English Education

As languages evolve, so should the way we teach grammar. It’s important for teachers to embrace a forward-thinking approach when it comes to grammar rules and lessons. Here are eight old-school grammar rules that teachers need to ditch in favor of a more modern and practical understanding of the English language.

1. Split Infinitives Must Be Avoided

Split infinitives – when an adverb is placed between ‘to’ and the verb – have long been a source of contention among grammar enthusiasts. However, avoiding them often results in clunky, awkward sentences. Teachers should allow students to split infinitives when it improves clarity or adds emphasis.

2. Do Not Start Sentences with Conjunctions

Traditionally, starting a sentence with conjunctions like ‘and’ or ‘but’ is considered a no-no. However, this rule restricts the flow of language and creativity. Teachers need to emphasize clear and effective communication, which sometimes means allowing for conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence.

3. Sentence Fragments Are Always Incorrect

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences that lack a subject, verb, or both. While they may seem grammatically incorrect, they play an essential role in conversational English and creative writing. Teachers should focus on teaching students how and when to use fragments effectively rather than condemning their use outright.

4. Never Use Passive Voice

While active voice generally creates stronger sentences, there are instances where passive voice is more suitable. Teachers should teach students how to discern when passive voice is appropriate and how to shift between active and passive voice for precise communication.

5. One Must Never Refer To Oneself In The Third Person

This rule is outdated since referring to oneself in the third person can actually provide stylistic variety in writing or conversation. It’s crucial for teachers to allow flexibility in this area.

6. Do Not End a Sentence with a Preposition

Ending a sentence with a preposition, like ‘of’ or ‘with,’ is often considered grammatically incorrect. However, in spoken English and informal writing, this rule restricts the natural flow of language. Teachers should permit students to end sentences with prepositions when it makes sense.

7. Double Negatives Are Unacceptable

Using double negatives can sometimes be unclear, but there are instances where using them adds depth and strengthens the intended meaning. It’s essential for teachers to recognize these situations and help students understand the nuances of double negatives.

8. Use “He” or “She” for Gender-Neutral Pronouns

In recent years, the use of “they” as a singular gender-neutral pronoun has become more widely accepted. Teachers should adapt to this change and embrace the use of “they” as a more inclusive option when addressing someone whose gender is unknown or unspecified.

Embracing change and challenging conventional grammar rules allows teachers to foster communication, creativity, and growth in their students, paving the way for a better understanding of the ever-evolving English language.

Engaging and inspiring young minds with fantastical adventures is a well-known way to encourage learning and creativity. One of the most popular mythological creatures capable of capturing the imagination of students is the dragon. Dragons can provide lessons in bravery, loyalty, empathy, and even problem-solving! With this in mind, we have compiled a list of the best dragon books for classroom use.

1. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (Ages 8-12)

This wildly popular series follows the story of young Viking Hiccup and his quest to become a hero. Along the way, Hiccup must learn to trust his instincts and befriend an unlikely creature – a dragon named Toothless. This book series is perfect for teaching themes of friendship, perseverance, and overcoming challenges.

2. The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo (Ages 8-12)

In this enchanting tale, cousins Jesse and Daisy find a mysterious geode containing a dragon’s egg. As they endeavor to raise their newfound friend, Emmy, they are swept into an adventure filled with excitement and danger. This book teaches valuable lessons about responsibility and teamwork.

3. Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Dr. Ernest Drake (Ages 6-11)

This beautifully illustrated guidebook explores various aspects of dragon culture and history with intricate details that spark curiosity. Students will delve into the world of dragons, learning about their biology, legends, and lore. It’s an excellent resource for sparking creative writing assignments and classroom discussions.

4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Ages 12+)

The first book in the Inheritance Cycle series tells the story of Eragon, a farm boy who discovers a mysterious blue stone that becomes a dragon egg. As dragons are thought to have vanished from Alagaësia long ago, Eragon’s adventure takes him on an epic journey to restore peace in the land. Perfect for older students, this novel explores themes of loyalty, bravery, and destiny.

5. The Last Dragon Chronicles by Chris d’Lacey (Ages 9-12)

Beginning with The Fire Within, this seven-book series tells the story of David, a college student who discovers that his landlord’s clay dragons are not ordinary sculptures. A fantastical world unfolds brimming with magic and mystery. These books encourage themes of creativity and imagination.

6. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (Ages 7-10)

This graphic novel hybrid series follows Danny Dragonbreath, a young dragon struggling to find his place in school with various mythical creatures. With humor and relatability, students will learn about self-esteem and perseverance throughout the adventures.

7. Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland (Ages 9-12)

This thrilling book series revolves around five dragonets destined to end the brutal war that has raged in the dragon kingdom for years. As they discover their roles in a prophecy and navigate challenges, students will learn valuable lessons about friendship and courage.

Introduce these fantastic dragon books to your classroom today and watch your students become magically engaged in their learning journey!

Introduction:

The ‘hamburger’ essay, a staple of traditional academic writing and primary school teaching, has long been used to help students organize their thoughts and create arguments. However, as our educational landscape changes and our understanding of effective communication evolves, the ‘hamburger’ essay format may no longer serve its purpose or delight the intellectual taste buds. In this article, we will explore why the ‘hamburger’ essay has gone stale and how we can adapt to more engaging and dynamic forms of writing.

Critique 1: Overly Structured Format

The ‘hamburger’ essay follows a strict structure: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. While this was helpful in training students on basic argument construction, it often limited creativity and flexibility. The rigidity of this format stifled experimentation with varied sentence structures and paragraph lengths, potentially hindering the development of distinct writing styles.

Critique 2: Limited Complexity

Moreover, the three-body-paragraph rule restricted the depth of arguments. By requiring that each point be confined to a single paragraph, the focus on organization often came at the expense of thoroughness. This became particularly problematic when tackling more complex subjects that necessitated nuanced analysis.

Critique 3: Lack of Engagement

The predictability of the ‘hamburger’ essay also affected reader engagement. Rather than fostering curious readers eagerly anticipating what comes next, this monotonous structure prompted skimming due to its repetitive nature and lack of surprise elements.

Moving Forward: Advocating for Creativity

It is now crucial for schools and educators to move away from stale formats like the ‘hamburger’ essay and promote creativity and curiosity in student writing. We can achieve this by encouraging diversity in style and structure while still maintaining coherence.

Teaching Strategies:

1. Encourage varied organizational structures that adapt to content rather than force content into a predetermined structure.

2. Allow complexity to emerge naturally in students’ writing rather than trying to streamline everything into a prescribed form.

3. Prioritize substance over format by teaching skills that promote critical thinking and the ability to articulate reasoning effectively.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the ‘hamburger’ essay is no longer the mouthwatering option it once was for our educational system. As we seek to cultivate curiosity-driven learners who can navigate complex material, it is necessary to let go of outdated formats that stifle creativity and limit engagement. By promoting diverse writing techniques and organization styles, we give students tools needed to effectively communicate their ideas while retaining their unique voice.

Picture books hold a special place in the hearts of children and adults alike. They combine stunning artwork with captivating stories that can capture the imagination and inspire the love of reading in young minds. As we eagerly anticipate the new releases for 2018, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most anticipated picture books that promise to enchant children everywhere.

1. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

The Rabbit Listened is a beautifully illustrated, heartwarming story about empathy and friendship. When a child’s tower of blocks comes crashing down, several animals try to help by offering advice and solutions. However, it’s ultimately Rabbit’s quiet presence and attentive listening that brings solace to the child.

2. The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

This delightful picture book follows Jerome, a young boy who loves words like no other. He collects them in every form – overheard conversations, scribbled notes, words from favorite songs – you name it! As his collection grows, Jerome learns powerful lessons about self-expression and how words can be used to create magic on a page.

3. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

In this touching story, a young girl named Angelina starts school and feels like she doesn’t fit in with her classmates. Acclaimed author Jacqueline Woodson explores themes of identity, diversity, and courage as Angelina discovers the value of her own uniqueness and the commonalities that bring people together.

4. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

This stunning picture book transports readers to a lighthouse on a remote island where they’ll follow the daily life of its steadfast keeper. From maintaining the light to battling harsh storms, Blackall’s lyrical language and beautiful illustrations create an immersive experience that captures the magic of lighthouses.

5. Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

This groundbreaking picture book recounts the story of a boy named Julián who discovers his newfound love for mermaids. With vibrant illustrations showcasing the power of imagination, Jessica Love’s debut captures the heart and spirit of self-expression and encourages readers to embrace their own identities.

These are just some of the exciting picture books that await us in 2018. With stories of friendship, courage, and self-discovery, these tales are sure to engage young readers and create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy reading!

1. Create a Character Collage: In this activity, each student will choose one of the main characters from the novel and create a collage highlighting their character traits, quoting lines from the book, and including images that visually represent their character.

