My hunch, through numerous conversations I have had with teachers, is that we all see the need to incorporate SEL components in our curriculum ...
But how best to do this given time constraints and instructional demands?
Although I made this unit specifically for my AP Literature crew, it can be used at any grade level.
And the impetus stems from the following student question: "Why is all the stuff English teachers make us read depressing as all hell?"
Hence the Happiness Project.
I have gathered fifteen poems all going by the title of "Happiness."
On the second slide of my PowerPoint, the authors are listed.
To honor my dubbing as the Bob Ross of Composition, I have modeled how to write a poetry analysis (FRQ2) while centering on Raymond Carver's "Happiness."
Per usual, I walk students and teachers through the entire process, all while pulling the strings of my templates.
And for my AP Language students, we are practicing an FRQ3 on the following Bob Ross quote: There are no such things as mistakes, just happy little accidents.
I will share this video next week (gotta find time to record it this weekend).
One final note: I am often asked how I keep my sanity and have time to do anything above and beyond breathing given that all of my students (129 in total) write on average an essay every five classes.
The answer is simple ...
I ditched the traditional grading paradigm years ago!!!
In fact, I haven't taken an iota of work home in over ten years when I deliberately changed my grading practices and set firm work/life boundaries.
If you'd like to learn 20+ alternative grading methods, as well as reclaim your evenings and weekends, come join NWP and myself tomorrow (March 11th) at 11 a.m. EST for our AGM 2-Hour Intensive.
My utmost promise is this: bring a heaping class stack and witness how quickly we fly through them.
But the kicker - watch how much your students flourish as writers as a result.
Happy teaching and happy writing!
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