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Inspired English

Raising Test Scores and Writing Effectiveness Through Poetry and Fiction

By: Lorraine LaCroix

Lessons that spark the imagination and fuel academic success!

Teachers of English at the high-school and middle-school level face greater challenges as the pressures of standardized testing collide with the realities of declining literacy and unmotivated students. LaCroix shows teachers how they can use poetry and fiction to generate student interest and promote higher-level thinking skills. Features that will aid new and veteran teachers alike include:

Twenty proven, ready-to-use lessons complete with rubrics, reproducibles, and reteach ideas
Straightforward descriptions of three effective lesson plan types, including the LaCroix Model
Concrete examples of how to supercharge students' vocabulary, and critical thinking for higher test scores and lifelong success

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Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12
ISBN: 9780761931119
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2004
Page Count: 160
Publication date: February 08, 2005

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Description

"The author introduces new pedagogical approaches in teaching language arts, using fiction and poetry to enhance the student's critical thinking. This is a thoughtful, practical, and innovative book that will foster academic success."
Maggie Yadegar, Associate Dean
National University, Los Angeles Campus

"A 'must have' publication for the beginning teacher of English. The author gives explicit discussions, providing directions for formulating, presenting, and evaluating each phase of the lesson being taught."
Lois Gibson, Associate Professor Education (Retired)
Southeastern Louisiana University

Lessons that spark the imagination and fuel academic success!

Teachers of English at the high-school and middle-school level face greater and greater challenges as the pressures of standardized testing collide with the realities of declining literacy and unmotivated students. This manual-written by a teacher for teachers of all experience levels-is the perfect companion for those looking to reinvigorate their language arts curriculum and fully engage and inspire all students.

LaCroix shows teachers how they can use poetry and fiction to generate student interest and promote higher-level thinking skills through analysis and interpretation of great works. Arming teachers with all the necessary tools to plan and prepare effective lessons, this user-friendly guide ensures that even the most reluctant students can share in the joy of literature while becoming better readers, writers, and test-takers.

Features that will aid new and veteran teachers alike include:

Twenty proven, ready-to-use lessons complete with rubrics, reproducibles, and reteach ideas
Straightforward descriptions of three effective lesson plan types, including the LaCroix Model
Concrete examples of how to supercharge students' vocabulary, critical thinking, rhetorical writing and public speaking skills for higher test scores and lifelong success

Spark student interest with rich literature presented within the context of LaCroix's powerful and dynamic instructional plans, and watch as their achievement levels soar!

Key features

Contains 20 step-by-step lesson plans complete with reproducible materials and scoring rubrics.
Excellent resource for beginning English teachers, and more experienced teachers with reluctant, unmotivated or struggling students.
Strategies presented for developing Poetry and Fiction units are easily translated for the development of other required units.
Will cluster well with our other reading and writing offerings.
Strategies and lesson plans have already been tested and refined in the modern classroom setting.
Lesson plans developed so that most touch upon at least 5 of the 6 strands of the required language arts curriculum.

Author(s)

Lorraine LaCroix

Lorraine LaCroix is an Educational Consultant for the Long Beach Unified School District in Southern California. In this capacity she trains new teachers, coaches veteran educators and provides professional development geared toward improved instructional practices. During her 15-year career with the district, she has worked as a classroom and mentor teacher and has served in a number of leadership roles. She has also been active in writing curriculum fir the district’s vastly diverse population. Ms. LaCroix received the district’s Carpe Diem Award in 2000, naming her the outstanding middle school teacher of the year.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from California State University, Long Beach, and a master’s degree in Educational Management from the University of LaVerne, also in California.

