I rarely find myself teaching verb moods, but when I do, here are my talking points. Verbs have lots of components—something I always share with students. Tenses, voice, action and…
Posts Written ByLauralee
20 Picture Books for High School English
Are you using picture books for high school English classes? Whether you have five extra minutes in class or you need to add another dimension to your lessons, these twenty…
Building Relationships Through Content
As a teacher, building relationships through content is a sustainable practice for interacting with students. Teachers know that strong relationships with students is the ticket to increased classroom management. When…
High School Lit Circles
Do you know where to start with organizing and planning high school lit circles? Years ago, I wrote about my experimentation with independent reading and class novels. I wrote that…
Creative Ways To Teach the Eight Parts of Speech
Are you looking for creative ways to teach the eight parts of speech? Below, I’ve outlined my parts of speech lessons for older students. . . often my first set…
Grammar Should Be “Understanding Language”
Understanding language and moving past grammar lessons: can we make the switch? The more I write about grammar and read research about the teaching of grammar, the more I am…
Teaching New Dictionary Words
Teaching new dictionary words can be a quick, easy lesson. Below, I’ve included a framework for such a lesson. One of my best lessons of the school year was unplanned.…
Why I’m Tired of Teaching To Kill A Mockingbird
I’m tired of teaching “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The reasons why are actually simple. The reasons and explanations for ditching To Kill A Mockingbird are plentiful. In this post, I…
The Joy of Reading with Secondary Students
What does research say about spreading the joy of reading with secondary students? We language arts teachers can encourage our readers to pick up books. My personal children are younger…
Modern Short Stories for High School English
What modern short stories for high school English classes can you teach? Add these modern and diverse voices to your curriculum. High school short stories can reflect our students’ lives. …