Browsing Tag
Summaries are something every teacher does year after year to introduce and then to reinforce the skill. After all, it is a backbone writing skill that applies to all subjects, not just ELA. But summary writing is difficult for students… and teachers too! My way around these difficulties is to use a mixture of activities …
When I taught Grade 6 French Immersion, I started using inquiry-based learning in my classroom towards the end of the school year. My goal was for my students to apply all the comprehension strategies they had learned. This positive experience, both for me and them, convinced me even more of its benefits. If you wish …
Book clubs are my go-to strategy for engaging students in authentic conversations about reading. It has been my saving grace this year as students have struggled to return to the classroom. Why do I love book clubs so much? Book clubs help put students in the driver seat of their own learning! I have found …
Getting ready to return for the new school year? Or maybe you’ve already settled into a few days or weeks? Whatever the case may be some of our ELA MATTERS contributors have some tried-and-true advice to share to help you. Take a read through for some simple helpful advice whether you are a new or …
I (Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12) always joke that teachers are lucky to have at least two new year ‘celebrations’ in which they can make a fresh start – a regular new year for the change in calendar year and back to school! And to make a fresh start there is nothing better to me than making …
One thing that I have noticed this year, more than any previous year, is that we have had to go over more basics in freshman English; we have retaught everything from how to raise your hand in class to what a thesis statement is to how to take notes. We actually had a student tell …
We all know that incorporating writing into our middle school or high school English Language Arts classrooms can sometimes be difficult to do every day. There is always a plethora of material to cover and writing every single day doesn’t always make the cut, but it should. Writing daily will not only improve students’ writing, …
Adding a classroom library to my classroom was one of my best strategies I’ve used to promote literacy and connect with students about the books I was reading. It doesn’t matter how big or small your classroom library is! Even a few books on a shelf is incredibly powerful to foster a community of readers. …
Writing instruction can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Among the challenges 2020 has ushered in has been teaching writing in a variety of formats. Whether you are teaching face-to-face, hybrid, or fully virtual, writing instruction has needed a serious upgrade to keep up with the obstacles this year has presented. Below are five …
