Today was the last AP Lit lesson of our third week of school. My AP Lit kids are capable and hard-working, midway through their study of How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I was scrolling through my prepared notes on HTRLLAP, only minutes before my lesson, when I realized something.I just ...
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Bellringers: The unsung hero of the ELA classroom
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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