60 Essential Reading Comprehension Questions for ANY Text
Have you ever asked your students some pretty basic reading comprehension questions about the assigned reading and all you experience is deafening silence? You are not alone, my teacher friend! While one of my favorite pastimes is reading, most of my students do not...
10 No-Sweat End of the Year Activities To Finish The School Year Right
Once Spring Break is over, a glance at the calendar makes it clear that end of the year activities are near. A quick glance around the classroom and it is obvious that students know that the time is approaching as well. What is most needed then is some end of the year...
How to Write a Theme Statement Easily and Effectively in 5 Steps
Learning how to write a THEME STATEMENT is a real struggle for most students. You might think that because it is taught from kindergarten throughout the elementary years that understanding the message of a story, novel, or poem should be super simple to grasp....
19 Short Stories and Questions For Critical Thinking
There have been rumblings in different online teacher groups recently about replacing novels with short stories and informational articles in middle and high school English classrooms. I have to admit I was shocked when I first read the comments because I am a book...
How to Write About Poetry in 5 Worthwhile Ways
Have you ever tried to read poetry on your own for FUN? Try asking this question to a bunch of middle and high school students in a typical English class...You will probably get blank stares or smirks in response. Now, ask those same students if they know how to write...
12 Relevant To Build a Fire Story Critical Thinking Questions
I LOVE survival shows! Sometimes these shows use professionals and skilled experts while others just throw someone on an island to see what happens 🙂 Not going to lie...these shows are hilarious. Now, I like to think if I were left alone in the woods to survive on my...
8 Poetry Elements ANY Student Can Learn
As English teachers, we embrace the building blocks of literacy in all our study units. For example, with short stories, we focus on teaching plot elements to ensure our students’ comprehension, so they can ultimately deliver quality analysis. The same is true for...
7 Significant Poetry Devices Sound Elements
I love poetry, but I understand that I am in the minority here. Most students when asked to read poetry instantly become like deer in the headlights. And a part of the reason is because of the structure of poems from free verse to those that use poetry devices sound...
25 Timeless Techniques for How to Improve at Reading Comprehension
As teachers, we often think of how we were taught and either follow suit or go in a very different direction. In that way, it’s a bit like parenting, isn’t it? In both instances as times change, our approaches need to adapt as well. This idea is true in so many...
11 Practical Worksheet Reading Comprehension Tips
The word "worksheet" has a bad rap nowadays. And honestly, I don't really understand why. Worksheets simply have the "work" displayed on paper; they allow teachers to assess their students' mastery of certain knowledge and/or skills. Ultimately, how is incorporating...
Hi, I’m KRISTIN!
I primarily focus on integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!