The news is out: the multiple choice portion of the AP English exams will have only four—not five—answer choices. Say what?? Change of any kind tends to bring about uncertainty and mixed emotions, but we can all agree that reducing answer options will make the multiple choice portion of the exam less of a beast. …
Category: High School Disciplines
The Whys of Poetry: Affordances of Poems in the Classroom and Life
With National Poetry Month underway, the authors of this post wanted to share why we read, write, and teach poetry. The curriculum in today’s English Language Arts classroom is often over packed, and poetry offers an immediate entry to a classroom experience that allows young people to be critical and reflective thinkers. In a time …
Continue reading The Whys of Poetry: Affordances of Poems in the Classroom and Life
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts:” Teaching Intro American Government in an Election Year
William T. Bianco is professor of political science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His research focuses on congressional institutions, representation, and inequality. He is the co-author (with David Canon) of a Norton textbook, American Politics Today, as well as numerous journal articles and books. William T. BiancoImage Credit: Paul B. One of the priorities in the …
Rereading and Annotation to Support Secondary Reading and Writing
Tara B. Johnston, PhD is an assistant professor of education at York College of Pennsylvania. She is a former elementary school teacher, reading interventionist, and literacy specialist. Her research interests include content literacy practices, teacher knowledge and beliefs in relation to literacy, and pre-service teacher training in literacy instruction. Tara JohnstonImage Credit: Emily Rund The …
Continue reading Rereading and Annotation to Support Secondary Reading and Writing
UNCHARTED TERRITORY: Working with Nonfiction
Jim Burke, an English teacher at Middle College at the College of San Mateo, has been teaching for more than twenty-five years, and has written more than twenty-five books about teaching and literacy. He has received numerous awards, including the Exemplary Leadership Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Distinguished Service Award …
Continue reading UNCHARTED TERRITORY: Working with Nonfiction
How I Learned to Love Conferences
Joshua Barsczewski is director of the writing program and assistant professor of English literatures and creative writing at Muhlenberg College. He’s recently published in Peitho and Composition Forum and is the co-editor of an upcoming collection on labor practices in writing studies, due out in late 2024 or early 2025. Joshua BarsczewskiImage Credit: Joshua Barsczewski …
Observation and Curiosity: Helping Students Write About Art
Elizabeth Adan is chair of the women's, gender, and queer studies department and a professor of interdisciplinary studies at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. Her 20+ years of teaching and research experience have focused on modern and contemporary art, history, and visual culture as well as feminist theory and practice. She has also …
Continue reading Observation and Curiosity: Helping Students Write About Art
Don’t Teach in a Vacuum: How Literary Nonfiction Prepares Us for Major Works
Kate Hoffman has taught for 25 years across public and private schools and at many levels—middle school, high school, and college. For many years she taught AP® Literature and Composition, and she currently teaches in Central Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she enjoys going to thrift stores, antique stores, and independent bookstores. She writes regularly …
Continue reading Don’t Teach in a Vacuum: How Literary Nonfiction Prepares Us for Major Works
Collaboration in the Dual Enrollment Ecosystem
Trinidad Gonzales is a Mexican American studies and history instructor at South Texas College and the author of Norton’s classroom resources for use with Give Me Liberty! in U.S. history courses. He has received the American Historical Association’s John Lewis Award for History and Social Justice. Trinidad Gonzales I have taught dual enrollment (DE) courses …
Continue reading Collaboration in the Dual Enrollment Ecosystem
Nurturing the Mind (and Academic Soul)
Dr. Meridith A. Balas is a Service Assistant Professor and Director of the Nemacolin Hospitality Lab at West Virginia University, where she brings extensive expertise in hospitality management, tourism, and student-centered experiential learning. In her role, she leads innovative consulting projects with partners like Nemacolin, offering students hands-on experience in solving real-world industry challenges. Her career spans …