2. Debate the Power of Love: The theme of love’s power to overcome evil is central to A Wrinkle in Time. Have students form teams to debate the strength or weakness of this theme, using evidence from the text to support their arguments.

3. Design a Tesseract: In A Wrinkle in Time, the tesseract is a wrinkle in space and time through which characters travel. Have students research tesseracts, then design or build their own representation of this complex concept.

4. Planetary Research: The story journeys through several fictional planets with unique features and inhabitants. Assign each student a planet from the novel and have them research real-life astronomical features that could make such a planet possible.

5. Create a Timeline: Assist students in visualizing the progression of events by creating detailed timelines complete with illustrations and brief summaries for each significant story event.

6. Science Fiction Movie Day: As a way to explore how film adaptations capture or change a novel’s themes, arrange a showing of the 2003 or 2018 film adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time and follow it up with classroom discussions comparing it to the book.

7. Meg Murry as a Hero: Students can write an essay analyzing how Meg Murry is portrayed as a hero throughout the novel. They should explore her growth, strengths, weaknesses, and ways she uses her unique abilities to contribute to the quest’s success.

8. Write Your Own Sci-Fi Story: In this creative writing assignment, students will use plot elements or themes from A Wrinkle in Time as inspiration to create their own original science fiction short stories.

9. Nonlinear Poetry: Drawing inspiration from the book’s time-traveling theme, have students compose nonlinear poems that reflect on events that happened during the story. Encourage the use of figurative language and vivid imagery.

10. Illustrate a Scene: Students can select a memorable scene from the novel and illustrate it, paying attention to important details and incorporating elements of setting, characters, and actions to convey the essence of the scene.

Teaching is a noble profession, but not all fictional teachers have the same level of dedication and morality. Here is a list of the five worst fictional teachers, contrasted with the five best.

Worst Teachers:

1. Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter Series)

Dolores Umbridge undoubtedly tops the list of worst fictional teachers. As the High Inquisitor in Hogwarts, she tortured students and imposed repressive rules, making her both hated and feared by students and staff alike.

2. Miss Trunchbull (Matilda)

Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School, was a cruel and harsh educator. She enjoyed humiliating and physically punishing her students with methods like “the chokey,” making her a terrible example for educators.

3. Severus Snape (Harry Potter Series)

While not as outwardly malicious as Umbridge, Severus Snape was an often-unfair teacher who played favorites and relished in demeaning his students. His mistreatment of Harry Potter made life difficult for him throughout the series.

4. Mr. Gilbert (The Inbetweeners)

As head of Sixth Form at Rudge Park Comprehensive School, Mr. Gilbert was sarcastic, cynical, and never missed an opportunity to humiliate or mock his students in front of their peers. He wasn’t particularly interested in helping the students succeed.

5. Sue Sylvester (Glee)

As McKinley High School’s cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester prioritized winning at any cost over her athletes’ well-being. She consistently exhibited cruel behavior towards faculty members and manipulated her athletes to achieve success.

Best Teachers:

1. Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter Series)

Despite his flaws, Albus Dumbledore was an exceptional educator who encouraged his students to learn and grow from their mistakes while instilling wisdom and kindness within them throughout their time at Hogwarts.

2. Miss Honey (Matilda)

Miss Honey was a true gem among teachers. She believed in her students, encouraged their growth, and protected them from the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull. Miss Honey’s nurturing character impacted Matilda’s life profoundly.

3. Mr. Keating (Dead Poets Society)

John Keating inspired his students to appreciate poetry, seize the day, and think for themselves in a conservative and traditional education system. He fostered an environment of creativity and intellectual freedom that nurtured his students.

4. Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World)

George Feeny was a compassionate educator who guided his students through the twists and turns of life, offering sage advice and moral support along the way. His patience and wisdom saw many students through their difficult journeys into adulthood.

5. Ms. Frizzle (The Magic School Bus)

Ms. Frizzle brought learning to life by taking her students on magical field trips aboard the titular Magic School Bus. Her unconventional teaching methods, combined with her enthusiasm for science, made learning exciting and enjoyable for all her students.

In conclusion, the fictional world of education offers a diverse array of teaching styles and approaches, from the atrocious to the exceptional. While some educators like Umbridge and Trunchbull inspire terror, others like Dumbledore and Miss Honey foster a love for learning in their students that lasts a lifetime.

