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Inspired English
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Inspired English
Raising Test Scores and Writing Effectiveness Through Poetry and Fiction



November 2004 | 160 pages | Corwin
`The author introduces new pedagogical approaches in teaching language arts, using fiction and poetry to enhance the student's critical thinking. This is a thoughtful, practical, and innovative book that will foster academic success' - Maggie Yadegar, Associate Dean, National University, Los Angeles Campus

'A 'must have' publication for the beginning teacher of English. The author gives explicit discussions, providing directions for formulating, presenting, and evaluating each phase of the lesson being taught' - Lois Gibson, Associate Professor Education (Retired), Southeastern Louisiana University

A teacher's guide to teaching middle school and high school English and building literacy skills in even the most reluctant readers. Lorraine LaCroix shows the reader how carefully chosen poems and fiction can "hook" otherwise apathetic English students - by making an emotional connection, the teacher makes her lessons personally relevant and important to each student, and therefore a perfect vehicle for teaching vocabulary, critical thinking skills, close reading skills, rhetorical writing skills, communication and public speaking skills.

 
Preface
 
About the Author
 
Opening Letter to Reader
 
1. The Plan
The Hunter Model

 
The Generalist Model

 
The LaCroix Model

 
Key Resource 1.1 The LaCroix Model

 
 
2. The Design
The Purpose

 
The Objective

 
The Crucial Setup

 
The Critical Materials

 
Key Resource 2.1 Sample Syllabus

 
Key Resource 2.2 Teaching Poems

 
Key Resource 2.3 Chaser Poem Rubric (4 Point)

 
Key Resource 2.4 Bio Poem Rubric (6 Point)

 
 
3. The Preparation
Skills to Be Taught

 
Procedural Lesson 1: The Poetry Notebook

 
Procedural Lesson 2: The Dramatic Reading

 
Key Resource 3.1: Poetry Book Requirement

 
Key Resource 3.2: Dramatic Reading Rubric

 
Key Resource 3.3: Poetry Circle Grade

 
 
4. The Lessons
Lesson 1: Understanding Character Through Tragedy

 
Key Resource 4.1: Ladder of Responsibility

 
Key Resource 4.2: Summary of Characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet

 
Key Resource 4.3: Essay Scoring Guide for Student Response to Literature

 
Key Resource 4.4: Literary Report Card

 
Lesson 2: Conflict and the Heroic Journey

 
Key Resource 4.5: Miracle on the Bayou

 
Key Resource 4.6: The Heroic Journey

 
Lesson 3: Finding Themes in Literature Through Art

 
Key Resource 4.7: Boarding Flight 64

 
Key Resource 4.8: Broad-Based Themes

 
Key Resource 4.9: Paired Themes in Short Fiction

 
Lesson 4: The Important Questions

 
Key Resource 4.10: Blue Velvet

 
Lesson 5: In Search of Poetry--Found Poems

 
Key Resource 4.11: Young Chief Joseph's Speech to Congress (1879)

 
Key Resource 4.12: Sample Found Poem: Chief Joseph Speaks to Congress

 
Lesson 6: "Poetry Is..."--An Introduction

 
Key Resource 4.13: Poetry Is...

 
Lesson 7: The Power of Words--Interpreting Poetry

 
Key Resource 4.14: Changing Impressions

 
Key Resource 4.15: "The Day is Done"

 
Key Resource 4.16: "The Psalm of Life"

 
Lesson 8: "I'm Nobody! Who are you?"--The Poetry of Emily Dickinson

 
Key Resource 4.17: The Poems of Emily Dickinson

 
Key Resource 4.18: Summation of Emily Dickinson's Life

 
Lesson 9: A Self-Portrait--The Bio Poem

 
Key Resource 4.19: Bio Poem Formula & Example

 
Key Resource 4.20: Matt's Bio Poem

 
Key Resource 4.21: Bio Poem Worksheet

 
Key Resource 4.22: Character Traits

 
Key Resource 4.23: Bio Poem Rubric (Six Point)

 
Lesson 10: "All the world's a stage"--Shakespeare and Figurative Language

 
Key Resource 4.24: Similes, Metaphors and Personification

 
Key Resource 4.25: Shakespeare Poems

 
Key Resource 4.26: "A Split Tree Still Grows"

 
Lesson 11: "Once Upon a Midnight Dreary"--Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Works

 
Key Resource 4.27: Lecture Notes on Edgar Allan Poe

 
Key Resource 4.28: Edgar Allan Poe

 
Key Resource 4.29: "Annabel Lee"

 
Key Resource 4.30: "To Helen"

 
Key Resource 4.31: "A Dream Within a Dream"

 
Key Resource 4.32: Excerpt from "The Raven"

 
Lesson 12: Life's Lessons in Verse

 
Key Resource 4.33: Teaching Poems

 
Key Resource 4.34: "The Village Blacksmith"

 
Key Resource 4.35: "To thine own self be true"

 
Key Resource 4.36: "If Tomorrow Never Comes"

 
Key Resource 4.37: "O Great Spirit"

 
Key Resource 4.38: "To be, or not to be"

 
Lesson 13: A Poetry Potpourri

 
 
5. The Final Touches
Suggestions for a Successful Poetry Recital

 
Key Resource 5.1: Poetic License

 
 
Closing Letter to Reader
 
Index

"The author introduces new pedagogical approaches in teaching language arts, using fiction and poetry to enhance the student's critical thinking. This is a thoughtful, practical, and innovative book that will foster academic success."

Maggie Yadegar, Associate Dean
National University, Los Angeles Campus

“A ‘must have’ publication for the beginning teacher of English. The author gives explicit discussions, providing directions for formulating, presenting, and evaluating each phase of the lesson being taught."

Lois Gibson, Associate Professor Education (Retired)
Southeastern Louisiana University

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1: The Plan


Lorraine LaCroix

Lorraine LaCroix is an Educational Consultant for the Long Beach Unified School District in Southern California. In this capacity she trains new teachers, coaches veteran educators and provides professional development geared toward improved instructional practices. During her 15-year career with the district, she has worked as a classroom and mentor teacher and has served in a number of leadership roles. She has also been active in writing curriculum fir the district’s vastly diverse population. Ms. LaCroix received the district’s Carpe Diem Award in 2000, naming her the outstanding middle school teacher of the year. ... More About Author

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