Author Description

This book presents 30 brief practical teaching ideas for writing and English instruction in secondary classrooms. The first chapter presents various strategies for helping students learn to write well: students compile their own examples of effective writing; they turn interviews into gift books; they record their own activities for a whole day to help them develop an eye for detail; and they practice supportive peer-feedback techniques. Other activities in the first chapter focus on close observation, word play, and poetry writing. The second chapter presents activities intended to foster appreciation and understanding of literary works--among the elements of these strategies are a dialectical journal; a list of questions to help students analyze characters; guest poets; a discussion of banned books; an examination of conflict between friends; and an in-depth poetry project for seniors. Freeze frames, a reading quilt, and riddles that require research are a few of the activities in the third chapter entitled "Explorations." Other activities in the chapter vary in focus, but they have several things in common: they inspire teachers; they motivate students; and they offer opportunities for genuine learning in the classroom. (RS).