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This site is designed for students and parents of Steve Chisnell’s programs at Royal Oak High School (MI). Public readership is welcome. You are welcome to use portions of Steve Chisnell’s posts with appropriate credit or citation. Student-authored work may be used by permission only.
Instagram @schisnell
Most Recent Class Units
ChizBlog
Where We’re GoingThere have been numerous efforts to forge a unity inside that nation-state status, to either describe the common traits they share (among 120+ tribes/ethnicities and equal number of languages spoken) or to legally bind policy claims to that identity.
NOLA BoundWhat does it require to survive 17 storms in the last 12 years? 21 in the last 20? I hope once again for us to learn from them, to gain some perspective, to help where we can.
Student Blogs
Classes
I teach Language Arts courses at Royal Oak High School. Here are links to these classes, including some that I am not currently offering. Students and parents will find all of the necessary information about their courses here!
Clubs
Being a part of the broader ROHS community means connecting into some of its many extra-curricular activities. I sponsor several, including Royal Oak Model United Nations, Interact youth Rotary, The Roost Student Union, and student service trips.
Resources
It doesn’t matter what class you’re in: understanding basic technology use, learning some writing tips, or refining your presentation skills–here are some ideas for everyone.
About Me
What I’m reading, where I’m traveling, how I work to stay eco-friendly, and where to find me in various organizations and social media.
Teaching Philosophy
While my main goal with students is to improve their literacy, what that means becomes a bit complicated. Literacy means thinking critically–both deeply and broadly–about the culture in which we live and learn. Literacy means composition in traditional written forms but also oral performance, close reading skill, and digital composition. Developing literacy is a process rather than an end (I am still learning!), so experimentation, risk-taking, and failure are common: but growth as a writer composing within a dynamic world is not optional. This means authentic assessment projects, cross-disciplinary challenges, democratic participation and service, collaborative teamwork, professional discourse, and an inherent desire to learn are expected behaviors of the literate student.
Blended Learning
Standards-Based Grading
Therefore, a student who earns an “A” on the seventh effort of an essay earns the same amount of credit as the student who earned it on the second try. It’s the success that matters. Equally, doing 100% of the assignments at 60% skill level does not demonstrate successful learning, and doing “extra credit” at the same level of performance may have once earned “points,” but points are not entirely relevant to grades. See the individual class pages to see how this is handled in each class and on MiStar.
Academic Growth
Learning By Controversy and Inquiry
MYP and College Board
Gamification
Technology Access Expectation
Recent Resources:
Against the Sales Receipt
Paper Trails... After the 2018 Straw Wars, many environmentalists are looking at all of the smaller items that are ubiquitous in our daily lives but actually impact the natural world and our health in significant ways. Another campaign is against store...
Group Organization I: Storming and Norming
What happens to groups as they get organized? How do you get them working well?
Choosing a Topic Pt. 1
How do you even start in choosing a topic? Here’s one approach!
Education is Freedom.
- Paulo FreireWhat will destroy us:
When dialogue ends,
everything ends.
Contact Me
The school email is the best choice: chisnells@royaloakschools.org
