students, so try and keep the assignments light, and never condemn a student for having a less diverse world. This is strictly for reflective purposes at this age group. There is no victory in shaming a student for being any particular race. Mindfulness activities are great ways to take breaks and clear the mind of anything that frustrates students. A great self-affirming activity can be to have students create a comic strip of themselves and their super powers.

Study a Historical Activist

Have students study a historical activist. Prior to studying an activist, have them look at their own history. This is a great chance to address the narrative standard. Have students talk about who they would want to have an interview with and what questions they would ask them. They can create a mock interview on video, or paper depending on their level of comfort with technology. Have students write about what they would have done if they could have supported this particular activist.

Anti-Racist Curriculum: Self-Care

Self-care: have students create self-affirmations about how great they are throughout the anti-racist curriculum unit. As mentioned earlier, this can be a daunting curriculum for some, and the idea is not to shame, guilt, or make anyone feel bad about who they or who their family is. Do check-ins, journaling, mindfulness, and self-care activities throughout the unit. Be mindful of students who have already been dealing with or learning about the effects of racism. Michelle Obama once stated, “Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us-black, white, everyone-no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out.”

Anti-Racist Curriculum: Power

It’s important to teach students about power. Who has it…who doesn’t…how some is corrupt. To do this take a look at different institutions that hold power: government, education, adults, teachers, etc. You must be careful in this portion of the curriculum because you do not want to scare children into a paranoia of adults. You want to instill a healthy amount questioning of procedures, policies, rules, etc. Start with using an arbitrary rule at another elementary school and have a collaborative discussion about the rule.

Have students practice creativity throughout the lesson to keep it engaging. Some ideas are to create buttons with slogans on them such as things that need to be changed on campus such as bullying. Write a letter and put it in a time capsule for their future selves, write notes to themselves about information they choose at this time not to share with others (some kids hide things like a second language, or their ethnicity). The Whiteness Project is a great resource for older students. Create an anti-racist toolbox with items they need to calm themselves in times of racist strife.

Create Possible Scenarios

Create scenarios for students on strips of paper where racism occurs. Pair students up and have them practice with a partner on how to respond. Have students who are comfortable act out their scenarios. Take notes on how to handle racist scenarios, and create additional scenarios students can be ready for.

Positive Role Models

Provide excerpts and images of current activists, who they are, what their race is, what they do to make the world a better place. Students need examples of what they can do today. Some students only have seen violence on television, or perceived violence on television as examples of how to change the world. This is not the way. Some examples of young-positive-role-model-activists are: Winona Guo, Priya Vulchi, Zyahna Bryant, Mari Copeny, and Marley Dias. Talk to students about their comfort levels and safety zones.

Safety

Safety is important to address in that we wouldn’t want a student to confront a racist without support or safety measures. An example of a bad time to confront racism is in a scenario such as at a location, with an adult when they are alone. A safe time would be to stand up to a friend who tells a racist joke, bullies a student who they perceive as “different.” Do NOT complete this unit without going over safety scenarios and safety measures.

To finalize the unit have students create an anti-racist routine or schedule for each day. The topics to include are: wake up each day and observe. Know who you are by knowing your history. Choose a path and take action-respond to racism. Work alone and with others to combat racism-sometimes it can be a student’s best friend who is racist. Build relationships with those who are not racist, learn self-care, and wake up each day and repeat.

I would love to hear ideas and comments about how you use anti-racist curriculum in your classroom! Please respond below in the comments section!

Curriculum on Teachers Pay Teachers:

Anti-Racist Workbook

Teaching Tolerance

Teaching Tolerance Social Justice

Social Emotional Learning

Social Emotional Wellness-Elementary School

Social Emotional Learning Activities

Team Building Activities

Wellness Essay

Lesson for Kindness

How to Write a Narrative Essay

To visit the “African American Novel Study” shop, click HERE

To visit the “Teach for Inclusion” shop, click HERE

For a blog post on Tolerance Anti Bias Curriculum, click HERE

March 29, 2021

Best Practices in Teaching Drama in the Classroom

Teaching drama in the classroom is a lot of fun and has so many rewards! I have found that with the right play, students learn more during a drama lesson in the classroom than they do with any other lesson. Here is the catch! It must be a play they can connect to and fully comprehend or the entire unit is lost. I know it’s hard to hear but this might mean that Shakespeare is out! But, Westside Story is still in! The plays that I teach in my classroom, which I have found much success with are: “Wicked”, “Hamilton”, “Dear Evan Hansen”, and “Westside Story”. These plays are humorous, have a great plot and characterization, and are highly engaging!

Teaching Drama in the Classroom: English Classroom

Plays are intended to be read aloud so it is important that you take this intention seriously. Reading a play straight out of a textbook is not only painstaking but it is also pointless if engagement isn’t present. I print out scripts for the plays that I use, and I put up character names for each scene and write the parts up on the board each day. As students enter the classroom they can sign up for a character role they want to play for that class period. I give everyone a chance to sign up. This includes a narrator, smaller parts, and “all”. Students are to go to the front of the room to act out their parts. You would be shocked to see how into this students get. Personalities that are typically shy show up for this unit!

Teaching Drama to Kids: “Wicked”

Teaching Drama to Kids

Teaching Drama in the Classroom: What is Wicked About?

“Wicked” is the most engaging play I have used in the classroom and it is chalk-filled with so many lessons. Oprah Winfrey claims that “The Wizard of Oz” takes the cake on lessons, but I believe “Wicked” has even more. The story is told from the perspective of Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and we get a completely different perspective about Glinda, The Wizard of Oz, and the protagonist, Elphaba (who is supposed to be an evil character). We learn that Elphaba was set up and that those who are truly evil in “The Wizard of Oz” is the Wizard himself, and one who is selfish and materialistic, although still portrayed as a good person, Glinda. We learn that Elphaba’s mom had an affair with The Wizard of Oz, and therefore Elphaba was born green. Elphaba’s father, sister, and the community know that Elphaba was born by another father because she is green and this is the color she has to wear in shame.

Elphaba spends her life taking care of her sister, Nessarose, born and favored by both parents. The two sisters go to something akin to Wizard school where Nessarose is intended to be trained as the next Mayor of Munchkinland. There, Elphaba meets an evil headmaster, Madame Morrible, at the school who works with The Wizard of Oz to discredit Elphaba at first, and later commiserate to have her killed. When Elphaba finds out the Wizard is her father, she tries to meet with him in the hopes that they will resemble some semblance of a family, but the Wizard decides once Elphaba refuses to enter a life of dishonesty to have her killed. After all she is a reminder of infidelity and a moral obligation he never fulfilled.

There is one scene in “Wicked” where the Wizard enters the home of Elphaba’s mother when Elphaba is conceived but there are no sex or any derogatory acts in this scene. For this reason “Wicked” can be taught beginning at the 8th grade level or higher. Teaching drama in the classroom can be done in English middle or high school.

Teaching Drama in the Classroom: “Hamilton”

Teaching Drama in the Classroom: What is “Hamilton” About?

