This video is is way too long – 47 minutes – but it is well done:
September 25, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Blog Archives
September 11, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Video & Transcript Of President Obama’s 9/11 Memorial Speech & How I Will Use It In Class
Among the many remembrances of 9/11 today, President Obama spoke at a memorial at the Pentagon.
The transcript of speech can be found here, and I’ve embedded him speaking at the bottom of this post.
I plan on have students first read this portion of the speech:
Groups like al Qaeda, like ISIL, know that…they will never be able to defeat a nation as great and as strong as America. So, instead, they’ve tried to terrorize in the hopes that they can stoke enough fear that we turn on each other and that we change who we are or how we live. And that’s why it is so important today that we reaffirm our character as a nation — a people drawn from every corner of the world, every color, every religion, every background — bound by a creed as old as our founding, e pluribus unum. Out of many, we are one. For we know that our diversity — our patchwork heritage — is not a weakness; it is still, and always will be, one of our greatest strengths. This is the America that was attacked that September morning. This is the America that we must remain true to.
Across our country today, Americans are coming together in service and remembrance. We run our fingers over the names in memorial benches here at the Pentagon. We walk the hallowed grounds of a Pennsylvania field. We look up at a gleaming tower that pierces the New York City skyline. But in the end, the most enduring memorial to those we lost is ensuring the America that we continue to be — that we stay true to ourselves, that we stay true to what’s best in us, that we do not let others divide us.
They then would respond to this prompt:
What does President Obama think is the best way to honor those who died on 9/11? To what extent do you agree with what he is saying? To support your opinion, be sure to include specific examples drawn from your own experience, your observations of others, or any of your readings.
Feel free to leave suggestions on how I can make this a better learning activity.
I’m adding this post to The Best Posts On Writing Instruction and to The Best Sites To Help Teach About 9/11.
August 26, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
2 Comments
Video: “10 Strategies to Help Students Develop Intrinsic Motivation to Write”
KQED Mindshift hosted a Facebook Live session with me this afternoon on “10 Strategies to Help Students Develop Intrinsic Motivation to Write.”
I’ve embedded the forty-minute video below. It seemed to go well and received quite a few positive comments. I kept it very practical. Feedback is welcome!
I’m adding this to The Best Posts on Writing Instruction.
August 20, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Important NY Times Column On Separating “Art & Artist” – Here’s The Writing Prompt I’m Using With It
Roxane Gay has written a powerful essay in today’s New York Times headlined Nate Parker and the Limits of Empathy.
It’s about the recent media attention paid to past rape charges against the actor and director, whose movie, “The Birth Of A Nation,” is coming out soon.
It raises important points related to ethics and the arts.
I’m going to have my IB Theory of Knowledge students read it when we are in our Arts unit and have them respond to this prompt:
What does Roxane Gay say about separating “the art and the artist”? To what extent do you agree with what she is saying? To support your opinion, be sure to include specific examples drawn from your own experience, your observations of others, or any of your readings.
I’m adding this info to The Best Posts On Writing Instruction, where I keep links to multiple prompts.
August 1, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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“Write The World” Provides An Authentic Audience & A Space For Peer Review
The great Vicki Davis just shared a link to a new resource, Write The World, on Twitter.
Write The World lets teachers set-up virtual classrooms for free where they can monitor student writing progress and, if they wish, let classmates use it for a peer review process. They can be private or public groups.
In addition, the site has writing contests, provides prompts, and encourages students to view each other’s work from around the world.
I’m adding it to:
The Best Places Where Students Can Write For An “Authentic Audience”
July 28, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Video & Transcript Of President Obama’s Speech – Plus Writing Prompt on “Making Mistakes”
I’ve previously shared Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic Convention and a writing prompt to use with it (see Video & Transcript: Michelle Obama’s Speech To The Democratic Convention (Plus Writing Prompt!) ).
You can read the transcript to President Obama’s speech here, and I’ve embedded the video at the bottom of this post.
I thought what he said about making mistakes could be particularly useful in the classroom.
Here’s that excerpt, followed by a writing prompt:
Writing Prompt:
What does President Obama (and former President Roosevelt) think about making mistakes and those who make them? To what extent do you agree with what she is saying? To support your opinion, be sure to include specific examples drawn from your own experience, your observations of others, or any of your readings.
I’m adding this post to:
The Best Posts on Writing Instruction
The Best Posts, Articles & Videos About Learning From Mistakes & Failures
July 25, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Video & Transcript: Michelle Obama’s Speech To The Democratic Convention (Plus Writing Prompt!)
Michelle Obama gave a terrific speech to the Democratic Convention tonight.
You can read the entire transcript here and watch it on the video embedded below.
Here’s a great excerpt, along with a writing prompt that I might use with it:
How does Michelle Obama suggest we handle bullies? To what extent do you agree with what she is saying? To support your opinion, be sure to include specific examples drawn from your own experience, your observations of others, or any of your readings.
I’m adding this post to:
The Best Posts on Writing Instruction
A Very, Very Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Bullying — Please Suggest More
8 writing lessons from Michelle Obama's DNC speech https://t.co/rBiAH0FHQC via @poynter
— Jayne Marlink (@JMarlinkCWP) July 28, 2016
June 21, 2016
by Larry Ferlazzo
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Ed Week Publishes Special Report: “Changing Practices In Writing Instruction”
Education Week has just published one of their typically excellent special reports, and the title of this one is Next Draft: Changing Practices In Writing Instruction.
It’s composed of eight separate articles, including “As Teachers Tackle New Student-Writing Expectations, Support Is Lacking,” “Remodeling the Workshop: Lucy Calkins on Writing Instruction Today,” and “Students in My Math Classes Next Year Will Do a Lot of Writing. Here’s Why.”
I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Writing Instruction.
