Habits of Mind: High School Class Introduction-ELA, Creative Writing, AP

This one-to-two day introduction to any ELA, Creative Writing, or AP Literature class goes beyond the boring procedure lecture students are stuck with in every other class the first week of school (but can really be used at anytime students need a pick-me-up as to why they are attending your class). This will introduce students to the valuable Habits of Mind as well as get them reacting to poetry in the first week of class, and they will even enjoy it! Utilizing Margaret Atwood's "The Page" students individually respond and create a gallery walk all in the first day. It is up to you if you want to make this a one or two day activity as there is plenty for either in the attached prezi. Not only will you be the "cool" teacher for the day, you will also discover the learning styles of each of your students AND the prevalent behaviors of your class. This is one of my favorite lessons to teach, and one we refer back to throughout the course of the year. Enjoy!

Looking for AP Literature Resources?  Check these out:

• AP Literature Units Bundle
• AP Literature Book Club
• Literary Merit Book Notes Bookmark Pamphlet
• AP Literature Poetry Review
• Literature Deepening Assignment Project
• Comparing The Handmaid's Tale, The Awakening, and A Doll's House Lesson Plans
• Sonnets, Hamlet, and Critical Theory
• Sonnet Booklet and Prezi
• Post-AP Test Creative Writing Unit
• AP Literature Introduction Unit 
• Habits of Mind: Class Introduction
• Immigration, Muslim Perspective, Kite Runner, and Thousand Splendid Suns
• Modern-Day Afghanistan with Hosseini’s Novels
• AP Literature Test Editable Review
• Book Review Shmoop Snoop
• Beowulf and Lord of the Rings after AP Lit. Test Lesson Plans

Looking for Creative Writing Resources?  Check these out:

• Creative Writing High School Curriculum with Distance Learning Solution
• Habits of Mind: Class Introduction

Units:

• Historical Fiction and Research Options
• Common App Personal Narrative
• Popular Reads:  Dystopia and Horror Lesson Plans
• Write Your Own Dystopia with Example Reading

Stories:

• Historical Fiction
• Travel Stories and Integrating Quotations
• Southern Gothic Literature and A Rose for Emily
• “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison:  Themes of Privilege, Bias, and Racism
• Naturalism vs. Realism with Plath & Chopin
• High School Story Choice Board
• Short Story Bundle

Poetry:

• Color Poem with Colors Passing Through Us
• Haiku, Senryu, & Tanka Poetry
• Nature and Tone
• Favorite Place Poem with Nikki Giovanni’s “Knoxville, TN”
• Phenomenal Woman Poetry
• Tongue Twister:  Alliteration, Assonance, and Consonance
• High School Poetry Choice Board
• Poetry Bundle

Independent Reading:

• Critical Theory: Independent Reading through a Lens
• Unfamiliar Genre Independent Reading & Writing Project

Rubrics:

• Short Story Rubric
• Poem Rubric
• Speaking & Listening Rubric
• Claim, Cite, Clarify Rubric
• Group Work Rubric and Self-Assessment

Freebies!

• Setup Google Classroom
• AP Essay Writing Paper
• Partner Clock
• Reading Bookmarks
• Website Setup

Don't forget to follow for updates when new products are posted.  Happy Teaching!