Google Slides has become my go-to platform for any type of distance learning or even for class activities. It’s a user-friendly platform that can be used for so many different purposes and lesson plans— from assessment to writing workshop!
Five End of the Year Activities for Google Slides
How to Make a Choice Board on Google Slides
How to Turn a PDF Worksheet into a Google Slide
5 Online Platforms for Distance Learning in the ELA Classroom
Three Engaging Plays for High School Students
As high school teachers, we spend most of our drama units on Shakespeare or the standard classics such as Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, or Our Town. While there is nothing wrong with ANY OF THESE CHOICES, here are three plays that we don’t teach as often but make fantastic selections for high school students.
8 Engaging ELA Lessons for Valentine's Day
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!
Ideas for Pairing Classic Lit with Modern Lit
Connecting classic pieces of literature with high-interest modern texts is a great strategy to engage students in the classics while maintaining their interest. Not only that, but intertextuality (making connections between texts) allows students to extend their analysis into a compare/ contrast format that enables them to analyze literary elements and techniques on a deeper level.
How to Sequence a Literary Analysis Essay Unit
Board but NOT BORING: My Go-to Collaborative Activity for Secondary ELA
Because this collaborative activity is so simple, it has become my go-to strategy throughout the school year to reinforce various skills and units. It’s an excellent tool to use for test-prep (see this post) and to scaffold reading, writing, and speaking skills.
The Pick Two Assessment: A Quick Strategy for Comprehension & Analysis
If you’re like me, reading checks and quizzes seem to sneak up every week, and I find that I am not always prepared with an assessment. Coming up with multiple-choice questions or quiz questions takes time, and sometimes, I just need something quick and easy to create. So, I created the “Pick Two Assessment Strategy” in order to cut down on prep time in creating reading checks and reading quizzes.
Poe Puns: A Punny Satire Activity
Five Test Review Strategies with Bulletin Boards
High-interest Halloween Activities & Lessons for Secondary ELA
How to Build a Digital Escape Room Using Google Forms
Three Tips for Parent-Teacher Conference Day
Parent-Teacher Conference Day always comes much faster than I expect. Sometimes, I have several parents and students attend, and other years, I may have just a few. However, I always prepare for a large crowd (especially at the secondary level), and the more preparation I can do ahead of time, the smoother my conferences will go.
