MrsDover

This vocabulary is from the following short stories and poems: "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Masque of the Red Death", "Annabel Lee", and "The Raven." I use this assignment as a pre-reading activity so students can become acquainted with the words prior to reading. The first section is simply matching. The second section involves using context clues to figure out which word goes in which sentence. You can easily add more terms to this.

First, students define some tough vocabulary terms used in Poe's short story. Then they translate passages from the text in their own words which helps them think about and interpret what they are reading. My students usually have a tough time sticking with his lofty language and lengthy sentences. This exercise helps them to slow down and take the time needed to understand the text.

I use this essay at the beginning of each spring semester. It can be used with various grade levels. This assignment allows students to set goals for the new year and reflect on the past year. Reflecting is an important part of the learning process academically, and it is also effective for improving personally. Implementing this activity has also been a rewarding way of getting to know my students better!

I use this resource in my preliminary teaching of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This allows students to get acquainted with his life and the time period in which he wrote. After having done this activity, it is interesting to make connections from Fitzgerald's life to the lives of his characters. I typically let students explore these answers on the internet, but you could also lecture, have them fill in the notes, and discuss as you go.