ADVENTUROUS TEACHING STARTS HERE.
Project Based Learning in the Secondary ELA Classroom
When teachers hear the term PBL (Project/Problem Based Learning), too many envision a science or math classroom. STEM focused courses are not the only courses where PBL is both important AND successful. Taking real world, authentic problems and putting them in the hands of students to investigate and solve belongs in EVERY discipline! Today, we'll take a look at how PBL can take shape in the English Language Arts classroom.
EASY Grading with Macros in Google Docs
Macros are little shortcuts that you give to your computer. When you’re inside a Google doc, simply click “Tools” and then “Preferences”. Here, you’ll see the macros shortcuts that are already set up. For example, when you type ( C ) without spaces, your computer will automatically change it to the copyright symbol © . We want to make these shortcuts work for us as graders!
Back to School: Tech Talk Week!
It's time to head back to school with The Secondary Series! We are so excited to share a whole entire week of broadcasting with you all. This Back to School: Tech Talk Week series will focus entirely on edtech tips and tricks for any secondary educator to bring back into his or her classroom.
6 Ways to Use Snapchat in the Classroom
I’m a teacher in my 30s, so I’m by no means a “Snapchat native”. I actually grew up with card catalogs, Dewey Decimals, and World Book Encyclopedias, so no excuses here teachers! You can learn ANYTHING! And before you write off Snapchat thinking social media does not belong in the classroom, try to see if there’s value here for your classroom, no matter how intimidating it might feel! Plus, you'll probably have a lot of fun along the way :-)
Secrets of an English Teacher: I Don't Have a Classroom Library
It’s true. I confess: I am a high school English teacher and I do not have an operational classroom library. Do I have a classroom full of books and do I grab whatever I can at Goodwill and garage sales? Heck yes. But do I have a check out system, or even an organized system in which I’ve read every book on the shelf and make a point to recommend titles to each of my 125 students every other week? Nope. I don’t.
How to Work with Words Without a Workbook
In order for our students to succeed across subject areas, we must all acknowledge the critical importance of vocabulary instruction. There are so many best practices out there, so many specialists, and so many approaches, it can feel daunting to choose a streamlined and effective strategy for your classroom. No matter your favorite method or style, I have a thoughtful yet efficient strategy for you to try in your class this year.
The Pinterest Perfect Classroom: What's Missing?
As I’m writing this, you’ve probably already pinned 100 new ideas for your back to school decor on Pinterest. You very well might be simultaneously stalking a corner of the Target Dollar Spot. Maybe you’re even wish-listing things for your classroom on Amazon. And if you’re not doing one of these two things, you’re almost certainly scrolling through Instagram with major “Insta-classroom envy” every other post you see.
The Senior Sendoff: 6 Ways to Say Goodbye to Seniors
If I'm being honest, I'm equal parts filled with embarrassment (this song was my JAM!) and truly sweet nostalgia. Sometimes it's hard to remember what it felt like to be in high school. This song and music video bring me back to that ultra vulnerable moment when we were all desperately trying to hold on to our high school days and pretend like we weren't shi*%ing our pants thinking about college (or lack of college plans!).
If you want to make this year special for your seniors, I've rounded up some great ideas, products, and projects that just might do the trick. Let us know in the comments below what YOUR favorite Senior Sendoff idea is!
How to Design a Poetry Unit that Doesn't SUCK
Have you ever done a Google search for "poetry ideas" to teach in your high school English classroom? Let me spoil those search results for you - THEY'RE LAME! Poetry, especially at the high school level, it too important to be treated as a coloring activity, or worse, ignored completely.
Can your class write 30 poems in 30 days?
If you love poetry, and you're a little bit competitive (like me!) then I have just the challenge for you! How about jumping on the #30poems30days Challenge!
This year in creative writing, I've decided that I want my students to have access to as many different styles of poetry as possible. That's why I've narrowed down my 30 favorite types of poems to teach - and I'm going to teach them all in just 30 days!
Teacher Truth or Dare: Show us your morning routine!
I've been asked to share my truth: what's your morning routine? And I did it using Adobe Spark Pages.
The YouTube Scavenger Hunt
Right about now, everyone's turned to the "leggings only" mentality: not only have we decided to stop putting together Instagram-worthy outfits and Pinterest-perfect lessons and procedures, but we're starting to cut corners and cover them all up with a nice, flowy dress.
Holly Jolly Snow Days: ELearning Ideas for ELA Teachers
Need some ideas for keeping your kids busy on a snow day? Here you go!
Odd One Out - A New Formative Assessment Tool
Assessment is a critical component to quality teaching and learning, but often we only talk about it in the most high-stakes terms. If you're new to formative assessment or if you've been adding tools to your arsenal all along, I think you'll find that "Odd One Out" could be a great addition to your classroom. Take a look at what we shared this week on Periscope as part of the Back to School: Secondary Scope Series.
Creating Culturally Responsive and Caring Classrooms: A New EBook
Our world is broken, hurting, and desperate for healing. So where does that leave us, the secondary educator? How can we, or should we, attempt to address the pain that is so palpable in our world with our students?
Why I'm Using GOOGLE for Bell Work (and going digital for good!)
If you're like me, you have tried a thousand options for bell ringers/bell work. No matter what, the bell work needs a home, and for a long time, the bell work "home" has been in a notebook. Then, what do we have to do to grade it? COLLECT 125 SPIRAL BOUND NOTEBOOKS. I won't do it any more!
Google products continually amaze me with their versatility in the classroom (no, this post is not sponsored by Google - I'm just a fanatic!) and I had yet to experiment with the bell ringer notebook idea. Then, a few years ago, it hit me: use Google Slides.
Creative Writing Summer Camp for Teachers - ENROLLMENT OPEN NOW!
When is the last time YOU got to sit down with a fresh new notebook, pen in hand, and write something beautiful? Something other than a lesson plan? Something other than notes all over a bleeding red essay that seems beyond repair?
I'm with you.
Sometimes I feel like the only creative writing I do anymore is the "creative" commentary I leave on student's papers to identify ways to make them less terrible.
BUT NOW IT'S SUMMER! It's time for you - time for you to relax and enjoy yourself and while you're at it, spend a little time doing professional development that you actually ENJOY. Here's your chance!
