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How to Host Successful Classroom Discussions

There are many methods, procedures, suggestions, tools, and ideas on how to best host a classroom discussion for literary analysis. Over the years, I've tried most of them, if not all of them. Some worked for certain groups of students and some didn't. What I've learned through experimentation is that you really need quite a few tools in your toolbox, but also it is important to note that having the classroom discussion of your dreams takes time, practice, a clear understanding of the material, and a safe classroom culture. In this blog … [Read more...]

Filed Under: close reading, discussions, Reading Strategies 2 Comments

Everything You Need to Know about Article of the Week

Everything You Need to Know About Article of the Week

I started using an article of the week program several years ago, and I've always seen amazing results. I love how flexible the system is and how much the students gain from reading and responding to a weekly article. My system -- which I put my personal spin on -- is planned and structured unlike others I've seen, but I like knowing that this method provides my students with the best possible experience. In this blog post, I'm hoping to share everything you need to know about using an article of the week in your classroom.What is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Article of the Week, close reading, Everything You Need to Know About..., Reading Strategies, secondary ELA, secondary English Teachers, secondary lessons, teacher ideas, teachers pay teachers, teaching ideas, teaching strategies, teaching tips 12 Comments

How To Select and Use Paired Texts for Teaching Reading

How to Select and Use Paired Text for Teaching Reading

In my previous post on the Benefits of Using Paired Texts to Teach Reading, I discuss the advantages of this brain-based teaching method. It's no secret that offering ways for students to making connections -- text to text, text to self, and text to world -- is an opportunity to exercise higher order thinking skills. Teaching shouldn't happen in a vacuum, even though sometimes it does as we stress to move units along the conveyor belt, more acceptably known as pacing guides. Often and unfortunately, we teach one skill and move quickly onto … [Read more...]

Filed Under: close reading, Creative English Lessons for Teens, Middle and High School English Lessons, Reading Strategies, secondary English Teachers Leave a Comment

Benefits of Paired Texts for Teaching Reading

Paired passages or paired texts are texts that are connected in some way. When the Common Core State Standards rolled out years ago, the concept of teaching with paired texts surfaced. At first, English teachers were worried that the demand for more nonfiction and the requirements of CCSS, R.9 would limit the amount of fiction they could teach. Over time, it became evident that pairing texts and teaching students how to “analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: close reading, Reading Strategies 1 Comment

Tips for Distance Learning Book Club Meetings

Hosting a book club meeting with my high school English students is generally the highlight of my week. There is the possibility, however, that for some reason -- sickness, school cancellations, breaks, etc. -- that your regular in-class book club meeting might not take place within the four walls of your classroom. (If you want to read more about what my traditional books clubs are, check out this post first.) That doesn't mean, though, that you and your students have to miss your book activities and discussions. Here are five tips, ideas, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Clubs for Secondary Classrooms, books, Reading Strategies, secondary ELA, secondary English Teachers 2 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Book Clubs for Secondary Classrooms, books, Lesson Ideas, literature ideas, Reading Strategies, secondary ELA, secondary english classroom organization, secondary English Teachers, secondary lessons, teacher ideas, teachers pay teachers, teaching ideas, teaching strategies, teaching tips 4 Comments

Setting Up a Classroom Book Club Meeting

You may have read my "Why I don't do literature circles and what I do instead" post, and now you want to try my classroom book clubs method. But you have some questions: What does it look like inside a "book club" meeting?  What types of activities do you do? What questions do you ask students? What do you discuss and how? How do you keep it all organized? In this blog post, I hope to shed a little more light on the anatomy of my book club meetings. If you haven't already read my first blog post about the concept or structure in general, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Clubs for Secondary Classrooms, book review, books, classroom routines, classroom teaching strategy, close reading, collaboration, discussions, fiction, Reading Strategies, real world connection, secondary English Teachers, secondary lessons, teaching ideas, teaching strategies, teaching tips 2 Comments

End-of-Year Reflection: Top Five Classroom Success Stories of 2018

It seems to me that 2018 has been quite the long year... but then again it does feel like I was just rounding the corner of 2018 not too long ago, and here we are already at 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), and choosing only five moments is always so hard, but here goes: My top five classroom success stories of 2018! This year in review... 1) Read-o-Lution: Reading is the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACT prep, Book Clubs for Secondary Classrooms, books, Christmas, Christmas lessons, classroom decor, classroom parties, classroom success stories, classroom teaching strategy, close reading, holiday lessons for high school, informational text articles, Lesson Ideas, Reading Strategies, real world connection, secondary classrooms, secondary ELA, secondary English Teachers, teacher ideas, teaching strategies, teaching tips Leave a Comment

A Movie Review of HBO’s Fahrenheit 451 from a High School English Teacher

Finally... the moment my students and I have been wishing and waiting for - an updated movie remake of one of our favorite novels: Fahrenheit 451.  We always have a little fun playing the role of director, choosing which of our favorite actors and actresses should play Montag, Beatty, Mildred, Clarisse, and all the other memorable characters.  However, we do always wonder... would Bradbury actually approve of any screen adaptation of his magnum opus?  I had so many questions before watching HBO's hot, new adaptation: Who would play Montag?  … [Read more...]

