The Round Table
43 Followers
McGaheysville, Virginia, United States
About the store
The Round Table offers a variety of collaborative and engaging ELA activities designed primarily for grades 9-12. Here you’ll find in-depth plans for research, close reading, critical analysis, creative writing, performance and external exam prep on classic plays, novels, poetry and non-fiction.
I taught English 10 and 12 and sponsored the Drama Club and Gifted Program in Virginia public schools (USA) for 8 years before going abroad in 1983. For most of my career, I have taught in American International schools in Europe, the Dutch Caribbean, South and East Asia and Africa. I am a highly experienced AP English Language/Literature and Composition teacher. I have also taught in the International Baccalaureate program (English Literature Higher Level, English Literature and Language Higher Level, and Theory of Knowledge.
• 38 years teaching secondary English in international and U. S. schools
• Highly successful in preparing students for AP English Language/Literature, IB English A1 SL/HL exams, Extended Essays and TOK assessments
• Extensive experience developing and writing curriculum (Atlas Rubicon, UbD)
• IB Diploma Examiner, TOK prescribed title papers, Paper 1 and 2 IB English Literature
• Literary Magazine Judge, National and Columbia Scholastic Press Associations
• Adviser to top-award winning scholastic yearbooks and literary magazines
• Service Learning coordinator
• Habitat for Humanity: sponsored and participated in 30 international builds (China, Korea, Mozambique).
• 10 years writing and editing educational materials for Knowledge Platform and Green Guardians (Singapore) with focus on Environmental Literacy (Grades K-5)
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Teaching Poetry Through Sports: close reading, comparative analysis, writing
Do you struggle to teach poetry analysis without tying “the poem to a chair” and torturing “a confession out of it” (apologies to Billy Collins)? Have you ever tried approaching poetry through sports? Did you know that the late Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers was a skilled poet, among his many other talents? Students embark on this poetry study with Kobe Bryant’s “Dear Basketball” (2015) whose language is easily accessible and will engage even the most reluctant readers. Then they continue their in
9th - 10th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Poetry
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About the store
Experience
The Round Table offers a variety of collaborative and engaging ELA activities designed primarily for grades 9-12. Here you’ll find in-depth plans for research, close reading, critical analysis, creative writing, performance and external exam prep on classic plays, novels, poetry and non-fiction.
I taught English 10 and 12 and sponsored the Drama Club and Gifted Program in Virginia public schools (USA) for 8 years before going abroad in 1983. For most of my career, I have taught in American International schools in Europe, the Dutch Caribbean, South and East Asia and Africa. I am a highly experienced AP English Language/Literature and Composition teacher. I have also taught in the International Baccalaureate program (English Literature Higher Level, English Literature and Language Higher Level, and Theory of Knowledge.
• 38 years teaching secondary English in international and U. S. schools
• Highly successful in preparing students for AP English Language/Literature, IB English A1 SL/HL exams, Extended Essays and TOK assessments
• Extensive experience developing and writing curriculum (Atlas Rubicon, UbD)
• IB Diploma Examiner, TOK prescribed title papers, Paper 1 and 2 IB English Literature
• Literary Magazine Judge, National and Columbia Scholastic Press Associations
• Adviser to top-award winning scholastic yearbooks and literary magazines
• Service Learning coordinator
• Habitat for Humanity: sponsored and participated in 30 international builds (China, Korea, Mozambique).
• 10 years writing and editing educational materials for Knowledge Platform and Green Guardians (Singapore) with focus on Environmental Literacy (Grades K-5)
Teaching style
Inquiry and project-based
Why "the ROUND TABLE"? In my classrooms, whenever the furniture and design of the room allowed, I would immediately move the tables or desks out of "rows" and into a circle or square so that students and I faced each other. This arrangement created a collaborative environment and encouraged discussion. I thought nothing of moving tables each period, depending on the size of my class, to encourage a free and equal exchange of ideas. I liked to think that King Arthur originated the idea; since there was no "head" at a round table, all his knights were equal, no matter who they were or where they hailed from.
Awards & shining teacher moments
JOURNALISM AWARDS/ HONORS: AISGuangzhou 2009: Literary Magazine Artistic License: rated All American with distinction in content; writing/editing; photography, art, graphics and typography (National Scholastic Press), awarded Silver Crown (Columbia Scholastic Press) and Superior (National Council of Teachers of English). 2008: First Class, distinction in content; writing/editing; photography, art, graphics and typography (NSPA), Superior award (NCTE). 2007: First Class with distinction in concept; writing/editing; photog, art, graphics, typography. (NSPA).
AIS/Dhaka 2001: CNN aired our CNN Student Bureau story on The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest (August 3, 2001); 1998: Yearbook awards: Pacemaker for book and CD (NSPA); All American (CSPA); 1997: Gold Medal, All American (CSPA) Multicultural Staff Award, (NSPA/Journalism Education Association), Sweepstakes Award for Theme Development, Quill and Scroll. 1996: Gold Medal, All American (CSPA). 1995: Gold Medal, Silver Crown (CSPA).
PERSONAL HONORS
• Chosen as the graduation speaker for the class of 2006 and 2009 (AISG)
• Appointed English Department Head (2008-2009) (AISG)
• Published student yearbook work in A Novel Approach to Copy Writing (1998) (Hall and Puntney)
• Published article in Applying NCTE/IRA Standards in Classroom Journalism Projects (2002) (Bowen and Tantillo)
• Member, ECIS Standing Committee on English (1986-1989) and Journalism (Co-founder) (1993-1996)
My own education history
James Madison University BA (1973), MA (1975)
Lesley University M.Ed (2000)
I taught English 10 and 12 and sponsored the Drama Club and Gifted Program in Virginia public schools (USA) for 8 years before going abroad in 1983. For most of my career I have taught in American International schools in Europe, the Dutch Caribbean, South and East Asia and Africa. I am a highly experienced AP English Language/Literature and Composition teacher. I have also taught in the International Baccalaureate program (English Literature Higher Level, English Literature and Language Higher Level, and Theory of Knowledge.
• 38 years teaching secondary English in international and U. S. schools (grades 7-12)
• Highly successful in preparing students for AP English Language/Literature, IB English A1 SL/HL exams, Extended Essays and TOK assessments
• Extensive experience developing and writing curriculum (Atlas Rubicon, UbD)
• IB Diploma Examiner, TOK prescribed title papers, Paper 1 and 2 IB English Literature
• Literary Magazine Judge, National and Columbia Scholastic Press Associations
• Adviser to top-award winning scholastic yearbooks and literary magazines
• Service Learning coordinator
• Habitat for Humanity: sponsored and participated in 30 international builds (China, Korea, Mozambique).
Additional biographical information
INTERESTS: writing, literature, travel, photography, scuba diving, weight training, hiking, reading, cooking, gardening. Extensive travel in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa. I serve on a committee in my community to promote ecology and install a pollinator garden for all to enjoy! Languages: Intermediate Spanish, Beginning Italian.
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