One of my favorite ways to incorporate poetry into the context of your ELA curriculum is with pairings. Poetry pairings can go far in adding dynamic writing, divergent thinking, and diverse voices to your ELA lesson plans. Read on to get inspired with fresh poetry pairing ideas from poetry expert Lesa Smith. Lesa Smith is a high school teacher from Toronto, Canada. While not a poet ... Read More about 5 Creative Poetry Pairing Ideas for Secondary ELA
Literary Wanderlust: Bookish things to do in Asheville, NC
So far this year I’ve taken you to England and Ireland, but now we are going to travel a little closer to home. In fact, this month’s Literary Wanderlust destination is just an hour’s scenic drive from Building Book Love headquarters. :) Let’s hit the road and discover bookish things to do in Asheville, North Carolina! From fine dining to the best breweries around, Asheville offers ... Read More about Literary Wanderlust: Bookish things to do in Asheville, NC
Blackout Poetry Ideas, Lesson Plans, and Examples
Creating Blackout Poetry can not only be a lot of fun and a form of artistic therapy, but it can also be aligned to ELA standards. Having tried all kinds of Blackout Poem techniques over the years, I’m going to share my favorite Blackout Poetry ideas, lesson plans, and examples so that you too can help put the ART back into your English Language Arts class. This post contains affiliate ... Read More about Blackout Poetry Ideas, Lesson Plans, and Examples
Meaningful & Fun Activities for Teaching Into the Wild
Teaching Into the Wild can be one of the most rewarding units in your ELA curriculum, especially when you get to witness the absolute griphold this book can have on students who “hate to read.” This compelling literary nonfiction book tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who decides to leave behind his comfortable life to explore the wilderness of Alaska. Into the Wild explores ... Read More about Meaningful & Fun Activities for Teaching Into the Wild
5 Ways to Add Adventure in ELA
From Hatchet in middle school ELA to Into the Wild in high school ELA, adventure books are always a crowd favorite. However, you don’t have to reserve this type of excitement for the outdoorsy texts. In fact, you can approach every ELA unit with a sense of adventure! Here to be our guide and share her unique approach to teaching English is adventure enthusiast Ainsley McClachrie. Ainsley ... Read More about 5 Ways to Add Adventure in ELA
St. Patrick’s Day ELA Activities for Middle and High School
ELA engagement can be tough this time of year, especially with test prep and spring fever thwarting your English teacher efforts. While these fun ELA activities or the calming techniques in this post can help, St. Patrick’s Day provides an extra opportunity to shake things up in March. These St. Patrick’s Day ELA activities for middle and high school students will up your luck and engagement this ... Read More about St. Patrick’s Day ELA Activities for Middle and High School
