I’ve been on summer break for almost three weeks. I’ve done a lot in that time: visited my parents, worked on a county curriculum review, started reading some professional development books, etc. There is still data training looming at the end of my break. Such fun! I only have about four weeks left before pre-planning […]
English/Language arts
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
The Death of Reflection in English/Language Arts Classrooms
I had the saddest experience today. In English IV, British Literature, I assign my students a coat of arms assignment. They have to design a personal coat of arms on a poster then write about the color, animals, motto, and research their first and last name. They have to write an experience they went through […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
How Do I Teach My Students To Write Better?
I know that the thought of teaching students how to write seems so daunting. But it’s simple—you just teach them to think.  If I can engage my students, get them writing about a new idea or an idea that they care about or an idea that they don’t quite understand but want to—then usually, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Part 2: Adventures in Real World English/Language Arts: Making Them Care
I’ve always had a high-stakes class. English III has been an EOC(end-of-cours)e since my second year in education, and while it has always been a lot of pressure teaching a high-stakes class, there has been a certain amount of comfort because the kids knew they had to pass a state test. I also teach AP […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why You Should Start the Year With A Personal Essay Unit
I love teaching my personal essay unit. I developed most of the classes and exercises way back in 2005, and I have been tweaking them ever since. But I always sandwiched the unit in between two books in the spring or ended up rushing through it so I could finish before some vacation or other. […]
Posted inAdult Learning, Instruction & Curriculum
Adventures in Real World English/Language Arts: The Planning Stages
I adore literature. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved books (I blame Beauty and the Beast). And eighteen years later, I am teaching American Literature and British Literature, it is a dream career. Then this summer things changed. The state of Louisiana realized that not every student is going to college, and […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Using Reader’s Notebooks in Middle School
I’ve been approached by many teachers who ask me, if you don’t use reading logs to monitor how much your students are reading, what do you use? [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][bctt tweet=”I’ve been approached by […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, Series
Close and Critical Reading: What’s the Point?
This is the fourth post in a series about teaching Close and Critical Reading. The first post explaining what CCR is can be found here, the second on summary is here, and the third on writer’s craft is here. The third portion of Close and Critical Reading (CCR) asks the students: Why did the author write this? […]