5 Fun Activities for the O Henry Gift of the Magi Short Story
If you have never read, the O Henry Gift of the Magi short story, you and your students are in for a treat! This classic short story is traditionally taught in both middle and high school, and there are several reasons for that. The writing is simply that good!...
5 Practical Reasons for Reading Aloud in High School
By the time we got to high school, it was assumed we would have to read a lot. In science, history, and especially English, we were assigned so many chapters and books to read both inside and outside of class. So it was refreshing when a teacher began a class or...
10 Legit Literature Themes You Should Teach
10 Legit Literature Themes & Topics You Should Teach- While teaching reading comprehension is one of the most important things we do as English Teachers, I don't think most of us got into this profession to accomplish only this goal. We want more for our students....
25 Reliable Reading Comprehension Strategies for any ELA Classroom
Reading comprehension strategies are all the rage right now, and I get why. Overall, students are simply not progressing like they should be considering we spend an average of $15,000/per student each year on schooling (U.S. Census Bureau). Unfortunately, that money...
9 Noteworthy Nonfiction Narrative Passages
I have been learning a lot about teaching reading lately, particularly from Natalie Wexler's The Knowledge Gap. As I finish this fantastic read, I am continually thinking about ways to include real and relevant texts like historical sources, nonfiction narrative...
5 Adaptable Differentiation in the Classroom Strategies
The phrase Differentiation in the Classroom is a popular buzzword, but most teachers I know struggle with how to implement this concept in real-world educational situations. There are many professional development courses that tout strategies to assist with...
21 Captivating Short Stories Read in High School
When I think of my own high school English experiences, I remember reading loads of literature and writing a ton! While novels and plays consumed about half of what I was required to read, short stories read inside and outside of class were always a breath of fresh...
6+ Creative Ways to Further Explore Characterization
There’s that old saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Certainly, there are moments as teachers when we realize that we’ve been teaching the same thing for quite a while. And yes, we know it works! For me, this includes my lessons for teaching character traits...
10 Ways to Teach Primary Texts Easily and Effectively
As English teachers, we try to breathe life into the texts we teach to increase engagement and understanding as well as encourage a deeper connection (and deeper consideration). We do this often with the literature we teach, but do we do the same with primary texts?...
19 Worthwhile End of Year Reflection Questions for ANY Classroom
19 Worthwhile End of Year Reflection Questions for ANY Classroom-The last days and weeks of school are usually very chaotic, exhausting, and nerve-wracking, especially for teachers. Students are itching to do ANYTHING except work, and I get it. Who wants to work when...
Hi, I’m KRISTIN!
I primarily focus on integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!