by Kristin | Jun 18, 2024 | Reading Comprehension, Short Stories, Teaching the Standards
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...
by Kristin | May 21, 2024 | Reading Comprehension, Rhetorical Analysis, Teaching the Standards
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?...
by Kristin | May 7, 2024 | Reading Comprehension, Teaching the Standards, Test Prep
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...
by Kristin | May 1, 2024 | End of Year, Poetry, Teaching the Standards
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...
by Kristin | Apr 9, 2024 | Reading Comprehension, Short Stories, Teaching the Standards
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....
by Kristin | Apr 2, 2024 | Reading Comprehension, Short Stories, Teaching the Standards
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...
