5 Tips for Getting Started with Teachers Pay Teachers

5 Tips for Getting Started with Teachers Pay Teachers

About three to four years ago, I opened my very first Teachers Pay Teachers account. I figured that since I was already putting the time and effort into creating curriculum content for high school English... 

3 Reasons to Teach Beowulf

3 Reasons to Teach Beowulf

Many teachers, scholars, literary critics, and even students have argued and continue to argue that there is no merit in studying the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf.  However, there are three key reasons why Beowulf is a valid unit of study in high school English today.  

How to Craft Annotations for Deeper Reading

How to Craft Annotations for Deeper Reading

Active and purposeful highlighting and annotating is an important skill that can enable greater success in being able to comprehend a text.  Of course, there is an ongoing conversation as to whether or not highlighting in particular detracts from comprehension...

The Three Levels of Reading: A Strategy for Complex Texts

The Three Levels of Reading:  A Strategy for Complex Texts

One of the most important skills we teach across all content areas, not just in English class, is how to comprehend complex texts.  It is probably the most crucial skill that we can teach in our classrooms because... 

The Power of ONE: A New Approach for GROWING Your TpT Shop

The Power of ONE:  A New Approach for GROWING Your TpT Shop

First of all, this title has multiple meanings, but the purpose of this blog is to give some useful tips to teacher-authors who need help managing, organizing, and growing their TpT shops...

Last Minute Lesson Ideas for All Content Areas

Last Minute Lesson Ideas for All Content Areas

I always try to have a solid plan for my classes, but sometimes, a day sneaks up on me where I don’t have anything planned, and I’m scrapping to fill it with something enriching and meaningful.  And, if I’m being completely honest...

Teachers: Five Ways to Work in Exercise at School to Stay in Shape

Teachers:  Five Ways to Work in Exercise at School to Stay in Shape

Do you struggle with getting in at least three quality workouts during the week?  Are you like me and bring your gym bag to school everyday...

 

Five Creative Ways to use Evernote in the Classroom to Support Educational Content

Five Creative Ways to use Evernote in the Classroom to Support Educational Content

Recently, Evernote has been popping up in classrooms across the nation as a free tool to aid students and teachers...

 

Interactive Notebooks are NOT Just for English Class!—Why They Matter in Every Content Area!

Interactive Notebooks are NOT Just for English Class!—Why They Matter in Every Content Area!

I’ll be the first to admit that when I’ve seen other teachers doing interactive notebooks with their students, I thought of them as more of an “art project” than anything educational.  But then...  

How to EAT Healthy at School: FIVE Tips for TEACHERS

How to EAT Healthy at School:  FIVE Tips for TEACHERS

First thing is first with a blog title such as this!  I have to admit that it is most definitely a case of calling the kettle black that I am writing this blog article.  Why?  Well, because if there is a cookie, I will eat it.  If there is cake...

How to use a Writer’s Notebook in the Classroom While Integrating Technology

How to use a Writer’s Notebook in the Classroom While Integrating Technology

The Writer's Notebook is an essential tool for the ELA classroom as a facilitator for the writing process. It makes the teacher's job easier and more efficient to assign and assess work, and it helps...

Implementing the Writer's Notebook in the Secondary English Class: 5 Decisions for Success!

Implementing the Writer's Notebook in the Secondary English Class:  5 Decisions for Success!

The Writer's Notebook has become a cornerstone of the ELA classroom as a tool for facilitating the writing process.  The Writer's Notebook not only helps students have a central database for their ideas and drafts, but it also...

Managing Make-up Work in the Secondary Classroom: Five Steps for Success!

Managing Make-up Work in the Secondary Classroom:  Five Steps for Success!

It took me about four or five years of my teaching career to figure out an efficient system for navigating make-up work.  And as the technology got better, so did my ability to keep up with my absent students...  

 

From MACRO to MICRO: Using Backward Design for Lesson Planning in Five Steps

From MACRO to MICRO:  Using Backward Design for Lesson Planning in Five Steps

Understanding by Design is one of the most fundamental texts and philosophies for planning a lesson and being a teacher.  We all know the importance of planning lessons around the skills objectives and learning targets...

Choosing a Writer's Notebook Philosophy for Your Classes: The Purists vs. the Hybridists

Choosing a Writer's Notebook Philosophy for Your Classes: The Purists vs. the Hybridists

The Writer's Notebook has become a cornerstone of the English classroom over the past decade and has been touted by NCTE, The College Board, The National Writing Project, The Young Writer's Project, and others as a necessary component in the writing process...  

Teaching Students How to Write Commentary for the Literary Analysis Essay

Teaching Students How to Write Commentary for the Literary Analysis Essay

Writing commentary is undoubtedly the most difficult part of writing any essay.  All other parts of the essay are more formulaic in nature.  But when it comes to commenting on evidence...

Monkey See, Monkey Do: How Group Thinking Affects Learning in Educational Environments

Monkey See, Monkey Do:  How Group Thinking Affects Learning in Educational Environments

As I was driving home today, I listened to an interview with Jonah Berger on WNYC about his new book entitled Invisible Influence:  The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior.  It fascinated me, and...

Three Things NOT TO WORRY About at the End of the School Year

Three Things NOT TO WORRY About at the End of the School Year

It's finally almost here!  SUMMER!!!  You're grades are turned in, you've said goodbye to your students, and all that remains is a war-torn classroom with the remnants of the life that was once there...