"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." - B.B. King

Samples of Student Work

Honoring student work is more than displaying exemplary artifacts as listed below. An entire dimension of the "student sample" is missing; the good work of formative assessment, effective descriptive feedback, discussions, the compliments and learning opportunities that happen everyday. One paper does not tell the student's story. At best these artifacts serve the student’s interests and aspirations, they might inspire others. For teachers, student samples are often used as classroom models and they help us better evaluate our own lesson designs. Students produce their best work when the learning is authentic, meaningful, and connects to their interests and experiences. The quality of student work is also a reflection of a healthy classroom community, just as much as a teacher's influence, or pedagogical practices. Below are selected works from students that I had the joy and honor to engage with. For privacy and confidentiality reasons I have removed names from these documents.

Selected Student Work from Trimester 3 - Spring 2022

English / ELA 11B

Full Narrative #1

Everything Will Be Alright Click HERE

Reciting a Moment Click HERE

Tasting the Sun Click HERE

Waiting in the Water Click HERE

Full Narrative #2

The Big Storm Click HERE

This Morning Was No Different Click HERE

Achieving Freedom Click HERE

Friday Night Football: Homecoming Click HERE

Film as Literature 2

Post-Viewing Journals

Spirited Away (2001) Click HERE

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Click HERE

Do the Right Thing (1989) Click HERE

Parasite (2019) Click HERE

Goodfellas (1990) Click HERE

Stop-Motion Animated Movies

Worthy Ones Click HERE

The Alley Click HERE

Untitled (Paper People) Click HERE

Billy O’ Tea Click HERE

Untitled (Nesting Dolls) Click HERE

Untitled (Cut Outs) Click HERE

Selected Student Work from Fall 2021 - Winter 2022

Honors English / ELA 10A

Writing About Art

Social and Economic Equality Advocacy in Pieter Bruegel’s Land of Cockaigne Click HERE

Immigration in Art Click HERE

Examining the Thorns of Womanhood Through The Black Iris Click HERE

Writing About Poetry

Celestial Envy Click HERE

“Invisible Children” by Mariana Llanos Click HERE

The Importance of Intersectionality in “Who Said It Was Simple” - Click HERE

Writing About Drama

Women’s Importance Click HERE

A Bold Lifestyle is Better Rewarded Click HERE

Made for Marriage? - Click HERE

In-Class Writing

False Freedom Click HERE

Mrs. Mallard's Epiphany Click HERE

The Doubling Effect Click HERE

Ageism in "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" Click HERE

Creative Writing (Short Story)

"What I Wouldn’t Give" Click HERE

“The Funeral of a Lonely Man” Click HERE

English / ELA 10A

Woman of the Year Projects (Piktochart Infographics)

Amelia Earhart Click HERE

Princess Diana Click HERE

Writing About Poetry

Lost People and Lost Time in “Insomnia” by Dana Gionia by Click HERE

Wrestling with Fate Click HERE

RISE Self-Evaluation for Poetry Out Loud Recitation

"a song in the front yard” by Gwendolyn Brooks Self-Reflection Click HERE

“Lines Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth Self-Reflection Click HERE

Independent Novel Exploration Project (SMORE Newsletters)

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle Click HERE

Scythe by Neal Shusterman Click HERE

Honors English / ELA 10B

Writing a Strong Character

Stella, Far From Perfect Click HERE

The Bunny and the Snake Click HERE

Writing a Memoir

How the Story Changes Click HERE and Memoir Reflection Click HERE

Far Away From Home Click HERE and Memoir Reflection Click HERE

Confession Click HERE and Memoir Reflection Click HERE

Two Sides Click HERE and Memoir Reflection Click HERE

English / ELA 10B

Research Paper

Should Schools Limit the Amount of Homework They Assign? Click HERE

A Renewable Age Click HERE

Running is Food for the Mind Click HERE

The Nearing Extinction of the Elephant Click HERE

How Playing Piano Affects the Brain Click HERE

How Does Owning a Dog Impact One’s Health? Click HERE

Examination of Graphene Click HERE

Composition and Grammar

Short Story

Wo-manufacturing Click HERE

Being an Outsider Click HERE

Writing Workshop

Leadership Material Click HERE and Revision Worksheet Click HERE

Driving Alone for the First Time Click HERE and Revision Worksheet Click HERE

Personal Narrative

Baby Number Two Click HERE

My First 3D Render Click HERE