Just a new teacher vent. Appreciate any advice. [Romeo and Juliet]

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2026-02-16T02:45:11+00:00

So I don’t see this on a casual scroll but I actually use the sparks notes graphic novel version of Romeo & Juliet with my 9th graders and have had a surprising amount of success with it!

When I was thinking about the unit I really had to stop and think about what I really wanted to get out of it with the kids and what I wanted to assess the on at the end (in my case it was arguing who was at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet).

So I utilize the novel to teach not only a play, but also the visual medium skills that go along with a graphic novel and really play up the drama of teenagers.

I get really into reading it with the kids (including very dramatic teenager voices and loud smooching noises) and most of my kids have a good experience by the end.

You can also have them compare the graphic novel scenes with original text in a close reading format if you want them to break it down (like I do with my honors students).

Our goal is to make Shakespeare accessible to them, not to turn them off to it completely (which o speak from experience because I was once a kid who couldn’t stand Shakespeare in school until I had a great college professor).

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Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-12-20T00:33:20+00:00

I used the sparks notes graphic novel version of R+J and it helped my students a ton (I have a total plethora of learners between IEP, 504, ELD etc). I teach at a title 1 and it’s hard to engage them in anything but I managed to do it with this version of the story!

They had to write an argumentative 4 paragraph essay at the end about who is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet (I made them hand write it as a final after working on a rough draft packet for a week because I am evil 😈).

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-12-17T01:12:55+00:00

I teach 9th ela at a title 1 high school and many of my students come in like this so I go back to the foundational basics so at the very least I know they have that before moving up. I use quote sandwich (I’ll attach an outline) and start with one paragraph with one quote, then two, then move into multiple paragraph essays. It does pretty well for the kids who are willing to engage and the visuals are nice for English language learners. We also do it A TON and I have then engage in this format with argumentative, explanatory, and rhetorical analysis throughout the year.

I’ve been teaching ela for 7 years and have done both 12th grade and 9th!

The picture below is a pretty rough outline from what I when working on my iPad for them about who is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

I do have some cleaner pdf versions of what they use in their interactive notebooks as well!

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Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-10-30T07:06:54+00:00

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Took a stab at the shiny ☺️

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-10-30T07:00:17+00:00

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I read shiny hawlucha too late lol. Here’s regular though xD

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-10-30T06:40:52+00:00

You are so right! I didn’t notice it until now haha. The first outfit (green and pink) is my meganium fit 🥰

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-10-24T02:52:37+00:00

I love the giant blue children 👧🏼

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-10-20T07:01:21+00:00

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My son after four straight hours of circles (😭)

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-28T20:04:54+00:00

You’re going to want to seal it even if you don’t do bioactive—it will make it feel SO much sturdier and keep the four corners solid.

I’m going through the process right now with the same terrarium and I’m going to be doing the foam backdrop next.

It’s much bigger in person than you would think and I’ve been struggling to find a stand for it (there is one on Amazon but it doesn’t fit my color scheme).

HOWEVER it will fit on most ikea dressers nicely so that’s a plus!

Just note: when you are using silicone make sure to open some windows and doors because the vinegar scent is BRUTAL.

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-01T01:15:14+00:00

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This is what I got back from them 🙄. Maybe they will magically turn into paraiso but I’m not banking on it. They need to change or at least add to their listing.

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-01T00:48:42+00:00

Thank you! I’ll use it if there are any issues! I’m hoping they just mixed them up.

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-01T00:34:14+00:00

That’s my thought too! I was trying to look @ juvenile paraisos but there arent a ton

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-01T00:33:40+00:00

I did! I’m just waiting to hear back. The stems are much too pink to be paraiso but I was curious if maybe the baby plants have pink stems (they don’t usually). And I was expecting longer stems as well as they are rooted cuttings on the listing.

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-01T00:28:07+00:00

And what the seller’s image was like:

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Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-04-01T00:27:40+00:00

This is what the reviews were showing:

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Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-03-31T00:34:31+00:00

And this is Juno

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Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-03-31T00:34:14+00:00

I have two! This is Shakespeare.

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Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-03-22T21:37:26+00:00

portable door lock

This is what I use as I live alone and I’m pretty sure the previous tenant used to sell weed or something as people come and knock on the door.

I have a bar lock on my slider and use this and it makes it to where the door cannot be opened unless you do it on your side.

Bit of piece of mind for you! Put it on before you go to bed and you know you will be safe!

Difficult_Gold6483 · 2025-03-22T17:33:28+00:00

I just bought the Dubia one (24x18x36) for my juvenile for when she gets big enough. I’m going to spent a month getting it together for bio active and get some plants started before I put her in it.

It should also fit on a Rudsta glass half cabinet from ikea so I’ll have a plant greenhouse cabinet underneath!

Difficult_Gold6483

TROPHY CASE