One of the most universal problems facing English teachers is how to fit it all in. What is “it?” Well, “it” could include:VocabularyGrammarTesting strategiesWriting lessonsResearch unitsSELLiterary termsFormative assessmentsSummative assessmentsWriting workshopsAnd heaven forbid, time for fun ...
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Creative and Low-Prep Ways to Improve Independent Reading
You’ve gathered the books. You’ve cultivated a classroom library. You have even created a cozy book nook for your students! And still, when you start independent reading…students resist.This is a classic problem in ELA classrooms, especially as each year the world grows more digital. Every year I ...
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How to Create an Interactive and Engaging Classroom Atmosphere
I write this the week before school begins, closing out another week of professional development and classroom setup. Since I didn't have to move classrooms or take everything down for renovation, classroom setup was relatively simple and gave me a chance to enhance my room from last year. My goals ...
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Tips For Balancing The Workload Among Multiple Preps
You may be the most organized and well-prepared teacher in the world…until you’re juggling balancing multiple preps. When I first started at my current school I was responsible for seven different ELA courses in a school year, five different preps each semester. My first year felt like a marathon ...
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Tips For Establishing Your Classroom Culture
It doesn’t matter if you’re fresh out of college, back from a career hiatus, or a teaching veteran: teaching new students is always nerve-wracking. I’m about to enter my 17th year of teaching and I still get nervous on the first day of school. I don’t get nervous with my upperclassmen, however, but ...
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Breaking Down the 2022 AP Literature Open Question Titles
It's time to analyze the titles listed for question 3 of the 2022 AP English Lit exam! Many AP Lit teachers use this list to inform their purchases for classroom libraries, student reading suggestions, and of course, personal reading ideas! The 2022 exam included 17 titles included that had never ...
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