Why you should include creative writing in your curriculum
Writing can be extremely fun or exhaustingly challenging for both students and educators. Most people think of English class as…
How to teach literary elements
Literary elements refers to the concepts that make up a story. There are five main literary elements that students should know: plot, setting, conflict, character, and theme. These five elements are essential to a students understanding of a story beyond comprehending the narrative.
5 fun activities for the first week of school
The first week of school is so exciting! And if you are anything like me, you start thinking about what fun activities for the first week of school you can try out with your new students.
4 Ideas for using a Maker spaces in the high school English classroom
Maker spaces in the high school English classroom lead to students that are more engaged and active in their learning process
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.
6 Creative and fun end of school year activities for high school.
The end of the school year is one of the most exciting times for teachers and students. It is a time of transition and reflection. Best of all it is a time of celebration. Keep students engaged with these six creative and fun end of school year activities for high school.
How to unit plan- and not lose your mind
1. As soon as you can, write down your timeline.
2. Figure out what skills students need to learn
3. Determine what skills students need already have to learn grade level skills
4. Create an essential question
5. See what articles or texts you can use to teach skills
6. Determine if you can fold everything into one unifying idea, like a project or novel
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?
Why Teachers Are Burning Out And That Pizza in the Lounge Won’t Fix it
I started off this year bright eyed and bushy tailed, excited to return to the classroom after having a baby, but what I am seeing now in schools is concerning: teachers are burning out.