Every once in a while, you teach a text and everything is perfect. It’s the perfect blend of the text, the class make-up, and the lesson. This week, I had that moment with Billy Collins’ “Introduction Poetry,” so I wanted to share it with you!For context, my school is on a modified block schedule. ...
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The Purpose and Value of a High School Writing Center
Back in 2018, I successfully pitched, created, and ran our school’s Writing Center. It ran for two years. However, 2019 presented budget cuts and I was given two options: run the WC for free, or close it up. I wish I could say I was servant-hearted enough to do it for free, but I was already doing ...
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The Power of Visual Pairing in Teaching Literary Terms
When I was in high school, I came home with a C- on my History midterm. My parents were shocked and, honestly, so was I. While not exactly a straight A student, I had never gone down to the Cs before. I couldn’t exactly articulate why history was so hard for me, other than saying I just couldn’t ...
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Strategies for Introducing Independent Reading
I’ve written several blog posts about the importance of independent reading in the ELA classroom. This week, I rolled it out with both my Honors and AP Lit students in different ways. Here is a rundown of different ways you can roll out independent reading with your high school students, regardless ...
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Creating a Classroom for Focus and Creativity
I recently put the finishing touches on my classroom and shared some images on Instagram. One teacher gave me one of my greatest compliments after viewing the pictures, saying, "I want to learn here." This post contains affiliate links, which can earn me a small commission. I only include affiliate ...
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Cultivating Student Curiosity in the High School Classroom
In a recent conversation with educators, we were comparing our collective class attitudes from year to year. Some years I have classes filled with complacent bodies not interested in learning. Other years I have eager and curious students, coming to class ready to ask questions, not just to earn a ...
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