Filed Under: book review, books, books turned movies, Catching Fire, fahrenheit 451 party, memes, movie, movie guides, movie lesson plans, novel, novels, Reading Strategies, real world connection, secondary classrooms, secondary ELA, secondary English Teachers, secondary lessons, teachers pay teachers, teaching ideas, teaching strategies, teaching tips, The Hunger Games Leave a Comment

Book Clubs for Secondary Classrooms

An English teacher’s life is packed, and for the most part on top of that, we are doing more than just teaching English. For me, I’m the yearbook adviser, the graduation coordinator, senior class sponsor, member of the leadership committee, etc.  I’m sure your situation is similar. So, when I can cut down on what I might be doing in my English class that causes me more work (and doesn’t really benefit the students more than another choice I could make) I look at revising it.  Therefore, one year the cut came to literature circles. In fact, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: back to school, Book Clubs for Secondary Classrooms, Reading Strategies, Uncategorized 7 Comments

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Julie's Classroom Stories

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How To Teach Arthur Miller's The Crucible - Faulkner's Fast Five

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In this blog post, I’ll be sharing how I set the stage to engage my students and how to teach Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
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4 weeks ago

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Add a few goodies to your cart during the Bonus sale on TPT! Here are a few of my favorites for this time of year. Shop this link www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Julie-Faulkner ... See MoreSee Less

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1 month ago

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Well, with as hot as it has been in the south this week, I don’t think I can disagree. #tgif #fridayfunny ... See MoreSee Less

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2 months ago

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If you have a bag with these magic powers, let me know! #TGIF #FridayFunny ... See MoreSee Less

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When I’m teaching writing, I like to sprinkle in When I’m teaching writing, I like to sprinkle in writing workshops to focus on specific skills. These mini pages include definitions and examples of each trait. Dm for the link. #teachingenglish #teachingwriting #teacherreels #teachwriting
I love to use an interactive plot puzzle when we r I love to use an interactive plot puzzle when we read novels, short stories, or even nonfiction to review the plot. All my unit guides come with a plot puzzle that you can cut and turn into a human sorting activity, use in groups, or even sort out in digital form for Google. Dm me for the link to see if your favorite story is available. #teacher #EnglishTeacher #Middleschoolteacher #highschoolenglishteacher #ReadingTeacher
If you don't have these Halloween Grammar Workshee If you don't have these Halloween Grammar Worksheets, you need them. Grammar has never been this creepy..... and cool! 🎃⁠
Link in bio. ⁠
#halloween #grammar #teacherreels #englishteacher⁠
You don't have to tell me twice for hat day! Any e You don't have to tell me twice for hat day! Any excuse is a good excuse to wear a hat to school... getting ready goes soooo much faster. This time it was hat day for college application week! #rockytop #govols #college⁠
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Jumpsuit - #spanx #spanxjumpsuit #spanxairessentials @spanx
Jacket - #kohls @kohls
It's just mid-way through September, and I'm alrea It's just mid-way through September, and I'm already headed for that October slump... Deadlines are piling up (one which I let slip by me today😬), grading is stacking up, the holidays are around the corner, and I'm tired! Anybody else?
PS - In case you were wondering, I really do have a duck! Swipe to meet him. Yes, his feathers get stuck in his nose. If that isn’t the perfect symbol for this entire post, I don’t even know. 😂🐤#teacherlife #ducksofinstagram
… essays!!! I see you out there! #feltthat Gradi … essays!!! I see you out there! #feltthat Grading all those essays is still a gigantic task, but I’ve got some tips on my blog that can help! DM me for the link. Or search “essays” at juliefaulknersblog@gmail.com. #teacher #englishteacher #teachingenglish #teacherreels #faulknersfastfiveblog
I've been fortunate enough to have traveled to qui I've been fortunate enough to have traveled to quite a few places around the country and world - even as recently as Yosemite National Park this summer. But this view right here -- the one at home -- is still the best. #mytennesseemountainhome #tennesseeishometome 🧡🤍🧡🤍⁠
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Pants - #oldnavy⁠
Top - #targetfinds⁠
Shoes - #chaco⁠
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#teacheroutfit #wearitwednesday #teacherstyle #teacherootd #whattheteacherwore #outfitoftheday #fashion #ootd #whatsheworewednesday
Do you read banned books, too? 😉🔥⁠ ...⁠ Do you read banned books, too? 😉🔥⁠
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Fahrenheit 451, Bookmarks FREE, Link in bio. ⁠
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#bannedbooks #451 #fahrenheit451 #teachingenglish #reading #readingteacher⁠
Want to try stations in your class but have 25, 30 Want to try stations in your class but have 25, 30, or more students? You can still do it! Here’s how. #teachingideas #teachereels #teachingtips
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