Apr 28
A quick extra step to put QR codes on your worksheets will save you so much time in the long run! I started putting addresses or short urls to websites I needed students to visit on my worksheets, but many students struggled entering them. They would leave out a letter or symbol which would then …
Jan 13
Want to try podcasts in the classroom? I can help! This post lists out my favorite podcasts along with what standards and texts to pair them with. Many teachers prefer seasonal activities so I’m going to break this up by month. However, any of these can be used at any time throughout the year. *UPDATE! …
Nov 15
Our students are more stressed and anxious than ever. They need help learning how to manage and decrease this excess of stress. Luckily, there are some engaging Ted Talks to help with that. 1. Why we choke under pressure – and how to avoid it I wish I had seen this talk when I was …
Sep 26
This year my students are coming up with their most complex characters yet, and I know it’s because of the creative prewriting activities we did. Bonus – my students really enjoyed the activities! What Inspires Authors? I start my unit by looking at what has inspired some prominent YA authors. We look at Laurie Halse …
Sep 06
For real. No cheesy music, no bad acting, and no trick endings where everyone is okay and it was all just a big misunderstanding. Seriously, your students are going to love these and they have just the right amount of horror while still being appropriate for school. Myths and Legends I can’t say enough about …
Jul 15
There are many Ted Talks about race and injustice, but here I’ll list the best talks to pair with The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Even better, there’s one perfect for the beginning, middle, and end of the novel. This way you can space them out throughout your unit. How to raise a black son in …
Jul 01
Organizing your classroom library is no easy task. For example, how would you label The Book Thief? Fantasy, because the narrator is Death, or historical fiction because of the time period? If you have a section for movies that are books, it may end up there. And that’s one book. Many classroom libraries have hundreds of books; …
Apr 07
Help your students practice clear, concise, and organized writing by creating police reports. This real-world writing prompt helps keep students engaged and gives a specific focus to their writing. I often use this technique to have students summarize a character’s death or an important scene in a novel. Start with a Terrible Example I begin …
Mar 05
There’s a lot to be said for seeing irony, foreshadow, and satire playing out on the screen versus just reading about it. My visual students really thrive when they see it in action. And since all my students secretly love watching kids’ movies, it’s a win-win when I show these clips. (This is the second …
Jan 17
Breakouts are huge right now, but they are also a bit intimidating for teachers to create and implement. Just programing the locks for each kit has caused me anxiety. How would I find the time and patience to set all the locks? How would I reset everything in time for the next class? A digital …
