You are here
Welcome to AwaytoTeach. On this page you will find a few lessons and Illuminated Texts that you can view without logging in and registering - but for the most part - you must register to view and download our content. It is easy to register, and there is no fee or payment to be a part of our community. However, if you wish to remain a member and if you want to download lessons, audio, and Illuminated Texts you must take part in our community.
Once you register you will be given immediate access to our Forums - when you have posted three times - you will become a Wordsmith - and you will then be able to download lessons, view Illuminated Texts, and otherwise be given full access to the content on AwaytoTeach. Thanks!
An Introduction to Illuminated Texts - A Screencast
This is the first in what I hope to be a long series of screencasts to help teachers and their students with the creation of Illuminated Texts. This video introduces the concepts of Illuminated Texts - shows and describes two of them - and gives an explanation of The Illuminated Text Learning Center. If you've ever wanted to know just what an Illuminated Text is - or if you want to hear a little history behind their inception, this would be a good video to watch. The presentation last about 10 minutes. Read more »
Beowulf, Heroism, and 9/11 - A Presentation
This brief slide show begins with the moving, translated words of Beowulf where he states that he would not race ahead of his friend Brecca, because he had promised him he would stay by his side. The presentation next recounts some of the heroes of 9/11while subtly (I hope) comparing it ideas of heroism from Beowulf. It ends with the fiery funeral of Beowulf and the casket of the last 9/11 firefighter being carried away on his fire truck. This is used with a group work on the same subject.
"House" an Illuminated Text by Norberto Rivera and Danny Chan
This project by Norberto Rivera and Danny Chan is an inspired look at pieces of the text and Esperanza's search for her perfect house. The words move perfectly to what is happening in the text and the authors masterfully combine different sections of the text to bring together a unified, powerful, vision. [There is now a Flash Video version of this Illuminated Text - so if you've had problems hearing the Power Point Version - click on that one instead.]
Click Here to View the Flash Video edition of this Illuminated Text
Click Here to View the Power Point edition of this Illuminated Text Read more »
Macbeth Made Easy - Group Work
A lesson as tied to the idea of the "text centered classroom" as anything else you will find at this website. It also owes most of its ideas to Stephen Booth. This group work (designed for 4-5 students) tries to show students in three parts (one done in front of the other) -- exactly why it is not a good idea to paraphrase Shakespeare --and why the actual words (as opposed to the ideas, plots, or themes) of Shakespeare's works are paramount.
Each part of the lesson is designed to be done before the other. It helps if you have a color printer to print out the last part which shows the rich word textures present in Shakespeare (and absent from paraphrases). This lesson is also a good way to prepare students for some of the "text-centered" ideas that will come later in their unit on Literary Criticism. Read more »
Song of Solomon Group Work - Chapters 4 & 5 - Icepicks, teabags, and tombstones
This group work have 3-4 students consider (by closely examining the text) Chapters 4 & 6 of Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. In this exercise the students will discuss just how "serious" Milkman is, Guitar is, and how their actions belie their image of themselves. This group work also includes pictures of EmmettTill (whose real-life character plays a big part in this story), as around this time I play a radio documentary on his death and his murderers.
Grendel - On Our Own - Group Work Chapters 9 & 10
A significant reworking of an earlier group work focusing on Chapters 9 & 10 -- the high priest Ork and the death of the Shaper and how it has left us alone. I print this as a two-sided handout: on one side this group work, on the other a short account on the death of Verdi, and how the people of his town lined the streets with straw as he lay dying so that he would not be disturbed. I also have the lyrics to the Simon & Garfunkel song, "So Long Frank Lloyd Wright," and invite the students to make comparisons.
The Photos of Gus Frank
Gus Frank was one of the kindest, gentlest men that I know. In addition to being a mensch he was also a terrific photographer. With the permission of his daughter Karen, I have created a website to feature, showcase, and share his incredible pictures.  Read more »
Frederigo's Falcon (from the Decameron) - Group Work
Though this work is Italian, I usually teach it directly after we study The Canterbury Tales, as Chaucer was influenced so heavily by The Decameron. This is a cooperative exercise designed to be completed by 3-4 students in one class period. The assignment has the students do a close reading of the story while answering fairly directed questions that lead to bigger and bigger (I hope) moments of critical thinking. It also looks at the idea of what happens to Frederigo and his love, and how that theme of not knowing what you want till it's gone (yes, the song by Joanie Mitchell is part of the group work and I play it while the students are working) is repeated throughout literature (as in "The Gift of the Magi).
