Oct 13
This lesson plan is for the third chapter of Night by Elie Wiesel when Elie and his family are either killed or processed at Auschwitz. Even if your class is not reading the entire text, Chapter three can stand on its own and show the horrors of the concentration camps. **I suggest getting the audio …
Dec 28
Executive functioning skills are key for our students to find success in the classroom and throughout their lives. EF skills include working memory, time management, organization, task initiation, emotional control, planning/prioritizing, and sustained persistence (note: these categories vary depending on which EF resource you are reading). Executive functioning skills don’t always fall into a curriculum, …
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 …
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 …
Nov 11
My murder mystery lesson is by far my students’ favorite – and for good reason! They get to be a part of the story, walk around and engage with classmates, and compete to see who can solve the mystery first! Here’s a link to my classroom mystery resources via TeachersPayTeachers, or read on to learn …
Oct 26
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is more relevant than ever right now. Here’s four reasons to dust it off and get it back into students’ hands this year. 1. Zaphod Beeblebrox is Donald Trump Regardless of how you feel politically, we can all agree Trump sometimes acts sporadically. I Just finished reading this with …
Aug 04
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, is a text frequently read in middle school about a 16-year-old boy on trial and facing a life sentence. Because it has a Lexile score of 670L, students at the middle school level can read the text. This actually makes it perfect for my special education students (and sometimes standard …
May 30
It’s true co-teaching is not for everyone. Sometimes, it’s a lot of extra work, and sometimes you get stuck with someone who has a different style or personality that doesn’t match well with yours. But then sometimes, all the planets align perfectly and it’s teaching heaven. Here’s my list of reasons I love (most of) …
Apr 28
“Night” is a staple in most high school English classes because of Mr. Wiesel’s amazing ability to so eloquently describe the horrific circumstances he endured and witnessed as a Holocaust survivor. The content itself is critical, but his writing is what sets it apart from other historical accounts. This is why I always include a …