“Hamilton” is another engaging play to teach in the classroom. Students love to play out the roles and it is particularly useful if taught in the 11th grade year when students learn about American history. “Hamilton” can also be taught in a history course. “Hamilton” tells the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton who experienced a hard early life, and at a young age, leaves his home. In New York, 1776 Hamilton meets Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan, and impresses them with his rhetorical skills. The latter three and Hamilton affirm their revolutionary goals to each other, while Burr remains not a fan. Later the daughters of the wealthy Schuyler go into town and share their opinion on the upcoming revolution; it is at this time that Seabury warns everyone about the dangers of Congress while Hamilton disagrees and counters Seabury, until King George insists on his authority. During the New York and New Jersey Campaign, Hamilton accepts a position as George Washington’s aide. Eliza falls in love with Hamilton as Hamilton’s feelings are reciprocated they end up married. As conditions worsen for the continental army, Hamilton aids Laurens in a duel against Lee, who had insulted Washington. Eliza asks Hamilton to take it easy because she is pregnant with Philip.

As the war progresses Hamilton feels he should die a martyr and a hero in the war and is warned that history has “eyes on him“. In Act II Hamilton has an affair and is seen by Burr who is envious and releases the information which eventually leads to a duel between Burr and Hamilton, leading to Hamilton’s death, but not before Hamilton experiences the agonizing pain of the death of his son Philip. This play is a bit more in-depth when it comes to characterization and plot. To be a success there must be front-loading on the history of Alexander Hamilton and the Revolutionary War. I would print scripts and have students read as was mentioned in “Wicked“. A pre-warning, right before Hamilton engages in his affair there is a song I would take out of the play altogether about sex. The rest of the play seems appropriately fit for high school. Teaching Drama in the classroom: Hamilton is best if taught in 11th grade year.

How to Teach Drama in the Classroom: “Dear Evan Hansen” (Full lesson on TpT)

Teaching Drama to Kids: What is Dear Evan Hansen About?

“Dear Evan Hansen” is a play that all teachers should walk students through either with the play or with the novel. It is a story about a boy who commits suicide and another teenage boy who is lost and close to committing suicide who becomes popular and experiences a life change as a result of this other teen’s suicide. Evan Hansen has been given an assignment by his psychiatrist to write letters to himself as an exercise to create a more positive life for himself. They are lessons in gratitude. However, Evan hates this assignment and types out his true feelings about being alone, and added dark comments that could easily be mistaken as a suicide note. Connor, the student who commits suicide later that evening, grabs hold of Evan’s note (Connor is somewhat of a bully) and Connor’s parents mistaken Evan’s note as a suicide note from Connor.

Evan suddenly deemed as Connor’s “best friend” becomes popular, and a personal favorite to the family. Evan buries himself deeper and deeper in this charade as he not only poses as his best friend, he has another kid create fake email letters that are correspondence between Evan and Connor. Evan even ends up with Zoe the girl of his dreams, Connor’s sister. Some very important themes to discuss in this unit are: teen suicide, which MUST be addressed prior to beginning the unit; mental health, bullying, friendship, homosexuality and family. I would suggest having a counselor come in to discuss teen suicide prior to beginning the lesson as a precaution. In addition I would have a Socratic seminar for students to discuss teen suicide and then I would pass out some type of teen suicide support materials such as a suicide hotline phone number for students to call.

There is primarily humor and laughter in the play but the background theme of suicide is important to address from the start. I would not suggest discussing suicide all throughout the unit as that is not how the author’s intended the play to be, nor is that an appropriate degree of heaviness that students can handle. I would have a collaborative discussion about mental health that might include a social emotional learning lesson that includes coping skills. It’s a great opportunity to introduce healthy habits to students. In addition this is a great time to talk about homosexuality. The teenager, Connor, who committed suicide did so because he believed his love interest (another male) had “dumped” him. He didn’t feel he could talk to anyone about it, and believed he was alone in this world. The most essential theme in this story is that teens feel that they are different, and that they themselves are the only ones who feel inadequate, different, or are the only ones who feel alone. The story brings to light that all teens feel this way at different times throughout high school and that they are not alone. Teaching Drama in the classroom can be a safe place for these conversations.

Drama in the Classroom: “Westside Story”

What is Westside Story About?

“Westside Story is a great play to teach in 8th, 9th, or 11th grade year. In grades 8 and 11, students are learning about American History, and in 9th grade students read “Romeo and Juliet“. “Westside Story” is a rendition-a modern (1950’s) version of “Romeo and Juliet“. Students learn about immigration and how it affected and created gang culture at the time. The setting takes place on the harsh upper west side of New York where two gangs battle over turf. The situation becomes even more complicated when two members of opposing gangs fall in love with one another: Tony and Maria. The members of the Sharks, new immigrants from Puerta Rico are taunted by members of the Jets, a white gang. The main character, Tony a previous member of the Jets, falls in love with Maria the sister of the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo.

The difference between the gangs is that in Romeo and Juliet it was a time period of family gang rivalries whereas when families became smaller over time, gangs branched out to friends and became more of a teenage practice. Many believe that the story of Romeo and Juliet and Tony and Maria are primarily about love; however they are not. The primary themes are darker and are about the American Dream crashing into reality, teens singing about their dreams only to turn and cut each other’s dreams down in violence and death. It is about a desperate hope for a better life. It’s important to look at the migrant struggles to make a living and the obstacles of xenophobia and racial prejudice. I would print scripts and assign students to parts as mentioned in all the above plays. This play is best taught con-currently with Romeo and Juliet. Teaching Drama in the classroom can be a safe place for these conversations.

Creative Drama In the Classroom

Teaching Drama in the classroom can be a painstaking experience or an amazing-engaging learning experience if the right play is chosen and taught in the right manner. If you follow my advice on the plays above, your students can have an amazing learning experience! Let me know how you are using drama in the classroom in the comments section below! Also what have been the benefits of drama in the classroom?

Products on Teachers Pay Teachers for Drama in the Classroom and Activities

Dear Evan Hansen Novel Study

Social Emotional Learning Unit

March 24, 2021

15 Graphic Novels for Kids One Must Read!

15 Graphic Novels for Kids You Must Read are listed below. There are certain graphic novels you must read! What is a graphic novel? A graphic novel is a compilation of graphics and text structured on pages at the length of a novel. How long are graphic novels? Anywhere from 100-500 plus pages. The difference between a graphic novel and a novel is that the graphic novel has graphics (images). The difference between a graphic novel vs comic book is the length. Graphic novels text features are different than a novel just like nonfiction text features. The 5 characteristics of a graphic novel are: shapes, perspective of frame, angles, structure, and layout. To read “How to Read a Graphic Novel” see this blog post.

There are different types of graphic novels just like there are novels with different genres. Some graphic novels you must read are: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, New Kid by Jerry Craft, American Born Chinese by Gene Luan Yang, The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank, Edgar Allen Poe graphic short stories, White Bird by R.J. Palacio, Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Anne of Green Gables by Mariah Marsden, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Graphic novel books are a great way to engage students who are not particularly interested in reading, or students with special needs; however, anyone and every age group can read and enjoy graphic novels. Below are descriptions for 15 of the books above.

