An English teacher who is passionate about PBL and diverse world literature.
March is affectionately (or facetiously) known as test prep month around here. That’s because we start taking all the state mandated tests in April. Let’s be real—test prep season is exhausting. Your students are already stressed, distracted, and over it before they even sit down for the SAT, ACT, state tests, or final exams. And … Continue reading Engaging ELA Test Prep That Actually Works (Without the Eye Rolls!)
Are you looking for a way to captivate your high school English students while diving deep into the complexities of American literature? Dark Romanticism offers a thrilling opportunity to engage students in a thematic exploration of fear, anxiety, and perception. By centering the inquiry question “How do our fears and anxieties influence the way we perceive … Continue reading Exploring the Shadows: Teaching Dark Romanticism Through Thematic Inquiry
High school English teachers face a vocabulary crisis affecting text comprehension. Strategies like close readings, Greek and Latin roots, and Science of Reading help bridge the gap. Incorporating these into daily practices ensures students receive consistent exposure to conquer vocabulary struggles. Continue reading Using Close Reads to Improve Vocabulary Skills in Middle and High School
Whether you have weeks or days until it’s back to school season for you, I am sure that you are already considering ways to make the first weeks of class the best yet. Even in high school, we know that the first 10 days of school are crucial to setting up expectations, making connections, and setting the tone for our classroom. These are my top tips for setting my year up for success! Continue reading Engaging Back to School Activities for High School English: Build Relationships, Spark Reading, and Foster SEL
Lets talk about connecting our students with the real world audiences that we are asking them to create for. How often do we English teachers tell them to “imagine” they are writing this speech for or that they are writing in an editorial for this publication…..but all they are doing is creating for us? How … Continue reading Connecting Students with Real World Audiences
As the end of the school year approaches, I know how hard it can be to keep students engaged and motivated, while also ensuring that you meet all the necessary requirements. To make the end of the year easier, I wanted to share a few tips/ideas that may help you make the most of the last … Continue reading Engaging End of School Year Activities for High School Students
It is spring! And you know what that means…. The sun is out in all her glory. The flowers are bursting and….testing season is here. Yes, state testing is coming for many of us no matter how we may feel about it. So I thought this blog post would be the perfect way to share … Continue reading High School ELA Test Prep, but Make It Fun?
I am so excited to share this ultimate guide of podcasts to use in your high school English classrooms! It has over a dozen different podcasts that other English teachers and I love using in our classrooms as well as details on which episodes to use, texts you can pair them with, and resources to … Continue reading Your Ultimate Guide for Podcasts to Use in High School English
High school English teachers face a vocabulary crisis affecting text comprehension. Strategies like close readings, Greek and Latin roots, and Science of Reading help bridge the gap. Incorporating these into daily practices ensures students receive consistent exposure to conquer vocabulary struggles. Continue reading 3 High School Teachers Tips on Building Vocabulary in Secondary Education
Secondary English teachers can successfully implement project-based learning experiences by focusing on clear learning objectives and fostering collaboration among students. Setting clear objectives provides a roadmap for the project, while collaboration enhances teamwork and real-world connections. Utilizing 2-point rubrics and real-world audiences can further enrich the learning experience, making PBL more accessible and impactful. Continue reading Getting Started With PBL in High School
Around the World With Mrs. C 