Category: student needs

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

johnstonselagems

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

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

Education, Humor, Middle School, Sarcasm, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, student needs, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Oh, look! It’s a brand new baby…curriculum! It must be adoption time, huh?

johnstonselagems

Adopting a new textbook is a wonderful time in a school family's life. Just think- you're seeing this brand new baby curriculum in all its sales pitch glory. Shiny new boxes with video screens. Bags, backpacks, crisp, new books and consumables, online platforms- it's enough to make any teacher's head spin! Look at this one!… Continue reading Oh, look! It’s a brand new baby…curriculum! It must be adoption time, huh?

Classroom, Classroom Structure, Education, High School, Middle School, Professional Development, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, student needs, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Classroom Screen: Where Has This Been All My Life? Adding Structure to my Schedule

johnstonselagems

You know when you find something, and it becomes the best thing that ever happened? Then you realize you'd seen it years ago and missed the boat on using it all this time? Yeah, that's where I'm at. Enter Classroom Screen Before spring break, I attended five days of training. I learned SO many things… Continue reading Classroom Screen: Where Has This Been All My Life? Adding Structure to my Schedule

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

johnstonselagems

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