Graphic Novels for Kids

15 Graphic Novels for Kids You Must Read: New Kid by Jerry Craft

1. New Kid (Full lesson on TpT) by Jerry Craft is one of the Graphic Novels You Must Read: A graphic novel about the struggles of everyday life in middle school. Jordan, an African-American student at a privileged-primarily-white-private school finds himself not only one of the few African-American students in attendance but the subject of intended and unintended prejudice from staff and students. For example, when Jordan enlists on the soccer team, the coach states, “I bet you can run…not because, well…you know. I truly believe that all people are equal Jordan.” Jordan deals with an additional layer of adversity that other middle school students do not, and let’s face it-middle school is hard enough as it is! Despite these additional adversities, Jordan manages to find his way, make friends (black and white), and begins to find his place in this world. There are so many nuances in this book, it’s great for learning inference.

15 Graphic Novels for Kids You Must Read: Sheets by Brenna Tummler

2. Sheets (Full lesson on TpT) by Brenna Tummler is one of the Graphic Novels You Must Read : A graphic novel about a young girl named Marjorie who runs a dry cleaning business on her own. She lost her mom in a drowning accident and claims that her father “died” (metaphorically) at the same time. Dad spends most of his time in bed-depressed. A deviant man is trying to pull the business out from the family in order to put in a hotel and Marjorie spends her time alone, trying to save the place. A young ghost named Wendell appears to help Marjorie save the business, which together-they do. It is a great story about friendship, pain, and healing. The graphic novel makes it easier to deal with a the heavy topic of death with fun images of ghosts etc.

15 Graphic Novels for Kids You Must Read: This Was Our Pact Ryan Andrews

3. This Was Our Pact (Full lesson on TpT) by Ryan Andrews: a graphic novel adventure that takes two unlikely friends on multiple fantastical journeys. They begin on bikes with a large group of boys as one-by-one, the boys tire out and head home until there are only two boys left. The last two left end up in the beautiful wilderness chasing lanterns for the Autumn festival and become friends as they come across a talking bear, a mad scientist woman, and multiple other creative characters that talk and share their traditions of the Autumn Festival, and what the lanterns, stars, mean to them and to their ancestors. The end takes a bit of a dark twist in that it states that the two boys on their adventure “never to return home, never to look back”, suggesting that maybe they died in the wilderness? Or perhaps the author is just being ‘fun’. Either way, the author somehow still manages to end the story as a fantastic adventure rather than as a tragedy.

15 Graphic Novels for Kids You Must Read: Monster by Walter Dean Myers

4. Monster (Full lesson on TpT) by Walter Dean Myers: a book about a young man who is on trial for his life for a crime he did not commit-or did he? Either way, if he had committed the crime of staking out a mini-mart to allow a robbery to take place, he should hardly be tried for capital murder. He unequivocally claims throughout the book that he was never in the store that day, however at the end there is a hint that he did in fact stake out the store that led to the death of a grocery clerk owner. It is not as heavy to read as a graphic novel and students seem to connect better with the graphic novel than the novel version.

15 Graphic Novels You Must Read: The Odyssey

5. “The Odyssey“ (Full lesson on TpT) Odysseus the Great King sets out to fight in the Trojan War and ends up taking years to arrive back at home. Odysseus is supposed to be this great war hero, but it is difficult for me to see him as anything but an egotistical-selfish being. He looks at the sirens when he is not supposed to, he cheats on his wife Penelope multiple times, he gets all of his men killed because he cannot control his ego and yells out taunting his enemy Grendel who in turn has his father Poseidon kill all Odysseus’s men. What kind of leader gets all of his men killed? and is still considered a great war hero? Although I have my thoughts about Odysseus, students do learn a lot about the Greek Gods which is more of the point of reading the novel. There are many other ways to learn about the Greek Gods such as short stories or even modern reads like Percy Jackson. We may just have to stick with the Odyssey and the way to do this is with the graphic novel. Warning there is one seminude scene on one page so be aware of this.

15 Graphic Novels You Must Read: They Called US Enemy by George Takei

6. They Called US Enemy” by George Takei (Full lesson on TpT) is one of the Graphic Novels You Must Read . It is a memoir written graphic novel style by George Takei (you know the guy from Star Wars?) As a young boy George Takei is awoken in the middle of the night with minutes to pack up what the family can carry to be whisked off to an internment camp. The setting takes place during the time of WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The family is singled out solely based on the fact that they were Japanese. The family lost all of their possessions and when they were finally released from these camps ended up homeless living on skid row. It wasn’t until after George Takei’s father died that some restitution was paid to the families for the “inconvenience”. Like most of the novels on this list there is no justice, it is a great read with realistic graphics.

15 Graphic Novels You Must Read: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

7. “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi (Full lesson on TpT) is one of the Graphic Novels You Must Read . It is a non-fiction graphic novel where the setting takes place in the Middle East. The Middle East has been quite villainized since 9/11 and this book gives students a realistic picture of what it’s like to grow up in the Middle East. The main character has the same fears, passions, personality characteristics, and what everyone wants-a sense of belonging. It provides a positive, accurate depiction of what it is like to grow up as a teen in the middle east vs. worse case scenario in the middle east. Marjane and her family are constantly participating in protests. The graphics are comical, realistic, and disturbing at times.

15 Graphic Novels You Must Read: White Bird by R.J. Palacio

8. “White Bird” by R.J. Palacio (Full lesson on TpT) is one of the Graphic Novels You Must Read. It is a graphic novel about the Holocaust and a young Jewish girl who is separated from her family and has to live in a barn to survive. The young man she falls in love with is the person who saved her life and he dies in the end as a result of it. It’s a beautiful-love story with a tragic ending. The graphics are beautiful and truly amazing!

15 Graphic Novels You Must Read: The Diary of Anne Frank

10. The Diary of Anne Frank (Full lesson on TpT) Anne Frank is beautifully written and illustrated. Like the Diary of Anne Frank novel, it tells the story of the Holocaust from the perspective of Anne Frank. The graphics are fun and imaginative as if pictured by Anne Frank herself.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

9. “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Full lesson on TpT) This is a classic that needs to withstand the test of time. Harper Lee captures a realistic portrayal of an innocent black man being falsely accused of rape by a white woman. Despite the immaculate defense given by Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson is found guilty and is sentenced to death. The graphics in this novel are amazing!

Edgar Allen Poe Short Stories

11. Edgar Allen Poe Short Stories (Full lesson on TpT) The Short story and poetry collection is the same stories written with bone-chilling graphics. The Edgar Allen Poe Short Stories Graphic novel leaves nothing to the imagination. It is crafted with great skill and talent.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

12. Long Way Down (Full lesson on TpT) by Jason Reynolds is a summarized version of what happens in the novel. There is a boy whose family has a long history of gang violence and he has lost multiple family members for this reason. Once the boy’s brother is killed, he feels he has to follow the rules which is to now kill the teen who killed his brother. That would then mean that he would be the next victim in line for death or prison. He wrestles with his conscience as he visits the multiple victims from his past in an elevator. There is a great impact in the graphics including when the main character’s brother is shot and killed, ghosts, and other victims that are not illustrated in the novel.

