11 minute essay, Assessments, Secondary English, STAAR, state assessment, Test Prep, Texas

Timing is Everything- Using timed essays to teach expository writing

A few years ago I was teaching 9th grade. Of course this meant that I had to prepare the students for the expository essay portion of the English I EOC. From a friend, I heard about timed essays. Once I started using timed essays, I have never looked back. I have used them with 9th… Continue reading Timing is Everything- Using timed essays to teach expository writing

11 minute essay, Annotation, Assessments, Education, Grammar, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, Test Prep, Texas

STAAR Prep for Secondary English- It’s never too early!

If you're like me, as soon as you return from holiday break you begin really thinking about STAAR prep, especially if you have an early test like I do. This 3rd quarter is down-to-business time for me because we don't have much time after spring break before we take our reading test. It's the same… Continue reading STAAR Prep for Secondary English- It’s never too early!

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

Games for the Win- Using Games to Spice Up STAAR Test Prep

I teach middle school, and mixing it up is really important to keep the kids on their toes especially when it comes to test prep. 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… Continue reading Games for the Win- Using Games to Spice Up STAAR Test Prep

Classroom, Humor, Sarcasm, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, Teacher, Texas, Uncategorized

It’s Testing Season in Texas- A Timeline of Tests

Snark Alert! Please do not read this post if you love standardized tests! It's that time again- state tests. "Oh, joy!" said no educator, ever. Not only have no educators said that, no student has said it either. From back in the day when we took the ITBS on one day of the year to… Continue reading It’s Testing Season in Texas- A Timeline of Tests

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