Introduction:

Poetry is a beautiful art form that allows children to express their thoughts, feelings, and creativity. Introducing elementary school students to poetry can be an exciting yet challenging task. This is where videos come into play, making learning more interactive and engaging. We have compiled a list of our favorite videos for teaching poetry in elementary school. These videos are perfect for helping educators create memorable lessons that will inspire young minds to explore the world of poetry.

1. Haiku – “The Singing Dogs” by Flocabulary

This fun video introduces students to the world of Haiku – a traditional Japanese poetry form containing three lines with 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. The catchy rap song features animated singing dogs who teach kids about the structure and essence of Haiku poetry while also providing examples to inspire their own creations.

2. What is Poetry? – BrainPOP Jr.

This interactive video explains the basics of poetry to young learners, defining key terms such as rhyme, rhythm, stanzas and lines. Aimed at children in grades K-3, the adorable animated characters discuss various poetic elements while offering simple examples to help students understand the concept.

3. Limericks with Jack Prelutsky – Scholastic

Jack Prelutsky, America’s first Children’s Poet Laureate, offers an engaging video introducing the limerick – a humorous five-line poem with a distinctive rhythm and rhyme scheme. Students are captivated as Jack explains how limericks work while sharing his amazing talent for making up funny and clever limericks on-the-spot.

4. “Percy Runs Away” Thomas & Friends – Visualizing Poetry

Combining visuals from the beloved children’s series Thomas & Friends with an engaging narration of Rev. W Awdry’s poem “Percy Runs Away”, this video encourages students to visualize and connect with poetry. It serves as a great example of how poetry can be brought to life through accompanying imagery.

5. Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” Animated Narration

This beautifully animated version of Shel Silverstein’s classic poem, “The Giving Tree,” provides an excellent opportunity for children to listen to and connect with the heartfelt story. As they follow the relationship between a boy and a generous tree, students will learn about themes such as love, sacrifice, and the passage of time.

Conclusion:

These five videos represent just a small sample of the creative and engaging resources available for teaching poetry in elementary school. By incorporating videos into your lessons, you can create lasting impressions on young minds and inspire a love for poetry that will last a lifetime. Delve into these visual tools, and watch your students’ imaginations soar!

As an educator, I am always on the lookout for innovative ways to spark creativity and critical thinking amongst my students. One unconventional approach I have adopted is having them write found poetry instead of traditional essays. This article aims to shed light on why I choose this alternative method and the benefits it brings to my teaching practice and students’ learning process.

Found poetry is a distinctive form of writing where students create poems by selecting and rearranging phrases, sentences or entire passages from different sources like newspapers, books, and even speeches. The goal is to use these “found” words artistically to convey new meanings within a poem.

The reasons why I have made the switch from traditional essays to found poetry are manifold:

1. Encouraging Creativity: Asking students to construct poems from existing texts encourages them to think creatively and find new connections between concepts. This process nurtures their imaginative skills, a valuable asset that traditional essays might not sufficiently develop.

2. Enhancing Critical Thinking: Found poetry requires students to thoroughly analyze their source material in order to craft meaningful and impactful poems. This fosters critical reading skills, an essential tool for making sense of any complex text they will encounter in the future.

3. Breaking Free From Rigid Structures: Unlike essays with their pre-determined structures, found poetry offers a more flexible canvas for expression. Students can experiment with various formats, layouts, and language styles that best suit their artistic vision.

4. Inspiring Confidence: Crafting a poem can be a liberating experience for shy or struggling writers, as it allows them to present their ideas poetically rather than formally arguing a point in an essay. This boosts not only their self-confidence but also makes them eager to improve and share their work with peers.

5. Engaging Multiple Intelligences: Found poetry caters to different learning styles by integrating linguistic, visual-spatial, and logical-mathematical elements. Students can use imagery, wordplay, and symbolism as they rearrange words and phrases from their source materials – a multi-dimensional approach that addresses all aspects of their learning.

6. Improving Collaboration: Found poetry assignments can be designed as collaborative projects where students work in pairs or groups to create a collective piece. This encourages teamwork, fosters constructive criticism and facilitates peer learning.

7. Fostering Appreciation: Writing found poetry deepens students’ appreciation of language, literature, and different writing styles. By examining others’ work closely to extract key elements for their poems, they naturally develop an understanding of the beauty and power of words.