American Borne Chinese

13. American Borne Chinese by Gene Luan Yang (Full lesson on TpT) Is eccentric to say the least. It is a story about two young American Chinese boys who are trying to fit in with a side story about a monkey who is trying to do the same. There is a twist towards the end about who the monkey really is and represents.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

14. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Full lesson on TpT) It is graphic and should only be read by older high school students. It is about a high school student who is raped by an older boy and does not tell anyone about it. She suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and in the end she finally comes out and speaks up about the rape which helps to alleviate her symptoms. The graphics show the rape, so be aware of that scene. It can still be used as a great supplement to the book, or you can take out the page with the rape scene.

The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald

15. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Full lesson on TpT) a story about a man who returns to his home to try to reconnect with the woman he never fell out of love with, Daisy. The problem is that she is married and although she has fun with Jay Gatsby, in the end it proves to be a dangerous game. The graphic novel includes beautiful, elegant graphics that complement the story.

Tell me about your favorite graphic novels in the comments below! I am always looking for new graphic novels to read.

March 19, 2021

9 Effective Ways to Avoid Teacher Burnout Must Knows!

Avoid Teacher Burnout before it’s too late. What does teacher burnout look like? I know only too well because I crashed and burned a couple years ago from teacher burnout!

Teacher Burnout Looks Different On Everyone but There are Some Commonalities

Avoid Teacher Burnout

What does teacher burnout look like and How to Avoid It? Teacher burnout can look different on different teachers; however, there are some commonalities that run through those who are suffering from burnout. I have first hand experience from becoming so burned out that I had to leave the teaching profession for a couple years before going back. How does teacher burnout affect students-was the primary question I had on my mind at the time. I’m not sure but I knew I didn’t want to be the cause of any negative effects on students. It got to a point where I could not longer effectively perform my job and I knew it was best for myself and for my students if I took a break. My burnout came from a combination of poor administration, not being able to say no, not prioritizing my health and my family, to working at a Title I school where students need more from their teachers than the teacher can give, and last but worst, losing a student to suicide. Yes, this really happened!

You do not want to end up leaving your job or worse suffering through the burnout because you cannot leave your job. Follow some of these easy tips and tricks to avoid teacher burnout or to pull yourself out from being burned out.

Avoid Teacher Burnout: What is Teacher Burnout?

To define teacher burnout is when a teacher has reached such a high level of stress they can no longer effectively cope with the normal stress of being a teacher. If a teacher is suffering from teacher burnout the symptoms can range from constant complaining, missing workdays, missing deadlines, having classroom management difficulties, having difficulty with relationships with staff, and at it’s highest, taking a leave of absence. If you are suffering from two or more symptoms on this list you are either in teach burnout or could be at risk for it.

Avoid Teacher Burnout: Teacher Burnout What To Do?

Why do teachers burnout? One of the major causes can be a poor administrative team. What does poor administration look like? The primary job of the administrative team is to keep as much off your plate as they can so that you are able to focus on your students and effectively perform your job as a teacher. If you have an administrative staff that doesn’t have systems in place to ensure this practice you absolutely should consider transferring schools. I realize that this can be difficult, especially when you have built relationships with others on campus but having a strong supportive administrative team can mean the difference between workplace bliss and brutal workplace burnout. How common is teacher burnout? At a school like this, very! If you have constant interruptions from the office, parents, administration, other teachers (like special education etc.) than your administrative team is disorganized and not supportive of your time with your students. If your administrative team constantly schedules meetings, or asks you to do things during your prep period, they are not respecting your students or your time as a teacher. If the administrative team puts pressure on you to work during your lunch or breaks, they are not respecting you or your students. If your administrator requests more data than is typical so they can look good to their supervisor than they are not respecting you or your students. If you send a disrespectful student to the office and they VP sends them back, doesn’t follow-up with parents or doesn’t follow-up with you, you have a poor administrative staff. Does any of this sound familiar to you? If so, you have a poor administrative team and you should consider transferring schools.

Avoid Teacher Burnout: If You Plan to Switch Schools

Do some research during professional developments with teachers from other schools before willy nilly switching schools. Ask teachers questions about their school and administrative team. It would be unfortunate to move from one school with a bad administrative team to another with a bad administrative team. If you make a change and transfer schools, this could be an actual solution to your teacher burnout. If you do switch schools be weary of taking on too many extra tasks which is a habit when someone is new to a school. New teachers are typically seen as new and energized, poised for extra tasks and a heavy workload. Do not fall into this trap and be prepared to say “no” when it is too much. Why is teacher burnout so high? A lot of it has to do with a lack of funds and resources. Teachers are expected to take on so many administrative tasks and paperwork that it makes it difficult to focus on students.

Avoid Teacher Burnout: What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it?

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it? Avoid or change it by making big changes or small ones.

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like? How to Avoid it by Changing Lifestyle

Small Change: Adjust to lifestyle

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it? We change as people and as teachers from year to year. When we are young, we have a tendency to act more like an Aunt or an older sibling, this changes as we get older. We take on more of a mom role, and eventually even a grandmother role-yikes! If this is you, roll with the changes. Do not try to continue to fit into a role that simply doesn’t work for you anymore. Besides you don’t want to be 47 and acting like an older sibling-it just doesn’t work anymore. Leave that for the younger teachers.

Quit Something

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it? If you have done the yearbook and newspaper for the past 7 years and you simply don’t have the time or energy for it anymore, pass it on to someone else, or give it back to administration. If you are burned out on doing something it is better for everyone involved-especially students, if there is a teacher in it with a fresh pair of eyes and a positive attitude. Don’t be afraid to give something up. Whatever it is you are doing doesn’t define you as a person and you can still be a great teacher without it,

Search for Inspiration

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it? You can search for inspiration in watching films about teaching, reading affirmations, remembering why you got into teaching in the first place, watching youtube videos about teacher burnout, talking to other teachers who are experiencing the same emotions.

Actionable Change: How to Get Over Teacher Burnout

Do Not Take Work Home

Commit to not taking work home. Not everything has to get done. If you prioritize your work, the least important work will fall at the bottom, won’t get done, and that’s ok. There are assignments that students do that are practice and not everything needs to go into the gradebook. I find that if I end up not entering a particular assignment, students don’t even ask about it because they forget they even did it. I also have a participation grade of 5% so if I don’t grade an assignment and students do ask, I tell them it’s part of their participation grade. If you do not take work home, you will find you are more productive during your work days and your prep period. You will spend the weekend decompressing, and you will go back to work refreshed and more productive.

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it: Say “NO”!

Learn to say “NO”! Teachers always have more than they should on their plate but more often than not, we do this to ourselves because we do not know how to say no. If it is too difficult to use the word no as a complete sentence response than have a response ready each year. Stuff typically comes up at the start of a new school year. No one can argue with a comeback of, I really need to prioritize my own kids and family this year-as in your own children, because let’s face it, they are the ones who really miss out.

