When it comes to reading nonfiction, my students tend to get bleary-eyed and hard-of-hearing. It’s like they instantly think of their history textbooks and informational articles and they decide before they even know the topic that they aren’t going to like it. And that is one of the big hurdles when it comes to teaching nonfiction texts at the middle school and high school level.
The age-old five-paragraph essay elicits many things from students: mostly, a creative variety of groans and eye-rolls. An exasperated student might inquire: “Haven’t we done this before, like, a million times? Why do we have to keep on doing this?”
While there are so many reasons for why we as teachers need to move our students beyond the five paragraph essay, it is also essential for writing instruction. Don’t let students catch you off guard. Here are five reasons why the five-paragraph essay is still a critical tool for students’ development as writers and thinkers.
Whether you are teaching literature or writing, it is important to include lessons that include instruction and practice in your classroom. Here is a look
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it is time to start planning engaging ELA Valentine’s Day activities for your middle school and high school classroom. Here is a look at several Valentine’s Day activities for students.
In all my years of teaching in the secondary ELA classroom, I’ve discovered that one of the most polarizing teaching components has been grammar. Teaching grammar in the ELA classroom should be straightforward, but there are so many different component involved in grammar instruction.
One thing many students, teachers, and even professional authors forget is the fact that writing is just a form of communication. Even though students may
While prepping for a substitute for your class can be a little daunting, one of the best ways to prepare for a substitute teacher is
Now that another new year is upon us, it is time to welcome students back into the classroom and engage them for the last half
Presentation and strategy are everything when you’re introducing a novel to your class, especially if you have a few (or more) resistant readers in the mix. That is why it is important to introduce a novel in an exciting and engaging way!