When I was teaching, I would love to use my own background to help students with projects about themselves. Identity is a major aspect of middle school, thus I would create model projects about my own identity to guide and inspire my students. Below are some sample projects that will help you get to learn a little more about me while seeing my creative abilities! 

the close reading signposts for fiction 

      During my second year of teaching I was introduced to a text called Notice and Note: The Close Reading Signposts for Fiction. This text was a true game changer for me as a young teacher, at a time when I was really struggling. Essentially the text details six signposts that are present in all types of fiction: 1) Contrasts and Contradictions. 2) Aha Moments. 3) Tough Questions. 4) Memory Moments. 5) Again and Again. 6) Words of the Wiser. If students can start observing these signposts when reading fiction, they will be able to start asking deeper questions about what they are reading, leading to more higher-order inferencing, predicting and critical thinking skills. Below is a project I would have my students do after learning the six close reading signposts for fiction. Essentially, students would create a Zine, or mini-book, where they would list examples of moments they experienced each signpost in real life. Students would then think deeper about these signposts by answering a couple of probing questions. Here is my sample "Close Read of Me, Mr. Maynard."