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it: Know Your Priorities

Know your work, family, and personal priorities and do not let anything hijack one of these priorities. For example, your health should be a priority. If you are staying at work too late, which results in not getting your workout in, or you order pizza instead of making a healthy meal, this is a hijacking of a priority that is all to often hijacked. Set a time for when you must leave work to tend to your priorities and follow through with it. I get it! There will be times of the year when work is heavier, like finals, etc. In which case you may have to bend your rules slightly but the rest of the time of the year, do not waiver.

What Does Teacher Burnout Look Like and How to Avoid it: Stay Healthy

As mentioned above, your health should be one of your priorities. Having good health will help you perform better and more efficiently in all areas of your life so it must be a priority. Workout at least 3 times per week for 40 min. this can be simple from walking the dog, to gardening. Get something in to take care of your physical health. Eat healthy. The most effective way to eat healthy is to plan for your meals. Pack a lunch so you don’t grab pizza or a doughnut in the staff lounge. Plan your dinners and make sure you have time to execute making dinner. If you hate cooking, try one of the healthy food delivery services, or when you order CPK for the family, be sure to get a salad. If you eat well, you will feel well, and as a bonus you will stave off all the sicknesses we typically get during the flu season.

Write in a Daily Journal

Write three things you are grateful for everyday in a daily journal. This doesn’t have to be major, it can be the simple small things that make our day run just a bit smoother. Being grateful has proved to show great results in an improvement of mental health. It can also put you in the right mindset if you record it in the morning prior to starting your day.

Morning Routine that Means Business

If you are in the stages of burnout consider making a change in your morning routine that can help to pull you out of this path of destruction. After I left the teaching profession for a few years, I knew when I reentered that I had to make some major changes if I didn’t want to burnout again. I get up each day one hour earlier than I used to. My morning routine looks like this:

10 min. of meditation

20 min. of yoga

10 min. of positive affirmation (short podcasts like the happiness podcast)

10 min. of reading a book I enjoy (not the latest on classroom policy)

This leaves 10 extra minutes if I am enjoying one particular area

Look how easy this plan is. I like to have short periods of time to complete specific tasks because if I were to do one hour of yoga, I would get bored of it quickly and might stop doing it all together, or get up later and do less of it. If I have 4 enjoyable short tasks, I look forward to this daily routine and I carry it out. Your routine may look different, or have different tasks, just ensure that the purpose is to keep you healthy in your mind and body.

To Read my Blog Post on Social Emotional Learning click Here

To Read my Blog Post on What a Trauma Sensitive Classroom Looks Like, click Here

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If you have experienced teacher burnout let me know your symptoms in the comments! You are not alone

March 16, 2021

3 Types of Writing an Expository Essay You Must Teach!

If you have not come to this blog post to get an in depth look at the expository essay, I would read no further. If you are trying to get a handle on expository writing than read on. I refer to the expository essay as the informational essay. Students are not crazy about this essay because although most essays require evidence, a quote here and there, the expository essay requires much research and information. As the writer you are presenting well-researched information to your audience. Expository essays come in and explain, inform, and describe. The expository essay has gained popularity and has even been turned into a one year high school senior year level course, where students craft expository writings. Expository writing in an expository course covers anything from opinion pieces, personal narrative (college essay), letters, , speeches, and essays. So the question remains, how do you write an expository essay? There are many different ways on how to write an expository essay. Let’s begin with an opinion piece.

Writing an Expository Essay: Opinion Piece

A great way to teach the opinion piece is to have students read multiple controversial articles and come up with an argument of their own. Once they come up with an argument of their own they are to use ethos, pathos, and logos in their essay. The most frequented of the three in the expository essay is ethos. Expository writing must include a lot of ethos (appeal to emotion) in their writing. This is appealing to the audience’s emotion. Logos is an appeal to logic, and pathos is an appeal to pity or sadness. If one were to write about how zoos are bad for animals they would include a lot of evidence about mistreatment, and the positive side of non-captivity in order to evoke emotion. Journalism uses a lot of ethos in their writing/reporting and are constantly trying to appeal to the audience emotions whether that be anger, or passion depending on the cause.

Student introductory example of an opinion piece on global warming: how to start an expository essay.

“Two weeks ago one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the United States in a decade devastated the city of Houston, Texas. Hundreds of thousands are now homeless with nowhere to turn. Weather analytics company Weatherbell reports, “an estimated 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas and Louisiana during a 6-day period,” proving everything really is bigger in Texas (Griggs). As the hurricane neared its close on September 2, a Cat 5 storm in the form of Hurricane Irma is preparing its strike for Florida. Although it remains early in the time slot, estimated costs for the devastating hurricanes totals to 230 billion dollars. As these two desolating hurricanes hit the United States within two weeks, the question of global warming’s impact comes into play.” The writer provides all necessary information about the hurricane prior to taking their stance about the state of global warming. Note all of the research information that is provided vs. opinions about the information. The information in the opinion piece provides what the writers opinion is. How do you write an expository essay? Let’s look at expository writing in literature.

Writing in Literature

Authors frequently insert their own voices into their writing. For example from “Into the Wild” by Krakauer, the author switches from what is the main character’s voice (Chris) to his own voice often. He has opinions about the main character, and it is clearly his voice that takes over Chris’s. Expository writing in literature would be to look at the author’s voice rather than the character’s voice. This is the difference between a literary analysis and an expository essay analysis. The rubric below has requirements of an expository essay. I know….how annoying to provide a rubric in the middle of a blog post, but I have received so much inquiry into the expository essay that I thought it might help. Afterall. If you don’t want to read it, skip on over.

The author’s (Krakauer) opinion about the character (Chris) and this very true story changes as the story moves forward. Originally the author believes the main character to be selfish and self-centered. He believes that he hurt his family unimaginably and unforgivably but he learns as he continues to write the story of Chris MCandless, that there was far more behind what Chris did than was first known. Chris left his home, and family stating that he would never return. He made good on that promise when he didn’t return from the wild. His body was found on an abandoned bus. Many thought he was selfish because they were unaware of the abuse and of what was happening in his home. Once the author knows this, his opinions about Chris change as does his tone in his writing. This piece of literature serves as a great choice for an expository essay because the author’s opinions and voice can be heard throughout the text. Below is an example of the rubric requirements that would go into an expository piece of writing.

Significance of essay is clear and impressive; impressively defines a key characteristic about the author. Engaging content is accurately connected to reflective portion. Reflection shows ample evidence of growth and learning on the part of the author.

Link between memorable introduction and conclusion clarifies event’s significance. Organization is purposeful and expertly balanced to convey both meaning and advance purpose. Transitions effectively and seamlessly move the reader through the action.

Voice is distinct, purposeful and clear. Offers a personal perspective clearly articulated as unique to the author. Voice enhances the purpose of the writing. Voice is clear and coherent throughout the entire essay.

Specific clear nouns, strong verbs, & modifiers show mastery and command of language. Specific words powerfully communicate tone.

