After studying and teaching English Romantic Poetry and finding myself aglow with delight, I built a time machine and traveled back 30 years to talk to my teenage self. Here's what transpired: Me: Hey, Trent!Teenage Me: … [Read more...]
Teaching English Romantic Poetry: How Many of These 19 Poems Have You Taught?
May 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment
A Robert Frost Lesson Plan for National Poetry Month: Symbolism in the Poems of Robert Frost
April 20, 2016 By 1 Comment
Teaching: An Allegory It was National Poetry Month and Mr. Deadmeat was preparing his Robert Frost lesson plans in anticipation of Principal Istabteachersintheback coming to observe his classroom. It was a symbolism lesson … [Read more...]
“The Raven” Lesson Plans: Symbolism in “The Raven”
April 1, 2016 By Leave a Comment
My colleague just told me that April was National Poetry month. I thought she was playing an April Fool's joke on me, so I took a swing at her. She blocked the punch, jabbed me in the throat with a paper clip, whacked me on … [Read more...]
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” Analysis, Lesson Plan, and More
March 7, 2016 By 2 Comments
I just found out that on this date in 1923, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" was published. I found out long ago that most people that aren't English teachers don't care about such things.Luckily, you're an English … [Read more...]
Edgar Allan Poe Poems for Teaching Sound Devices: “The Raven,” “The Bells,” and “Anabel Lee” Audio Book and Quick Lesson Plan
February 22, 2016 By Leave a Comment
You don't need to feel guilty if all you do is grab this handout for teaching sound devices in poetry and move onto something else.That being said, I think you might benefit from these audio/video clips of Edgar Allan Poe … [Read more...]
Teaching Edgar Allan Poe Poems: A 4-Step Lesson Plan for Annabel Lee
February 11, 2016 By Leave a Comment
For the most wild, yet most homely blog post which I am about to type, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not --and … [Read more...]
Common Core Poetry: My Favorite Harlem Renaissance Poet
September 17, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I was just checking out the History Channel website and learned the following: On this day in 1776, General George Washington arrives at Harlem Heights, on the northern end of Manhattan, and takes command of a group of … [Read more...]
Valentines Day Love Poems and Lesson Plans
February 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I will now list the three most annoying days of the school year:1. The first day 2. September 3. Valentine's DayLuckily, Valentine's day falls on a Saturday this year and my beloved school district has deemed … [Read more...]
Lesson of the Day: A Great Observational Experience Using Poetry
March 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
So the big wigs came to my school last week and I didn't want to embarrass the school, get my administrator in trouble, and end up teaching from a cart next year, so I went to one of my favorite lessons: Poetry Speed … [Read more...]
Poems for Valentine’s Day
January 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
There are few things more annoying for a high school teacher than the silliness of Valentine's Day. I'm referring to the constant interruptions of love-grams, obstacle-like balloons and flower arrangements littering classroom … [Read more...]
