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Books

Lit Circles

Projects

Reading

Writing

Lesson Plans

10 YA Romance Novels Your Students Will Love

Are you on the hunt for YA romance novels that will liven up your classroom library or make perfect summer reading assignments? If you want to surprise your students with stories that are both engaging and relatable, you’re in the right place! YA romance novels have a unique way of capturing the highs and lows of first love, friendship, and self-discovery—all while keeping the content appropriate for young adult readers. To help you curate a list that students will genuinely enjoy, I’ve rounded up 10 contemporary YA romance novels that have earned rave reviews from readers everywhere. From heartwarming tales of personal growth to laugh-out-loud romcoms and stories of swoon-worthy meet-cutes, these irresistible reads offer something fresh and exciting for

continue reading

Tips for Teaching the Literary Element CHARACTER in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Character can be a difficult standard to tackle in the secondary English Language Arts classroom, but it doesn’t have to be. I could talk all day about the importance of understanding character development and why I think breaking down a character’s values and motivations is an important skill students will find applicable in the real world, but I’m an English teacher and this is my bread and butter. My students, on the other hand, sometimes need me to not only give them explicit reasoning, but also make it fun and readily accessible. Read on for some of my top tips for teaching about character.  1. Class Character Brainstorm I love class brainstorm sessions. There are a lot of great ways

continue reading

Emergency Substitute Teacher Plans for Secondary English Language Arts

Many of us have found ourselves in urgent need of emergency substitute teacher plans in the past, whether due to unexpected illness, family emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances. However, it seems like the need for reliable substitute teacher plans has become even more pressing in recent times. With that in mind, I decided to compile a list of my favorite resources for quick and effective substitute teacher plans specifically designed for ELA classes. This list will be updated periodically as I discover new and valuable resources. My goal is to provide peace of mind to any teacher who needs to pull together a solid sub plan on short notice. Many of the resources included here are either free or cost

continue reading

7 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language in Secondary ELA

Teaching figurative language can be super engaging. I love weaving it into the school year and reminding students that English can be fun. Below are 7 activities that you can use any time in the school year to teach figurative language in your secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use direct instruction first Probably the easiest way to teach figurative language is to just jump right in teaching the terms explicitly. Strengthen student writing with old school notetaking and definition reviews, and of course, practice activities. Sometimes it’s best just to start with the basics, especially if you know your students don’t know the terms or are in serious need of a refresher.  If you’d like a premade resource of presentations and

continue reading

12 Winter-Themed Activities for Your Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

Finding engaging winter-themed reading and writing activities can seem difficult, especially if the cold isn’t your favorite season. The lull after the holidays can be challenging in any classroom, especially when students are cranky and checked out. That’s why 12 English Language Arts teachers have come together in this collaborative blog post to bring you creative ideas to warm up and create a winter wonderland even if it takes you an extra cup of coffee to get there. Read on to find something that inspires you to infuse a little winter magic into your own ELA classroom. #1: Use Hygge to Transform Your Teaching Space Samantha from Samantha in Secondary just isn’t a fan of the winter, but she found

continue reading

Why Students Should Use Doodle Notes in Secondary ELA

Doodling isn’t just for little kids. Big kids love to doodle, too! You can find a lot of research (read on for links) on the benefits of doodling, so why not embrace it and help your students become avid doodlers? Check out this list of ideas why doodle notes (or sometimes called sketch notes) are so great for students in middle school or high school English Language Arts. 1. Keep students on task. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that each day our lessons don’t keep every student engaged for the entire lesson. This is why doodle notes are a great way to keep students on task. The ultimate goal of doodle notes is to bridge the gap

continue reading

5 Day Before Winter Break Activities for Secondary Students

‘Twas the day before winter break, and all through their mind, The teacher was unsure how to pass the time. Did they put together a test they would just have to grade?Did they pop in a movie and call it a day?No, they searched ideas from bloggers and TPT,For activities they could do that would be super easy!  Day before winter break activities can be so tricky to plan. I never liked the phrase “free day” – I like for the time in my classroom to be useful to my students through reinforcing knowledge or building up class culture. On the other hand, keeping students focused on the day before they leave for an extended break can be hard. That’s why I