Sentences skillfully written to hold the reader’s interest and advances writer’s voice. Displays varied sentence structures & lengths that create a cohesive flow throughout the narrative.

Grammar & punctuation correct, & copy is virtually error free. Writing is complex enough to show skill in using a wide-range of conventions

Rubric for Expository Essay

Narrative

The typical narrative is a creative story told from a a first person point of view. Students begin writing the personal narrative at a young age. Most narratives take a lot of creativity and little research. However the expository narrative includes research into the narrative.

A student example for how to open a personal narrative speech is as follows,

“Failure is when I fail to achieve my goal, or when I fail to do a task, or when I don’t stack up with everyone else. Failure affects my life forever because it molds how I approach things. My experience with failure was that I didn’t make the high school soccer team freshman and sophomore year. I was so devastated that I mourned for months. I am usually a very happy and determined person, so feeling defeated wasn’t normal for me. The event made me a different person, and I thought it was going to kill me.” The rubric in which I use to grade a narrative speech as as follows:

The presentation has an excellent organizational pattern. Introduction outlines the key topics to be discussed that are further clarified in body. There is a clear connection between the different pieces of the presentation as they provide a cohesive, engaging product

Excellent presentation skills are used including visual aids, eye contact, clear speech, and evidence of rehearsal. The presenter has control of all bodily movements and both speaks and gestures with purpose.

The presentation has displays thoughtful insight on text and personal life. Proper citation and integration of credibility is perfect in sources. A clear focus on each of the individual elements of the project is present. Thoughtful depth and reflection are found throughout personal elements and a cohesive whole structure is evident throughout the presentation.

The presenter balances each area of the presentation well and meets the time requirement of 3-4 minutes.

The presentation utilizes visual aids and appropriate technology (PowerPoint, photos, graphics, videos, music, etc.) to enhance the quality of the presentation

The student meets all expectations for appropriate dress. Males: Slacks, dress shoes, shirt and tie (optional). Ladies: slacks, appropriate length skirts, blouses, dress shoes. No Jeans

Speech Rubric

The student would need to do research on failure, what it looks, feels like and how it affects people. He would then need to compare and reflect how his own shortcomings affected his state of mind. How do you write an expository essay is next.

Final On-Demand Essay

This is the big essay that comes at the end of a unit or semester. So how do you write an expository essay? It is important to set up students for success on the expository essay. You must provide students with a prompt. For the purpose of this blog post I will use the topic on crime and punishment in our juvenile system so the question, ultimately, how should we determine the most appropriate punishment for a crime? Once students have their question, you give them a list similar to the following questions:

When answering the prompt, consider the following questions:

What is the purpose of punishment?
What role does that punishment play in achieving justice (for the victim and their families, for society, for the offender)?
What is the appropriate way to use the power of the justice system? What factors (mitigating circumstances, background of an individual, race, class, socioeconomic circumstance) must be considered in order to provide appropriate punishment?

In order to respond to this prompt you will need to:

Analyze the way in which race, class, gender, and age impact the way punishment is currently delivered, and should or should not be delivered in an ideal society.
Consider how the justice system should or should not address disparities in incarceration and punishment.
Understand the different functions and types of punishments that can be provided based on the age of individual and their background circumstances.
Have a clear and logical argument to support your stance that is supported with a minimum of four cited pieces of material from a minimum of two different sources.

Writing an Expository Essay

Note that in the prompt there is a clear outline of research students need to do in order to write this essay

Requirements: Requirements for the essay should be clearly stated. If I were to continue with my example for crime and punishment, the requirements would look as follows:

An introduction that answers both questions in the prompt and provides a clear thesis. It can be very short. 1-2 sentences.
At least four citations, from at least 2 sources, either direct or paraphrased with parenthetical citation
As many paragraphs as you think are needed to make your point. Some will choose 2 chunk paragraphs, others may choose multiple shorter paragraphs.
A clear conclusion that summarizes the points made above
A works cited that provides correct MLA citation for all sources cited in article
Complete a precis on your own work.

Students need a lot of check points along the way and their paper should be checked often. First their questions, you should check the progress of their research as you go. Students should have an outline, and there should be support and help from teachers and peers as they go.

Let me know how you assign the expository essay in the comments below.

If you would like to read about the narrative essay, please read my blog post here

Teachers Pay Teachers Products:

Narrative Essay

Expository Essay

Essay Bundle

March 15, 2021

High School Freshman Reading List

Freshman Reading

Like the typical educational classroom setup the high school freshman reading list hasn’t changed much. The freshmen year is a bit of a smorgasbord when it comes to what is on it. The reason for this is because students do not have a history course like they do in the other years and therefore there is more flexibility for what you can teach in 9th grade. The required high school reading list by grade level topics are: 10th grade year is World Literature, 11th grade year is American Literature, 12th grade year is British Literature. This is exciting in that there is freedom when it comes to the 9th grade reading list. The freshmen high school reading list books are: “Of Mice and Men”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Night”, “The Odyssey”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “The Giver”, “Flowers for Algernon”, some Poe classics. These would be considered the high school recommended reading list. So let’s take a look a the typical high school reading list and then look at what my recommendations would be looking at a current book list.

High School Freshman Reading List: Of Mice And Men

Of Mice and Men: High School Reading List 9th Grade

“Of Mice and Men“ (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) a classic novel that most of the general public has read and is on the High School Freshman Reading List. It is a story about two itinerate farmers who travel from town to town to get any work they can in order to survive and pay for essentials like food. George and Lenny are like family. George is a hot tempered, angry, pessimistic man who has been tasked with taking care of Lenny, a man whose mental capabilities are limited. When Lenny gets scared he tends to grab a hold of things, such as a woman’s skirt, a puppy, a woman’s hair (neck). This gets him into trouble although he doesn’t intend to hurt anyone. I love this book and it pains me to say this but I think it is a book that could be left off the list of high school reading books. Here is why. Students are completely detached from this book until a woman is killed at the end. In fact I would venture to guess most have no idea what is going on until the end when Lenny accidentally kills a woman and George kills him to save him from further harm (a mob of vengeful men). The reason? How can students possibly connect to or identify with itinerate farm workers. There isn’t one character or topic in the book that they can connect with.

High School Freshman Reading List”Night”

“Night” has no doubt and justifiably become a classic and is on the High School Freshman Reading List. It is a story about a boy who we watch go through the entire process of being displaced from his home, forced into a ghetto, travel by train like cattle to Auschwitz. It is a memoir by Elie Weisel and no horrific detail about the Holocaust is left out. We learn about the horrors of the ovens, of losing everything you own from your shoes to your gold tooth, what happens if you do not obey, what happens to children if they cannot obey, and how people are pushed to the absolute brink of survival and fall to their deaths. “Night” is a book that should be read in high school; however, I do not believe it is a book that should be taught freshmen year. It is heavy and freshmen are still not ready for this level of “reality” in the world. I think the book would work better in 10th grade year when students are reading about World Literature. There is a scene about a child in the book who is being hanged. Because the child is light it takes hours for him to die, he simply swings back and forth. There isn’t any good time to read about this but giving students at least one more year to mature before reading “Night” could do them some good. There are so many other books about the Holocaust that would easily take the place of “Night“.

