VHS Lessons

The content and language of this book can be difficult for students, so this document breaks down each chapter into comprehension activities that should help them. Each close read is meant to help lead toward class discussion and set up for the next chapter. I've also included an easy to navigate table of contents with links so that you don't have to scroll through 26 pages worth of close reads to find the chapter you're looking for. There are study questions, graphic organizers, written respon

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the document. While I use this in my Journalism class, it could easily be adjusted for History or English classes as well.

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying and this particular week's format focuses on media bias. It asks students to evaluate different parts of each article they find, specifically how they think that article does or does not show bias. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the document. While I use this in my Journalism c

This poetry analysis is a two day activity of reading, discussion, analysis, and comparison. It looks at "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, and "If We Must Die" by Claude McKay. It uses SOAPStone to break down and compare each poem. It includes graphic organizers, visual representations, and written analysis. These activities are great for AP Lit and prepping for the verse essay on the AP Lit exam.

At the beginning of my Intro to Journalism course, we talk about the history of the field. One cool resource to do that with is the Google News Archives, which has archived thousands of publications dating back hundreds of years. You can see articles as they were they day they were published. It's a much more modern take on what we would have used microfilm for. I have students research three of those publications and find articles of interest to them. We then use that to fuel discussion of wha

The Joy Luck Club has such amazing, multigenerational storylines. However, the disjointed timeline and eight main characters can be a lot for students to keep track of. This editable slideshow is designed to help students remember which daughters and mothers are paired together and which histories influence the characters. The slides are divided up by families and allow students to type directly into the slides. Each family includes the major and minor characters, starting with the mother and d

This activity asks students to read Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" and compare his poem to two follow up poems, one by Langston Hughes and one by Allison Hedge Coke. They are to examine the tone, purpose and vision of America that each poem provides. Then, they are asked to reflect on their own versions of America. The Google Doc format of this lesson makes it easily adaptable for Distance Learning.

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying and this particular week's format focuses on podcasts. It asks students to evaluate different parts of each podcast they find, specifically how the podcast is organized and produced. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the document. While I use this in my Journalism class, it could e

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying and this particular week's format focuses on photojournalism. It asks students to evaluate different parts of each article they find, specifically how the author includes photgraphy. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the document. While I use this in my Journalism class, it could e

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying and this particular week's format focuses on student publications. It asks students to evaluate different parts of each article they find, specifically how they think the publications they chose are professional, relatable, and reliable. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the docume

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying.. This week is meant to go toward the beginning of the year; it simply asks students to find current events from the week and analyze what they have found. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the document. While I use this in my Journalism class, it could easily be adjusted for Histo

I have my Journalism students do current events each week and then we start off the week discussing those events. Each week has a different focus depending on the unit we are studying and this particular week's format focuses on writing style. It asks students to evaluate different parts of each article they find, specifically how the author integrates different aspects of journalistic writing. The digital Google Doc format allows students to type directly into the document. While I use this in

This is the digital format of my character packet. The Google Docs format makes it easy for students to type directly into the packet and makes it great for online learning! Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite novels. However, there are SO many characters to keep track of--many of whom are introduced and then not mentioned again for another 50 pages or so. It can be a lot for the students to keep track of. I use this chart in class to help students navigate, analyze, and prioritiz

This resource is great to use after students have turned in a final draft for an essay. It asks them to reflect on their process and final product and what they may want to build upon or change for next time. I use it to help my students think about revisions, as I let them revise one paper to improve their grade later on. The digital format lets students fill it out online for distance learning. I use it in my concurrent enrollment courses, but it could easily be adjusted and used in any 6-12

Americanah is one of my favorite books to both read and teach. It's beautifully written and a coming of age story that everyone can find something to relate to. Because the story takes place over a decade, it can be difficult for students to keep track of the many side characters. This chart is to help students keep track of characters, character traits, and where they first meet the characters.