21 in 21, Day 6: “The Colonel” by Carolyn Forche
submitted by Gina Korteum One of my favorite texts to teach is the prose poem “The Colonel” by Carolyn Forché. Each year when I teach this, my students have a variety of reactions to this poem,...
View Article21 in 21, Day 6: “America” by Claude McKay
I woke up this morning in Atlanta, GA with emotions high. Several of my students worked on political campaigns and voted in not only their first presidential election but also endured six weeks of...
View Article21 in 21, Day 7: The House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende
submitted by Munira Ahmed Mall I enjoy teaching this novel because I love the genre of magical realism. It is new and novel for my students. Not only does the text offer the opportunity to study all...
View Article21 in 21, Day 8: “Digging” by Seamus Heaney
submitted by Heather MacCorkle Edick Great writers know their role and use the tools at their disposal to contribute to human progress. In “Digging,” Seamus Heaney had his speaker say he would use his...
View Article21 in 21, Day 9: Whereas by Layli Long Soldier
today’s post submitted by Katie MacDonald, links to all 21 texts here (updated daily) As a preface, I have to express my gratitude for the group Teach Living Poets for exposing me to collections – and...
View Article21 in 21, Day 10: “Lesson about Light” by Donna Vorreyer
Today’s text is submitted by Melissa Smith with an invitation to join tonight’s Twitter chat at 9 PM EST with Donna Vorreyer about this poem. Never participated in a Twitter chat: here’s a link...
View Article21 in 21, Day 11: “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie
submitted by Lindsay Schneider Working predominantly with high school seniors, my classes have a strong bent towards “encouraging” students to reflect on their own educational experience. Before...
View Article21 in 21, Day 12: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Today’s post is submitted by Molly Pettit; all 21 in 21 texts can be found here (updated daily) When I was in the planning process of creating a new advanced course aimed at freshmen and sophomores, I...
View Article21 in 21, Day 13: “Memory Sack” by Joy Harjo
Today’s post is submitted by Kristin Runyon. Find a full list of texts here: 21 in 21 Texts (updated daily) That first cry opens the earth door. We join that ancestor road. With our pack of memories...
View Article21 in 21, Day 14: “Naming Myself” by Barbara Kingsolver
Today’s post is submitted by Kim Patrick. All of the 21 in 21 Texts can be found here (updated daily). “Naming Myself” – Barbara Kingsolver I have guarded my name as people in other times kept their...
View Article21 in 21, Day 15: “The Colonel” by Carolyn Forche
Today’s post is submitted by Gina Korteum. All of the 21 in 21 Texts can be found here (updated daily). One of my favorite texts to teach is the prose poem “The Colonel” by Carolyn Forché. Each year...
View Article21 in 21, Day 16: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Today’s post is submitted by Lorri Lewis; all 21 in 21 texts are linked here (updated daily). Also a personal note: Homegoing is the best new novel I have read in the last decade; I cannot recommend it...
View Article21 in 21, Day 17: Inaugural Poetry
My first day with new students will be Tuesday, 1/19 – the day before the inauguration. I always do a Say NO to the Syllabus activity on the first day and have been thinking about inaugural poems for a...
View Article21 in 21, Day 19: “In Memory of Kamau Brathwaite” by Safia Elhillo
Today’s post is submitted by Brian Hannon, teacher and education director for LMS Curriculum Database. LMSV Curriculum Database hosts a month chat with a poet open to teachers and students. This...
View Article21 in 21, Day 19: “Intersections” by Lauren Alleyne
Today’s post is submitted by Jennifer Stuckey. Find all of the 21 in 21 Texts here. A #teachlivingpoets Twitter chat in September 2019 first introduced me to poet Lauren K. Alleyne and her poem...
View Article21 in 21, Day 20: “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman
So much love and respect for Amanda Gorman who is inspiring a whole nation and showing our students that poetry does indeed deserve a place in all of our lives. All 21 in 21 Texts can be found here....
View Article21 in 21, Day 21: “Not Poor, Just Broke” by Dick Wilson
Today’s post is by Angela Rembert, a friend from a former district; find all 21 in 21 Texts here. Text: “Not Poor, Just Broke” by Richard “Dick” Gregory, American comedian, civil rights activist, and...
View Article“Me up at does” Analysis and Writing Lesson
Mara Corey sent this lesson early last week (or last year or last decade – who even knows what time it is anymore) and I was completely AMAZED at its detail and thoughtfulness. This two day lesson...
View Article21 Texts in 21: Summary
One of my personal goals, not only in my classroom but on this site, is to introduce more voices and works that represent and celebrate all people and continue to expand and complicate the canon. I’m...
View ArticleEncouraging Reading for Pleasure
At the beginning of each semester (we’re on block schedule), we read the AP Lit course description as a class and discuss it. One of my students said something this week that I cannot shake. She said...
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