How to Tackle Test Prep Writing Prompts in 3 Easy Steps
Does it ever seem like standardized test writing prompts are intentionally wordy and confusing? If you have stumbled upon this post after finishing your testing for the year, enjoy! For…
Best Practices | English Language Arts | Instructional Strategies | Lesson Design | Reading | Writing
How to Use Text Sets to Build Background Knowledge
Searching for engaging ways to build students’ background knowledge? Perhaps you need an activity to help students prepare to read a complex text, to write an essay, or to engage…
How to Cite Quotations in MLA Format: Teaching Ideas
MLA is fussy. When teaching students to cite quotations in MLA format, it can feel like we are really nit-picking at details. And, I suppose we are. Students need to…
How to Get Started with Sketchnotes in the Classroom
So you want students to do something…to show thinking…to process learning…and to communicate information. But, maybe you’re tired of recycling the same approaches and just need something refreshing. Enter sketchnotes….
Simple Ways to Make Teaching Writing Online More Effective
Inside: Teaching writing online is challenging. This post outlines simple strategies to make it more efficient, effective, and engaging. Overwhelming. That’s the first thought that comes to mind when I…
The Most Important Key to Supporting Struggling Writers
Inside this post: No matter the age, if you’re supporting struggling writers, there’s one key ingredient that is a game changer for building confidence and increasing achievement. During a writing…
Sentence Fluency Mini Lessons for Secondary Writing
When I think about student writing, one of the most difficult concepts to teach is sentence fluency. Much of excelling at fluent writing revolves around students’ background with literacy. Certainly,…
Teaching Elaboration in Writing
Looking for ways to help students with elaboration in writing? It’s a complex skill that requires mature thinking. In this post, you’ll find concrete ways to make elaboration in writing…
Summer Learning Activities: How Teachers Can Support Parents
Looking for meaningful summer learning activities for teens? This post contains rewarding ideas for working with older students during the summer months. It’s the end of the year. You’ve made…
Writing Aloud: A Powerful Way to Model Writing
Wondering how to help students improve their writing skills and confidence? Model writing by writing aloud! To be honest, when I began teaching, I had very little idea how to…
The Big List of Ways to Motivate Struggling Writers
There are few things in the ELA teaching world worse than when a student flat out refuses to write. It happens for a myriad of reasons. Students lack confidence, interest,…
6 Ways to Differentiate Research Paper Lessons
Teaching writing effectively includes research. And, how we differentiate research lessons matters. If you’re not sure how to teach the same concepts and skills to learners with diverse abilities and…
End of content
End of content