Have you tried reading aloud with secondary students? I have, and the results are positive! Many of you have followed me this school year as I work to create a…
Posts Written ByLauralee
Informational Texts: Activities for Secondary ELA
Do you need informational texts and activities? Look no more! Don’t let informational texts seem like a “downer” in your classroom. Find texts that are meaningful to teenagers. Look for…
Teaching Research Papers with High School Students
Teaching research papers with high school students? Here are guidelines to make this writing unit a success. Teaching research papers provides ample opportunities for teachers to provide a strong foundation…
First Chapter Fridays with Secondary Students
First Chapter Fridays work well in my secondary classroom. Here are some tips I’ve learned. (First, I want to acknowledge that I did not invent First Chapter Fridays. I saw…
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: Young Adult Literature Book Review
Students will read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Here is why I have several copies in my classroom library. Plot (spoilers!) Mare Barrow lives in a divided country: Reds and…
Public Speaking with Students
Public speaking with students doesn’t have to be difficult or tiresome! I am accustomed to having a public speaking class or specific speech units embedded within a class. These past few…
Building a Classroom Library Inexpensively
You’ve decided that building a classroom library is a priority. Inexpensive book finds are a must! Honestly, for years building a classroom library was never on my radar. I’ve been…
Student Writing and Internal Dialogue
The more I teach writing, the more I consider student writing and internal dialogue. Students’ internal dialogue, not mine. I know how my internal dialogue runs: I’ve taught this, right?…
Revived by Cat Patrick: Young Adult Literature
Revived by Cat Patrick will be a nice addition to a high school classroom library. The book focuses on a secret government program and the unintended consequences of never dying,…
Middle School Grammar
I’ve taught middle school grammar before. Here are a few tricks I developed to make lessons meaningful. I taught middle school… six years ago? My administration provided a straightforward directive:…