Grade Level: 10

I created this syllabus for a composition theory class and modified it to incorporate reading expectations.  The most important aspect of this syllabus is my portfolio assignment.  Writing can never be perfect: that is why we call the final draft a draft.  Therefore, I want my students to continually improve their writing assignments throughout the year, so they can see their progress from beginning to end.

Grade Level: 11

This calendar is a sample pacing guide I created for an American English course.

Grade Level: Any 

I have used this survey for both my field experience and student teaching.  For both experiences, I asked my cooperating teachers to give the survey early, so I could walk in on the first day knowing something about each student.  After introducing myself, I would go through the roster and mention one or two connections I made with each student based on his or her survey answers.  This activity allowed me to make a personal connection with every student on the first day.

Grade Level: Any 

I used this haiku survey to get to know my students in a creative way.  The haiku activity gives me the opportunity to share my love for poetry and teach a short lesson without focusing too much on instruction on the first day.  Students are able to use symbolism and metaphor to describe themselves, allowing me to see their creative side.  I also choose a few haikus later in the semester to point out examples of poetic elements, and I do a fun unveiling of the author after analyzing the poem.

Grade Level: 5-8

This graphic organizer helps students map important story elements on their own as they read through a story or novel.  Having this organizer will help students with text-dependent analysis and class discussions about the text.