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"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

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

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 - Spark some interest! 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 the books I have in the classroom. First, I had to decide how to … [Read more...] about Speed Dating with Books

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”

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

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 … [Read more...] about How to Use Learning Stations in a High School Classroom

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

Expository Writing: Teaching Kids to Inform & Explain So you are teaching expository writing and here's the outcome for your students: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. It sounds a … [Read more...] about Expository Writing: Teaching Kids to Inform & Explain

Preventing fear of failure in our students is such an important part of our job. I'm sure that many of you have had "failures" in your life that taught you some important lessons. I know I certainly do. As adults, we can usually look back and understand that the pain that may have come with … [Read more...] about Preventing Fear of Failure