Start the New Year with a Mid-Year Evaluation
Take a deep breath. This may be the last time you have to do this until May because we all know that once school starts back after break, the pace only accelerates until graduation. The new year is the...
View ArticleThe Benefits of Teaching As I Lay Dying
Desiring to change up my reading list this year, I decided to add As I Lay Dying and am so glad I did because it has proven to a great choice. I feel part of my duty as a southern teacher is to offer...
View ArticleStudent Feedback : The Writing Conference
This past week my PLN has been discussing feedback on Voxer forcing me to rethink feedback in general, its effectiveness, and what it looks like in the classroom. My beliefs and practices concerning...
View ArticleTen Commandments for Teaching Poetry
Teach strategies for understanding. The goal is to help students learn to read and enjoy poetry on their own, so allow the poem to be a vehicle for teaching strategies to unlock meaning and...
View ArticleNo More Poetry and Prose Prompt Predicaments
No formula exists for writing the perfect AP essay; however, these general guidelines can give students confidence and serve as reminders going into the exam. Typical poetry prompts include: Analyzing...
View ArticleAP Lit Multiple Choice Stategies
Preparation for the AP Lit multiple-choice portion of the exam requires critical reading skills acquired throughout the year; last-minute cramming is generally not productive for this type of exam....
View ArticleIn Defense of the Exam
My opinions on standardized testing are no secret as I have spoken out against it adamantly and frequently, so it’s no surprise that I’m often asked about why I teach AP Lit, a course driven by and...
View ArticleSummer Writing
Assigning summer reading for students is commonplace in most schools. All research supports the need for students to remain active in learning over the summer in order to continue to make intellectual...
View ArticleThoughts from an AP Reader: “Juggler” Question 1
Writing a timed essay for the AP exam on “Juggler” by Richard Wilbur was much like juggling; students had to manage a prompt asking them to analyze the juggler and the speaker’s attitude toward the...
View ArticleCurriculum and Course Considerations
Even with my books, electronic resources, coffee, and beagle nearby to listen to me talk through ideas, choosing and planning curriculum for a new school year can be a daunting task. Whether new or...
View ArticlePoetry Props: Strategies for Student Understanding
TP-CASTT, SOAPStone, and DIDLS have been long-time methods of teaching students how to unpack and understand poetry. These have their place in the classroom and offer students a structured approach to...
View ArticleUsing Student Data for Self-Evaluation
One of my favorite aspects of teaching AP Literature is helping students become independent learners and learn how to make adjustments in studying based on personal progress. Since AP Literature has so...
View ArticleMudbound, Skype, and Hillary Jordan
No More Guessing on Author Intent in Mudbound – Susan Barber After falling in love with the novel Mudbound last summer, I decided to make it this year’s summer reading. Mudbound has so many great...
View ArticleDylan Composes His Way into Literary Discussions Like a Rolling Stone
One of my first lessons in AP or any senior level literature class revolves around the question of what exactly constitutes literature. Because I wanted to change things up this year, I have not done...
View ArticleGeorgia On My Mind – A Guide to Atlanta for NCTE Attenders
Welcome to Atlanta. Whether you call us A-town, the ATL, the Big Peach. Empire City of the South, or HOTlanta, I’m so excited to be volunteering for NCTE over the next few days as English educators...
View ArticleTexts not Terms
This conversation happens frequently in my classroom; I’m guessing it happens in your classrooms as well. Student: “What do you want us to annotate the text for?” Teacher: “Meaning.” Student: “Yes,...
View ArticleCharacter Complexity
In an ever-continuing effort to guide my students in reading deeply and finding meaning in a text, I wanted to do something different near the beginning of Brave New World to help students see the...
View ArticleMy Teaching Manifesto
Reading I will provide a variety of quality works for my students. I will teach skills that will help students become better readers rather than teaching a text. I will be an active reader and share...
View ArticleFive Books to Jump Start 2017
With so many books and so little time to read, our AP Lit Help team offers reviews of their favorite professional reads from last year. Happy reading and learning in 2017! Writing with Mentors – How to...
View ArticleThe Things They Carried: Lesson Ideas
The Things They Carry by Tim O’Brien has become a favorite in my AP Literature classroom. O’Brien’s journalistic style allows students to delve into theme and literary analysis without being weighed...
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