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

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?

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?

High School, Literature Circles, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Literature Circles- The Process and the Product

Yesterday we started literature circles in my 8th grade ELA classes. This is one of my FAVORITE days all year, and I was so excited to come to work! I posted on IG about it, and someone asked me about how to get started. I thought this would be a great place to outline my… Continue reading Literature Circles- The Process and the Product

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

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

Education, Freebies, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher Planner, Teacher Tribe, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Teacher Planners Galore! What Do You Need to Plan Your Year?

What do you look for? What do you look for when you buy a new teacher planner? Is it more important for it to be cute or functional? How often do you find yourself wishing you had made a different choice after you've purchased one? Do you pride yourself on making your planner look cute… Continue reading Teacher Planners Galore! What Do You Need to Plan Your Year?