Browsing Categoryliterature

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…

What is First Chapter Friday? About two months ago, I published a post about my success with First Chapter Friday. I began using the hashtag #FirstChapterFriday on Instagram. Teachers asked…

Teachers are currently experimenting with independent reading and class novels for high schoolers. I do both.  I define independent reading as a student choosing a book and reading that book.…

Extension or review ideas for literature lessons?  Sometimes, we teachers need a list to get ideas flowing, a starting point. I am currently brainstorming ways to make literature come alive…

Looking for Romeo and Juliet lesson plans? I have taught Romeo and Juliet… dozens of times? I’ve created lessons that have bombed and directed less than enthusiastic students through lines. I’ve scored…

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…

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…

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…

Looking for short story lesson plans?  I’m prepping for the first quarter of school, and that means… short stories! You can read my previous post about what I hope to…

I never teach the same short story unit twice. I begin standard English classes with short stories which allows me to encourage student choice and assess student needs. Read on…