Novels in verse are such a gift to readers of all ages, but especially young adults. For avid readers, YA novels in verse make for an engaging change of pace, and for striving readers, they make ELA skills more accessible. From a Literature Circle standpoint, YA novels in verse are the perfect genre because the word count isn’t as intimidating as a traditional novel, but middle school novels in ... Read More about Literature Circle Novels in Verse Activities for Middle School ELA
Updated Serial Lesson Plans : Teaching Serial After Adnan’s Release
On September 14, 2022 news broke that the subject of the Serial podcast, Adnan Syed, was predicted to get his conviction overturned. As millions of Serial podcast listeners reacted to the latest updates, many of us English teachers around the country immediately started getting emails, DMs, and tweets from former students who wanted to discuss the updated case just as they had years ago in class. ... Read More about Updated Serial Lesson Plans : Teaching Serial After Adnan’s Release
5 Middle School ELA Game Ideas
I believe some serious learning can happen in a classroom full of fun and games. If you are looking for fun ELA activities and games that middle schoolers love, then you are in for a treat! My last middle school ELA game post was such a hit that I wanted to provide even more ELA game ideas for middle schoolers! Cheryl Rizzo, a playful middle school ELA teacher in New York City, joins us ... Read More about 5 Middle School ELA Game Ideas
5 creative ways to use ambient media in ELA
I love the idea of having a signature English teacher marker. You know, 10 years from now when students are reminiscing about school and say “remember that teacher who always _______?” Well for me, my classroom signature was ambient media. I know this because I once had a student sleep over at a former student’s house and apparently my former student put on some Harry Potter ambient media to set ... Read More about 5 creative ways to use ambient media in ELA
Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the Age of “Don’t Say Gay” Legislation
Cody Marx (he/him/his) (@codymmarx) is a queer, public high school English language arts teacher in New England. He is passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ students and educators alike, and he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree to further that work. Read on to see how Cody addresses the needs of queer and genderqueer students in his classroom. Since the beginning of 2022, at ... Read More about Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the Age of “Don’t Say Gay” Legislation
Make the most of your essay grading comment bank
If you have been grading essays online in Google Classroom, Canvas, or Turnitin, you have probably already discovered the life-changing magic of a feedback comment bank. If not, get ready for me to rock your essay grading world in just a moment. But for those already familiar with essay grading comment banks, are you making the most of their potential? With just a few simple tweaks, you will ... Read More about Make the most of your essay grading comment bank
