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A Teacher's Tips for Student Success in School
Basic tips for families of school age children to ensure a good start to a new school year.
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Observing Life as a Metaphor: A Writing Exercise
Learn about what an extended metaphor is. Here I use my own model of writing about a walk that taught me that sometimes life presents us with a metaphor and teaches us a lesson.
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Alice Walker, Womanist
This article contains a discussion of Alice Walker's work, focusing on "The Color Purple." She is a writer who speaks for women through her poetry, fiction, and non-fiction works.
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What a Day! - A Free Monologue for a Young Actress
A free monologue for a student actress that deals with the topic of a tough, busy day in the life of a teenage student.
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"Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson: Poem Analysis With Lesson Plan Ideas
This article features an analysis of "Richard Cory" that shows how Robinson used elements like irony to convey the theme of society placing the wealthy on an unrealistic pedestal. It also includes some Common Core lesson plan ideas for this relevant, shocking poem.
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Tips for Pretending to Die on Stage for a Play or Skit
Pretending to die on stage for a play or skit is one of the most difficult roles for an actor. Here are my tips and anecdotes about pretending to die on stage.
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How to Make a Personalized E-Card Using PowerPoint
Create your own personalized e-cards for Valentine's Day, or any holiday, for the one(s) you love using PowerPoint. It is easy, flexible, and fun!
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Jane Austen Shows her Feminist Side in "Emma"
In the novel "Emma," Jane Austen addresses many issues important to women, making her a feminist of her time.
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Defining Dramatic Tragedy: A Discussion of "Macbeth," "A View from the Bridge," and "Rosmersholm"
What is the true definition of tragedy in dramatic literature? Let's weigh Aristotle's definition against three tragedies written in different centuries.
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Independent Writing Assignments for the English Classroom
Ideas for independent writing projects that teachers can assign in their English classroom.
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Vegetarian Carrot and White Bean Soup Recipe
Tis the season for the ultimate comfort food...soup! Try this recipe for carrot and white bean soup, a healthy, vegetarian soup recipe.
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Bulletin Boards and Wall Décor for High School English Classrooms
Ideas to inspire the creation of bulletin boards and wall decorations for the high school English classroom.
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Feminist Aspects in "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath shows the reader the dilemma that a woman faces in her life through the story of Esther Greenwood.
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Poetry: My Perspective with a Connection to "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
Writing, poems and prose alike, is an outlet that allows so many writers to vent and rage and heal. This article makes connections to Alice Sebold's novel "The Lovely Bones."
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Brett Ashley's Pain in "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
Lady Brett Ashley, the main female character in "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway, is often accused of being a "bitch." But upon closer reading, it's clear that she is a mixed-up, lost, lonely woman caught in a downward spiral toward destruction. She's not a bitch. She's shaped by pain.
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Food Photography Tips for Online Recipe Hubs and Blog Posts
Tips and advice on how to take quality photographs of food for recipe hubs and blogs.
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The Theme of Guilt in "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
In "Great Expectations," Charles Dickens places Pip in a world layered with guilt to show the effect that environment has on development.
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A Book Review: "Fieldwork" by Mischa Berlinski
Praised as “a remarkable novel,” "Fieldwork" is the story of a journalist who goes to work in Thailand and ends up investigating the story of a murdered missionary by an anthropologist.
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The Positive and Negative Sides of Using Cell Phones for Teaching and Instruction in the Classroom
Most Americans have a cell phone, even most American students. This increase in using cell phones has sparked controversy in American schools. There are pros and cons to having cell phones in school.
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How to Sell Your Car Fast on Craigslist (I Sold Mine in One Day!)
A glimpse of my Craigslist car-selling experience, with tips on what to do if you want to sell your car online as quickly as possible.
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Tips for Finding Cheap and Free School Supplies
Tips and ideas to help teachers, and parents, source cheap or free school supplies.
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Seven Signs That Common Courtesy Is Dying - an Observation
I had a recent experience that made me ask the question, is common courtesy dying?
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How to Plan Rehearsals for a High School Play
Learn about the types of rehearsals you'll need to hold to prepare for a high school play and get tips about how to schedule them.
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Recipe: Polish Beef Roulade or Zrazy Zawijane
My husband is an amazing cook who has brought into our kitchen all the tastes and dishes of his Polish homeland. Here is his version of a regional classic: beef roulade.