continue reading

How to Create Book Flat Lays with Your Students

Finding an authentic way to assess novels can be frustrating. As a middle school or high school English Language Arts teacher, you’ve probably tried just about anything to create a little ✨ book magic ✨ in your own classroom. Let me add one more tool to your arsenal. Enter: Book Flat Lays. You probably see these in the wild often. Book bloggers and influencers use these often to draw attention to books, but why not use them to assess your students’ understanding of the content of a book? Let’s dive in. What’s a Flat Lay? A “flat lay” is a photography term for an image shot directly above. It includes a bird’s eye view of an item with carefully curated

continue reading

5 Gift of the Magi Short Story Activities

Looking for some unique and engaging “Gift of the Magi” story activities? I’ve got you covered! “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is a great work to choose if you’re looking for a short story study, need a quick lesson as you approach winter break, or need an engaging substitute plan. Learn more about “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry below and discover some of my favorite short story activities to pair with the text. Summary of “Gift of the Magi” “Gift of the Magi” is a short story by O. Henry that was first published in 1905. The story follows a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but very poor. As Christmas approaches,

continue reading

10 Dystopian Novels to Add to Your Classroom Library

Dystopian novels can be such a powerful way to get your middle school or high school English Language Arts students to connect with literature. Novels in the dystopian genre specifically resonate with readers on a different level. Maybe they make us feel better about what we’re going through; maybe it’s an escape from what we feel overwhelmed within our own lives; maybe we relate with the characters as they struggle through some unusual circumstances and then feel great when they’re able to find a way through it; or, maybe we’re just all a little warped and dark so we enjoy a story that’s a little bit of the same. Here are ten of my favorite dystopian novels that you should

continue reading

10 YA Romance Novels Your Students Will Love

Are you on the hunt for YA romance novels that will liven up your classroom library or make perfect summer reading assignments? If you want to surprise your students with stories that are both engaging and relatable, you’re in the right place! YA romance novels have a unique way of capturing the highs and lows of first love, friendship, and self-discovery—all while keeping the content appropriate for young adult readers. To help you curate a list that students will genuinely enjoy, I’ve rounded up 10 contemporary YA romance novels that have earned rave reviews from readers everywhere. From heartwarming tales of personal growth to laugh-out-loud romcoms and stories of swoon-worthy meet-cutes, these irresistible reads offer something fresh and exciting for

continue reading

Tips for Teaching the Literary Element CHARACTER in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Character can be a difficult standard to tackle in the secondary English Language Arts classroom, but it doesn’t have to be. I could talk all day about the importance of understanding character development and why I think breaking down a character’s values and motivations is an important skill students will find applicable in the real world, but I’m an English teacher and this is my bread and butter. My students, on the other hand, sometimes need me to not only give them explicit reasoning, but also make it fun and readily accessible. Read on for some of my top tips for teaching about character.  1. Class Character Brainstorm I love class brainstorm sessions. There are a lot of great ways

continue reading

Emergency Substitute Teacher Plans for Secondary English Language Arts

Many of us have found ourselves in urgent need of emergency substitute teacher plans in the past, whether due to unexpected illness, family emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances. However, it seems like the need for reliable substitute teacher plans has become even more pressing in recent times. With that in mind, I decided to compile a list of my favorite resources for quick and effective substitute teacher plans specifically designed for ELA classes. This list will be updated periodically as I discover new and valuable resources. My goal is to provide peace of mind to any teacher who needs to pull together a solid sub plan on short notice. Many of the resources included here are either free or cost

