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Continue reading →: Puritan Punishments Webquest
This is an engaging activity for students studying The Scarlet Letter, Puritan Literature, and The Crucible. In teams of 2-4, students research Puritan crimes and punishments, create a chart listing 10 crimes and punishments, and answer questions about Puritan beliefs. Links are provided for research.
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Continue reading →: The Scarlet Letter Anticipation Questions: English 11 & Am Lit
The Scarlet Letter Anticipation Questions Activity/Lesson provides various engaging activities to explore key themes and ideas before delving into the novel. Activities include statement carousels, agree/disagree polls, debate teams, personal reflection journals, interactive polling tools, concept mapping, and think-pair-share exercises, fostering critical thinking and discussion skills while connecting students with…
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Continue reading →: English 11 & Am Lit: Pre Reading Activity for The Scarlet Letter
This activity aims to engage students in understanding and enjoying “The Scarlet Letter” through pre-reading activities, such as discussing the benefits of spoilers, creating visual summaries, and facilitating group work. It enhances comprehension, encourages engagement, and promotes visual learning, making the classic novel more accessible and enjoyable for high school…
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Continue reading →: How to Plan A Full Year of AP® Lit: A Simple Course Guide and Syllabus
When I first started teaching AP® Literature (10+ years ago!), crafting a year-long syllabus felt pretty scary—I wanted to balance great texts with engaging activities AND ensure alignment with AP® exam expectations. I also wanted to make sure I had a good mix of poetry, short stories, novels, and dramas.…
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Continue reading →: Get Ready for Back to School 2024 with New Resources!Carly Lamp shares excitement for the upcoming school year, introducing over 100 new resources for teachers, including materials for AP® Literature and novel units for key texts. Additionally, practical classroom tools and 23 free products are available to streamline teaching. She encourages feedback and engagement from fellow educators.
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Continue reading →: The First Week of Back to School: Teaching Essential Reading, Communication, and Writing Skills
This comprehensive guide provides strategies for teaching key literacy skills to high school students, including cultivating strong reading habits, fostering effective communication skills, and developing strong writing skills. By implementing these strategies, educators can set students up for success in all academic pursuits and foster a love for lifelong learning…
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Continue reading →: Making Teaching Easier: Time-Saving Strategies to Help Passionate English Teachers Survive the Workload
High school English teachers face overwhelming workloads, but time-saving strategies can revolutionize grading and streamline assessments. Techniques like spot checks, color-coded feedback, and group work reduce grading time, allowing for a more enjoyable teaching experience. By working smarter, teachers create an engaging and effective learning environment, fostering student empowerment and…
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Continue reading →: How does Winston’s transformation in Part III relate to the themes established throughout Orwell’s novel 1984?
Explore themes of totalitarian power and psychological manipulation in George Orwell’s “1984.” It highlights how the Party maintains control through surveillance, repression, and psychological manipulation, leading to the destruction of personal integrity and the illusion of freedom. Winston’s transformation exemplifies the Party’s effectiveness in reshaping reality and obliterating individual resistance.
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Continue reading →: Full 1984 Novel Unit for AP Lit or 11th Grade ELAThis page is an ultimate 1984 Teacher’s Guide, offering in-depth analysis, discussion questions, and classroom activities for George Orwell’s classic novel. It provides a comprehensive breakdown of themes, literary devices, and key points, suitable for various teaching styles and levels. The guide is designed to save teachers time and enhance…
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Continue reading →: Teaching Modernism to AP® Literature Students: Full Poetry Unit
Discover effective strategies for teaching Modernism to AP Literature students, from contextualizing the movement to fostering deep discussions. Explore key themes and texts, including Eliot, Hemingway, Auden, and more!
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Continue reading →: AP Lit Poetry Unit: Romanticism
Many AP® Lit teachers struggle with helping students perform well in the poetry portions of the exams. The first poetry unit focusing on Romantic poetry is crucial for student success, transforming their understanding of poetry. The unit emphasizes context-setting sessions, close reading, comprehensive discussions, and varied activities to reinforce learning…
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Continue reading →: Why Teach Diction and Tone to Our AP® Lit Students?
Understanding diction and tone is crucial for 9-12 ELA and AP Lit students. It enables deeper textual analysis, author’s intent comprehension, emotional resonance, critical thinking, improved writing, and better exam performance. Additionally, it enhances comprehension of literary devices like imagery, symbolism, theme, mood, irony, foreshadowing, characterization, conflict, and narrative voice.
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Continue reading →: Survival Guide for New AP® Lit Teachers: What to Do About Curriculum Planning, Poetry, Support, Grading, and Balancing Lit Love with Test Prep
New teachers struggle with planning and pacing AP® Lit courses. Advice includes organizing units around essential “Big Ideas” and starting with four units per semester. Balancing test preparation and a love for literature is important, as is teaching poetry effectively. Professional development, navigating grading challenges, and continuous reflection and improvement…
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Continue reading →: Setting the Stage for Success: Why We Should All Add an AP Lit Self-Assessment to Our Back to School First Day Plans
AP Lit teachers aim to minimize schedule changes by conducting an honest chat with students on the first day using a Self-Assessment PowerPoint. This approach helps clarify course expectations, promote self-reflection, foster a growth mindset, emphasize participation, and manage homework load, setting students up for success and reducing late schedule…
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Continue reading →: Empower Student Soft Skills Success with Targeted Academic Reflections
A self-assessment worksheet is a valuable tool for students, providing a comprehensive 10-point checklist, progress tracking, goal-setting, and areas of improvement. It promotes accountability, organization, and fosters a growth mindset. Implementing this in the classroom not only collects data but also strengthens the connection between students and their academic journey,…
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Continue reading →: Scaffolding, Differentiation, and Other Discussion Activity TipsExplore engaging discussion activities and lessons to foster student-led learning and encourage active listening and critical thinking in your classroom!!
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Continue reading →: Mentor Speeches for Your 11th Grade Persuasive Speech UnitThe content provides a myriad of influential speeches from historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, Winston Churchill, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mother Teresa, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., and David Foster Wallace. Each speech challenges students to…
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Continue reading →: How to Write Good AP Lit Essay Prompts
Crafting powerful essay prompts is crucial to engage students in literary analysis. Prompts should focus on big ideas, encourage critical thinking, use specific language, connect to larger literary concepts, incorporate literary elements, prompt comparison, balance specificity and openness, and challenge assumptions. Sample prompts for works like “All the Pretty Horses”…
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Continue reading →: Most Commonly Referenced Novels and Plays on the AP Lit Exam Q3
This post provides a list of frequently referenced novels and plays for the AP Lit exam’s Q3 open essay, giving five reasons why this list would be helpful for AP Lit teachers. The list comprises classics and contemporary works, offering freedom in choosing texts and promoting efficient planning and deep…
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Continue reading →: How to Earn a 9 on the AP Lit Essays
This content provides detailed guidance on scoring high on the AP Literature & Composition exam. It emphasizes thorough understanding of essay prompts, use of short quotations to support arguments, and in-depth analysis of literary elements. The advice includes crafting concise introductions and conclusions, and staying focused on the specific passages…
Hi,
I’m Carly
Welcome to English with Mrs. Lamp, where I share teaching ideas, advice, and resources for 11th Grade American Literature, AP Lit, and High School ELA!
I specialize in providing units and materials for new teachers & homeschool parents that come with thorough pacing guides, unit calendars, lesson plans, answer keys, and notes with tips, tricks & advice to make your lessons go smoothly!
Let’s connect
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