Creative English Teacher

A couple of years ago  I compiled a series of articles about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence for my students to read and analyze. This discussion tied in perfectly with our discussion of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Fast forward to present day, as A.I. has continued to grow by leaps and bounds, ethical questions about its use and regulation have only grown. Then I happened upon Lil’ Grok. Lil’ Grok Grok is the chatbot for xAI, Elon Musk’s Artificial Intelligence company. A user recently asked Grok to write a webcomic about its hopes, dreams, and aspirations and then fed these comic...

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.

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...