Samples of Student Work
"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
金閣寺
Photo: View of Kinkaku-Ji Temple (The Golden Pavilion)
Location: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Credit: M. Snead 2017