Middle School English and Humanities
Making connections.
At Manchester University I took a Combined Honours Degree in Literature and History, and my Humanities teaching allows me to explore my passions for these subjects fully. Whether it is Renaissance research, or Atticus Finch's family values, after spending 14 years teaching middle school, I am confident that I can always draw on rich connections for the students.
Creative projects that connect to the real world
Making use of the rich environment outside the classroom.
One of the pleasures of middle school teaching is the space and opportunity to be creative and find cross-curricular connections as well as connections between the real world and the classroom. By listening to the students one can negotiate the curriculum and guide them through projects that really inspire them.
The unit below was designed as a "mini personal project" at the end of the students' eighth grade (the final year at Tokyo International School). The students were encouraged to find aspects of the city that interested them and get out and about (with their parents' permission or help) to find first-hand evidence. I was very keen for the students to look further than Google in their research. The results were really pleasing. Projects included:
The unit below was designed as a "mini personal project" at the end of the students' eighth grade (the final year at Tokyo International School). The students were encouraged to find aspects of the city that interested them and get out and about (with their parents' permission or help) to find first-hand evidence. I was very keen for the students to look further than Google in their research. The results were really pleasing. Projects included:
- "The life of Tokyo's Women during World War Two"
- "Interviews with Harajuku Girls - The Sub-Cultures of Tokyo"
- "What happens to our trash? Following the garbage trucks in Shinagawa and Meguro"
- and "Secrets of the Yamanote Line, the movie"
Responding to students' interests
"Fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!"
Another group of students showed a real passion for dance and performance, so as we were approaching the "Romeo and Juliet" text, I asked the students to direct and choreograph a fight scene between the Montagues and Capulets. The students actually performed their scene (to great acclaim) in front of hundreds of parents and students as part of the Spring Charity Concert, but I was especially pleased with the quality of their written reflections on the scene. Here's the final task description and a picture from their performance.