In conclusion, incorporating found poetry into my curriculum has proven transformative and enriching for both my students and me. It has fostered creativity, critical thinking skills, self-expression, and a sense of community within the classroom while moving away from the rigidity of traditional essay writing. I encourage my fellow educators to try this approach in their classrooms and witness the profound impact on their students’ learning journeys.

Introduction:

High school English classes have long been a breeding ground for debate on the relevance and value of the books assigned. While certain works of literature have remained timeless and hold significant merit, there are a few that no longer resonate with today’s students. It’s time to reconsider the inclusion of these three classic books in high school English curriculums.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is an iconic novel, often considered essential reading due to its themes of racial injustice and moral growth. However, some argue that it merely centers around outdated or superficial portrayals of people of color and complex societal issues. Moreover, the story is primarily told through the eyes of a white protagonist, limiting the representation and narrative perspective.

Alternative: Rather than relying solely on this text, educators could introduce other novels exploring racial injustice from diverse perspectives. For instance, Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give” offers an authentic portrayal of racism through the eyes of an African American teenager.

2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” has been lauded for its striking depiction of teenage angst and disillusionment. However, many students now find the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, unrelatable and even irritating due to his privileged background and lack of emotional maturity.

Alternative: In place of this novel, teachers might consider assigning Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” This coming-of-age story similarly confronts mental health issues and teenage struggles but with more relatable characters and a modern setting.

3. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding addresses themes such as human nature and the inherent evil present within society. However, this male-centric novel might not engage all students due to its lack of diversity and character development. Furthermore, the story’s grim portrayal of humanity can be disheartening for young readers.

Alternative: A more suitable alternative might be Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.” This dystopian novel also delves into human nature and societal issues, while incorporating more diverse perspectives and fostering constructive discussions on community-building and cooperation.

Conclusion:

While these classic novels have served as staples in high school English courses for decades, it is crucial to reevaluate their relevance to contemporary students. Giving a platform to more diverse and relatable works will not only spark engagement but also better prepare young minds to navigate our rapidly changing world.

Introduction

Amy Tan, an acclaimed Asian-American author, has penned numerous novels that depict the lives of Chinese-American families and delve into the cultural complexities and intergenerational tensions. Her skillful storytelling and intricate characters offer rich reading experiences for students in every classroom. In this article, we will explore some of Tan’s best works to incorporate into your curriculum.

1. The Joy Luck Club (1989)

‘The Joy Luck Club’ is Tan’s debut novel and remains one of her most iconic works. This powerful story comprises interconnected narratives of four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters. The novel explores themes of cultural identity, mother-daughter relationships, and the emotional hardships faced by immigrants as they navigate two worlds. This classic piece of literature offers a wealth of discussion opportunities for students, facilitating an understanding of diverse perspectives.

2. The Kitchen God’s Wife (1991)

This novel closely follows the life of Chinese-born Winnie Louie as she shares herStories with her daughter Pearl. As Winnie narrates her experiences surviving an abusive marriage in China, students gain insight into Chinese culture and history. ‘The Kitchen God’s Wife’ is a moving tale that emphasizes the importance of family ties and perseverance, fostering empathy among readers.

3. The Bonesetter’s Daughter (2001)

In ‘The Bonesetter’s Daughter,’ Tan introduces protagonist Ruth Young, who discovers a manuscript authored by her mother LuLing that details her life in China before immigrating to the United States. The novel alternates between Ruth’s life in San Francisco as she cares for her aging mother battling dementia and LuLing’s life growing up in China in the early 1900s as a bonesetter’s apprentice.

The Bonesetter’s Daughter is an engaging exploration of love, sacrifice, and cultural identity that presents mature topics suitable for older students.

4. Saving Fish from Drowning (2005)

Although Tan’s ‘Saving Fish from Drowning’ veers away from her typical formula of multigenerational, female-centric narratives, it provides significant opportunities for classroom discussion. The novel follows a group of American tourists who embark on a harrowing adventure in the jungles of Burma. With themes of cultural clashes, morality, and political turmoil, this novel pushes students to ponder ethical questions and fosters critical thinking skills.

Conclusion

Amy Tan’s enticing novels capture the essence of Asian-American experiences with her candid exploration of cultural identity, family dynamics, and personal growth. Incorporating Tan’s novels into your curriculum will encourage inclusivity, empathy, and understanding among your students. Add ‘The Joy Luck Club,’ ‘The Kitchen God’s Wife,’ ‘The Bonesetter’s Daughter,’ and ‘Saving Fish from Drowning’ to your reading list to offer engaging texts that broaden cultural horizons.