continue reading

7 Ideas for Teaching Figurative Language in Secondary ELA

Teaching figurative language can be super engaging. I love weaving it into the school year and reminding students that English can be fun. Below are 7 activities that you can use any time in the school year to teach figurative language in your secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use direct instruction first Probably the easiest way to teach figurative language is to just jump right in teaching the terms explicitly. Strengthen student writing with old school notetaking and definition reviews, and of course, practice activities. Sometimes it’s best just to start with the basics, especially if you know your students don’t know the terms or are in serious need of a refresher.  If you’d like a premade resource of presentations and

continue reading

12 Winter-Themed Activities for Your Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

Finding engaging winter-themed reading and writing activities can seem difficult, especially if the cold isn’t your favorite season. The lull after the holidays can be challenging in any classroom, especially when students are cranky and checked out. That’s why 12 English Language Arts teachers have come together in this collaborative blog post to bring you creative ideas to warm up and create a winter wonderland even if it takes you an extra cup of coffee to get there. Read on to find something that inspires you to infuse a little winter magic into your own ELA classroom. #1: Use Hygge to Transform Your Teaching Space Samantha from Samantha in Secondary just isn’t a fan of the winter, but she found

continue reading

Why Students Should Use Doodle Notes in Secondary ELA

Doodling isn’t just for little kids. Big kids love to doodle, too! You can find a lot of research (read on for links) on the benefits of doodling, so why not embrace it and help your students become avid doodlers? Check out this list of ideas why doodle notes (or sometimes called sketch notes) are so great for students in middle school or high school English Language Arts. 1. Keep students on task. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that each day our lessons don’t keep every student engaged for the entire lesson. This is why doodle notes are a great way to keep students on task. The ultimate goal of doodle notes is to bridge the gap

continue reading

5 Day Before Winter Break Activities for Secondary Students

‘Twas the day before winter break, and all through their mind, The teacher was unsure how to pass the time. Did they put together a test they would just have to grade?Did they pop in a movie and call it a day?No, they searched ideas from bloggers and TPT,For activities they could do that would be super easy!  Day before winter break activities can be so tricky to plan. I never liked the phrase “free day” – I like for the time in my classroom to be useful to my students through reinforcing knowledge or building up class culture. On the other hand, keeping students focused on the day before they leave for an extended break can be hard. That’s why I

continue reading

How to Create Book Flat Lays with Your Students

Finding an authentic way to assess novels can be frustrating. As a middle school or high school English Language Arts teacher, you’ve probably tried just about anything to create a little ✨ book magic ✨ in your own classroom. Let me add one more tool to your arsenal. Enter: Book Flat Lays. You probably see these in the wild often. Book bloggers and influencers use these often to draw attention to books, but why not use them to assess your students’ understanding of the content of a book? Let’s dive in. What’s a Flat Lay? A “flat lay” is a photography term for an image shot directly above. It includes a bird’s eye view of an item with carefully curated

continue reading

5 Gift of the Magi Short Story Activities

Looking for some unique and engaging “Gift of the Magi” story activities? I’ve got you covered! “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is a great work to choose if you’re looking for a short story study, need a quick lesson as you approach winter break, or need an engaging substitute plan. Learn more about “Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry below and discover some of my favorite short story activities to pair with the text. Summary of “Gift of the Magi” “Gift of the Magi” is a short story by O. Henry that was first published in 1905. The story follows a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but very poor. As Christmas approaches,

continue reading

10 Dystopian Novels to Add to Your Classroom Library

Dystopian novels can be such a powerful way to get your middle school or high school English Language Arts students to connect with literature. Novels in the dystopian genre specifically resonate with readers on a different level. Maybe they make us feel better about what we’re going through; maybe it’s an escape from what we feel overwhelmed within our own lives; maybe we relate with the characters as they struggle through some unusual circumstances and then feel great when they’re able to find a way through it; or, maybe we’re just all a little warped and dark so we enjoy a story that’s a little bit of the same. Here are ten of my favorite dystopian novels that you should

continue reading

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