Mike's high-energy presentations focus on literature, writing, and proven teaching methods relevant to teachers, librarians, counselors, and administrators at the middle and secondary levels. He has been a member of NCTE and the NCTE Assembly ALAN for most of his teaching career, and is the recipient of the 2009 NCTE Edwin A. Hoey Award and the 2008 American Star of Teaching by the U.S. Department of Education. He has published journal articles in English Journal and Utah English Journal.
View Mike Fisher's Resume/Vita, Publications and Workshops.
Level: 6-12
Young Adult Literature and related projects
Great Teaching Ideas
How to Use Pop Culture In the Classroom
Creative Writing Ideas
Middle School Topics
Motivational Talks for Teachers
Publications
Published Articles
“Pick Up the Pace – The Benefits of Reading Quickly,” English Journal, November, 2009
"Dear Mr. Shakespeare - Please Stay Out of My Middle School Classroom!" English Journal, September, 2008
“Why Do We Have To Read This?” Utah English Journal, October, 2007
“Rowland Hall Teacher Wins National Award” – The Deseret News, May 5, 2009
- Article about the activities that led me to being selected as Hoey Award winner.
“Rowland Hall Teacher Honored” – The Salt Lake Tribune, September 28, 2008
- Article about the activities that led me to being selected as an American Star of Teaching.
"Common Ground" - The Salt Lake Tribune. May 16, 2008
- Article on the student / parent book club I created and how it benefits
both students and parents.
"Serendipitous Craft" - The Salt Lake Tribune. March 7, 2008
- Article on visiting author Paul Fleischman and his visit to the RHSM
middle school.
"An Author Shares His Craft" - The Salt Lake Tribune. November 2, 2007
- Article on visiting author Terry Trueman and his visit to the RHSM
middle school.
“A Life Captured on Paper” - The Salt Lake Tribune. June 8, 2007
- Article on RHSM student who won national writing competition based
around an assignment from my class.
“Sage to Page” – The Salt Lake Tribune, March 10, 2006
- Article on English class project about the value of storytelling.
“Two Utah Generations Connect” – The Deseret Morning News, March 1, 2006
- Article on English class project connecting students with senior citizens.
Utah Middle Level Association, Salt Lake City, Utah. March, 2009
“How to be the Kind of Teacher They Make Movies Out Of” - Presentation to educators about ideas and activities that will help them become inspirational teachers.
Private School Leadership Conference. Washington, D.C. September, 2008
“How to Change the World Through Literature” - Featured Presenter - One of five independent school teachers selected to receive The American Stars of Teaching Award by the U.S. Department of Education. Presented on how to use literature as a way to make the world a better place.
Guest Lecturer. Brigham Young University. Provo, Utah. October, 2007 – Present
“How to be the Kind of Teacher They Make Movies Out Of” - Presentation to student-teachers about ideas and activities that will help them become inspirational teachers.
Utah Chapter of Teachers of English State Conference. Provo, Utah. October, 2007
“Just a Bunch of Great Teaching Ideas” - Presented various teaching ideas and strategies. Approximately fifty teachers and librarians from the state of Utah attended.
International Reading Association State Convention. Idaho Falls, Idaho. October, 2007
“Classic to Contemporary–The Best Bridging Books for the 6–12 Classroom” - Presented overviews and links between today’s best young-adult literature to the
more traditional classics. Approximately fifty teachers and librarians from the state of Idaho attended.
Utah Middle Level Association State Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. March, 2007
“Outstanding Middle School Books and Teaching Ideas” - Presented overview of novels and shared teaching ideas for each to approximately fifty middle-school teachers, librarians, and administrators from Utah.
Utah Chapter of Teachers of English State Conference. Provo, Utah. October, 2006
“Classic to Contemporary–The Best Bridging Books for the 6–12 Classroom” - Featured presenter - Presented overviews and links between today’s best young-adult literature to the more traditional classics. Approximately fifty teachers and librarians from the state of Utah attended.
International Reading Association State Convention. Salt Lake City, Utah. October, 2006
“Classic to Contemporary – The Best Bridging Books for the 6–12 Classroom” - Presented overviews and links between today’s best young-adult literature to the
more traditional classics. Approximately fifty teachers and librarians from the state of Utah attended.
NCTE Western Regional Conference. Portland, Oregon. March, 2006
“The Twenty-Five Best Books for the 6–12 Classroom” - Presented overviews of the twenty-five best books to use in the secondary English classroom. Approximately 100 teachers, librarians, professors, and administrators from the Western United States were in attendance.
Nuts and Bolts Middle School Symposium. Boulder, Colorado. July, 2005
“How to Create a Successful Book Club and Visiting Author Program” - Presented ideas and information about book clubs and visiting authors to approximately fifty teachers, librarians, and administrators from across the country.