If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. ~ Charlie Parker
I wrote about pop culture a bit at Middleweb, with a review of the book Making Curriculum Pop by Ryan Goble and Pam Goble. I found it to be a useful book that explores ways to connect learners to popular culture, with plenty of useable resources.
Peace (between pages),
Kevin
My first column for the year at Middleweb is about a sort of compare/contrast between two different professional development activities I engaged in this past summer.
One was CLMOOC. The other, wasn’t. ‘Nuff said.
Peace (framed),
Kevin
My latests post over at Middleweb is part of my end-of-school-year reflection. Today is our last day with students, so sharing the Middleweb post here today seems rather appropriate.
Peace (don’t regret that),
Kevin
My latest column at Middleweb is a look at a new book by Troy Hicks and Kristen Hawley Turner, entitled Argument in the Real World: Teaching Adolescents to Read and Write Digital Texts. In the book, Hicks and Turner seek to explore the concept of argument — and its push deeper into classrooms with the Common Core principles — through the lens of digital media being used in the lives of many students.
I posed some questions on my mind to the writers (both of whom I am loosely connected to through the National Writing Project), trying to parse out some ideas on argument in the age of technology and how teachers might tap into the ways kids write outside of school for the teaching of argument. They were generous enough to respond.
Curious? Come read what Hicks and Turner said. And join the conversation in the comments there.
Peace (no argument here),
Kevin
Tomorrow is the first of two days of our state testing season for ELA (reading and writing) for my sixth graders. For my latest monthly column at Middleweb, I wrote about how I try my best to navigate the season with my students without turning my classroom into “test prep central,” which I refuse to do.
Read Avoiding the Reefs as We Navigate Testing Season at Middleweb
Peace (get us through),
Kevin
My latest blog post over at Middleweb is about how the concept of “systems thinking” might lay the foundation for thinking about writing with students. It might also open the door for more technical writing.
Peace (and thanks),
Kevin
My latest column at Middleweb is on the topic of encouraging students to be community leaders and change agents. Take a read, if you have time. I wove in activities at my school with a hangout I did with the founder of Kids Tales.
Peace (and change),
Kevin
I recently reviewed this new book — The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers by Jennifer Serravallo – and I thought it covered a lot of ground in a fairly easy-to-use format. There are a wide range of ideas for the classroom on engaging young writers. I counted about 300 ideas in here. That’s a lot of possibilities.
I wrote in my review:
Flip through the book to find a ton of great ideas — helping students engage more with their own writing process; organizing ideas for short and longer fiction and non-fiction pieces; structuring assignments for all learners, or providing structure for student collaboration opportunities.
See what you think. Read the review over at Middleweb.
Peace (in books),
Kevin
My latest post for my blog at Middleweb is about watching the Trump Inauguration (yes, it was painful, but yes, I was neutral) and teaching my students to use sketch-noting or visual notetaking as they listened to the speech. (The top-left on in the collage is mine)
Peace (please),
Kevin
My latest Working Draft column at Middleweb explores the notion that “we are all teachers of literacy.” But how does that work for math, science and social studies teachers? I try to explain some of the approaches that we are taking in my grade, at my school. I also reference a new book on teaching writing in the science classroom that might prove valuable.
Read How We’re Learning to Share the Work of Content Literacy at Middleweb
Peace (in words, texts, images and more),
Kevin