Lunch Box Notes Emojis for Boys and Girls by Teacher for Inclusion (teacherspayteachers.com)

High School Freshman Reading List: “Romeo and Juliet”

“Romeo and Juliet” is a classic Shakespeare and can be found on the High School Freshman Reading List. The story is a tragedy, as though often mistaken as a romance. Students are able to connect with this one and only Shakespeare because it is about two teens, from warring families, who fall in love against the wishes of their parents and society. There are many themes in this book that can be connected with to today and it is for this reason I believe students should learn a lot about Shakespeare and plays, and read “Romeo and Juliet”. However, I do not believe students connect to or relate to any of the other Shakespearean plays and I think we need to move away from the idea that “we have to teach Shakespeare“. Students should learn about him, read and analyze his poetry, read scenes out of his works, for example, the speeches by Brutus and Antony in “Julius Caesar”, but there is no longer a need to read a Shakespearean play each year.

High School Reading List”The Odyssey”

“The Odyssey” Odysseus the Great King sets out to fight in the Trojan War and ends up taking years to arrive back at home. Odysseus is supposed to be this great war hero, but it is difficult for me to see him as anything but an egotistical-selfish being. He looks at the sirens when he is not supposed to, he cheats on his wife Penelope multiple times, he gets all of his men killed because he cannot control his ego and yells out taunting his enemy Grendel who in turn has his father Poseidon kill all Odysseus’s men. What kind of leader gets all of his men killed? and is still considered a great war hero? Although I have my thoughts about Odysseus, students do learn a lot about the Greek Gods which is more of the point of reading the novel. There are many other ways to learn about the Greek Gods such as short stories or even modern reads like Percy Jackson. “The Oresteia” is by far the best story to learn about the Greek Gods but it is a difficult read at this grade level so we may just have to stick with the Odyssey.

Typical High School Reading List:”To Kill A Mockingbird”

“To Kill a Mockingbird” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) This is a classic that needs to withstand the test of time and is unfortunately always on the chopping block as books to remove from the book list. Harper Lee captures a realistic portrayal of an innocent black man being falsely accused by a white woman of rape. Despite the immaculate defense given by Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson is found guilty and is sentenced to death. This is how it really was and our students need to know and see that dreadful part of history. I teach my students about Emmett Till during this unit and the connections they make are real. Also students are close enough in age to Jem and Scout to remember what it was like to grow up. For these reasons, I believe “To Kill a Mockingbird” should continue to be taught in the classroom.

“The Giver”

“The Giver“ (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) has recently been moved from the freshmen book list to the sixth grade book list. This is absolutely ridiculous. The lexile score may suggest that it can be read by a sixth grader but that doesn’t mean 6th graders can understand any of the concepts, themes, or author’s messages. “The Giver” in 9th grade is a perfect read. Students can grapple with the themes of whether or not a dystopian society works, and if people would be happier in a society where everyone is equal, receives the same rations and treatment, and are void of feelings. For this reason I believe “The Giver” should remain on the high school reading list 9th grade.

“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”

In place of “Night“, I believe students should read, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas“. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: (Full lesson on TpT). The heart-breaking novel of the boy in the striped pajamas gives people a glimpse of what it would have been like to live with a family that was on the German side (wrong side). This young boy has a father who is high in rank and even takes orders from Hitler in person. The family lives on sight at Auschwitz to help run the concentration camp. The young boy, completely unaware of what is taking place in the camp, tries to live a normal life. He befriends a boy living in the camp and they meet once a day sitting and talking through the fence about normal things (not what is happening at the camp). Towards the end of the book the boy decides he is going to sneak into the camp so he can help his friend find his father (who has been killed in the gas chambers). The boy sneaks in to what he thinks will be an adventure and is also killed in the gas chambers. To supplement this novel, I would add “White Bird” by R.J. Palacio and the graphic novel of “The Diary of Anne Frank”. These are both beautifully written graphic novels. ‘White Bird” is a love story about a schoolboy who saves a Jewish girl just in time to miss the train to Auschwitz. She has to live in a barn and spends her evenings with this boy who eventually becomes a young man. The two fall in love with each other. The young man is killed in the end ultimately for protecting her. The Diary of Anne Frank, (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) graphic novel is a beautifully written text with amazing graphics. It is similar to “White Bird” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) in that it is an account of her day-to-day life, and she also falls for a young man in the story. The difference between the two is the heart breaking ending of Anne Frank.

“The Stars Beneath Our Feet”

“The Stars Beneath Our Feet” (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by David Barclay is a book that I suggest for the typical high school reading list. A story about a boy who loses his brother and is trying to find a way to cope with this loss. He becomes friends with many he never thought he would befriend and he uses legos as a creative way to deal with the pain of his loss. It’s is a well-crafted book with many themes and messages students can relate to and connect with today.

“As Brave as You”

“As Brave As You“ (Full lesson on Teachers Pay Teachers) by Jason Reynolds is a book about a young boy who is taken to live with his grandparents for a length of time. The boys parents are going through a divorce and they are going on one last trip prior to a separation. The boy spends the time with his grandparents, his brother, and some townspeople. The boy connects with his grandfather who is struggling with blindness. There are many themes that students can relate to and I think this is a great read for 9th grade.

I do not support the idea that there is a required high school reading list. Different teachers are passionate about different topics, and have creative ways of teaching what they love. For this reason, the most intelligent move would be to choose the best high school reading list as one that is chosen by the teacher. The high school book list classics would still be taught, as I think more teachers are apt to teach classics than modern texts.

High School Freshman Reading List: Teachers Pay Teachers Products:

Of Mice and Men

To Kill a Mockingbird

As Brave As You

The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Giver

White Bird

For a blog on book list for 10th grade, click here. For a blog on book list for American Literature click Here. I’d love to hear what books are on your 9th grade book list. Please leave in the comments below!

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March 11, 2021

Edgar Allen Poe’s Short Stories Must Reads!

Edgar Allen Poe’s Short Stories are a must-read in the classroom. Is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? Yes he is. And I give the reasons why below.

Edgar Allen Poe Bundle Product on Teachers Pay Teachers

Edgar Allen Poe’s Short Stories

A question that is often asked: Is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? The answer, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. However, I think he should get credit for his original ideas that have been copied and repeated in books, short stories, poems, and movies over the years. Today it is difficult to come up with new material because most ideas have been written about. Imagine having to be the first to create horror stories? This would be even harder. For this reason, Edgar Allen Poe takes the cake on horror stories!

Some of Edgar Allen Poe’s Short Stories and poems are: “The Tell Tale Heart”, “The Cask of Amontillado”, “The Masque of the Red Death”, “The Pit and the Pendulum”, “The Raven”, and “The Bells”. Let’s take a look at some Edgar Allen Poe Stories Summaries below.

