Blog

Have you ever experienced this? You announce to your class that they are going to start writing an essay, and the mood in the room shifts. Arms cross. Faces close off. Groans and grumbles are heard. This is what happens in my classroom the first time students write an essay, but then we embark on a … [Read more...] about The Writing Process

I'm a huge believer in the power of the habit. The more a person practices something, the more it gets embedded in the brain. That's why I put a lot of energy into building the habit of using the right terms when I'm teaching students to analyze text. And that means that even when students are … [Read more...] about Teaching students to analyze text

Let's get real here. Reading workshop is the greatest thing for getting students hooked on reading, but there are a lot of moving parts that can get hard to juggle, right? There are mini-lessons to give, and conferences to have, and close reading to be modelled. And, on top of all that we're … [Read more...] about Book Talk Hacks for Secondary Teachers

'Tis the season for pumpkin lattes, cozy sweaters, and the fun of the spooky season of Halloween. We secondary teachers tend to think that Halloween is just for the little kids, but middle and high school students love to dive into writing spooky stories too. So today, I'm sharing some ideas for … [Read more...] about Halloween Writing for Secondary English

How do I find time to use full class texts with reading workshop? This is a question that I get at least once a week, so I thought it was time for a new blog post that explains that reading workshop and full class texts are NOT mutually exclusive. I say "new post" because I've written about this … [Read more...] about Reading workshop and full class texts

One of my greatest tools for classroom management is pretty easy to implement: giving students a break partway through class. I know some will say that high school kids should be able to sit and concentrate for 75 minutes, but you know what? I disagree. I know I don’t sit well for that long - and … [Read more...] about Giving students a break

Unfortunately, many of us are ruled by the calendar and the clock, and we end up rushing to get curriculum covered. However, if we spend time early in the semester, setting students up for success, they will gain confidence and be ready to learn and grow. And, that will allow us to get more done … [Read more...] about Setting Students Up for Success

There is no doubt about it: students will learn more when they are intrinsically motivated, when they see a purpose beyond a test and a grade, or when they get a sense of enjoyment out of the activity. One thing that is sure to motivate your students is a sense of fun and play, something that we … [Read more...] about Enhance learning with games and challenges

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. We've heard that many times before, right? I believe that life is full of second chances, but it's an adage that I do pay close attention to when I meet a new group of students. Starting off on the right foot can do wonders for classroom … [Read more...] about My Favorite First Day of School Activities

English language arts is a very skills based course. Because of this, we end up teaching the same skills over and over across the grade levels. So, if you have a great lesson, one that works well, is it ok to use the same lesson for different grades? Absolutely. Obviously, you won't be … [Read more...] about Using the same lesson for different grades

Do you find that you are so tired at the end of semester that the thought of grading another paper makes you just want to curl into a ball and hide away? Me too. So I save my sanity with end-of-the-year speaking assignments. That way, when I am most tired, I can sit back and grade my students on … [Read more...] about End-of-Semester Speaking Assignments

We've all been there: classes that are chatty, rambunctious, and hard to manage or engage. They make every day a challenge, and leave you wondering if teaching is really for you. Some classes are harder to deal with than others, but I have a secret for you that can help you get better at dealing … [Read more...] about The Key to Classroom Management in Secondary Classrooms