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The Art of Cold Calling: Blogiversary Post #7
I’ve had some heated discussions about whether “cold calling” is good practice. When I posted about it a couple of years ago, the post got a lot of comments and got passed around a lot. What are your thoughts? Is it a good idea to spring questions on students out of the blue? Does it help… Continue reading
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A Course Plan for Literary Appreciation and Analysis: Blogiversary Post #6
I struggle with conflicting philosophies about my job. I teach English literature (as well as language and composition) as core curriculum in CEGEP, a transitional/professional college that all Quebec students must attend before moving on to university or to many professions. My classes are therefore comprised of students of wildly varying levels of ability and interest… Continue reading
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Essay Structure: The Cake Analogy: Blogiversary Post #5
Here’s a nice little post with a link about using a “layer cake” analogy to explain essay writing to students. I’ve never actually used this analogy, but apparently a bunch of other people have, because the original post got a LOT of shares. So if your students aren’t getting how to put an essay together,… Continue reading
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Triumph Over Burnout: Blogiversary Post #4
At the beginning of the new school year, some of us feel refreshed and eager; others, not so much. If you’re filled with dread at the thought of vacation’s end (not the ordinary oh-I-wish-I-could-read-novels-on-the-deck-forever dread, but the more acute why-am-I-doing-this-with-my-life dread), then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate: is teaching really what you want to do? For… Continue reading
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Why Do I Have To Learn This? Blogiversary Post #3
I asked my students to read the essay I discuss in this post, and to explain which of Menand’s three “theories” they subscribed to. Their responses were mixed. Then they asked me which theory I believed in, and I was unable to give them a definitive answer. Almost three years later, I’m still not sure. What about you? This,… Continue reading
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10 Reasons I Hate Grading Your Assignment: Blogiversary Post #2
I hesitate to put this post out there again! Not only does it feel outdated (I haven’t asked for a paper copy of an at-home assignment in three years), but at the time it was published, it attracted some passionate critics (and defenders); if you go to the original and read the comments, you will see what I… Continue reading
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Summer Book Club Final Week: The Middlesteins
This will be the final installment of this year’s Summer Book Club! I’ve enjoyed this project a lot – both the incentive it gave me to read a lot of books, and the comments from all of you about what you’ve been reading. My intention is to hold a blog book club again next summer. Thanks… Continue reading
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Summer Book Club Week 10: Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
Guidelines for the Summer Book Club: if you’ve read this book, what did you think? If not, what are you reading this week? Please comment, or post on your own blog and link in the comments below. I am by nature a worrier, and one of the things I worry about is what will happen… Continue reading
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Summer Book Club Week 9: Asterios Polyp
This week’s Book Club post is a quick one, as I am recovering from minor surgery and would rather be reading than writing. Last week, commenter Kathleen recommended the graphic novel Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli; I immediately grabbed it from the shelf of my local library and read it in an afternoon. I have a feeling… Continue reading
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Summer Book Club Week 8: The Saga Series, Vol. 1
Guidelines for the Summer Book Club: if you’ve read this book, what did you think? If not, what are you reading this week? Please comment, or post on your own blog and link in the comments below. Brian K. Vaughan’s Y: The Last Man is my favourite graphic novel series; in 2010, one of the installments made my… Continue reading
About Me
My job is to teach people to read and write; aside from that, I like to learn things.
Classroom as Microcosm 