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Books

Lit Circles

Projects

Reading

Writing

Lesson Plans

6 Tips for Teaching PLOT in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Teaching plot may seem like a basic concept, but even our middle school and high school English Language Arts students can use a refresher and some engaging activities to help them think about plot in fresh ways. Students are never too old to review and make new applications to literary elements. Being grounded in these basics can help students study more complex aspects of literature. Below I outline six tips for teaching plot in the secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use animated shorts Make use of the plethora of Pixar shorts to review or reteach plot. The concise visual storytelling makes them perfect for practicing identifying plot points. Don’t feel like you need to be limited to Pixar – there are

continue reading

5 Bellringers for Secondary ELA

Bring stability and predictability to your secondary English Language Arts classroom by establishing bellringers as part of your routine. A professor once shared a story from when she was a teacher in the late 60s. She was running 10 minutes late, and obviously had no way of calling in to let them know. She walked by the office to apologize as she went to class but they hadn’t even realized she was late. They hurried to the class to find her students doing their morning routine. She said by making such a big deal of doing the same things over and over, her students put up their bags and coats, moved their attendance cards and magnets for lunch without her

continue reading

Why Ray Bradbury is Still Relevant in Secondary ELA

Somewhere there’s an English teacher prepping a Ray Bradbury unit, and in the back of their mind is the looming question, “How do I convince these 2021 students that an author who began his career in the 1940s is still relevant?” It feels like enticing students to give “classics” a shot is half the battle to maintaining positive classroom engagement. Check out some of my teaching activities and ideas to bring Ray Bradbury’s work to a generation of new readers. 1. Introduce science fiction Many may say that Bradbury brought modern science fiction into the literary world. So, if you’re looking at putting together a science fiction unit, the works of Ray Bradbury are a great place to start. Consider

continue reading

10 Ideas for Teaching Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a high interest novel in verse that will grab your students’ attention from the first page and never let them go. Set across the span of only one minute, Jason takes you on a thrilling, thought-provoking journey as the main character, Will, takes the elevator ride of his life. If you haven’t had the chance to read this novel, I highly recommend you grab a copy right here. Although it’s a very quick read, the themes and ideas pack a huge punch. I’ve put together 10 fresh ideas for implementing Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds into your secondary English Language Arts classroom.  1. Character Study Understand the characters of the novel on

continue reading

5 Spooky Story Activities for Your Secondary ELA Classroom

Today I have some great spooky story activities for you to incorporate into your secondary ELA classroom. Whether you prefer to work with classics or want to introduce contemporary examples to your students, these activities are sure to be a scream. 1. Spooky Short Stories  Utilizing short stories opens up a lot of activity options for your class. You can put together a series of stories to study together or in small groups. Or you can have groups recreate a chosen spooky tale. You can pair students together to study a story and then share with the class. My personal favorite is having a “campfire experience.” Turn off the lights and close the blinds and keep one flashlight for the

continue reading

7 Activities to Study Edgar Allan Poe in Your Secondary ELA Classroom

Here we are in Oct-POE-ber, and I have seven activities to try while studying Edgar Allan Poe. Don’t judge me too much, but the macabre vibe of fall, October, and Poe is just so satisfying. Take a look at these resources and let me know in the comments if you enjoy Oct-POE-ber as much as I do! 1. Research Instead of giving information to students, give them this fact file organizer instead. This lets your students have the opportunity to learn the basics of Edgar Allan Poe’s life while also researching his literature, giving them space to decide what they think is most interesting. Putting the responsibility of gathering information on the students gives them ownership, and it might surprise

continue reading

5 Ways to Teach Mystery in Your Secondary English Language Arts Class

I am feeling the spooky vibes of this fall season and am excited to share with you these 5 ways to teach mystery in your secondary ELA class. I’m not one to disregard the “classic” examples of mystery (hello, Oct-POE-ber?) but if I’m being completely honest – my students want and need a new spin. Check out these suggestions and let me know what other examples you have! 1. Use strong YA titles. I think one of the best ways to get students interested in a genre study is to bring out the contemporary versions. There are so many young adult titles to choose from, but some of my favorites are Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson, We Were Liars by

