drvan
218 Followers
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
About the store
I have over 20 years teaching experience in high schools, adult ed, university and private tutoring. I have also taught at learning centres for middle school and high school-aged students.
My background is in English Language Arts and Art History, incorporating cultural studies and literary theory. Like many English teachers, I teach short stories, novels, Shakespeare, poetry, grammar, essay writing, media studies, and career preparation and planning.
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Student Self-Assessment of Work Habits (Strengths & Weaknesses) for Report Cards
Studies show that when students pause and evaluate themselves, their evaluation is more meaningful than those evaluations performed by teachers. Students take ownership over their own progress. Moreover, people are more likely to achieve their goals when they write them down. THREE-PAGE FULLY EDITABLE WORD DOCUMENT:Two-page self-evaluation tool (which can additionally be used for [student-]parent-teacher conferences).One-page self-evaluation tool (which can be used well for students to send ho
5th - 12th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, For All Subjects
Exquisite Corpse Creative Writing Poetry Engaging Activity: GREAT 4 SUBSTITUTES!
OVER EIGHTY POWERPOINT SLIDES - A brief history of the writing activity - Detailed instructions with three complete examples - Prompts for your very own round of Exquisite Corpse, including extra suggested prompts. Contains FOUR SUPPLEMENTAL PDF WORKSHEETS - THREE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS are offered as well, so you can keep it fresh… never the same activity twice! Upon repeat, the results only ever get better. - USE WITH A CLASS OF ANY SIZE From three students to as many as you can fit into a clas
5th - 12th, Adult Education
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Poetry
CCSS
W.9-10.5
, L.9-10.5
, L.9-10.5a
Know Your Country: Map of Canada Assignment (& Accompanying Quiz)
This resource is now a Google Doc and therefore editable, should you need to, to meet your specific teaching needs!This four-page mapping activity is one I use for all my junior Social Studies classes. With this mini-project, students become more familiar with the geographic boundaries of Canada, its provinces and territories, and significant bodies of water within and around our country. Students also learn the capital cities and where they are located. Finally, in completing this project, s
5th - 10th
Canadian History, Geography, Social Studies
Start of Year: Fun Memory Mnemonics Name Game: Learn Students' Names in One Day
This is an EASY, ENGAGING, and downright FUN activity for students and teachers alike. This activity can be used in the first week of class to quickly and easily learn students’ names, while you also learn a little about the students, too. In turn, students learn a bit about their teacher. It takes, at the very minimum, one full-class, but I always return to it for a day or two afterwards, to reinforce the learning of the study technique of "memory by association" and show students that practic
5th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
For All Subjects
Engaging & Fun Puns (Literary Terms) GREAT FOR SUBSTITUTES
ENGAGING & FUN KOALA-TEA PUNS (Literary Terms) Presented here is an all-you-need to access, teach, and have academically engaging fun with your class about PUNS! They are presented in a "lateral thinking" way (aka, "outside the box thinking.") The difference between this and other pun literary terms lessons is that this... A/ incorporates visuals as a key element to tap into visual learners in addition to verbal (reading) and aural (spoken aloud) learners. B/ sets up the lesson as a puzzle
4th - 12th, Adult Education
English Language Arts
Also included in: Lateral Thinking Skills Bundle - 3-in-1 - Save 25%
Alexander Beetle (song / poem by Melanie Safka) - Activities & Questions
Growing up, I loved " Alexander Beetle" song by Melanie (which is based on the A. A. Milne original poem, "Forgiven.") I used to play the record most every day, but " Alexander Beetle" was my favourite song, by far. I have long wanted to turn it into a resource for primary grades so a whole new generation of students could enjoy (and learn) from this wonderful poem, as well. This is a Google Document that is ready to go, with two formats so that you will have to make no (or very few) edits
1st - 6th
English Language Arts, Music, Poetry
DBT for Schools (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) using A.C.C.E.P.T.S. & T.I.P.P.
