Engaging is one of those buzzwords that you are probably getting sick of hearing, right? Everything is supposed to be "highly engaging," so kids will get excited about learning because class is just so much fun. But have you ever wondered this: is our job really about engaging, entertaining - or … [Read more...] about Engaging, entertaining, or educating?
Teach students to support their ideas
Do you have comments that you make repeatedly when giving students feedback? I definitely do, and on the top of the list is "tell me more." So many of my students don't fully develop their points, and their writing is pretty dull as a result. Therefore, I decided it was time to come up with a new … [Read more...] about Teach students to support their ideas
A Visible Thinking Activity for Analyzing Text
In my thirty year career, the thing I've found the hardest to get kids to truly understand, is how to do a literary analysis. Many of them can do one on a surface level, but most struggle to show a true understanding. I've been tweaking lessons for years, and the most success has come from using a … [Read more...] about A Visible Thinking Activity for Analyzing Text
Encouraging Reluctant Writers
You've created the perfect lesson plan. Your kids are engaged in the writing activity... all except a handful. You know them, the ones who refuse to write no matter what you ask them to do. Encouraging reluctant writers to pick up the pen can be hard, but with a few simple strategies, you just might … [Read more...] about Encouraging Reluctant Writers
Teaching students to be independent learners
Teaching students to be independent learners is an awful lot like parenting. When you are trying to get a four, eight, or fourteen year old to clean up their toys, take out the garbage, or make their lunch for school, it's often easier and less stressful just to do it ourselves. There are fewer … [Read more...] about Teaching students to be independent learners
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
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
Lesson Planning in Room 213: Speaking, Listening & Brainstorming with Candy
Today was an action-packed class, with lots of engagement from my students. We were learning about brainstorming with candy and about the speaking and listening process. It was a perfect way to spend a full moon Friday the 13th together! The class had two distinct sections today, starting … [Read more...] about Lesson Planning in Room 213: Speaking, Listening & Brainstorming with Candy
Lesson Planning in Room 213: IMPROVING WORD CHOICE
Hello, there! If you've been following along, all week I've been sharing the things that I've been doing with my students. It's only our second week, so the students are learning about my expectations for reading and writing workshop - and about the importance of improving word choice. Yesterday, … [Read more...] about Lesson Planning in Room 213: IMPROVING WORD CHOICE
Teaching the importance of word choice
This is my first full week with my students so we started with some warm up activities and ones that get us started and organized. Today, I'm ready to start teaching them the importance of word choice. My students are seniors, so much of what I'll cover over the next few classes is not new. … [Read more...] about Teaching the importance of word choice
Setting Up a Classroom: What you REALLY need
Are you feeling stress about setting up a classroom? I'm so sorry if you are. I feel the need to write about this after reading many comments from new teachers (and some vets) who are feeling absolutely stressed and inadequate right now because they are on social media, seeing pictures and … [Read more...] about Setting Up a Classroom: What you REALLY need
Real Life Assignments: Writing Reviews
Real Life Assignments: Writing Reviews This semester, I've been adding more real life writing assignments to my writing workshop. I'm loving them because the kids are engaged, and because I can easily answer the inevitable question: when will we ever use this? The first new assignment … [Read more...] about Real Life Assignments: Writing Reviews