Poetry and creative writing: engagement, SEL, and classroom management. A tall order for simple poetry and creative writing activities? Yes, fun connected to content makes life easier for students and…
Posts Written ByLauralee
Brother Love Triangle Trope | Young Adult Books
Aw, the brother love triangle trope, coming to young adult books near you. What sort of brother love triangle trope books for young adult readers would you like? The following…
Introducing Ecocriticism with Films
Introducing ecocriticism with films allows for easy layering of materials. Ecocriticism is one of my favorite literary analysis tools. (I am quite partial to socioeconomic and gender as well.) The…
Second Nine Weeks of American Literature
What are you teaching the second nine weeks of American literature? School is in swing. We built communities. Routines and procedures? Established. Now comes an important part of the school…
Five Ways To Use Task Cards in the Language Arts Classroom
Use task cards in the language arts classroom? They are my go-to tool for practice of important skills. Older students enjoy movement and a switch of pace with activities. Task…
Connecting the Dots with Bespoke ELA
Bespoke ELA: Innovative Lessons to Spark Student Engagement is a new professional development book, specifically for secondary English teachers. I was fortunate enough to sit down (virtually) with the author,…
Innovative Strategies for Teaching Historical Fiction
Teaching historical fiction allows for reading and writing opportunities. Readers love historical fiction. Students devour my classroom library selection of this genre. Sometimes, a student will read every historical fiction…
Fall 2025 First Chapter Friday Picks
Fall 2025 First Chapter Friday picks are here! In an effort to organize myself and to encourage other teachers to read aloud every Friday with their older students, I have…
Real Support for Teaching The Great Gatsby
Real support for teaching The Great Gatsby is here—no fluff! Once in awhile, teaching a book shocks me. This American classic is over a hundred years old, and students still…
The Science of Reading in High School ELA
What do you need to know about the Science of Reading in high school ELA? I (Lauralee) want proficient readers, and I know my audience does too. Literacy instruction, phonological…