I've been using Storybird since 2012 with my high school students, and it's one of my absolute favorite websites. If you are a secondary teacher, you probably either haven't heard of this gem, or you think it's too elementary for your older students, but I hope this post will persuade you to give it a try in your high school or middle school classroom because it's seriously ... Read More about How to use Storybird in Secondary ELA
Yoga in the Classroom
I get a lot of my creative classroom ideas during my morning workout session, but this one is by far the most literal. While in the flat-back pose, I was thinking about how one of my yoga teachers described this pose by telling us to breathe deeply but remain static. That spark of memory led to this ELA concept: After that initial idea, I was able to come up with 12 more poses that are inspired ... Read More about Yoga in the Classroom
5 Reasons to use a Notebook with Your Into the Wild Unit
One thing I’ve noticed from teaching Into the Wild is that if I can keep my students on track with the complicated plot, then they absolutely LOVE this nonfiction novel. However, if they get lost in the flashbacks and changing settings, then I’ve lost them forever. To ensure that all students are able to keep up with and connect to this beautiful story, I have designed a notebook that will keep ... Read More about 5 Reasons to use a Notebook with Your Into the Wild Unit
Fun Ways to Use Music in the English Classroom
Here's the deal--I'm weird about music. When my husband and I moved in together, he thought it was SO strange that I had lived most of my life in silence. I NEVER had background music playing and rarely listened to it in the car either. I'm not sure if my home life growing up played a part in this or what, but I've just always preferred silence over noise. The only time I actually listen to music ... Read More about Fun Ways to Use Music in the English Classroom
Harry Potter-ish Themed Classroom
As a high school teacher, I don't normally make a huge deal out of classroom decorations. I've only had two classroom "themes" the past 9 years that I've taught. This is my second and most likely last one. Not because I'm lazy, but because I love it so much. ;) ha! One of the many reasons the Harry Potter books will always have a place in my heart is because of the wonderful teaching role ... Read More about Harry Potter-ish Themed Classroom
Home Exchange for Teachers
The irony of being a teacher is that we normally have ample time to travel, but insufficient funds to do so. With this thought on my mind, I came up with a brilliant idea to start a website for teachers to swap homes during their summer breaks. However, like with many of my brilliant ideas, someone else had already invented the concept. ;) Anyway, while I was totally bummed to see that MY idea was ... Read More about Home Exchange for Teachers
