Teaching for the Whole Story
Ariel Sacks (@arielsacks) is a middle school language arts teacher and instructional-support coach. She is the author of Whole Novels for the Whole Class: A Student-Centered Approach. This blog is no longer being updated.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Interview Tip for Teachers: Be Prepared to Be Specific
Be specific. Know examples of your work. Be articulate. Ariel Sacks gives tips for teachers going through job interviews.
Teaching
Opinion
Five Steps To Revolutionize Whole-Class Novels
In my previous post, I discussed the debate around whether to teach whole class novels. In the field, this conversation can get quite polarized, but we shouldn't be limited to this either/or scenario. As a profession we can do better than a decades old stalemate.
I believe we must revolutionize, not drop, the whole class novel. The five strategies below are steps toward that end.
Standards
Opinion
What Do We Do About the Whole-Class Novel?
The debate around the use of novels in English classes of all age groups is at least twenty years old, but it remains unresolved, continually bubbling up in blog posts and conversations among a wide range of concerned educators: what do we do about the whole class novel? In this post, I analyze the state of current teaching trends with regard to novels, and offer two propositions for moving the debate forward.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
How to Talk About Sexism in the Classroom
Educators and others who think about social issues--I can use some help: I got into a conversation with students in English class today about sexism, brought up by a pattern (out of the classroom, but among our students) of MS boys making critical comments about girls' bodies.
In the course of an energized, basically positive conversation, some boys brought up that girls can be sexist, too. In a moment that I could have handled better, I argued against this, instead of probing further.
Standards
Opinion
Understanding Students With Broken Relationships to Reading
Many of our struggling readers did not grow up with a consistent reading ritual at home; instead, they were exposed to books mostly in school. What was that context like for them?
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
When Real Reading Isn't Happening ... Four Ways to Respond
What do we do when we give students a reading task, but we see that real reading is not happening?
Teaching
Opinion
Focus on Meaningful Interactions With Students This Holiday Season
"I know from personal experience (growing up Jewish in a non-Jewish community) that school around this time can feel isolating," writes Ariel Sacks.
Assessment
Opinion
Simple Ways to Hold Students Accountable for Bringing Materials
It's the start of class, and the opening task is to read quietly. "Can I go to my locker to get my book?" a student asks. I give a disapproving look, because she should have her book with her, but I say yes. I have no extra copy to offer, and I don't want her to spend the period unproductive. Another student asks to get her book from her locker. I'm irritated, but I say yes.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Election 2016 Feels Like None Other in My Classroom
"If both of your parents are immigrants, do they deport you too, or do you get put into a foster home?" one of my middle school students asked yesterday afternoon. "I've asked this to some other teachers, but I still don't know the answer," she added. It had been on her mind all day.
I've taught through four presidential elections. This one feels in no way normal.
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
Five Questions to Ask When Conflict Arises With a Student
What can we do to move forward in the moment when our agenda and a student's agenda seem to clash?
Standards
Opinion
Help Students Toward Reading Complex Texts Independently: No More Training Wheels!
How exactly do we help students to be able to read complex texts on their own? Do we give them texts that are well above their reading levels and apply as much scaffolding as we need to get students through it? Or do we meet readers where they are with more accessible text selections first and build their independent reading skills?
Reading & Literacy
Opinion
Why I'm Teaching For the Whole Story
In the launch of her new blog, Ariel Sacks explains what she means by teaching for the whole story and why she's doing it.