“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”  —  Alexander Graham Bell

Usually when I write a post here the topic is something that I have been thinking on recently.  So, two weeks ago when this post was supposed to be made, I thought I’ll write about preparedness!  This is great and relevant!  Because we were preparing all the things for the hurricane that, at the time, may or may not have been making aim for our city (it decided to go South).  However, it turns out that in the midst of preparing for Milton, and then preparing to take our son on his first plane trip, I was not at all prepared to create a blog post.  

Life.  Go figure.

So here I am, three weeks late, but, finally, prepared!

So, the hurricane.  Preparing for it made me think about all sorts of preparedness:  Preparedness of educators, preparedness of students and the preparing of the students.  

When I started in education, I was rather unprepared for many things: the vastly shorter attention span from when I was in school (just eight years prior); the truancy; the management and discipline; the making of lesson plans. 

Oh was I a mess!  

I was not an education major.  I was an English major.  I like reading and writing, but when I started in the classroom, I had no idea what I was doing—especially when it came to writing lesson plans.  The time creating them was long and the quality was, well, certainly lacking for the amount of time that was put in.  It was a couple of years before I finally created an efficient groove for myself that allowed me to have lesson plans that prepared me for my learners and prepared my learners for the real world by exercising their analytical and critical thinking skills. Here are some of my October favorites that will keep you, and your students, prepared for success—with no prep time of your own.  

Edgar Allan Poe Bundle:  “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Raven”

In honesty, “Tell-Tale Heart” is not one of my favorite stories, by my resources for it are some of my favorites.  I love doing the trial (which took me so long to format because I can’t sell ugly handouts!), but “Cask” is a dark humor masterpiece.  Woe to Fortunato for sure.  And well, you just can’t go wrong with “The Raven.”  It’s easy rhythm and memorable lines make it a classic fan favorite.

“Click-clack the Rattlebag” – Neil Gaiman

I love incorporating animated shorts and the one included here is delightfully eerie, just like “Click-clack.”

“The Feather Pillow” – Horacio Quiroga

My favorite part of this lesson is the activating activity where students learn about the science of medicine from a century ago…yikes.  It’s an eye-opening activity for them that creates great background knowledge.

Happy Teaching!

M.D. Saints
Reading the Rapids
Liberty Dog Writing Co.

These dogs!  They are always prepared.  Always prepared for a stroll.  Always prepared to woof at intrusive squirrels or neighborhood dogs. Always prepared for snacks.  Always prepared for a belly rub.  X) And an upstate NY sunrise, just because it’s pretty and relaxing. :}