Teaching Civil Discourse
What happened to our ability to talk civilly to one another? When did we stop “agreeing to disagree”? A look on social media or network
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From the blog
Teaching Gatsby
Most English teachers would consider what I’m about to say sacrilegious: I didn’t like reading The Great Gatsby in high school, and for many years
How to Modernize Your ELA Curriculum: 9 TED Talks to Pair with American Literature
Do you want to revitalize your American Literature units while helping students practice crucial listening and critical-thinking skills? Bringing TED Talks into the ELA classroom is
Writing with Students
The classic American author Flannery O’Connor once said, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” I relate
Honor Multiple Intelligences with Book Projects
How do you assess the reading of novels in your classrooms? I try to vary my assessment throughout the semester and use reading logs, literature
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
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
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
“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