11 minute essay, Assessments, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, student needs, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teaching, Teaching tools, teaching writing, Texas, Uncategorized

Have Your Students Been Drafted?- Using the timed expository/informational essay to teach expository writing

johnstonselagems

Since I talked about timed expository/informational essays on Instagram , there has been some interest in an explanation of what it is, and how and why you should use it. I thought, instead of trying to explain it to each interested teacher, I would just write a post about the technique that has truly changed… Continue reading Have Your Students Been Drafted?- Using the timed expository/informational essay to teach expository writing

Classroom, Education, Middle School, Teacher, Texas

The Butterfly Project: A Meaningful Addition to Any Holocaust Book Study

johnstonselagems

While I was planning  my unit over Night by Elie Wiesel, I wanted to find something that would make the students connect with individual survivors and victims. I came across The Butterfly Project, and I knew it would be the perfect way to not only connect, but to visually represent lives lost during the Holocaust.… Continue reading The Butterfly Project: A Meaningful Addition to Any Holocaust Book Study

Classroom, Games, Grammar, Middle School, state assessment, student needs, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas

Games for the Win- Using Games to Spice Things Up in the Classroom

johnstonselagems

I teach middle school, and mixing it up is really important to keep the kids on their toes. One of the best things when I was a kid was seeing the TV and VCR set up and ready to go for the class period. Movie day! We don't need that archaic set up anymore, and… Continue reading Games for the Win- Using Games to Spice Things Up in the Classroom

Anxiety, bloggers, Family, Gratitude, parenting, Self reflection, Texas, Uncategorized

Surviving the fall- and other tough tasks

johnstonselagems

I usually use my blog to promote a TpT product or two. This is not one of those posts. Fall is a tough time for some teachers. There's the whole DEVOLSON thing (if you don't know what this is, look it up on Pinterest- you'll find some funny, and very true, stuff), plus the excitement… Continue reading Surviving the fall- and other tough tasks

Education, Grammar, Lesson Planning, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, student needs, Teachers Pay Teachers, Texas

Grammar, Grammar, and More Grammar

johnstonselagems

It's been a while since I talked about grammar, so I thought I'd revisit it now. It might be because I'm smack in the middle of trying to run through topics my 8th graders should already know like subjects and predicates, but it's also something that some teachers struggle to get into their plans. Maybe… Continue reading Grammar, Grammar, and More Grammar