For students who struggle with anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation Dialectical Behaviour Therapy has proven useful and effective. DBT was originally developed to treat BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), and developed out of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), yet it has been similarly effective with generalized anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Presented here is an easy-to-use, one-page handout that proves effective with children. Designed for in-school use, this DBT handout work
4th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
School Counseling, School Psychology
Safety Plan (Two editable versions w/ possible inclusion ideas) for Counsellors
Herein you will find TWO VERSIONS of SAFETY PLANS for your students, to be filled out by a trained professional who has the proper educational training ( e.g., school counsellor or school psychologist). These Safety Plans are GOOGLE DOCUMENTS and, therefore, fully editable, should you need to make any changes ( i.e., local area resources or crisis lines). T Of the two versions, one is a one-pager (which I like for that reason) and the other is a two-pager, and goes into more detail. Also
5th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
School Counseling, School Psychology
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: Five Vocabulary Activities for Chapters 1-4
Beginning to read a novel can be quite exciting for some students, pure drudgery for others, and an overwhelming prospect for still others. I find that a mixture of activities, of course, is beneficial to build up exciting and anticipation for the story, engaging readers and increasing their desire to read and find out more. The block of new vocabulary when opening a new novel can often put students off, so for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe I created this 15-page resource with five di
3rd - 7th
English Language Arts, Vocabulary
Winter Holiday / Christmas Reading Log
This is a Reading Log for the Winter Holiday Break ( a.k.a. Christmas Vacation). I designed it to encourage my students to read — especially the reluctant readers — by keeping up the momentum we established in the regular school year. This is a fully editable Google Document, so that you can tailor it to suit your own purposes and taste. I use a similar one over the Spring Break / Spring Vacation, as well. What I have included on this reading log is... a place for them to put their name
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Reading
Also included in: Bundle: Spring Break & Winter Break Reading Logs - SAVE 15%
Prepositions (Grammar Exercise) — Interactive (ELL, Intermediate, & Junior High)
This a GRAMMAR resources that looks at the use and function of PREPOSITIONS. It is created in Google Slides, and can be student-interactive as they fill-in the worksheet on their computer, tablet, or SmartBoard, in lieu of filling out a paper worksheet. I have used it for individual student-work, or in pairs, or as a class activity where the teacher makes use of the interactive/manipulative element. (That said, this document is printable for traditional paper-and-pencil work, if you or your
5th - 9th
English Language Arts, Grammar
Poetry Jumble Activity: "The Farmer and the Queen" by Shel Silverstein
This is a fun and engaging group (or individual) poetry activity for students to explore and play with how poetry is created. They will work on how sounds go together, how rhymes work, and how rhythm patterns are established. Contained herein are a variety of activities, all based off of Shel Silverstein’s poem, “The Farmer and the Queen” from his classic, Where the Sidewalk Ends. In these activities, students solve either (a) jumbled lines of poetry, or (b) missing words, by analyzing poetic
4th - 9th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Poetry
Inquiry Learning Approach to Shel Silverstein's poem, "The Loser"
NOTE: This Resource is particularly appropriate for DISTANCE LEARNING, but can be used quite successfully in an typical classroom setting, as well. Allow your students to explore poetry in a different way: Have them "write" the poem they are about to read. In so doing, they engage with the poem and become immersed in the words. FIRST: Show students the wordlist of the poem. What can uncover about the poem and its meaning with just a list of the words used? (Good Readers Make Predictions)SE
5th - 9th
English Language Arts, Poetry
Coping with COVID: A Counsellors' Handout to Parents & Students
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED RESOURCE WITH COVID19 IN MIND & DISTANCE LEARNINGAs school counsellors, it is difficult to not be there face-to-face to support our students as they are used to. In reaction their current social-emotional needs during this pandemic, I have developed this handout for students and parents that do the following: Let both students and parents know that they are not alone and that the school (counsellors, teachers, and admin) are still there to support them.Provide them with ef
