10 Thematic Statement Examples for High School Students
Think of the last book you read… what was it about? When you go to answer this question, do you focus on a summary of the plot or do you boil it down to a statement that focuses on the overall message of the book? The answer to that question may depend on whether...
Playful Poem About a Frog
Who doesn't like to see a frog hopping along? Eating bugs? Doing its thing? In the below poem about a frog, you will see a different side of a frog. This poem is inspired by a neighborhood walk with my little girls. We walk pretty much every day. And we see a ton of...
Poem about the Moon and 5 Fun Poetry Activities
I don't know about you, but I love looking at the moon! And I am not the only one. My kiddos love seeing the moon in all of its variant glory. My 3-year-old likes to find the moon. Where will it be tonight? How big is it? What colors do we see in and around the moon?...
5 Elements of an Effective Outline for Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing
When students hear "Rhetorical Analysis" for the very first time, they usually have NO idea what these words mean. And don't even try introducing an Outline for Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing until you review the meaning of this phrase... Heck, we as teachers may...
20 Simple Strategies for Teaching Literature
What do you remember reading in high school? Maybe it’s Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Or perhaps it’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Poe? I’m guessing that whatever you remember, it was good literature and you enjoyed it because your teacher utilized various strategies...
Worksheets on Summarizing Made Easy…
Long story, short… that’s exactly what a summary is! But how often does someone who uses that statement actually make their story short?! Whether in school or in life beyond the classroom, summarizing is a skill that needs practice, repeated practice. Writing a...
Guided Reading Activities for Middle and High School Students
Have you heard the saying that teaching English isn’t just for English teachers? It’s so true! Many of the skills we teach and have our students practice in our ELA classrooms are transferable to other courses. Case in point, reading comprehension and guided reading...
Examples of Thematic Unit for Middle and High School English
In my years of teaching, I have found that the best way to get students learning AND retaining concepts and skills is by using thematic units. By integrating reading and writing together by focusing on a major topic and/or using a specific theme, you can incorporate...
7 Activities for Author’s Purpose in Middle and High School English
In elementary school, the question of the author’s purpose tends to tie into pie. Not a delicious pie to eat but rather P.I.E., an acronym of the three purposes for any given text: Persuade, Inform, Entertain. However, we know as readers and teachers that things are...
13 Must-Read Short Stories for 9th Graders
Making the shift from middle school to high school can be a challenge for 9th graders and for the teachers of those 9th graders! But stacking your short stories for 9th graders with selections from Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury, Langston Hughes, Roald Dahl, etc. is an...
Hi, I’m KRISTIN!
I primarily focus on integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!