I’ve always found the irony in that I got to experience the back-to-school nightmares and butterflies twice a year since I taught on a block schedule. Just when this introverted teacher got to know and feel comfortable with the fall semester students, it was time to learn 100 new smiling faces in January! My best back-to-school ideas never seemed quite right for the new year or new semester ... Read More about New Year Activities for Students: Growth Mindset Lesson Plans and Ideas
Get-to-Know-You Activities for Secondary Language Arts Class
The first day of school in ELA class is equally my favorite and least favorite day of the entire school year. It’s my favorite because there’s just something magical about a fresh new start in a clean, welcoming classroom full of new students that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting. It’s my least favorite because even after nine years of teaching, I still get major anxiety and butterflies ... Read More about Get-to-Know-You Activities for Secondary Language Arts Class
The Life Changing Magic of a Clean Classroom
Any time a book has “life-changing” in the title, it warrants the side-eye from me. Yet, I kept hearing that The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo would indeed change my life, so I gave it a try. That was many years, student loan payoffs, world travels, and new career opportunities ago. So yes, I would definitely say that this book changed my life! And, I know it can do the same for ... Read More about The Life Changing Magic of a Clean Classroom
ELA Spring Activities for Middle School and High School
I have such mixed emotions about spring this year. I’ve been spoiled most of my teaching career by using all 8+ of our built-in snow days, but we’ve had such an abnormally mild winter here in East Tennessee, that I keep looking for white snow instead of yellow daffodils. Sigh. I’m hoping that sharing these ELA spring activities will put me into the spring spirit. 😀 🌸🌞 This post contains ... Read More about ELA Spring Activities for Middle School and High School
Teaching The Canterbury Tales: Fun, Real-World Driven Lessons for Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
I honestly love teaching The Canterbury Tales, and when I do it right, I even make my students love it a little too. ;) I've tried many different activities to teach Chaucer's classic throughout the years, so I wanted to list the very best strategies for engaging students with this fun tale. You can find all of my Canterbury Tales activities, handouts, prompts, and projects in my Canterbury ... Read More about Teaching The Canterbury Tales: Fun, Real-World Driven Lessons for Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Real-World Beowulf Essay Topic: A Write Like This inspired prompt that students actually enjoy
This week I had a conversation that I've never had before. It made me want to smile. Student: What tone should I use for this Beowulf essay? Me: What do you mean? Student: You know, how should I word it? What are you looking for? Me: Let's look at your mentor articles. How did these authors go about it? This one had more of a conversational tone and this one had more of a formal tone, so which ... Read More about Real-World Beowulf Essay Topic: A Write Like This inspired prompt that students actually enjoy
