8 Tips for Creating Effective Word Walls in Secondary
English, math, science, history, art, physical education – No matter what the content area, students have to be able to speak the language of the class. Each subject has its…
Teaching Conclusion Paragraphs in Middle and High School
Looking for an instructional approach that will help students to write stronger conclusion paragraphs? You’ll find some ideas here. And these are the reasons why uniforms should not be required….
5 Ways to Use Body Paragraph Examples
Teaching writing is hard. It just is. For a handful of students, writing is second nature; still, most need support and guidance. Once students get passed the introduction paragraph, they…
Teaching Students How to Write an Introduction Paragraph
Perhaps you stumbled on this post after reading my prior post about choosing a research topic. Or, maybe you googled “how to write an introduction paragraph” because you are struggling…
Fun Ways to Use Mentor Sentences
Mentor sentences have so many potential applications for the secondary classroom. If you’ve never used them or aren’t quite sure about their value, here’s a quick run-down. What are mentor…
Short Story Unit Ideas for Secondary ELA
A short story unit is the perfect way to begin a school year. Short stories are quick and applicable to so many learning standards. Yet, they are versatile, so you…
First Quarter ELA Curriculum Guide
Looking to create a new language arts curriculum, add to an existing one, or give it a complete overhaul? In this post, you’ll find first quarter ELA curriculum ideas that…
Getting Started with Passion Projects
I’ve been intrigued by the idea of running a passion project in my classroom for several years, but I wasn’t ready to give it a try until recently. After completing…
How to Teach Vocabulary in Secondary Classrooms
So you want to upgrade your vocabulary game. This time, you’re serious. You’re done with the worksheets and memorization games that leave both you and students desiring more. Where should…
10 ELA Lesson Plans that Engage Students Any Time of Year
Looking for meaningful ELA lesson plans that will engage students? Read on. Any and Every Teacher: What are you doing today?!? I don’t have anything planned! It’s happened to every single…
How to Help Teens Choose Research Topics for Argumentative Writing
How do you help students choose research topics? I used to approach every class the same way. It only took me one year to figure out that approach didn’t work….
10 Ways to Connect ELA to Real Life
Students will buy into lessons when they can see their relevance. Connecting ELA to real life can take some careful thought and planning, but it’s fun, and it’s worth the…
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