Language Arts Lesson - Making the Most of May

Due to the scheduling of various standardized tests, i.e. A.P testing and individual state assessments, May can be a difficult month to keep students inspired and the learning momentum smooth.

The anxiety that might crop up as teachers plan around the Testing Calendar will abate when they use this middle and high school English lesson plan. With this unit, students’ not only choose the novel that they will study,  but they also create a daily reading and writing calendar that works with their scheduled exams and the teacher’s due date. These factors maintain a flexible and flowing learning environment that engages students and promotes responsibility.  

Students select a book of their choice to read and complete the detailed activities included in the packet.  

These requirements involve a

1. General Novel Packet with four aspects: Book Notes, Plot Diagram, Quotes and Theme worksheets

2. Full-length Essay (500-750 words)

3. Group Project: "Threads-Making Connections"

 

Every day the students will either

•  read for half of the period, or
•  work on their packets for half of the period.

The second half of the period, they will

•  participate in a whole class writing session, concentrating on a facet of writing, or
• discuss various aspects of their chosen novels with peers. NOTE: Each student in the group should be reading a different novel. Members take notes. These will enable them to complete the Threads-Making Connections activity.

By managing their class time wisely, students will only have to complete the typing and compilation of the required activities at home right before the final packets are due. They should bind all of the components of their packet together in some way - a folder with pockets is best.

Teaching time won’t be interrupted and chaotic because of testing when you let this unit plan become your May learning keystone.  Its effectiveness stems from dual factors - students hold the ownership for what they are learning and when they are learning.

Teachers do need to

• specify minimum length, genre and anything else you deem necessary for your charges.
• Mentor students’ progress with mini-conferences

And you, my teacher friends, will appreciate the fact that your students are challenging themselves mentally as they increase their reading comprehension, their higher level thinking and their writing skills with substantive activities and no loss of learning continuity.

Download Language Arts lesson - Making the Most of May from http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Language-Arts-Lesson-Making-the-Most-of-May-681650 

Happy Teaching,

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