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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The Princess Bride: Film Study Using Short Story Terminology (Great End of Year)
GREAT END-OF-YEAR REVIEW ACTIVITY. This movie reviews short story terminology with sound educational value and provides a fun way to re-engage learners at the end of the school year, the start of the new year, or directly before or after holidays. (And let's face it: The Princess Bride, is one of the best and most beloved films of all time.) GREAT STARTER TO A SHORT STORY UNIT (terms review) This seven-page pdf document contains three different activities for a film study of The Princess Br
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
Speech Assignment / Oral Presentation - PEER-FEEDBACK FORM
This is a great way to keep the audience engaged in student-presentations, but also allow the audience to provide meaningful feedback to students. What did they do well? What does the audience want to see more of? How many times did they unknowingly say "Ummm," "Ahhhh," or "So..." Contained herein: The same form with very slight modifications: One for "Oral Presentations" and the other for "Speech Assignment." Each of those, however, has two formats: One per page (usually I use this for the
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies, Speaking & Listening
Colloquialisms, Slang, and Jargon: Knowing the Difference - PowerPoint
Oftentimes students (and let's face it, even many adults) do not know the difference between colloquialism, slang, and jargon. What words would be correctly called slang? Why does my teacher write "colloquial" in the margins of my essays? I have created this PowerPoint presentation to guide students through the distinctions by using cartoons, definitions, examples, and little "tricks" to demystify and illustrate the difference. This PowerPoint is made up of seventeen slides, but it would be
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
How to Write an Email: Two Lessons in Audience, Tone, and Format
So often I find that students do not know how to write appropriate emails to either their teachers or future employers. I developed these two lessons to focus and correct that in my students. This is a two-lesson product, twenty-seven pages in all. Part One is a two-page handout (PDF) and Part Two is an editable twenty-six-slide PowerPoint presentation. Both parts are described more fully below. (As it is a PDF and PowerPoint product, I have zipped the file.) PART ONE: This two-page handout
8th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
English Language Arts, Other (ELA), Writing
"Gentlemen, Your Verdict" Pre- & Post-Reading Activities & Writing Prompts
This product contains activities for Michael Bruce's short story, "Gentleman, Your Verdict."
Specifically:
Three anticipatory set activities for setting students thinking about the themes in the story. (1) Engaging class discussion where most everyone will have and opinion they will want to share; (2) Group activity; (3) Four journaling or class debate topics.
I have also included a famous morality thought-experiment, used in many psychology classes. This provides teacher background to mora
8th - 12th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
Formal versus Informal Writing
This resource is both for Formal vs. Informal Language, as well as Sophisticated Language. In a two-page handout that explains how to write formally, or more specifically, how to recognize and eliminate informal diction from writing. In a table format, informal writing is labelled and exemplified, a more formal (replacement) wording is provided, and (most importantly) a brief explanation as to why is provided. This is a great two-page reference guide for students to use all year. I give it to
8th - 12th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
Practice Writing Extended Metaphors (Similes & Metaphors) (Creative Writing)
This is a six-page product that gives students various ways to access (and then create) Extended Metaphors (and Similes). It starts with a quick and easy, one-page worksheet to kickstart students in their creative writing. There are seventeen metaphor stems which students have to fill out (e.g., Freedom is _____________.) After completing the worksheet, students share with a partner, but also choose their favourite three as the basis for writing extended metaphors (e.g., Freedom is a summer'
7th - 12th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Poetry
Generic Movie Analysis Using Short Story Terms & More — Great for Substitutes!
