A Thank You Letter to Parents
Dear Parents, This week I returned from winter break to my job teaching high school students. The ten-day vacation was needed- I was tired and
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From the blog
Teaching To Kill a Mockingbird
Recently a neighboring school system placed a ban on two books: To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It made local and
Classroom Celebrations
No doubt, my students will be the first to claim that I ask them to work hard in English class. I assign 30 minutes of
Beyond the Handout: Creative Strategies to Liven Up Reading Discussion in Secondary ELA
Liven Up Reading Discussion Do you struggle to get students truly engaged in their reading discussions? Back when I was in school, class discussion usually
Active Learning
Why do so many teachers expect students to sit and listen to lectures when the research shows the strong connection between physical activity and learning?
Hooked on Books
Do you have reluctant readers in your classes? With access to so much technology today, including social media, it can be hard to HOOK your
Best First Week Ever
Well, the first week of school is finished, and except for a sinus infection (just my luck), it went great! Here’s a review of some
Partner, Practice & Participate: Creating a Positive Classroom Culture
In a recent post, I wrote about using TED talks to create a positive classroom culture. However, creating an inclusive learning environment takes multiple activities,
“Chunk” Your Syllabus
In addition to perusing the school agenda, every teacher I know discusses her syllabus on the first day. Some keep their syllabi brief, but often