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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Anagram Scrabble Fun - Class Group Google Slides Fun Activity / Game
This is a fun, engaging, and educationally-sound word-game activity that you can spread out over the semester or year as a brain break for your students. It is anagram-based activity in Google Slides, where students are shown a word or phrase and they must rearrange the letters to form a humourous response to the original. For example, the Preview provided shows how "The Eyes" transforms into "They See." Complete Answer Key is provided. Within this resource there are ten "rounds" of the
6th - 12th
English Language Arts, Other (ELA), Spelling
Irony Package: Presentation, Worksheets, Quizzes w/ Answer Key
This is a complete Irony Package ( Verbal Irony [including Sarcasm], Situational Irony, and Dramatic Irony) for you and your students. Included is a Google Slides 39-slide presentation, which includes three TedEd videos embedded into the presentation, as well definitions, examples, and multiple visual examples of Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic Irony mixed in with a few examples which are "not ironic." I use these to introduce the concepts to the class in a humous way. Also included i
7th - 12th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature, Vocabulary
Reluctant Flyers: A Grammar Editing Proofreading Activity (2 levelled versions)
This "real world text" Editing Activity has students proofread an expository paragraph and locate (and correct) grammatical/English usage errors. To facilitate differentiated learning for your students, there are two versions of these passage, requiring two levels of skill. This resource is a Google Doc and Fully Editable, if needed. Great for individual, paired, small group, or entire class learning.In the first version, the passage is broken up into ten sections and students are tasked w
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Close Reading, Grammar, Writing
The 12 Days of Christmas - History, Symbolism, & Creative Writing Assignment
This Google Slides Document examines the ubiquitous Christmas Carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." The presentation is divided into six parts over 41 slides: The origin and history of the twelve days of Christmas (from Christmas Day on December 25 to Twelfth Night on January 5).A recognition of the myth that there is symbolism in each of the twelve days of gifts. Why would such a myth develop be so readily believed in popular cultural?An examination of the supposed symbolism, using predictio
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies
William Blake's "The Tyger" (Tiger): Inquiry-Based Approach (Critical Reasoning)
The process of understanding and bringing meaning to poetry instills fear in many of our students. Oftentimes, when students merely look at a poem, they immediately decide they cannot understand it, even before they read through it once. This lesson uses the Inquiry-Based Learning model and critical thinking/reasoning skills. Students are first presented with a Wordle(TM) image (the jumbled words of the poem). Students are asked to spot any "word patterns" in the jumbled text of the poem. As
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
English Language Arts, Poetry
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
Grammar Proofreading Editing Activity (2 Versions) — "Mars Colony"
This "real world text" 2-in-1 Grammar Activity has students proofread an fictionalized expository paragraph and locate (and correct) grammatical/English usage errors. To facilitate differentiated learning for your students, there are two versions of these passage, requiring two levels of skill. Every thing is in Google Doc format and Fully Editable, if needed. In the first version, the passage is broken up into ten sections and students are tasked with locating a grammatical error in one of t
10th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Close Reading, Grammar, Writing
Introduction to Poetry - Placemat Activity
This activity has students access their background knowledge of poetry and it values their experiences and opinions about the subject. The accompanying full-editable Google Slides presentation (12 slides) provides students (and teacher) step by step instructions on how to create their Poetry Placemats. This activity has students thinking, writing, evaluating, and commenting, discussing and then presenting their findings. The end product is a useful poster placemat which students can place in the
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Poetry
The Chrysalids: Setting Activity (Waknuk, Wild Country, Fringes, Badlands)
Here are two SETTING-based activities to use for The Chrysalids novel study. GOOD READERS VISUALIZE and this first activity makes the setting of the novel concrete and visual to students. This activity can be delivered during (or after) reading CHAPTER TWO. I have found that students do no necessarily "see" the story in their minds eye. The setting in John Wyndhman's novel, in particular, is important to bring meaning and understanding to students' reading and learning. This lesson acti
9th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Close Reading, English Language Arts
Example How to Write a Literary Paragraph (using Budge Wilson's "The Metaphor")
How do you teach effective writing? You model it, of course! After teaching students the basic form of an effective literary paragraph, I have found that the act of writing often still remains mysterious to them, like a code they are quite unable to crack though they have the cypher lying in front of them. If, however, you demonstrate those tools by showing them examples of effective writing, using relevant and real-world texts, they can use the examples as models from which to hone their craft
9th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Short Stories, Writing, Writing-Essays
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%
Lateral Thinking Skills Bundle - 3-in-1 - Save 25%
Here are my three resources that employ LATERAL THINKING SKILLS (also known as outside-the-box thinking). They are both word-based and visually based. By practicing and honing their lateral thinking skills, your students will: generate better ideas;improve their problem solving abilities;become more innovative;challenge current ways of thinking and seeing the world; andsee new opportunities.Buy this bundle and save 25%!!
