Complex Learning Environments - English by Shaun Merrill https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7 Themes of care en-us 2020-12-15 20:15:46 UTC 2025-10-29 01:12:34 UTC hello@padlet.com Project-based Learning 10579955 https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021874736 Students will research and write a brief biography about one of their actual ancestors, using public information, as well as primary sources (interviews) and family records. They will create a printable document that they will share with extended family members, and even submit to various databases.

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/teaching-content/exploring-family-heritage/]]> 2020-12-15 20:39:56 UTC https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021874736 Service Learning 10579955 https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021888715 Students will provide writing tutoring and reading tutoring for elementary-grade students, reading aloud and helping them read aloud from books of their various reading levels, helping them write papers, needing to understand these things themselves, and learning them better as they help others with them.]]> 2020-12-15 20:44:17 UTC https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021888715 Inquiry Based Learning 10579955 https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021893056 Basing all the units in the year off of one essential question, such as "What are some modern-day vampires that you see in the world today?" during a unit in which we study Bram Stoker's "Dracula." As part of the unit, they will look for current events where there are people that selfishly drain the life from others, for their own benefit.

Here is a character from BBC's What We Do in the Shadows, embodying this idea of a modern-day vampire:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHy5YROllws

I can show this clip to my class, giving them context. Then, I will have them gather news stories finding examples of symbolic vampirisism. ]]> 2020-12-15 20:45:38 UTC https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021893056 Jigsaw (cooperative learning) 10579955 https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021920488 They will divide up and learn about the different verbal voices and moods, then will go and teach that to everyone else.

Verb Voice
Active
Passive

Verb Mood
Indicative
Imperative
Interrogative
Conditional
Subjunctive]]> 2020-12-15 20:54:05 UTC https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021920488 Technology-enhanced learning environments 10579955 https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021926393 Create a mutlimedia infused blog post (including images, videos, gifs, memes, and web design principles) analyzing a movie that they love for theme and symbolism. By taking principles of analyzing literature into the movie realm, they will start to understand that these "English Class" skills will enhance their capacity for enjoying everything, from music, to movies, to TV.

Here are a few examples of analyses of the movie A Quiet Place that I will share with my students, helping them see ways that they can analyze movies.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-silently-regressive-politics-of-a-quiet-place

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2018/04/11/a-quiet-place-isnt-just-pro-life-it-makes-us-understand-what-being-pro-life-truly-means/]]> 2020-12-15 20:55:59 UTC https://padlet.com/10579955/7hgn47j5ve2tfrt7/wish/1021926393