Since I'm an English teacher, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of gifts ideas for other English teachers. If you are a student who has happened upon this page, bless you. Your English teachers are the hardest working teachers you have--trust me-- and any token of appreciation will be cherished (just skip over the libation related gifts on the list 😉). For others who are here ... Read More about A Gift Guide for English Teachers
10 Ways to Add Movement in the ELA Classroom
Whether your students are lethargic or super-charged, adding movement to your lesson plans will help to solve both issues. Not only is it healthy to move throughout the day, but it can also help students focus and become more engaged with the content they are trying to master. Due to the nature of English classes, ELA students often find themselves needing to sit to read or write for long ... Read More about 10 Ways to Add Movement in the ELA Classroom
Keeping the Wonder Workshop at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum
When I first dreamed up the idea of hosting a workshop for secondary English literature teachers, I envisioned how beautiful the venue would be, how inspiring the presenters would be, and how relieved I would be once it was over. HA! Well, my partners in wonder had other plans because the minute our first Keeping the Wonder Workshop ended, they started asking when we could do it again! While I ... Read More about Keeping the Wonder Workshop at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Lord of the Flies Introduction Activity Ideas
Teaching Lord of the Flies is something I grew into loving after many years of struggling through it. I'm not alone. I hear from many English teachers who despised reading Lord of the Flies in school and worry that their students will hate it as much as they did. This doesn't have to be the case! By using Lord of the Flies as a mirror that reflects the darkness of the island represented in ... Read More about Lord of the Flies Introduction Activity Ideas
5 Tips for Grading Essays Faster While Leaving Better Feedback
Dragging 100+ essays home to grade over the weekend should not be a badge of honor. It doesn’t prove your self-worth as an ELA teacher, and there's evidence that it won’t give your students an adequate return on your time investment. Whether you are grading essays online or in print, I believe educational magic happens in the classroom—not in your lonely living room on a sunny Sunday afternoon. ... Read More about 5 Tips for Grading Essays Faster While Leaving Better Feedback
Keeping the Wonder Workshop: A Workshop for Secondary ELA Teachers
Some people plan an event then find the perfect venue for it; I found the perfect venue then planned an event. From the moment I saw The Story Shop on a home design blog of all places, I knew that I wanted to host something in this magical bookstore. Though I've never planned anything like this in my life, the idea of hosting a workshop for English teachers grabbed onto me and just wouldn't let ... Read More about Keeping the Wonder Workshop: A Workshop for Secondary ELA Teachers
