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!

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

Education, Grammar, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Test Prep, Texas, Uncategorized

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

Classroom, Close reading, Education, Freebies, High School, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, student needs, Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teaching, Teaching annotation, Teaching tools, Test Prep, Texas, Uncategorized

Seeing Red: Teaching Symbolism by Close Reading Text and Film

Last week I got to do one of my very favorite lessons of all time. Don't you love those days? You can go to school knowing that you're going to get to teach something way cool that you feel good about all day long. In my case, I got to teach it for two days… Continue reading Seeing Red: Teaching Symbolism by Close Reading Text and Film