5th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
School Counseling, School Psychology
Les parties du corp humain: Five Activities to Learn & Practice 31 Body Parts
Here is a collection of five activity sheets all using (and reusing) vocabulary of the human body. Students will practice 31 body parts in French, practising their spelling; translating the terms back and forth from English; and knowing the gender/number of each term (which terms are masculine, feminine, or plural). The activities can be done individually, in pairs, groups, or the class as a whole. Answer Keys are provided for each activity, as well as a one-pager of all the vocabulary (
4th - 10th
French
Name that Movie! (Emoji-Description Style) Volume Two: Children's Films (1of2)
As part of my ongoing series of Lateral Thinking Resources, I've taken the Internet activity of using emojis to alternatively describe films and placed them into a fun and engaging class lesson where students can work together to do the same. In this group activity, students will look at the popular culture of emoji-text and then have to determine what popular movie it is describing. For example: + describe's 2019's Oscar-award winning biopic: Rocketman. This resource is VOLUME TWO of a serie
5th - 12th
English Language Arts
Student Inventory Worksheet for Personal Strategies to Deal with Anxiety
Students are presenting more and more with anxiety. They often believe they lack any skills to deal with and manage that anxiety. This worksheet, used over three sessions, allows students to realize that they already have a skill-set that they can employ to manage their anxiety. This worksheet is recommended to be used over three sessions, so that students have repeated exposure and repetition of the strategies they have used in the past, they have used recently, and that they may use in the f
5th - 12th
Health, School Counseling, School Psychology
Meditation Student Self-Reflection Sheet
If you practice any type of meditation with your students, this resource is for you. This is a simple, easy-to-use, one-page worksheet which asks students to pause and reflect up the meditation they just completed. How was it for them in terms of mind, body, and heart. This activity can help make the unconscious conscious and the purposeless more purposeful. Moreover, student collect these worksheets over time, and are able to track how meditation has affected them. I designed this, in parti
4th - 12th
School Counseling, School Psychology
Bundle: Spring Break & Winter Break Reading Logs - SAVE 15%
With this bundle you get both the Spring Break Reading Log and the Winter Break Reading Log. These logs have proved useful to me (and to parents) to keep children accountable (and engaged) with their reading over the vacation period. With this bundle, you get both at a 15% discount!
1st - 7th
English Language Arts, Reading
The Highwayman (Alfred Noyes) (poetry) (poems)
This 34-slide illustrated PowerPoint presentation was created to complement a reading of Alfred Noyes' poem, The Highwayman. I've posted it as another freebie as it wouldn't be right to charge for it since it is largely a collection of illustrations I've gathered from various Internet sources. I do feel it has value, though, to help students visualize the poem and keep them engaged while reading. I often display these slides as the class listens (and reads along) to Loreena McKennitt's beaut
5th - 12th
English Language Arts, Poetry
Showing 1-20 of 28 results
About the store
Experience
I have over 20 years teaching experience in high schools, adult ed, university and private tutoring. I have also taught at learning centres for middle school and high school-aged students.
My background is in English Language Arts and Art History, incorporating cultural studies and literary theory. Like many English teachers, I teach short stories, novels, Shakespeare, poetry, grammar, essay writing, media studies, and career preparation and planning.
Teaching style
My philosophy of education centres on interdisciplinary studies and the development of critical reasoning skills. I believe that as modern life becomes increasingly complex and interconnected the need to teach how all subject areas interact is ever more important. As such, I habitually infuse my lessons with visual and popular culture, demonstrating how the material is relevant to students’ lives and thereby making it more accessible. Similarly, I contextualize the source material to its socio-political milieu to facilitate learning while students uncover how a text’s meaning changes over time.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Outstanding Teaching Practicum Award
My own education history
B.Ed., B.A., and M.Ed in School Counselling.
Additional biographical information
I'm a nineteenth-century boy, stuck in a twenty-first-century body.
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