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We share evidence-based K-12 learning strategies that empower you to improve education.

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Blogs on English Language Arts

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How to Bring Screenwriting into the Classroom

Jen AnsbachMarch 28, 2012

Tags After-School Learning, Student Engagement, Teacher Development, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

The students work, huddled in pairs, jotting down ideas in notebooks. The classroom buzzes with collaboration, punctuated by giggles and laughter. Students are excited to be writing as we start our annual celebration of Script Frenzy!

A Tour of High-Quality Open Education Resources (OER) for Writing

Todd FinleyMarch 27, 2012

Tags Curriculum, Integrated Studies, Lesson Plans, Literacy, Open Education Resources, Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

Did you check out Open Education Week this month? The international event highlighted free lesson plans and materials, searchable by subject, grade and quality. I spent a couple days throwing keywords into OER (open education resources are digital materials freely available through open licenses) search engines to assess the quality of secondary and higher education writing curricula.

Neuroscience and the Bilingual Brain

Judy Willis MDMarch 22, 2012

Tags Brain Research, Comprehensive Assessment, English-Language Learners, Global Education, Parental Involvement, , English Language Arts, Math, World Language Learning

A selective attentive focus and the ability to block out distraction are seminal executive functions that are minimally developed in youngsters. These functions gradually become stronger throughout the years of prefrontal cortex maturation, which last into the twenties. It is with regard to these executive functions that research about the "bilingual brain" is particularly exciting.

A selective attentive focus and the ability to block out distraction are seminal executive functions that are minimally developed in youngsters. These functions gradually become stronger throughout the years of prefrontal cortex maturation, which last into the twenties. It is with regard to these executive functions that research about the "bilingual brain" is particularly exciting. Read More

The Creativity Index: No Artist Left Behind

Mark PhillipsMarch 20, 2012

Tags Arts Education, Comprehensive Assessment, Formative Assessment, Primary (K-2), Student Engagement, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), Drama, High (9-12), English Language Arts, Music, Visual Arts

Some of you may remember the scene in The Dead Poets Society in which Robin Williams' Mr. Keating mocks the approach to poetry of Dr. J. Evans Pritchard. In a nutshell, Pritchard has a method for mathematically calculating the measure of a poem's greatness. "If the poem's score for perfection is plotted along the horizontal of a graph, and its importance is plotted on the vertical, then calculating the total area of the poem yields the measure of its greatness." Keating has students rip the pages out of their books, sardonically exclaiming, " . . . we're not laying pipe, we're talking about poetry . . . I like Byron, I give him a 42 . . . "

Some of you may remember the scene in The Dead Poets Society in which Robin Williams' Mr. Keating mocks the approach to poetry of Dr. J. Evans Pritchard. In a nutshell, Pritchard has a method for mathematically calculating the measure of a poem's greatness. "If the poem's score for perfection is plotted along the horizontal of a graph, and its importance is plotted on the vertical, then calculating the total area of the poem yields the measure of its greatness." Keating has students rip the pages out of their books, sardonically exclaiming, " . . . we're not laying pipe, we're talking about poetry . . . I like Byron, I give him a 42 . . . " Read More

Do's & Don'ts For Teaching English-Language Learners

Larry FerlazzoMarch 12, 2012

Tags Achievement Gap, Best Practices, Comprehensive Assessment, Differentiated Instruction, Diversity, English-Language Learners, English Language Arts, World Language Learning

The number of English-Language Learners in the United States is growing rapidly, including many states that have not previously had large immigrant populations. As teachers try to respond to the needs of these students, here are a few basic best practices that might help. We have found that consistently using these practices makes our lessons more efficient and effective. We also feel it is important to include a few "worst" practices in the hope that they will not be repeated!

Writing with Ethos, Logos and Pathos in 21st Century Authentic Texts

Todd FinleyMarch 9, 2012

Tags Integrated Studies, Literacy, , Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts

Protégé of Plato and instructor to Alexander the Great, Aristotle was the archetypal learner-teacher whose contribution to modern writers were three rhetorical proofs: pathos, ethos and logos. When combined with 21st century communication platforms, Aristotle's proofs shower rocket fuel on rhetorical efficacy. Using these rhetorical pillars, students can analyze how texts persuade and how unpersuasive texts can be reconfigured.

Critical Thinking: A Necessary Skill in the Age of Spin

G. Randy KastenMarch 2, 2012

Tags Media Literacy, Mental Health, Professional Learning Network (PLN), , Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts, Geography, History

The ability to think critically is one skill separating innovators from followers. Critical thinking reduces the power of advertisers, the unscrupulous and the pretentious, and can neutralize the sway of an unsupported argument. This is a skill most students enjoy learning because they see immediately that it gives them more control.

Five-Minute Film Festival: Literacy Videos for Read Across America

Amy Erin Borovoy (aka VideoAmy)March 2, 2012

Tags Literacy, English Language Arts

In honor of Read Across America -- and Dr. Seuss's birthday -- we present to you, a poem.

Classroom Champions Inspire Students

Alissa WrightFebruary 28, 2012

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Integrated Studies, Project-Based Learning, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Middle (6-8), English Language Arts

As teachers, we must be able to think on our feet and have creativity constantly flowing to make our classroom inviting and interesting, while also making sure our students leave with more knowledge and insight than when they started with us.

A Hero’s Journey for the 21st Century

Betty RayFebruary 22, 2012

Tags Literacy, Media Literacy, Teacher Development, All Grades, English Language Arts

Once upon a time . . .

There were very special people. These were the bards, sorcerers, and magicians who conjured webs of intrigue and excitement; treachery and death; rebirth and forgiveness. These people were our writers, filmmakers, musicians and folklorists, and they were the keepers of our social and psychological well-being.