Choice boards and distance learning are a marriage made in the crazy world of Covid. I was going to say heaven, but that word just doesn't seem to work right now, does it? So what are choice boards and how will they help you with distance learning? Like a menu, they offer students a selection of … [Read more...] about Choice Boards and Distance Learning
Using Room 213 Products for Distance Learning
So you have lessons and activities that you've purchased from my TpT store and now you are tasked with teaching from home. What can you do? (First of all, click here to get some freebies designed for online teaching). I would love to be able to convert all of my products to digital so those of … [Read more...] about Using Room 213 Products for Distance Learning
How to do Reading Workshop with Distance Learning
"How do you do reading workshop with distance learning?" This was actually a question I got recently in a text from a colleague. We had just been informed that we were moving to online teaching and were discussing what's on the minds of many of us these days. How will it all work? When I told … [Read more...] about How to do Reading Workshop with Distance Learning
Distance Learning and Student Engagement
It's hard enough to get some of our teens to do the work in class, and now we are expected to get them to do it from home. It seems like a gargantuan task, but is distance learning and student engagement impossible? Distance learning offers many challenges, and this may be one of the greatest … [Read more...] about Distance Learning and Student Engagement
Lessons and Strategies for Remote Learning
These are crazy, trying times. I know that many of you are scrambling, trying to figure out how to deliver your curriculum to students remotely, so I’ve put together some lessons and strategies for remote learning to share with you. They aren’t specific to any particular text; instead, they are ones … [Read more...] about Lessons and Strategies for Remote Learning
Speed Dating with Books
I tried something new this week, and I'm so glad I did. I was ready to launch reading workshop with my new tenth grade class, and I decided to let my students do "speed dating" with books I have in the classroom. This speed dating activity worked so well to help each student find the right book for … [Read more...] about Speed Dating with Books
3 Reasons Why Your Mentor Texts Should Not Be “Perfect”
MENTOR TEXTS BUILD THE HABIT OF REVISION There are a lot of good reasons for using mentor texts with our students, but you know what? There are three really good reasons why your texts should not be "perfect." The idea of using mentor texts was one of those game-changing ideas for me. … [Read more...] about 3 Reasons Why Your Mentor Texts Should Not Be “Perfect”
3 Visible Thinking Activities
Often, the most successful activities in my classroom are those where we make student thinking visible. Deeper learning happens when I pull back the curtain on the process students need to follow, so they can clearly see what needs to be done. And because they have a clearer idea of how to do … [Read more...] about 3 Visible Thinking Activities
A Socratic Seminar that Really Worked
It was the second last Friday before Christmas and the day after a school dance. I knew I needed something engaging for my seniors, or the class would be a struggle. I also needed some more speaking and listening activities, so I decided to do an impromptu Socratic seminar - and it was one of the … [Read more...] about A Socratic Seminar that Really Worked
How to Use Learning Stations in a High School Classroom
Learning stations or centers are very popular in elementary grades, but do they work with older students? Absolutely. In fact, they are an incredible tool for focus and learning. So, if you're wondering how you can use learning stations in a high school classroom, read on! (and if you want some … [Read more...] about How to Use Learning Stations in a High School Classroom
5 Ways to Make Poetry Fun and Accessible
5 Ways to Make Poetry Fun and Accessible Students don't get too excited when we begin teaching poetry. In fact, we often get a lot of groaning and eye-rolling when the poetry lessons start. Turn this around with 5 ways to make poetry fun and accessible to your students: 1. Play Figurative … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Make Poetry Fun and Accessible
Persuasive Writing: a pre-writing activity
Persuasive Writing: a pre-writing activity Often when we announce that we are assigning an essay we get some groans and eye rolls. I try to circumvent that with some persuasive writing activities that get my students excited (or at least somewhat interested) in the art of persuasion. Before we … [Read more...] about Persuasive Writing: a pre-writing activity