In honor of Chuck Norris’ birthday, I give you some fine examples of hyperbole with an element of tall-tale. Chuck Norris has a vacation home on the sun. If you put a straitjacket on Chuck Norris, the straitjacket goes insane. Chuck Norris doesn’t swim, water gets out of his way. Every time Chuck Norris celebrates […]
Nevada Schools Worst in Nation at Giving Students Chance for Success
January 9, 2014 By
For many teachers in the Silver State, constantly being told that your state is the worst in education can be somewhat demoralizing, so as yet another report comes out about how crappy Nevada’s schools are, there’s bound to be a lot of hemming and hawing, quick fixes that don’t work, and the general throwing of […]
A Quick and Easy Common Core Writing Assignment
January 8, 2014 By
My good friend and award winning yearbook editor Bill Tobler hounded me for about six weeks over some silly writing assignment he wanted my students to do for inclusion in this year’s edition of the FHS yearbook. He gave me the forms back in September. I immediately placed them in my “get to later” basket […]
“The Black Cat” Teacher’s Guide with Lesson Plans and More
December 18, 2013 By
You’re probably in the throes of Christmas cheer, but when Christmas Break is over and the new year has rolled around, you’re gonna be darn sick and tired of all those cheery, cheesy stories that abound during the holidays. In fact, you probably are already. No need to fret. I’ve got a “Black Cat” teacher’s […]
Good Books Made into Good Movies for the Classroom
November 25, 2013 By
In honor of the awesomeness that is Catching Fire, I bring you this list of literary works turned movies suitable for the classroom. It is a difficult thing to turn a great book into a great movie. It is even more difficult to turn a great book into a great movie that’s appropriate for the […]
The Ender’s Game Movie: SparkNotes on the Big Screen
November 6, 2013 By
I really don’t have a problem with SparkNotes. In fact, when I was preparing for my Master’s examination board, I had to review about 20 novels. Although I had read all of the novels on the list (I chose them, after all), there were some I hadn’t read for a few years. Some I reread. […]
Great Stories and Poems for Halloween
October 30, 2013 By
Looking for something good to teach this Halloween? “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe. Nothing screams Halloween like black cats and the master of suspense. Check out these teaching ideas for teaching suspense in “The Black Cat.” I’m also nearly finished with a complete teaching guide to one of Poe’s most famous stories. […]
The Best Things about Teaching in Nevada
October 24, 2013 By
In honor of Nevada Day, officially October 31 and recognized this year on October 25, I give you the best things about teaching in Nevada*. Teachers are done at 2 p.m. Las Vegas, Nevada’s largest city, is a 24-hour town, which means there are many jobs available in the afternoon and evening to help supplement […]