Learning, Laughter, and Love in Middle School English

This year I decided to play music as students are entering my classroom and before the final bell rings.  I had no idea what a difference it would make!  Why didn't I do this before?  It creates a positive, upbeat mood and seems to energize my students and ME!  At first I thought they'd complain when I blasted disco tunes by artists like Chic, The Bee Gees, and Vickie Sue Robinson ("Turn the Beat Around").   I thought they'd groan when I played Bon Jovi, Journey, and Whitesnake. I thought they'd roll their eyes when I played clean versions of songs by Tupac and Snoop Dogg.  I really thought they'd lose it when I played Gypsy Kings.  NOPE!  They loved it!  I had NO idea that my kids would react they way they did.  Here are the results: If I don't have time to put the music on, several kids will ask, "Where's our dance party?" I really like Pandora because I can create my own stations.  If you're looking for a

Writing Groups Last March our principal asked if anyone would be interested in teaching a new elective.  I probably answered his email before he had taken his finger off of the send key!  YES!  I wanted to teach a creative writing class.  In order for the class to fly, enough kids had to sign up, and they did!  This class has been a dream come true.  Most days I feel like I am in a teacher in an inspirational movie about teaching!  I spent my summer culling through a variety of books and websites about writing.  I then began to create my vision for the class.  I wanted to create an environment where kids felt safe, valued, and respected. I wanted them to take risks with their writing. I wanted them to see themselves as writers.  Most importantly, I wanted them to LOVE the class. Students read their work to the group I decided to implement a workshop approach. Each day begins with an activity or some kind of writing prompt. Students typically write for the first thi