Did you just think, “My lesson plan ran short”? Lesson planning takes years of practice and mistakes to get right most of the time. Even seasoned teachers look at the…
Posts Written ByLauralee
Teaching Verb Moods
Teaching verb moods requires a few talking points. Verbs have lots of components—something I always share with students. Tenses, voice, action and linking. Helping. Some language arts classes explore modal…
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…
Mastering High School Lit Circles: Tips for Success
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. To me, no…
Innovative Strategies 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? Teaching language standards provides a new frame for discussing grammar. The more I write about grammar and read…
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…