Comparative Essay Assignment for Teachers

Hello Blog Readers!

As many of you know I am a teacher. I came up with this Amazing lesson to compare a novel and an amazing movie. I am choosing to post it on the blog because I sometimes like to share my lessons that work well instead of charging for them.

My students read the novel "Warriors Don't Cry" which tells the story of the Little Rock Nine. But you can have your students read something similar.

Then I have them watch Remember the Titans. I love this movie because it teaches so many lessons and its a Disney Movie. I LOVE anything DISNEY.

You can show Remember the Titans in your classroom by purchasing it from Amazon.com or Ebay.
Click either of these two links to purchase it:  Remember the Titans or Ebay Movies

Once you have your two items that you will compare here is the essay prompt you can give your students. You can basically use this prompt with any book you read and this movie as this movie has a lot of lessons.

In a well thought out essay compare and contrast the Football team in “Remember the Titans” to the Little Rock Nine. Write about the problems they had? What prejudices they faced? Use character comparisons and contrasts for example, Melba and Julius, Link and Gary, and Coach Boone and Civil Rights Leaders. Spelling and correct grammatical usage will count.

You can use these common core standards, although I am sure that any other standards would apply.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

·         CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

·          

Knowledge of Language

·         CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.3 Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

Be Teachers at home

Teachers are important in your child's life...I should know...I am a teacher.

However, what most parents often forget is that YOU are your children's first teacher. As a teacher I see there are some things I wish parents would teach their children. I plan to continue this as a blog series here.

Parents forget that children watch everything you do AND they mimic it outside of the house.

Here are some things I wish parents would teach their kids.

1. Say Please and Thank You- I, the teacher am not your slave, I am not Staples Office Store, I do not have an endless supply of pens, pencils and papers. If I do please remind your children that I spent my own money to buy this and that it should not be taken for granted. If I do give you something please appreciate it. Amazon has awesome supply packs for all ages and they are no expensive. 

School Supplies

2. Take care of the equipment school gives you- My students are issued their own laptops and Ipads. You should see how my students take this for granted, Ipads are broken, Laptops are lost and broken. They are taken for granted, please remind your child that there are kids in third world countries that have NOTHING.

3. Do not use foul language around your kids- They see you do it and then they do it in school..trust me even if you think your child doesn't they still do. It doesn't sound cool it is nasty and rude.

4. Please acknowledge that there is a possibility your child may behave different with us than with you..just please acknowledge it, address your concerns and move on.

5. Communicate with us..We like it trust me. Use e-mail, phone.

6. Make sure your children do their homework..its important..it reinforces what they learned in school. Please ask them.

7. Tell your children you love them. If they feel loved, it will translate into their school work.

8. Take time to teach your children at home. Reinforce the skills they learn in school. Trust me it will help them in the long run.  See the link below

Products for teaching at home

9. Read to your kids..You have no idea how much this helps and shows in their school work.

I hope you are enjoying my blog posts!

xoxo
-M