When I first started teaching 20 years ago, I had not given much thought to how I would have students organize and keep the work they did in my class. When it came time to ask for supplies, I defaulted to what I knew, and I had them bring a binder and dividers. I had… Continue reading Keep This for Reference- Reference Materials for the Secondary English Classroom
Category: Teaching tools
Dear First Year Teacher Me- A Letter to First Year Me From 20th Year Me
Dear First Year Me, It's the day before school starts on the 20th year of your career. Looking back on all that time, there are some things I wish you would have known as you embark on the very first year. Get ready for a bumpy ride. Finding out that you were pregnant two days… Continue reading Dear First Year Teacher Me- A Letter to First Year Me From 20th Year Me
Have Your Students Been Drafted?- Using the 11 minute essay to teach expository writing
Since I talked about timed expository/informational essays on Instagram , there has been some interest in an explanation of what it is, and how and why you should use it. I thought, instead of trying to explain it to each interested teacher, I would just write a post about the technique that has truly changed… Continue reading Have Your Students Been Drafted?- Using the 11 minute essay to teach expository writing
Am I Flexing? My Journey with Flexible Seating in the Secondary Classroom
This post is part classroom reveal, part definition of flexible seating. If you only want to see my room, scroll down. 🙂 Like most school teachers, as the end of July approaches, I begin to think about when I can get in my classroom to get it ready. It seems counterproductive to spend part… Continue reading Am I Flexing? My Journey with Flexible Seating in the Secondary Classroom
It Only Takes One Page- Assessing English Students with a One Pager
How do you assess? Do you go by how much time it takes to grade? Do you make your students write an essay because you need a writing sample for data? Do you give them a project you can glance at, use a rubric, and assign a grade? Full Disclosure Full disclosure- in my 19… Continue reading It Only Takes One Page- Assessing English Students with a One Pager