Category Archives: classroom lesson process

December 29, 2017

Willoughby Eastlake Public Library Radio

Sara and I had the fun privilege of sitting down with Lori Caszatt of the Willoughby Eastlake Library for a chat on a chilly December day. click and listen.


November 9, 2017

Singapore American School

What can we say? Singapore American School feels like a home away from home for us. We have visited here so many times that we have a favorite grocery store. We love our trips to this school. Why? Because they push us – every time we come they throw another challenge our way that makes […]


May 4, 2017

Look what I found! A found poem lesson to augment novel study.

So what are we accomplishing here?

We are close reading a text as a group.

We discover themes of our literature.

We are collaborating to discern the importance of what we are reading.

We are taking collaborative research and writing as individuals.

We are getting hands on experience using poetic elements.

We are accepting the extra challenge.

We are working and succeeding through a bit of cognitive dissonance.

We are coming back together to edit and write a finished piece with a partner.

We are sharing our work with an audience.


May 13, 2016

Yes Poetry Matters

Poetry scares teachers – how do we teach it – and more problematic for instructors, how do we interpret and or grade it? Ought we beat it with a hose as Billy Collins laments, “…tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it.” Or should we just let it exist floating in the air like a balloon attached to our heart by a strand of silk, ephemeral and too precious to critique?


Testimonials

“Sara and Michael bring infectious energy and joy leavened with deep knowledge of best practices in literacy to their work with children and teachers.” Ellin Keene – Author of Mosaic of Thought and The Teacher You Want to Be
“Sara and Michael bring magic, and a contagious love of words to both students and teachers alike!” Georgia Heard - Author of Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School More testimonials...