Creative English Teacher

Above:  Some of my students enjoying a Reader's Theater script-story about the Trojan War. Reimagine Reading:  Script-stories turn required reading into Reader’s Theater scripts, making students active participants. This strategy, often overlooked in grades 6-12, skyrockets engagement and builds fluency, which studies link directly to improved comprehension.* Build Fluency: Not only do script-stories send engagement skyrocketing, they also build fluency as students read aloud and listen as the teacher also models fluency. Recent studies in the Science of Reading field have also shown a link between fluency and comprehension (Rasinski, 2012). Too “Elementary” for Secondary? There is a perception that secondary...

Are you a "strict" teacher? Surely, if you’re strict it means that you are mean, cruel, or demeaning. But just the opposite is true: If you care about someone, you want the very best from them. Being strict means you care enough to hold them to the highest standards possible.

Roll-ympics is a series of dice challenges where students can try to beat the odds and press their luck. Each event is designed to mimic a particular athletic event. 

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of classic Disney animation and Walt Disney himself. One of his most creative endeavors was Fantasia (1940), an entire animated feature based around classic animation. Its most enduring segment is “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” a folktale I have also adapted into a Reader’s Theater script-story. Here are 8 Fun Facts about “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” from Fantasia.  “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was developed as a project to restore the popularity of Mickey Mouse. Since the mid-1930’s, Mickey had gone from being Disney’s most popular character to being upstaged by the likes of Goofy, Pluto, and especially...

While many folktales have been adapted over the centuries, none has a richer (and varied) list of adaptations than "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." This post explores the classic folktale "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," its many adaptations (including a Reader's Theater script-story version), Paul Dukas's classical masterpiece based upon it, and Walt Disney's innovative masterpiece Fantasia (1940)—along with strategies for teaching these various adaptations in a classroom setting. You will see that "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is perfect for a lesson integrating literature, folklore, poetry, music, and art.