When fall rolls around, middle school teachers are always on the lookout for engaging, standards-based activities that fit the season. One timeless classic that’s perfect for October is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. This spooky short story captures students’ attention with its mystery and suspense, while also
In every great story, their are characters that grow, change, and evolve. These characters are called dynamic characters. dynamic characters are the ones who undergo a meaningful, irreversible transformation, often because of challenges they’ve faced or lessons they’ve learned. For many students, understanding this shift is a critical part of
Every year, there’s at least one book that brings my students together in unexpected ways—and for me, that book is Restart by Gordon Korman. The premise is simple but powerful: a boy falls off a roof and wakes up with amnesia, only to discover that before his accident, he wasn’t
How to Make a Meet the Teacher Video Video Can Help Build Relationships A Meet the Teacher or Welcome Video is the # 1 way to start building a relationship of “know”, “like”, and “trust” with your students online or in a blended learning classroom. Your welcome video does not
How to use YouTube to Make Student Transition Back to School Easier Many students across the country are returning to school after being at home for a long period of time. Although, students, parents, and teachers are looking forward to getting back to some sense of normalic at school. Change
Screencasting for Oral Reading Fluency Growth Teachers, have you ever asked for volunteers to read in class and experienced a painful silence…finally one student sighs and says… “I will do it”…like they are the martyr saving their fellow classmates from a fate worse than death? Been there! The truth is
Parent-teacher conferences are always hectic, but this year even more so, since most districts have conferences online through Zoom or Google Meet. 💻I have been teaching hybrid since August and although I teach live online Monday through Friday with my students, I was still a little nervous about parent/ teacher
If you have been wondering what the phrases “asynchronous” and “synchronous” learning mean when it comes to online teaching and learning then you are NOT alone! Say WHAT?! The first time I heard of “asynchronous” & “synchronous” learning I was talking to a techie teacher friend who rattled them off
Distance Learning: 7 ways to help students work from home. Nationwide schools have closed to help flatten the curve of the Corona virus and keep citizens healthy. This sudden shift from students going to school to students working from home on schoolwork has left parents and teachers scrambling to create
Teaching A Christmas Carol In Middle School Should you teach Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in your middle school ELA class? A Christmas Carol is a classic story that every student should read. Although the story is set in Victorian England on Christmas Eve, it is not JUST a story
Parent-Teacher conferences can be VERY STRESSFUL for teachers, it is hard to know what to prep for meetings with parents, how to convey student progress, and how to make a good impression that leaves parents confident that their child’s education is in good hands with you. Below are 5 ways
Halloween can be a super fun holiday to celebrate with your ELA students, but it can also be a very busy time in the quarter for teachers. If you start school in late August or early September as I do, Halloween likely falls on the end of the quarter for