12 Ways to Improve Writing Skills in the Secondary ELA ClassroomÂ
Teaching writing skills can be a daunting task. Students are quick to thinking writing is punishment or prompt you with…
English Teaching Strategies
English Teaching Strategies
How to Use Literary Food Trucks to Boost Your Independent Reading Programs in High School
High school English teachers know how challenging it can be to get students engaged in independent reading. With busy schedules…
How and Why You Absolutely Should Teach The Hate U Give
Are you an English teacher looking for a powerful text to teach your students? Look no further than The Hate…
Using Escape Rooms in the Secondary English Classroom
Escape rooms are one of the most exciting activities you can do with your students. Not only does the adventure…
5 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Secondary ELA Curriculum for the New Semester
As the new semester approaches, it’s a great opportunity to take a fresh look at your English Language Arts (ELA)…
Why you should use mock trials in High School ELA
Are you an English teacher looking for a new and engaging way to teach argumentative and research skills to your…
Teaching Sandra Cisnero’s “My Name” to Reengage Students in November
Sandra Cisnero’s “My Name” is a wonderfully short vignette, and I knew the moment I read it that I wanted to put it in front of my reading class. I love my reading class to death, but as the name suggests, sometimes getting them engaged in reading and writing can be difficult. These are students that have been burned by education before or just have not been able to focus on school for one reason or another.
HOW TO TEACH ROMEO AND JULIET IN A MODERN DAY CLASSROOM
Teaching Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet does not have to be a headache. There are a few things I have learned make teaching this timeless classic easier for both teachers and students, like chunking material with workbooks, using rap battles, and gif dialectical journals.
USING MENTOR TEXTS TO TEACH GRAMMAR
Teaching grammar using an English textbook can be dry and dull. If you want to engage students while improving their grammar and challenging them to try more creative elements, using mentor texts is perhaps the best approach for both the teacher and the students.
How to master student-led discussions like a pro
Student-led discussions are the unicorns of teaching and the end goal of gradual release of responsibility (where teachers start with leading in teaching, and then slowly responsibility for teaching and learning the material shifts to students). We all want students to be leading the charge in discussions so we can put our feet up and finally drink that coffee that started out hot but is now ice cold. We need students to be engaging with material in a way that makes their learning visible and absolutely shows what a kick-ass teacher we are. But how do you get there?