It is important, I believe, to keep students accountable when purposefully watching a film in class. These worksheets are meant to do just that. These worksheets are generic enough to be used for any film, but also has students apply what they know from short story terminology onto a movie's storytelling structure. They promote active viewing, as students need to think about how the elements of fiction. While each page is unique, they can be used all together for a film-response booklet, or i
8th - 12th
Drama, English Language Arts, Short Stories
English 8 & English 9 Final Examinations Bundle — Save 20%
With this bundle you get my Eighth Grade and Ninth Grade English Final Examinations as well as my English Final Survival Guide Handout (designed for Grades 10-12, but still have value for younger grades) which helps increase student-success in English finals. These English final exams are designed to be easy to mark, but thorough in content, covering poetry, prose, non-fiction, and original composition writing. (The Grade Eight Final Examination also has a section on Grammar.) I hope t
7th - 10th
English Language Arts
Welcome to Grade 8 - How to Prepare & What to Expect from High School
This is a 26-slide Google Slides Presentation and one-page Accompanying Handout on "How to Be Successful in High School." The presentation template is fully editable, allowing you to tailor it to your school and include photos and information as desired. The presentation provides a useful format to guide the structure of your presentation, whether you go into Grade 7 elementary classrooms at the end of the year (as I do), or when you welcome in the new batch of Grade 8s in September. In my
7th - 8th
School Counseling
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
"The Eagle" by Alfred Lord Tennyson (poetry analysis worksheet)
This attractively, uncluttered seven-page document is a quick and easy way to get your students looking for SOUND DEVICES, IMAGERY and more in a short, seemingly simple, but jam-packed poem. Students are presented with Tennyson's "The Eagle" (a six-line poem), and asked to locate the sound devices and other literary devices. Each line has at least two devices so there are lots for them to explore and discuss. Further, students will learn (or review) what PERSONIFICATION is, and there are four
7th - 12th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Poetry
The Greatest Canadian (Research Presentation)—Celebrates Canada's 155th in 2022
Great Start to the Year Activity! Celebrate Canada's 151st Birthday through this critical thinking and evaluating research task: "My Canadian Is Better Than Your Canadian." Students come up with their own criteria in selecting The Greatest Canadian. Students will research, present, and try to persuade their classmates that "My Canadian is Better Than Your Canadian" and should win out over the others as "The Greatest Canadian." The project culminates in a persuasive presentation, and then afte
8th - 12th
Canadian History, English Language Arts, Social Studies
Spice Up Your Writing! Narrative Tips and Tricks for Students
Give students easy tools, tips, and tricks to turn their creative writing into engaging and memorable pieces.
Many students have difficulty writing narrative essays or other creative writing assignments. Often, their ideas are fantastic, but their execution falls flat due to dull expression. In this product, I have included various handouts, exercises, and worksheets I give to my students over the course of several classes (in the form of mini-lessons) to help them better succeed in their cre
6th - 12th, Adult Education
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
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
Cast Away - Engaging Movie Supplement - Short Story Worksheets & Viewing Quiz
GREAT START OR YEAR-END ACTIVITY. Cast Away is a great movie to ease students into back-to-school, and review short story terminology from last year with sound educational value for teachers! Also a GREAT STARTER OR ENDING TO A SHORT STORY UNIT (literary terms review) SHORT STORY / LITERARY TERMS COVERED IN THIS DOCUMENT: - Protagonist - Exposition - Setting (Time, Place, Weather Conditions, Social Circumstances) - Inciting Incident - Conflict - Person vs. Nature/Environment - Person vs. Self
8th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
Poetry in Music: Searching for Poetic Devices & Mini-Presentation
This is a fun, and fairly low-stakes poetry project for junior English classes (Grades 7-9) that will engage learners as they select poetry that is meaningful to them. This is a three day project with two main learning outcomes: 1/ This lesson has students uncover poetic devices in the music they listen to, understanding that poetry is everywhere, and finding meaning in those devices. 2/ This lesson has students really focus on reading instructions attentively and step-by-step. This project is
7th - 9th
Close Reading, 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
Emotion Simile Poems: Junior Poetry Creative Writing Activity
This is an engaging creative writing poetry activity which has students learn about similes, practice writing them. Through a scaffolded process, students will write their own Emotion Simile Poem and illustrate it. An idea for an extension activity is included, as well, as I return to this assignment later in the year, and have students use what they created as a springboard for another creative writing assignment. I use this with my Junior English students (recommended for Grades 6-9). Contai
6th - 9th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Poetry
Year-Round Current Events Oral Presentations: Perfect for ELL, English & Socials
This product is perfect for any Socials class, especially ELL/ESL, where students select and present a news story that is important to them and share it with the class. In doing so, students take ownership over their own learning. I have also found this a great way for students to engage in current events at a local, provincial/state, federal level, and even an international level.
This activity also allows the rest of the class to interact with the topic, as well, as they get to ask question
7th - 12th, Adult Education
Social Studies, Speaking & Listening
Showing 1-20 of 51 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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