Browsing Tag
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.
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 …
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. …
What if I told you you could implement a checkpoint system at the beginning of your writing unit to ensure struggling writers got timely help before they fell behind? Read on to find out how! Ask any ELA teacher what their least favorite part of the job is, and they’ll likely say something about grading. …
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 …
Writing is hard. Teaching writing is even harder. For some, it comes naturally. For others, it is quite a struggle. My favorite writing strategy is using a joint construct to help students understand what I am expecting in their writing. What is a joint construct? Let’s start from the beginning. A joint construct is when …
For many of us, the idea of running a marathon within the next week will likely evoke a feeling of paralysis. We haven’t spent the past six months purposefully training for that volume, so our feelings of incompetence, overwhelm, and terror are entirely justified. Believe it or not, when it comes to writing essays, poems, …
Over the years, my students have had some of the most imaginative and original creative writing ideas, but they often have difficulty finding the right words to express these ideas in a way that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in their literary worlds. Incorporating activities for students to practice infusing imagery into their …
It’s Mid-November and many students are already counting down the days until winter break. While it’s natural for students to get excited about the prospect of a few weeks away from school, it’s important to keep them engaged in learning throughout December. The ELA Matters team has come together to bring you some ideas to …
