If you haven't started using picture books in middle and high school, you AND your students are seriously missing out. By the end of the first month of school, I have used at least 20 different picture books with my classes. One lesson I do with picture books is a theme lesson. Picture books … [Read more...] about Best Back to School Picture Book in Middle School
Blog
Writing Framework for a middle school ELA Classroom
What does writing look like in my classroom? I get it! We hear the words essay, we cringe. Students do the same thing as well. It seems to garner the same reaction as when someone says they have to go the dentist (sorry dentist peeps!) Why? What has happened in education to make students … [Read more...] about Writing Framework for a middle school ELA Classroom
15 Best PD Books for Teachers of Literacy
Hi I’m Samantha and I belong to PD Books Anonymous. It is very easy to admit because I am obsessed with staying on top of my craft. Every year I read between 4-5 professional development books including re- reading portions of what I would consider classics when I am developing lessons or working … [Read more...] about 15 Best PD Books for Teachers of Literacy
Ways to Encourage Students to Read
How can I motivate and interest my students to read is a question many teachers ask. Something happens between upper elementary and middle school. Those eager readers ready to soak in read- aloud time from parents and teachers and ordering from the Scholastic book catalog disappear into a pile of “I … [Read more...] about Ways to Encourage Students to Read
Monitoring Struggling Readers with Data
It is that time that I put on my reading teacher hat for a moment to check for the progress of my students’ reading abilities. I spent the first 9 years of my career teaching intensive reading to middle and high school students reading three or more grade levels behind as well as a literacy coach … [Read more...] about Monitoring Struggling Readers with Data
Travel Hacking for Teachers
travel hacking for teachers The past few years, there has been a lot of talk regarding self care especially in the teacher world and rightfully so. Working in a large school district, I see the teacher mass exodus increasing over time. Awesome teachers that give up from the burn- out or new … [Read more...] about Travel Hacking for Teachers
