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Discover effective ways to incorporate reflective writing into your ELA classroom to help students develop critical thinking skills and self-awareness. Explore techniques like journaling, response journals, progress reflections, goal setting, and peer feedback reflections.
If you had asked me earlier in my career whether I wanted my students to use a tool to correct their grammar, such as Grammarly, my answer would have been heck no. However, after a few years, I have seen the benefits of Grammarly as an excellent tool for students in my high school English …
“I’m done!” This is one of the most common phrases I hear in my ELA classroom. Ninety-nine percent of the time, my students are far from done, especially when it comes to their writing. I am always trying to tell my students that step one is to get all our ideas out. It doesn’t need …
It’s hard to believe that it is time to start thinking about the next school year. The moment has arrived to shift our focus towards the back-to-school season. And you know what that means? New faces, new learners, and new adventures await us in the coming year. But here’s the thing, if we want our …
While traditional assessments have a place in the classroom, I always look for innovative ways to assess my students’ learning. In my search, I’ve found that poetry encourages students to think deeply and analyze text. It’s also a way for them to articulate their thoughts in a manner that goes beyond traditional tests and quizzes. …
Descriptive writing is an important skill to learn and master. As a teacher, it can be difficult to help students develop their writing skills while also making the learning process fun and engaging. Fortunately, there are many creative strategies for teaching descriptive writing in middle school. Let’s take a look! Mix it Up with Fun …
We have all entered a professional development session thinking about the never-ending to-do list we have as teachers. Add the additional steps for English teachers to grade the piles of paragraphs, essays, and presentations. I end up feeling disgruntled sitting in a meeting that feels like it could have been an email or filled with …
Before it’s time to officially unwind for summer, Jennifer Berry (@mrsjmberry) always makes sure the long-term schemes of work are complete for the up-and-coming school year. After nearly 15 years of teaching, Berry likes to start with the big picture to see how everything fits together leaving wiggle room for assignments, projects, and lessons depending …
Welcome to ELA Matters! We are excited to welcome middle and high school English Language Arts teachers from around the globe to grow and learn together in pursuit of enhanced practice. We hope that our blogs bring you new ideas and refreshing perspective to invigorate your teaching. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the …