continue reading

Daily Agenda Slides for the Secondary ELA Classroom

Utilizing daily agenda slides in your secondary English Language Arts classroom provides a good foundation for strong and consistent classroom routines. I love how a few minutes of organization can bring organization and clear expectations into my class. These slides are also an integral part of managing work for absent students. Read on for more information about how I use daily agenda slides in my own classroom. What is a daily agenda slide? A daily agenda slide is just a slide you pop onto the screen for each class, each day. Yup, each and every one. That may sound like a lot of work and commitment, but I promise it just becomes another habit for getting your class ready for

continue reading

Banned Books Week Activities for High School English

The month of September is a great time to add Banned Books Week activities to your English Language Arts classes. Each year, the American Library Association and related organizations host Banned Books Week the last week of September. I was always surprised to find that my students weren’t aware of the current state of book banning even in our own district. Read on to learn about some of the ways I brought banned books week into my own classroom. What is Banned Books Week? Banned Books Week, usually celebrated the last week of September, is a collaborative response to “highlight the value of free and open access to information”. The year 1982 had an increase of challenged books. It even

continue reading

10 Argumentative Writing Tasks That Are NOT Another Paper

When it comes to teaching argumentative writing, there are so many ways to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned. You absolutely do not need to write a full paper each time you’re teaching a specific skill. Consider alternative tasks to a paper such as letters, video, speeches, etc. Here’s why you should consider scrapping the essay for your argumentative writing. Reason One: Argumentative Writing Is a Genre, Not an Essay What is it that you really want your students to get out of learning to write an argument?  The genre of argumentative writing can be broken down into these basics: But it doesn’t have to be a paper. If your assessment covers these basics, why not allow for

continue reading

6 Tips for Teaching PLOT in the Secondary ELA Classroom

Teaching plot may seem like a basic concept, but even our middle school and high school English Language Arts students can use a refresher and some engaging activities to help them think about plot in fresh ways. Students are never too old to review and make new applications to literary elements. Being grounded in these basics can help students study more complex aspects of literature. Below I outline six tips for teaching plot in the secondary ELA classroom. 1. Use animated shorts Make use of the plethora of Pixar shorts to review or reteach plot. The concise visual storytelling makes them perfect for practicing identifying plot points. Don’t feel like you need to be limited to Pixar – there are

continue reading

5 Bellringers for Secondary ELA

Bring stability and predictability to your secondary English Language Arts classroom by establishing bellringers as part of your routine. A professor once shared a story from when she was a teacher in the late 60s. She was running 10 minutes late, and obviously had no way of calling in to let them know. She walked by the office to apologize as she went to class but they hadn’t even realized she was late. They hurried to the class to find her students doing their morning routine. She said by making such a big deal of doing the same things over and over, her students put up their bags and coats, moved their attendance cards and magnets for lunch without her

continue reading

Why Ray Bradbury is Still Relevant in Secondary ELA

Somewhere there’s an English teacher prepping a Ray Bradbury unit, and in the back of their mind is the looming question, “How do I convince these 2021 students that an author who began his career in the 1940s is still relevant?” It feels like enticing students to give “classics” a shot is half the battle to maintaining positive classroom engagement. Check out some of my teaching activities and ideas to bring Ray Bradbury’s work to a generation of new readers. 1. Introduce science fiction Many may say that Bradbury brought modern science fiction into the literary world. So, if you’re looking at putting together a science fiction unit, the works of Ray Bradbury are a great place to start. Consider

