I've always been a teacher that likes to make my classroom a bit more homey than most. Even in my first year of teaching, I wanted to add lamps, a couch, and a papasan chair to my room to give it that little something extra. Well, my first year was 20 years ago, and there… Continue reading My Flexible Seating Journey in the Secondary Classroom
Category: Teacher
Hygge Classroom Challenge- Make Your Classroom Warm and Inviting the Danish Way!
In case you've never heard of hygge (pronounced hue-gah), according to Google dictionary it is the quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). My understanding is that, during the long, dark, Danish winters, they practice hygge as a way to… Continue reading Hygge Classroom Challenge- Make Your Classroom Warm and Inviting the Danish Way!
Using Songs and Their Videos to Teach Perspective and Poetry in Middle School
I'm a genius sometimes. No, really! I have lesson ideas come to me at the most random moments during the day. And they always surprise me because it happens when I'm not thinking about lessons. You know what I mean? So anyway, back to my genius. This is a little trip into the inner-workings of… Continue reading Using Songs and Their Videos to Teach Perspective and Poetry in Middle School
Literature Circles in the Secondary Classroom: Student-Choice Novels Made Easier
Have you ever wanted to let students choose their own novel to read, but you couldn't figure out the best way to assess all those books? Don't want to write 20 tests? Tried to find literature circle materials that weren't for elementary kids? Well I might be able to help! How This All Started Originally… Continue reading Literature Circles in the Secondary Classroom: Student-Choice Novels Made Easier
Yes, I’m the Grammar Guru- Creating a Year’s Worth of Middle School Grammar
Looking for the Magical Unicorn Pretty much every English teacher I know thinks that finding a good way to teach grammar is an elusive and frustrating task. Finding a comprehensive, year-long grammar program that fits all the student expectations that the state has assigned to your grade level is a daunting task, and one that… Continue reading Yes, I’m the Grammar Guru- Creating a Year’s Worth of Middle School Grammar