Sane and Simple Tools to Help You Teach Middle School ELA
A journal jar is a great way to offer students choices during writer’s workshop or journaling time. I’ve always loved using a journal jar. In the past, my journal jar consisted of topics written on strips of paper and stuck into a jar. Students could pick a slip, glue it to the top of […] Read more…
Ready to organize writing projects so your students’ papers aren’t everywhere? Want your fast finishers to be able to move forward on a writing project and not have to wait for the rest of the class? Ready to provide scaffolding for students who need it? And a checklist for you to streamline grading? Then, you’ll […] Read more…
Classroom management strategies that worked at the start of the year may not be as effective as we move from Halloween through the end of the year. Your students’ minds quickly move away from content material to the bulletin board that counts down the days until Christmas (whose idea was that?!) or the Elf on […] Read more…
I’ve asked my dear friend Dayle to write a post for this month’s Healthy Teacher installment since she is all about bringing balance, movement, and a joy to people. I love the insight she offers as an opportunity to transform our crazy lunch schedule into something meaningful and calming. Adult children, arm-in-arm with parents, […] Read more…
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…
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…