Assessments, Classroom, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, student needs, Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Thematic Art Project: Teach Your English Students to Speak Without Saying a Word

For the second year, I assigned a Thematic Art Project as the summative activity for Night. I have to admit, when I first assigned it, I was super nervous about what the kids would come up with. This year, I was just excited because the last group did such an amazing job. Well, they did… Continue reading Thematic Art Project: Teach Your English Students to Speak Without Saying a Word

Assessments, Education, Middle School, Professional Development, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Test Prep, Texas, Uncategorized

Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Two of a Week of Professional Development

Ready, Set, Learn Keeping up with changing state standards can be tough. They usually stay the same for a time, but when the state overhauls them, it usually means teachers need to start rewriting or retooling their curriculum. Though I've been teaching for 20 years, I'm too ADD to be one of those teachers who… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Two of a Week of Professional Development

Assessments, Education, High School, Middle School, Professional Development, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, student needs, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Gettin’ My Learn On- Part One of a Week of Professional Development

Who goes to these things?There are two types of teachers: 1) Actively avoids any type of PD and 2) Seeks out opportunities to learn. I feel like the first teacher hasn't been to many good sessions, and I feel their pain. Bad PD is like the fourth circle of Hell. Who wants to sign up… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part One of a Week of Professional Development

Assessments, Classroom, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

The Character Study One Pager- An Assessment for Any Novel

We need the bigger, better deal Every English teacher I know is looking for the bigger, better deal when it comes to assessing novels. We've moved WAY beyond the simple book report (I hope), and into the realm of critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis. In recent years I've tried the mandala (which you can read… Continue reading The Character Study One Pager- An Assessment for Any Novel

Assessments, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, student needs, Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teaching, Test Prep, Texas, Uncategorized

Game on! Using games as test prep in the secondary classroom

  Changing my mindset Five years ago, I moved from teaching in a public school to teaching in a charter after 15 years. One of the hardest things for me to wrap my brain around was that my new school did not focus on state testing. They knew it was a necessary evil, and our… Continue reading Game on! Using games as test prep in the secondary classroom