Sane and Simple Tools to Help You Teach Middle School ELA
Should you assign homework? Should it be graded? How should it be managed? Here are some ideas to help you make those decisions. Some schools have done away with homework altogether. Is that right for your school? Your students? Should middle school students be expected to complete homework? Let’s dig deeper. What impact is homework […] Read more…
If you love National Poetry month and feel sad when it’s over, consider teaching poetry all year! I’ve written a guest post for Rachel Lynette’s blog Minds in Bloom that includes ten reasons why you absolutely should teach poetry all year — and seven simple ways how to do it. Be sure to check out that post here. […] Read more…
We are always trying to simplify grading. And we need to! As ELA teachers, we grade a lot and need to communicate with our students as they journey through the learning process. How can we do that? Read on for more on this! Ready to Simplify Grading? Are you ready to put away your red […] Read more…
Checklists can make the difference between a well-run lesson and a disjointed one. A smoothly run classroom and a chaotic one. How? Read on for ways they can make your life easier. Have you read The Checklist Manifestoby Atul Gawande? He proposes that the simple checklist will help streamline complex tasks and reduce errors. While […] Read more…
Looking for some quick organizational tips that will save you time and energy? This post is here to help you! It seems like some people are born organized (take my sister!) and some people, not so much (ummm, that would be me). But there are things we can do to improve our organizational skills. Here […] Read more…
The first day of school is full of organizing, paper passing, and expectations. While kids are happy to reconnect with friends, the business of the first day can be draining. That’s why playing a game on the first day is a great way to engage students. I play Scattergories throughout the year with my class […] Read more…