Calling all budding authors, poets, and storytellers in your classes. Writing competitions are a great way to motivate students to write. They give students a real world context for writing and also give students the chance to earn prizes.
Your First FIVE Lessons of the School Year
The first five lessons of a secondary ELA class are essential for setting the tone for the rest of the year. It’s also a stressful time to readjust to school hours, meet new students, and get back into a routine once again. That’s why I’ve put together your first FIVE lessons of the school year. All right here, done for you.
Tips for Transitioning to Teaching High School English
Are you a member of the Bespoke ELA Facebook group for high school English teachers? I created this group in order to build a virtual network of teachers, and it has quickly become an indispensable resource for me throughout the years. Click here to go over and join.
Three Necessary Lessons for the Beginning of the Year in ELA
The beginning of the school year is a time to reintroduce students to routine, classroom procedures, and the habits of homework and studying…. but I don’t need to tell you that! For us as English teachers, the beginning of the school year means reviewing and reteaching skills that our students will SWEAR they were NOT taught “last year.” We know the joke; we know that isn’t true!
Six NO PREP Activities for AFTER Break
The night before the end of a break from school can be scary as the reality sets in that you need plans ready to go— TOMORROW! The fear and the panic can start to set in as you try to scramble for an activity that will ease you and your students back into the school routine.
But all that stops right now because Bespoke ELA has you covered!
Here are six NO PREP writing for after break!
10 Engaging Ways to Introduce a Shakespeare Unit
Hooking students into Shakespeare can be a daunting task. There’s the language barrier, the different time period, funny clothing, acting…. it’s no wonder students can be reluctant at the beginning of a Shakespeare unit. But here are ten engaging ways to introduce a Shakespeare unit that will hook them from the first day. Be sure to check out the related 20 activities in the Ultimate Shakespeare Introduction Kit for even more ideas and activities!
The Art of the One-Pager
Jack the Ripper + "Mack the Knife": A Nonfiction Lesson on Deciphering Tone and Bias Through Diction
Murder stories are highly engaging topics for secondary students… and for all students alike. But bringing the crime story of Jack the Ripper into secondary ELA is a sure-fire way to keep students engaged and motivated. Crime stories even motivate at-risk students through engaging content. Jack the Ripper is one of those iconic mystery stories that captures the imagination. Crime stories provide an excellent means to engage the writing process.
Poetry for Writing Workshop in Grades 6-12: 10+ Devices & Poems to Model Them ALL!
You may find yourself in agreement with Frost's famous quote when it comes to teaching poetry in the secondary classroom. However, love it or hate it, poetry can play a helpful role in teaching students how to write! Famous poems can serve as mentor texts for students and showcase key literary and rhetorical devices in action.
Setting up & Assessing Book Club in Secondary ELA: FOUR FREE GUIDES FOR SUCCESS!
Book club is now considered to be one of the “best practices” in English Language Arts. Book clubs differ from traditional literary circles in that they are less teacher-directed. The students take on the responsibility of selecting their roles, making their assignments, keeping track of their reading, and much more.