Edgar Allen Poe Stories: The Mask of the Red Death-(Full lesson on TpT)

The Masque of the Red Death Product on Teachers Pay Teachers

“The Masque of the Red Death” is at the top of my list for short stories by Edgar Allen Poe. “The Masque of the Red Death” pertains to today in that it is about the red death during a time when the death rate was through the roof and even the upper-class couldn’t escape the plague…but they sure tried. The story begins with primarily the lower class peasants dying at a rapid rate from the black plague. Despite death being everywhere, a rich Prince Prospero decides he is going to invite his rich friends over, shut everyone out and/or in and party through until the plague has passed. He is an arrogant man and the idea of celebrating while so many are dying is as pretentious as it is callous. For a few days everyone celebrates with eating, dancing and being merry. In the castle the Prince has rooms that are a different colors. Edgar Allen Poe, during a time when author’s didn’t use metaphors, was using color as metaphor. The blue room, purple, room, yellow room etc. were happy places to be but no one entered the red room. At the end of the story the music shuts off and a man “death” in a mask (the plague) emerges from the red room to the party. The host charges him and dies immediately and everyone drops and dies in the end. I love this short story for several reasons. First it pertains to today’s pandemic, but it also puts our pandemic in perspective in that we are lucky this is a virus unlike the red death. It shows the audacity of particular groups of people who think they are untouchable and reserve no compassion for those who are less fortunate and vulnerable, and the use of colors, metaphors, symbols and lessons learned are brilliant, especially in this time period! For this reason I think the answer to the question, is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? Is Yes.

Edgar Allen Poe Stories: The Pit and the Pendulum-(Full lesson on TpT)

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“The Pit and the Pendulum” should win an award for being the most copied on one of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories list. It is a tale during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. A prisoner awakens in a torture chamber and is trying to find a way out. It is Edgar Allen Poe’s use of anticipation that further positions him as the greatest author of horror stories. It begins with the man trying to keep himself busy by doing exercises, and writing on the wall. This seems like torture until the room opens up and he finds himself tied to the ground with corpse rats charging at him. This is a scene that has been recaptured in several works and T.V. shows. I have seen it in “Criminal Minds”, and “Bone Collector” to name a couple. Rats eating dead bodies at some point sparked the idea of rats eating live bodies and Edgar Allen Poe was the first to capture this horror. The next set of torture is a pit on one side and a swinging sharp pendulum swaying back and forth getting closer and closer to the prisoner. The prisoner has a short period of time to try and outsmart the device and is saved at the end. Can anyone say “Saw“? Saw’s entire plot surrounds same ideas from “The Pit and the Pendulum”. In the end the prisoner is saved right in time by the opposition. This is the second of my favorites of stories by Edgar Allen Poe. This story is copied for generations and continues to be copied, it captures the horror of torture, and it leaves the story with a feeling of anxiety as though the man will end up right back where he started. The Spanish Inquisition was a time when distrust was high and no one was safe-can anyone say Dictatorship? For this reason I think the answer to the question, is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? Is Yes.

Edgar Allen Poe Stories: The Cask of Amontillado-(Full lesson on TpT)

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“The Cask of Amontillado” is among one of the best Edgar Allen Poe tales. What is so farsighted about “The Cask of Amontillado” is that Edgar Allen Poe has so much insight into a level of psychology that was not studied at this time. A man named Fortunado has somehow offended Luchesi. The offense was a mild one as Fortunado puts his complete trust in Luchesi when he agrees to go down to his wine cellar for a cask of Amontillado (wine). Fortunado has plotted and planned this murder for some time and waited for the right moment to kill Fortunado. Luchesi even knows Fortunado’s weakness and makes an offer Fortunado cannot refuse on his weakness’ behalf. Fortunado cannot say no to a good bottle of wine and is willing to take a long journey down to the catacombs of Luchesi’s wine cellar. Fortunado (a very ironic name) willingly walks down the narrow stone steps, coughing as he is already sick and the damp air is making him worse. Fortunado heads into a hole dug into a wall to get to his hamartia-the wine, when he is shut in by Luchesi. The fact that Fortunado was still willing to crawl into a space suggests that Fortunado was an alcoholic during a time when alcoholism was not understood. Edgar Allen Poe gives a chilling account of anger, bargaining, denial, and acceptance at the grieving of Fortundo’s own death. It makes one wonder how Edgar Allen Poe was so knowledgeable about what later took years of work, observation, and study to understand. For this reason “The Cask of Amontillado” is on the list of Edgar Allen Poe interesting stories. For this reason I think the answer to the question, is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? Is Yes.

The Tell Tale Heart-(Full lesson on TpT)

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I hate to say it but “The Tell Tale Heart” is one of his most popular works and is one of my least favorites. However there is still much to be said about Edgar Allen Poe and his writing talents in this short story. “The Tell Tale Heart” opens with a man who is middle aged arguing to the audience that he isn’t mad, which makes you quickly realize that you are dealing with someone who is mentally unstable. He goes on to state that he loved the old man (whom he killed) and “took no offense of him”. He states that he killed the man because of his eye. One can deduce that the old man had blue eyes and a bad case of cataracts. One can also deduce that the man serving him entered into a psychotic paranoid state when he decided to kill the man because of his eye. The next display of his complete paranoia is when he buries the man under the floorboards and the police enter to inquire about the missing man. The middle-aged man continues to hear the beating of the old man’s heart inside his head and yells out confessing that he killed the old man. Like in “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allen Poe seems to have a lot of knowledge into human psyche. There is even a hint of compassion for the man who murders the old man because it is clear that he is sick and what is happening in his head is beyond his control. Could Edgar Allen Poe have had compassion for the mentally ill during a time when no one understood mental illness? This is another reason Edgar Allen Poe is brilliant and should get credit for his horror stories. For this reason I think the answer to the question, is Edgar Allen Poe truly the best horror author? Is Yes.

Poem: The Raven-(Full lesson on TpT)

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“The Raven” is another classic of Edgar Allen Poe’s that has been copied for generations. The raven is symbolic for bringing news, and for holding the spirit of someone who has passed on. Just look at “Game of Thrones“. In the vault of Edgar Allen Poe interesting stories goes “The Raven.” “The Raven” is a poem about a man who has lost his beautiful wife Lenore. The Raven continues to visit tapping on the window and at first it is comforting to the man. After this goes on for a while the man becomes agitated and is becoming mad. He cannot get rid of the memories of his wife nor can he move on from her death as there is always something to remind him of her. We watch as the character goes through the different stages of grief and I again question how Edgar Allen Poe can have so much knowledge of psychology during a time it wasn’t studied.

Poems by Edgar Allen Poe: The Bells-(Full lesson on TpT)

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“The Bells” is another poem about a man who has lost his loved one and is experiencing some of the stages of grief. The bells are symbolic for death, and the death is being told to us-those who are alive. The bells are a reminder that we all will die eventually. This is copied in the famous poem, “For Whom the Bell Tolls“, and later made into a song by Metallica. To find these and others, there are Edgar Allen Poe short stories online.

Tell me in the comments which Edgar Allen Poe best short stories are on your list! For a Edgar Allen Poe Bundle Product Click Here. To read my blog on short stories click here.