Books for First Chapter Friday? These ten books worked well because their first chapters are awesome. Teachers ask me about how I manage First Chapter Friday, and I’ve written extensively…
Posts Written ByLauralee
The Power of a Literacy-Rich Secondary Classroom
We all want a literacy-rich secondary classroom. You can build a literacy-rich classroom environment with intentional actions and purposeful discussions. Literacy includes so much more than reading and writing that…
Verb Activities That Don’t Bore Students
Verb activities are important because so many future grammar lessons build off verbs. Verbs are powerful tools in student writing and in their literature! Below, I’ve outlined vivid verb activities.…
Transition to High School: What Teachers Expect
If you, a student of yours, or a child of yours is completing the transition to high school, I have a few ideas. What do teachers expect from students? I…
Back To School: High School Teacher Organization Tips
Teacher organization on your mind? I have teacher organizational tools. A little over ten years ago, I became fascinated by organization in the classroom. Teacher organization, student organization, organization techniques.…
Working with Older Students during Summer Break
Increasingly, parents ask me what they should be doing with their older students during summer break. It makes sense: articles abound about preventing the summer slide and reading with teenagers.…
Teaching Graphic Novels
Teaching graphic novels? I have taught graphic novels and have them in my classroom library. The picture below illustrates how I feel about graphic novels: colorful, with appealing pictures and…
Modeling Behavior for Older Students
Are you intentionally modeling behavior for older students? Modeling positive behavior can be an important piece of classroom management. Multifaceted. Layered. Complex. When I think of memorable teachers, of teachers…
Essential Tips to Survive the End of the School Year
Lately, a recurring question has shown up in my email: how do I survive the end of the school year? Language arts activities for May are here! I’ll be super…
Writing Graphic Organizers for Secondary Students
Writing graphic organizers are lifesavers with my students. A graphic organizer for brainstorming, for creative writing, and for grammar can help young writers. Some students sit and write a paper.…