8th - 12th
English Language Arts
Ongoing Activity: Advice for a human – Matt Haig's novel, "The Humans"
This accompanying Google Slides presentation is 80+ slides long. I have created slides that contain classroom-suitable pieces of advice as offered in the near-final chapter of Matt Haig's fantastic novel, The Humans. In my classroom, I have used them in the following and varied ways: To put up on my school monitors, so students can think about the advice as they walk the halls.To put up in my classroom as either posters or on the overhead.To use as discussion-starters in my class, usually duri
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
English Language Arts, Literature, Writing
Grammar: Editing / Proofreading Skills — Science Theme (4 Exercises in 1)
In these "real world text" science-themed Grammar Activities, there are four versions from which to choose. You can use it for four different classes, so that students have similar, but distinct, experiences with proof-reading and grammar-editing. Alternatively, you could use it with the same class between two to four times. The Aim and Purpose:Students proofread an expository paragraph and locate grammatical errors. To facilitate differentiated learning, there are two versions of these pas
10th - 12th, Adult Education
Close Reading, Grammar, Informational Text
The Chrysalids: Written Discussion Questions — Suitable for Class Discussion
In this six-page resource, students will engage with the Big Ideas of the text. This is a written assignment that probes into the key themes of John Wyndham's The Chrysalids. Issues of personal values, prejudice, and individual's beliefs are all explored. In diving into these questions, students will be asked to empathize with the people of Waknuk, and take their perspective (if only momentarily). Then, students will examine their own belief-structures and see how they compare to those pres
9th - 12th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature
Also included in: The Ultimate Chrysalids Bundle (Ten Resources In One)
Lateral Thinking: Thinking Outside the Box in Visual Rebus Puzzles
This is a fun Google Drive presentation to show your students and get them practicing lateral thinking skills. In a series of eight different Rebus-like images, student have to work out what the doctored (photoshopped) photos represent. The Answers: An iPodGatoradeA NightmareA Pool TableA Card SharkA Light Beer (Perhaps not the most school appropriate, but I leave that to your good judgement.)Whole MilkTap DancersIf you like this product, you may also enjoy two other resources which focus on la
8th - 12th
Close Reading, English Language Arts
Also included in: Lateral Thinking Skills Bundle - 3-in-1 - Save 25%
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
Lateral Thinking Class Riddles: Badly Describe Your Job (Great for Substitutes!)
Here is a collection of fun riddles in an 80-slide Google Slides presentation that will engage the entire class. Students will practice their lateral thinking skills, and then in an Extension Activity, try their hand at creating their own riddle. This is a great resource for when you are left with extra five minutes, if you are a substitute teacher and can bring this activity into any class, any subject, or as a planned activity in a careers unit, or trying to flex your student critical
6th - 12th, Adult Education
English Language Arts
Also included in: Lateral Thinking Skills Bundle - 3-in-1 - Save 25%
What To Do When You Don't Understand A Poem: 20 Tips & Tricks for Reading Poetry
I use this lesson/PowerPoint at the start of every poetry unit with my students. It offers up practice and achievable tips and tricks for what students can do to better understand poetry, in particular when they encounter a poem that gives them trouble. Included with the 20 Tips and Tricks in PowerPoint format, there are also accompanying teaching notes. These notes provide examples, offer fuller explanations, as well as pedagogic rationales that will more easily "sell" these tips and tricks t
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
English Language Arts, 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
Showing 1-20 of 62 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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