continue reading

10 Ideas for Teaching Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a high interest novel in verse that will grab your students’ attention from the first page and never let them go. Set across the span of only one minute, Jason takes you on a thrilling, thought-provoking journey as the main character, Will, takes the elevator ride of his life. If you haven’t had the chance to read this novel, I highly recommend you grab a copy right here. Although it’s a very quick read, the themes and ideas pack a huge punch. I’ve put together 10 fresh ideas for implementing Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds into your secondary English Language Arts classroom.  1. Character Study Understand the characters of the novel on

continue reading

5 Spooky Story Activities for Your Secondary ELA Classroom

Today I have some great spooky story activities for you to incorporate into your secondary ELA classroom. Whether you prefer to work with classics or want to introduce contemporary examples to your students, these activities are sure to be a scream. 1. Spooky Short Stories  Utilizing short stories opens up a lot of activity options for your class. You can put together a series of stories to study together or in small groups. Or you can have groups recreate a chosen spooky tale. You can pair students together to study a story and then share with the class. My personal favorite is having a “campfire experience.” Turn off the lights and close the blinds and keep one flashlight for the

continue reading

7 Activities to Study Edgar Allan Poe in Your Secondary ELA Classroom

Here we are in Oct-POE-ber, and I have seven activities to try while studying Edgar Allan Poe. Don’t judge me too much, but the macabre vibe of fall, October, and Poe is just so satisfying. Take a look at these resources and let me know in the comments if you enjoy Oct-POE-ber as much as I do! 1. Research Instead of giving information to students, give them this fact file organizer instead. This lets your students have the opportunity to learn the basics of Edgar Allan Poe’s life while also researching his literature, giving them space to decide what they think is most interesting. Putting the responsibility of gathering information on the students gives them ownership, and it might surprise

continue reading

5 Ways to Teach Mystery in Your Secondary English Language Arts Class

I am feeling the spooky vibes of this fall season and am excited to share with you these 5 ways to teach mystery in your secondary ELA class. I’m not one to disregard the “classic” examples of mystery (hello, Oct-POE-ber?) but if I’m being completely honest – my students want and need a new spin. Check out these suggestions and let me know what other examples you have! 1. Use strong YA titles. I think one of the best ways to get students interested in a genre study is to bring out the contemporary versions. There are so many young adult titles to choose from, but some of my favorites are Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson, We Were Liars by

continue reading

Daily Agenda Slides for the Secondary ELA Classroom

Utilizing daily agenda slides in your secondary English Language Arts classroom provides a good foundation for strong and consistent classroom routines. I love how a few minutes of organization can bring organization and clear expectations into my class. These slides are also an integral part of managing work for absent students. Read on for more information about how I use daily agenda slides in my own classroom. What is a daily agenda slide? A daily agenda slide is just a slide you pop onto the screen for each class, each day. Yup, each and every one. That may sound like a lot of work and commitment, but I promise it just becomes another habit for getting your class ready for

continue reading

Banned Books Week Activities for High School English

The month of September is a great time to add Banned Books Week activities to your English Language Arts classes. Each year, the American Library Association and related organizations host Banned Books Week the last week of September. I was always surprised to find that my students weren’t aware of the current state of book banning even in our own district. Read on to learn about some of the ways I brought banned books week into my own classroom. What is Banned Books Week? Banned Books Week, usually celebrated the last week of September, is a collaborative response to “highlight the value of free and open access to information”. The year 1982 had an increase of challenged books. It even

continue reading

10 Argumentative Writing Tasks That Are NOT Another Paper

When it comes to teaching argumentative writing, there are so many ways to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned. You absolutely do not need to write a full paper each time you’re teaching a specific skill. Consider alternative tasks to a paper such as letters, video, speeches, etc. Here’s why you should consider scrapping the essay for your argumentative writing. Reason One: Argumentative Writing Is a Genre, Not an Essay What is it that you really want your students to get out of learning to write an argument?  The genre of argumentative writing can be broken down into these basics: But it doesn’t have to be a paper. If your assessment covers these basics, why not allow for

continue reading

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