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Healthy Breakfast Muffins With Carrot, Apple, and Banana
These delicious muffins are packed with fruits and veggies.
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Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes With Oats (Plus Vegan Option)
Healthy, homemade pancakes are delicious and nutritious. These golden morsels will be a hit any morning of the week. A vegan pancake adaptation is included below the recipe.
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Studying Geography: "Alaska? It's either up there or down there." - A Discussion
Can you name all the states on a blank map of the United States? Can you name all of the continents and countries on a blank map of the world? Can your students? Can mine? I rather doubt it. Knowing geography is not an American forte.
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How to Direct a High School Play - Behind the Scenes Jobs for Students
Directing a high school production will challenge your multi-tasking skills to the limit. After you have cast the actors, it is time to fill the other jobs necessary to make your production a success. Here is my list.
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How to Cast a High School Play
Choosing the cast is the most important step in the process of directing a high school play. Here are my tips for making the best choices while casting your show.
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How to Direct a High School Play - Auditions
Choosing a talented, dedicated, enthusiastic group of actors and technicians will make the directing process much less stressful and much more rewarding. In order to cast a show, you will need to hold auditions
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Vegetable Barley Skillet Casserole Recipe
Try this delicious, healthy vegatable barley skillet casserole as a side dish or a main meal.
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What to Include in the Audition Form for a High School Play
As the director of a high school play, you'll need to plan every step, starting with the auditions. This article outlines the information I find useful to include on the audition forms.
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How to Direct a High School Play - Choosing A Play to Stage
Not all live stage plays are spectacular. If you want to direct a brilliant production, choose the play wisely. Here are some questions and factors to consider.
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Philosophy of Education: John Dewey's Practical and Timeless Approach - A Discussion
A discussion of John Dewey's philosophy of education. We need to find a happy medium in this country in order to start to regain progress with our educational system.
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Student teaching with Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" - A Reflection
Here I reflect on my student teaching experience when I taught Shakespeare's Twelfth Night to an 11th grade honors class.
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"Middle School Blues" by Lou Kassem - A Teacher's Reflection
A reflective look at Lou Kassem's "Middle School Blues," a young adult novel that shows a picture of the difficult middle school years. A must read for teachers who want to stay connected.
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10 Fundraising Ideas for School Extracurricular Clubs and Groups
A top ten list of fundraising ideas for school and community groups and organizations.
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A Close Look at Maya Angelou’s "Even the Stars Look Lonesome"
Beginning with the touching dedication and ending on the very last page, I could not put down Even the Stars Look Lonesome. I laughed and cried my way to the very end while learning about life through Maya Angelou’s eyes and heart.
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Maya Angelou, A Classic American Writer
A brief look at Maya Angelou, an American writer and an American treasure.
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Gertrude Ignites the Tragedy in Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
A discussion of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." The question of who is at fault for the tragedy is often debated. Here is an argument that it is Gertrude's fault.
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Using "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros to Inspire and Teach Creative Writing - A Lesson Plan and a Poem
Using a model to help inspire your own writing can be a fun and interesting writing exercise. Here I show how I have used this idea in my classroom. Includes my own original poem.
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How to Write Well-Developed Paragraphs by PEEing Down the Page, or Writing PEE Paragraphs
Students often struggle to write well-developed paragraphs. Use this technique in your classroom to help them improve their writing, or use it to improve your own writing.
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Tragic Elements in James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain
Using Aristotle's definition of tragedy, this essay discusses the tragic elements in James Baldwin's novel "Go Tell It on the Mountain."
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A Discussion of John Keats' Sonnet entitled "As from the darkening gloom a silver dove"
A discussion of John Keat's poem which touches on the structure and the content of the poem.
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Poverty in Emile Zola's "L'Assommoir"
This paper is an analysis of L’Assommoir, a nineteenth century novel by Emile Zola, that paints a picture of urban life in the slums of Paris.
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Female Role Models in Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
Maya Angelou tells the story of the first seventeen years of her life in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. A discussion of the novel with an interview video.
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Women's Choices in Mayotte Capecia's "I am a Martinican Woman"
Mayotte Capecia had the courage to grasp her independence and make her own choices to guide her own life. Read my thoughts on "I am a Martinican Woman."
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Shakespeare's Comments and Point of View on Acting From "Hamlet," Act 3, Scene 2
Here I take a brief glimpse at Hamlet's speech to the players and briefly discuss Shakespeare's take on acting.