1.05 – The Drawbridge: Character Monologues (English Lesson)

The Drawbridge Character Monologue assignment builds upon the now-familiar text that was explored in 1.04 - The Drawbridge: PEE Paragraphs, asking students to consider the world of the text beyond the written page. Created by Katherine Pearce, the lesson invites students to choose a character, consider why they made the choices they did, and then … Continue reading 1.05 – The Drawbridge: Character Monologues (English Lesson)

1.03: Embedding Quotations: Slide Deck (English Lesson)

Embedding Quotations is a necessary skill that students will use throughout their years in secondary and post-secondary education. This slide deck introduces the idea of Point, Evidence, Evaluation (PEE) paragraphs, building from a common-interest area of which video game system is best. Students are encouraged to answer this question before moving on, and then write … Continue reading 1.03: Embedding Quotations: Slide Deck (English Lesson)

1.01: The Nametag Project (English Lesson)

The Nametag project begins the school year with students creating a piece that visually represents who they are and presents the challenge for them to speak to the entire class.This assignment creates an opportunity for students to introduce themselves to each other, while also offering opportunities for creative expression and personal connections. It is a … Continue reading 1.01: The Nametag Project (English Lesson)

It’s not Mark Inflation, it’s Grade Reframing: Marking Under Growing Success (Ontario Teachers)

Since September 2010, Ontario teachers have been working under the guidelines laid out by the document Growing Success. That document underlies all of our assessment and evaluation practices, among a number of other different topics. A lot has changed in the past decade, and while some talk about “mark inflation”, that might not actually be the case.  It’s not so much that marks have been inflated, but rather that levels (and as such, grades) have been reframed. But where do grades come from?  And what guides our professional judgement when determining it?

Ontario Teachers: Suggestions for your Time Away from the Classroom

Due to COVID-19, schools across Ontario have closed.  Teachers have been offered limited direction as to how their time should best be spent.  The four suggestions offered here will aid educators in streamlining their time away from the building, with the aim of suiting educator and student needs both in-class and online. Education workers following … Continue reading Ontario Teachers: Suggestions for your Time Away from the Classroom