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…
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First Chapter Fridays with Secondary Students
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…
Building a Classroom Library Inexpensively
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…
Short Story Lesson Plans
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…
Short Story Unit Plan with Student Choice
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…
Ways to Teach Shakespeare
Teach Shakespeare? Read on! When I started writing about ways to teach Shakespeare, I ran through all of his plays that I have taught in ten years: Romeo and Juliet,…
Reading with High School Students
Reading with high school students? I asked an expert! I took *zero* classes in college or graduate school that focused on reading with high school students. I think the assumption…
Why I Still Teach Shakespeare
I’m an English teacher, and I still teach Shakespeare. I always will. Since I enjoy teaching Julius Caesar, I research new ideas each semester. I search for fresh pieces to…
Julius Caesar Lesson Plan Ideas
I add to my Julius Caesar lesson plans every semester! Why? I love it! Of all literature, Julius Caesar may be my favorite to teach. The deception, the plotting, the…
6 Must-Teach Novels in Secondary ELA
Must-teach novels are here! March is National Reading Month! I’ve teamed up with Melissa from Reading and Writing Haven to bring you 6 Must-Teach Novels for Secondary ELA. As English…