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Keeping writing fresh in high school can be a real challenge. We all have a variety of tips and tricks for teaching writing; in fact, we’ve written a bunch of them on this very site! But what about how to take writing to a next level? There are additional aspects of style and rhetorical elements …
This semester I decided to change my approach to teaching poetry from covering a stand-alone poetry unit, to sprinkling poetic activities throughout the course. For example, creating a blackout poem using pages from a short story or novel study, or pairing a text with a poem of similar theme or devices. Another way I included …
Including poetry in English classes is a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be! Here are a few quick ideas you can add to the rotation for any text you’re studying. One of the best ways to include poetry before reading a novel or play is to use it as a vehicle for background …
I think we can all agree that as reading teachers, we’re constantly looking for ways to enhance our students’ understanding and engagement with the texts they read. While individual reading exercises are essential, collaborative groups can be a game-changer. Peer work helps foster a deeper comprehension and discussion of complex texts. Students are exposed to …
Today Miss K is kicking off our quarter of posts on teaching reading. Reading is a built-in norm in all our English classrooms. She continually tells students that reading makes you a better writer and writing makes you a better reader; they go hand in hand. It is most likely a similar discussion in your …
How do you keep your students engaged in a read-aloud? The read-aloud looks a lot different in a secondary classroom. It’s not like the days when I was teaching six and seven-year-olds who ran to the carpet squealing with delight because it was read-aloud time. Many secondary students enjoy a read-aloud because it’s an excellent …
Back to school can mean a lot of things. It means a fresh start, a new set of students and the start of something special. It also means a chance to get a new crew of students excited about reading. One of my favorite ways to do this is through First Chapter Friday. What is …
How the Power of Word Choice Started The words we use with students and the words that students use in their educational experience, social worlds, and internal monologue matter. Teaching them the power of word choice is key. Last year, Miss Krzyzanowski had an exit ticket early in the year that asked “What is something …
ELA Matters is a collaborative group of middle school and high school teachers who love to help all teachers. Here are some of the latest posts from our contributors that focus on middle school reading and high school reading with text suggestions, activities, and test prep options too! Carolyn from Middle School Café One of …
In my pre-teaching life, I studied journalism and did freelance work for different publications, including writing editorials. I love reading and knowing the news and I think it’s important to know about the world around us. So when I turned to teaching as a career, it was important to me to incorporate news and media …
