Category: Secondary ELA

Classroom, Classroom Management, Classroom Structure, Humor, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teaching

The Results are In: Classroom Management is Scary

johnstonselagems

This past week I posted a survey on Facebook that asked just one question: What back to school topic concerns you the most? I was actually kind of shocked when I got my answer- classroom management. This got me thinking about how I felt about it. I recently wrote a blog post about this very… Continue reading The Results are In: Classroom Management is Scary

Classroom, Education, Freebies, High School, Lesson Planning, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher Planner

Lesson Planning- Big Picture to Daily Schedule

johnstonselagems

Are you a planner? Or do you like to fly by the seat of your pants? In my 20 years of teaching, I've seen all kinds of planning personalities, and I've learned a lot about what works for me and what doesn't. Most people will tell you that I'm a planner extraordinaire. During our end… Continue reading Lesson Planning- Big Picture to Daily Schedule

Anxiety, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher, Texas

Taming Summer Anxiety- What I Do During the Summer to Combat Teacher Guilt

johnstonselagems

Being a teacher is great. I've always loved that I get summers off from going to school to be with my daughters. Notice I didn't say "I like having summer off from work" because as most teachers I know will tell you, they work during the summer. Even if they swear they aren't going to.… Continue reading Taming Summer Anxiety- What I Do During the Summer to Combat Teacher Guilt

Classroom, Classroom Library, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher, Texas

Building Your Classroom Library- One Book at a Time

johnstonselagems

Classroom libraries sometimes seem like an unattainable dream that only lucky teachers at wealthy schools get to even consider having. Some schools know the deal and provide funds for each teacher to build one. Most teachers know that having good books accessible to kids is always the best plan. But most teachers are on their… Continue reading Building Your Classroom Library- One Book at a Time

Classroom Management, Classroom Structure, Education, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teaching, Texas

How Do You Get Them To Do That?- Real Talk About Secondary Classroom Management

johnstonselagems

At least once a school year a teacher will come into my classroom to deliver a message or ask a question, whatever. Then later, they will ask me, "Were your students in trouble?" "No." "Then why were they so quiet?" "Because I asked them to work silently." "That's it?" Yep. That's it. Until recently I… Continue reading How Do You Get Them To Do That?- Real Talk About Secondary Classroom Management