Freebee: Content Literacy Center Posters

10/31/2014

We hope you had a Happy Halloween! As a special treat for content-area teachers, I’m giving away my Content Literacy Center Posters. Totally free. No tricks. These ready-to-print posters help you teach Grade 4–12 students reading strategies and vocabulary in all content areas. Hang them at stations the next time you use Text Centers in your classroom. Or use them to illustrate individual classroom activities any time.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: Theme for English B

10/24/2014

Have you ever introduced your students to Langston Hughes’ poem, “Theme For English B”? If not, consider it. It’s the best! (Especially for middle school and high school English teachers. I’ll ask all you science, math and early elementary teachers to indulge us this week.)

In the poem, a presumably white English teacher assigns a presumably black college student to write something “true and meaningful” about himself. The poem is that student’s response. In reading the poem we learn not just a few details of the student’s life, but also his reflections on the concepts of “truth” and “meaning” – and how they differ from person to person, You can’t read it without considering the daily toll of overt racial discrimination on the mid twentieth century student. There’s irony, sarcasm, and loads of imagery. Like I said, it’s the best.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: The House on Mango Street

10/17/2014

They seem to be popular, so I’m giving away yet another CCSS-aligned activity that includes reading and speaking & listening components.

This close reading activity for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, will assist you in guiding your Grade 9–12 students toward these Common Core State Standards goals:

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee Friday: Literacy

10/10/2014

In honor of the release of my new book, Common Core Literacy for Math, Science, and Technical Subjects: Strategies to Deepen Content Knowledge (Grades 6-12), I’m back on the topic of literacy in the content areas. Take a few moments to watch this movie and learn how the Common Core State Standards have influenced the way we present content material in grades 6–12. You can download a free outline of the presentation, too, so you don’t even have to take notes while I speak!

Click here to watch the video and download the freebee!

Freebee Friday: Action Contraction

10/03/2014

It’s hard to find a teacher who can’t use the Action Contraction activity. It’s useful for students in Grade 2 who are just learning about contractions; and it’s a useful refresher mini-lesson for older students. I’ve heard that English Language Learners (ELL) find it to be particularly effective.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!