A Fun Alternative to the End-of-Unit Essay

As my classes have gotten progressively larger each year (topping out at 33 students in freshman English), I've had to implement new ways of teaching and grading to manage the bigger load. (My friend who teaches history had 36 students in his class! EEK!)

I'm popping in with a quick blog post today to showcase three ways that I've simplified my end-of-unit essays:

1. I assign shorter, more frequent pieces of writing, and I provide specific instructions which explain my specific expectations. I also provide specific examples which demonstrate my grading criteria. I review those examples in detail with the class, and I post them in Google Classroom so that students can refer to them often.

2. I assign writing to one class at a time instead of all classes at once. This has incidentally reduced the "topic spoilers" among students who have me in different hours.

3. 👉I assign end-of-unit collaborative posters that let students demonstrate their knowledge ways that are more fun and personal.

Students Love Opportunities to be Creative

I vividly remember a project that I did in jr. high that challenged us to create an advertising campaign to raise money for the United Way. I loved it! It gave me the opportunity to think outside of the box, to flex my creative muscles, and to apply those things in a real-world scenario. I remember feeling invigorated by it, and now that I am a teacher, I realize the impact of creative opportunities.

First, when you give students the green light to demonstrate their mastery in different ways, magic happens. It's like they're not just studying a book anymore; they're flexing their own creative muscles. Whether it's drawing, writing, acting, playing music, performing poetry, or doing something else entirely, it sparks a connection that lasts beyond your classroom.

I created these Collaborative Coloring Posters to be creative breaks from the rigor of the modern English classroom, and they've become things that my students look forward to.

My students don't realize that creative projects are like boot camps for the brain. They make students think, analyze, and solve problems in ways that a regular essay just can't. Students still have to demonstrate their knowledge of the text and present their writing in structured ways, but with collaborative posters, they can also

have a little fun, work with their friends, and be creative. (The secret plus here is that coloring focuses the brain and reduces stress)

It also influences the positive vibes in the classroom. Creative projects make it a cool, inclusive space where every student's unique talents get to shine. It's a party of ideas, and everyone's invited. So, teachers, let the creativity flow, and watch your English class turn into a place where learning is not just a lesson but a whole experience.

This post features is one of my easy-to-implement creative projects: The collaborative literature poster. I have posters that coordinate with my different units of study. I'm sure you'll find one that your students will enjoy! Click here to see them all!