The Mysterious Benedict Society – Book Study Ideas After it was recommended dozens of times, I finally read The Mysterious Benedict Society and I wish I had read it sooner!
Differentiating “Compare & Contrast” with Classics Here's how I differentiated the reading skill of "Compare & Contrast" for my students, who have been successfully comparing and contrasting since kindergarten. Students investigated artists, developed a haiku, and learned how to shade with pencils.
Tweaks To A Character Study A teacher sent me a sequence of questions about the story My Father’s Dragon. Based on what you’ve read so far, what is one word you could use to describe Elmer? What from the story made you choose this word? Think of other books you’ve read. What character from another story you know is similar […]
An Image for Divergent Thinking Practice I think this is an interesting way to practice our students' divergent thinking skills. What else could this trash can's icon represent?
Perspectives on Friendship in Charlotte’s Web Asking students to "explain the importance" wasn't as high-level as I thought.
All About Character Archetypes Another example of "structure that increases creativity" is character archetypes. An archetype, according to Wikipedia, is "an original model of a person, ideal example, or a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated." Let's use an inductive lesson to teach our students about these literary tools.
Think Like An Anthropologist to Make Inferences Like all HM comprehension skills, "Making Inferences" appears yearly beginning in kindergarten, so I know my 6th graders have practiced, and may well have mastered, the skill. To differentiate, I turned to the model of "Thinking Like a Disciplinarian."
Exploring Characters’ Virtues and Vices What separates a life well-lived from a poorly lived life? Aristotle believed it was moderation: too much of good thing can become just as much of a problem as too little. Looking at traits as excessive, moderate, or lacking is a unique take on character analysis.
