The Crucible: Power

This lesson plan was written for a class of tenth grade college prep and honors level students at Abington Senior High School in Abington, Pennsylvania.

View/download the PDF here: [Lesson] (Crucible) Power

Romeo and Juliet Unit

This lesson plan was written for a class of eighth grade honors students at Murrays Bay Intermediate School in Auckland, New Zealand.

The following was posted for students in a Google Classroom page, and they directed themselves through each lesson.

Born to Teach Kiwis

I hope you read that as if you were singing “Born to Be Wild.”

Today, Mrs. Toller told me I was a natural teacher.

Naturally, I was over the moon.

Miss Norton Teaches Kiwis

Today was my first day teaching Mrs. Toller’s class.

I felt like a baseball player who had just been transferred up to the Yankees and told to pitch after only playing in the minor leagues for half a season.

Mrs. Toller Teaches Vocabulary

One of the things I complained about teaching the most in America was vocabulary. While I agree it’s important to have a big and high-level vocabulary, I never had to go through much effort to learn the words myself. I was “blessed” with a mother who consistently uses “High Vocab” or “Tier 2” words, even when simple words would easily suffice. (I even wrote an essay about this phenomenon.)

Appreciative Inquiry

Today is Thanksgiving.

Actually, it’s still Wednesday in America as I write this, but since I can have WordPress schedule to publish this when it’s Thursday in America, I’m going to say it again.

Today is Thanksgiving.

Mrs. Toller Teaches English

I’m used to being seen as a somewhat progressive teacher, leading the charge for change in schools. I’m used to being told my ideas are crazy and unrealistic and I’m not truly understanding the nuances and challenges involved with working in certain types of schools. Call me naive. Call me an idealist. Call me a radical.

Mrs. Toller Teaches Math

Yesterday, I learned from Mrs. Toller, my mentor teacher here, how she teaches math, and thought it was pretty cool.

Day T(errific)

I found out that yesterday’s school day was very different from a typical school day. Maybe you’re thinking, “I knew it! No class could be that self-driven and that good for two days in a row.” If those are the thoughts running across your mind, I’m going to squash that feeling of self-satisfaction and triumph right now.