Out of Her Mind -- Musings on Education and Life

we heart found poetry (word cloud made using wordart ). At the end of a unit in my high school English class, I have students create and present thematic found poetry.  I am sure you can vary this activity in numerous ways; I look forward to you sharing your implementation/ideas with me and other readers.  Recently, I have been using found poems in the following ways: 1.  Near the first day of class, I introduce the concept of found or cut up poetry by using a sample text we have read together in class (can be a shortish excerpt or excerpt(s) chosen for this purpose).  Students are told to write down interesting words and phrases that they hear/see (depending on the modality in which you present the information) with the understanding that these words will later be used to write a thematic poem on the work that was read.  They are to record a minimum of 25 words and phrases, and I am sure to encourage them to write down at least 10 phrases.  Then,...

Igniting Learning with Creative Color-by-Number Adventures As educators, we occasionally overlook a simple truth: even our high school students are, at heart, children. And what child doesn't relish the joys of coloring, especially after a day or week filled with hard work and learning? It's a timeless source of delight, and when combined with educational value, it transforms into a potent tool for sparking excitement and promoting deeper understanding. For several years, I've been employing the magic of color-by-number and mystery picture review sheets in my high school English and reading classes, spanning a diverse range of levels—ranging from special education Occupational Course of Study English classes to honors English classes, Advanced Placement Language and Composition courses, and inclusion English classes. The astonishing part? These activities captivate even my most reluctant learners. As students dive into these coloring adventures, they embark on an engaging j...

Preparing to land The first time I jumped this canopy, I was distracted by the sheer beauty of the sun streaming through the brightly colored cells. It used to be that as soon as my parachute opened, my brain would freeze in terror as I hung helplessly  four or five thousand feet above the earth, looking down at where I needed to land, praying to somehow magically end up where I needed to be at the right altitudes. These days, I squeal in delight when the slider comes down and my fall rate slows from 120 mph to a gentle glide as free fall transitions to canopy time.  I collapse my slider, do canopy control checks, clear my airspace (not necessarily in that order), and then fly my baby, my trusty, reliable parachute, pushing its limits, learning the controls, finding the sweet spot, playing in the wind.... And now, I am gaining the ability to take in more of the beauty and solitude of these eagle-eye views, truly being present in those adrenaline soaked, spectacular ...