EduMcation
3 Followers
Chelsea, Michigan, United States
About the store
I have been a middle school teacher since 1999, teaching 5th-8th grade ELA. I've taught in both Canada and the United States. I was an Instructional Coach for a year, and a middle school administrator for 4 years. I chose to go back into the classroom in 2018 after deciding it was time to return to my first love. Teaching is WAY more fun! Middle schoolers are fantastic, interesting humans and it takes an adventurous spirit to be the leader of their tribe each year.
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Black History Month Project (Simple, Varied, Suitable for 1-2 Class Periods)
This document includes printable pages for 60 different Black American Heroes. Students of all levels can research then complete this simple project. Each page asks students to write about the historical figure's life events, accomplishments, and other facts. It is designed to be a paper-pencil assignment. I have included ideas for implementation on the first page, and blank pages for students who have other individuals in mind. There is also a simple 4-point rubric on the last page.
3rd - 8th
Black History, Informational Text, Writing-Expository
ELA Classroom Posters: "What We'll Always Talk About"
I hang these in the front of my classroom, to keep ELA vocabulary front and center for the students AND for me. In fact, any time we read narrative, we turn to these and make sure we discuss each element. It is a GREAT way to discuss text broadly and deeply. I don't need fancy question prompts--these are a great framework and students quickly realize that these *actually are* what we talk about each time we look at text.
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Literature, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.3
+3
R.A.C.E.S Model Response Template
This is a clear, organized way for students to create written responses to text.
5th - 8th
ELA Test Prep, Reading, Writing
CCSS
W.6.1
, W.6.1b
, W.6.2b
Close Reading Passages by African American Writers/Poets/Thinkers
This is a carefully-curated set of close reading texts appropriate for middle or junior high school students. My classes analyze one of these passages each day during Black History Month, though of course these could be used any time at all. The conversations stemming from these quotes, poems, and excerpts are engaging and rich; the themes are beautifully expressed and there is a lot to unpack in each text. The themes of the passages vary but there are similarities, too--that also makes for grea
6th - 10th, Adult Education
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.R.5
+2
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About the store
Experience
I have been a middle school teacher since 1999, teaching 5th-8th grade ELA. I've taught in both Canada and the United States. I was an Instructional Coach for a year, and a middle school administrator for 4 years. I chose to go back into the classroom in 2018 after deciding it was time to return to my first love. Teaching is WAY more fun! Middle schoolers are fantastic, interesting humans and it takes an adventurous spirit to be the leader of their tribe each year.
Teaching style
I am a "warm demander" (see Matt Alexander's article on EduTopia). High student engagement is a hallmark of my teaching. I believe in giving middle school students lots of voice and choice. Most importantly, I love to use the most creative (odd? interesting? relevant?) instructional strategies I can.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I am Jackson Magazine's Teacher of the Year for 2019. I've published a series of articles on close reading for Perfection Learning (see their website for the complete set). I was also a reviewer/contributor for their Progress to Success curriculum and Connections curriculum. As far as higher education (which is less valuable than experience, right?), I was awarded the Excellence in a Discipline award for Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University in 2017. Way back in the dark ages (late 90's), I graduated top 10 in my class for my Education degree and was an Academic All-Canadian. Most importantly, my own two kids think I'm kinda cool. They text me back.
My own education history
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of British Columbia (1997). Bachelor of Elementary Education from the University of British Columbia (1998). Masters in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University (2017).
Additional biographical information
Teaching rocks. It takes a certain amount of crazy...but I'm down for that:)
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