From the history to the hysteria, the fears to the fury, and the lies to the love story, it is understandable why The Crucible is still a staple in many high school English classrooms. There are so many layers crafted in the lines of Arthur Miller's magnum opus, but that can be a blessing and a "curse." Such a rich plot line can be a literature teacher's dream come true; however, it can also raise two concerns: 1) how much is too much to cover and 2) what if I miss something important? We don't want to "burn" the students with boring … [Read more...]
End-of-Year Reflection: Top Five Classroom Success Stories of 2019
One of the most important things we can do as teachers is reflect, and so that’s why I love this annual blog post. It’s been my new year tradition for the past several years (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), and choosing only five memorable teaching moments is always so hard, but here goes: My top five classroom success stories of 2019! This year in review… Teaching Gatsby for the first time in forever and writing the unit plan for it. A little bit Disney Frozen on the brain here, but it works. In the past, I had taught The Great Gatsby mainly in … [Read more...]
What Not to Miss When Teaching Fahrenheit 451
There is so much to teach and learn when reading Ray Bradbury's magnum opus: Fahrenheit 451. I'm compiling this list of not-to-miss points when teaching Fahrenheit 451 after having taught it for years and years, but also with the disclaimer that every time I teach it, I see something new. However, these five aspects of the book surface each time through as the topics that spark the most learning and enjoyment. 1. The Language & Allusions: I suppose this wouldn't be a proper English-teacher approved blog post, if I didn't include the … [Read more...]
Lord of the Flies Island Challenges for Each Chapter
Each time I teach a novel, I try something different. I love teaching Lord of the Flies, and this past year I decided to give island challenges a try. Let me tell you... best decision I made for teaching this novel! I taught the novel out of class and hosted book clubs each Friday. (See more about my book clubs here.) Fridays, then, were when we did our challenges, discussions, and quizzes. I'm so excited to be sharing these Lord of the Flies island challenges for each chapter with you. I worked really hard to select and … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Keep Students Tuned-In at the End-of-the-Year
It's getting to be that time of year when things get a little crazy - a little sideways. Students - and teachers - are starting to tune out! So hopefully, these ideas will make these end-of-year days less stressful, and more fun. Plus, these 5 ways to keep students tuned-in at the end-of-the-year are all student-centered and standards-based, so the kiddos stay engaged, and your job is easy. Join me for a fun recap of 5 ways to keep students tuned-in this time of year. Perfect for any secondary education classroom.1) Make It … [Read more...]
Benefits of Using Task Cards in Middle and High School
Using task cards in middle and high school can be hugely successful. Interestingly, I was using "task cards" in my high school English class before I knew they were called that - and way before they looked so cute! If I needed to guide a particular group on a topic or break up the assignment, I would often just grab some colored index cards and a sharpie and begin assigning the tasks, differentiating, or reviewing! Now with the wonderful world of technology :) and access to tons of programs, task cards can come in any form or fashion. Here … [Read more...]