Table of Contents

Preface

About the Author

Opening Letter to Reader

1. The Plan

The Hunter Model

The Generalist Model

The LaCroix Model

Key Resource 1.1 The LaCroix Model

2. The Design

The Purpose

The Objective

The Crucial Setup

The Critical Materials

Key Resource 2.1 Sample Syllabus

Key Resource 2.2 Teaching Poems

Key Resource 2.3 Chaser Poem Rubric (4 Point)

Key Resource 2.4 Bio Poem Rubric (6 Point)

3. The Preparation

Skills to Be Taught

Procedural Lesson 1: The Poetry Notebook

Procedural Lesson 2: The Dramatic Reading

Key Resource 3.1: Poetry Book Requirement

Key Resource 3.2: Dramatic Reading Rubric

Key Resource 3.3: Poetry Circle Grade

4. The Lessons

Lesson 1: Understanding Character Through Tragedy

Key Resource 4.1: Ladder of Responsibility

Key Resource 4.2: Summary of Characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet

Key Resource 4.3: Essay Scoring Guide for Student Response to Literature

Key Resource 4.4: Literary Report Card

Lesson 2: Conflict and the Heroic Journey

Key Resource 4.5: Miracle on the Bayou

Key Resource 4.6: The Heroic Journey

Lesson 3: Finding Themes in Literature Through Art

Key Resource 4.7: Boarding Flight 64

Key Resource 4.8: Broad-Based Themes

Key Resource 4.9: Paired Themes in Short Fiction

Lesson 4: The Important Questions

Key Resource 4.10: Blue Velvet

Lesson 5: In Search of Poetry--Found Poems

Key Resource 4.11: Young Chief Joseph's Speech to Congress (1879)

Key Resource 4.12: Sample Found Poem: Chief Joseph Speaks to Congress

Lesson 6: "Poetry Is..."--An Introduction

Key Resource 4.13: Poetry Is...

Lesson 7: The Power of Words--Interpreting Poetry

Key Resource 4.14: Changing Impressions

Key Resource 4.15: "The Day is Done"

Key Resource 4.16: "The Psalm of Life"

Lesson 8: "I'm Nobody! Who are you?"--The Poetry of Emily Dickinson

Key Resource 4.17: The Poems of Emily Dickinson

Key Resource 4.18: Summation of Emily Dickinson's Life

Lesson 9: A Self-Portrait--The Bio Poem

Key Resource 4.19: Bio Poem Formula & Example

Key Resource 4.20: Matt's Bio Poem

Key Resource 4.21: Bio Poem Worksheet

Key Resource 4.22: Character Traits

Key Resource 4.23: Bio Poem Rubric (Six Point)

Lesson 10: "All the world's a stage"--Shakespeare and Figurative Language

Key Resource 4.24: Similes, Metaphors and Personification

Key Resource 4.25: Shakespeare Poems

Key Resource 4.26: "A Split Tree Still Grows"

Lesson 11: "Once Upon a Midnight Dreary"--Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Works

Key Resource 4.27: Lecture Notes on Edgar Allan Poe

Key Resource 4.28: Edgar Allan Poe

Key Resource 4.29: "Annabel Lee"

Key Resource 4.30: "To Helen"

Key Resource 4.31: "A Dream Within a Dream"

Key Resource 4.32: Excerpt from "The Raven"

Lesson 12: Life's Lessons in Verse

Key Resource 4.33: Teaching Poems

Key Resource 4.34: "The Village Blacksmith"

Key Resource 4.35: "To thine own self be true"

Key Resource 4.36: "If Tomorrow Never Comes"

Key Resource 4.37: "O Great Spirit"

Key Resource 4.38: "To be, or not to be"

Lesson 13: A Poetry Potpourri

5. The Final Touches

Suggestions for a Successful Poetry Recital

Key Resource 5.1: Poetic License

Closing Letter to Reader

Index

Reviews

"The author introduces new pedagogical approaches in teaching language arts, using fiction and poetry to enhance the student's critical thinking. This is a thoughtful, practical, and innovative book that will foster academic success."

Maggie Yadegar, Associate Dean
National University, Los Angeles Campus

“A ‘must have’ publication for the beginning teacher of English. The author gives explicit discussions, providing directions for formulating, presenting, and evaluating each phase of the lesson being taught."

Lois Gibson, Associate Professor Education (Retired)
Southeastern Louisiana University

Other Titles in: High School Teaching Methods | Literacy, K-12

Select Format:

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.