This is the New England Primer, the first American text used to teach school children to read. It was in print from 1681 to 1830 and was, for millions of children in the New World, their first experience with formal education. In addition to the alphabet, it reinforced Puritan and Calvinist beliefs that life was […]
When I realized I had to read Of Mice and Men again this summer, I wondered how quickly I could do it. I assigned this novel for summer reading for my incoming 9th and 10th graders, and it recently occurred to me that that meant I would have to read it myself. The last time I […]
The school year is over, so it’s time to find out what our students have learned. What We’ve Learned Don’t let anyone dictate the way you live. On my favorite day of this year, I got accepted into Columbia and Cornell Universities. My favorite thing about Memphis is Shelby Farms. Or the Orpheum. Or the […]
Here’s what I read and did in November. My wife, Renee, directed the girls’ play at the Hebrew Academy this November. It was a theatrical version of one of the creepiest Twilight Zone episodes of them all, “The After Hours,” which features a most unusual elevator ride and lots of mannequins. The show also had […]
Instead of giving a final test, I asked my students to make board games based on the Odyssey. Creating a board game for the Odyssey is not an original idea; lots of teachers have assigned this to their classes and shared their lesson plans on the internet. I decided to try it in my class, […]
I’ve been teaching at the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering since the fall of 2006, and today is my last day. In the six years I was at MASE, I taught 8th grade writing, 12th grade English, AP Language and Composition, 11th grade English, mythology, creative writing, and probably a class or two I’ve […]
The school year is over, so it’s time to find out what our students have learned. What We’ve Learned Being young means living life, making mistakes, feeling loved, having friends, experiencing wild things, defying the law, and maturing into an adult. I’ve learned that when a character in a story has a first name that […]
For the second year in a row, I’ve brought in my video camera at the conclusion of my class’s study of the poets of the Harlem Renaissance and allowed them to recite their favorites. Once again, they did not disappoint. Last year’s group did a fantastic job with their recitations, and the blog was […]
My students are getting ready for their end-of-course exams. Do you know what it takes to pass? It is April, which means students all around Tennessee are getting ready to take their state-administered end-of-course exams. If you are of a certain age, or went to a private high school, you probably don’t understand what that […]
I have no way of knowing exactly who Nicole is, but she sent us this copy of Gatsby with a lovely note. It says: Dear Mr. Brame’s class. Hey there! I’m so glad I can pass this book along! It is one of my favorites! I loved the story of broken love, the charm and false […]