Paired units are not something new to teachers who have taught themed units all or most of their teaching career. We called them by the names current educational standards have need of, and we cater them to the level needed to be taught with upping the rigor, but they are still the same classic (orContinue reading “How many novels can be taught with the start of posting “Starry Night” by Van Gogh? Tons!”
Category Archives: prior knowledge
Top 10 Snowy Day Poetry Reads
When the snow hits, whether teaching in the South with few and far between “snow days” or up North with its ever-ready snow days on command, having a few snow day reads ready to teach are great for teaching in the moment as well as making it real-life situations and experience for the students. “StoppingContinue reading “Top 10 Snowy Day Poetry Reads”
HARRY POTTER Quotes for introducing a new Elementary text-Literary Quotes Friday
“It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” -Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Tuck Everlasting, The Giver, The Little Princess, Bridge to Terabithia) (Live life to the fullest, Carpe Diem-Seize the day-YOLO to this generation, be thankful for what you have) “I am not worried, Harry,” said Dumbledore, hisContinue reading “HARRY POTTER Quotes for introducing a new Elementary text-Literary Quotes Friday”
Google Form Prior Knowledge Survey Intros for texts -enrichment
Using Google Forms (or paper or anything you prefer) to introduce a text can be fun and informing. Try incorporating questions you’d like to know about your students as well as geared towards the text you are about to read. Here are some samples of one before reading “Lord of the Flies”. Remember to tell students onlyContinue reading “Google Form Prior Knowledge Survey Intros for texts -enrichment”
Making Connections in a ELA Classroom
What is making connections? Connecting details to details, characters to details, emotions to actions, events to emotions, characters to events, and on and on and on. They all connect and connect to that like Legos to create a final product or Jenga before it is taken apart or a puzzle and how it fits togetherContinue reading “Making Connections in a ELA Classroom”
Bell to Bell-Classroom Management in an ELA classroom
Teaching middle school students with hormones raging and preoccupied minds on today’s social media, a teacher HAS to keep them motivated and at attention. Teaching bell to bell is one of your best tools with no added skill to be involved other than planning well. You ask, How do I do that? How do YOUContinue reading “Bell to Bell-Classroom Management in an ELA classroom”
Teaching all students to a high level. Teach to the high.
This is a phrase that doesn’t get enough press and often is not taught as a training topic like it should be. When we are in elementary settings we teach whole group and then teach on level to each small group. When students move to a middle school level, depending on the school system forContinue reading “Teaching all students to a high level. Teach to the high.”
When teaching a text use a quote to introduce a lesson. There is power in quotes.
“It’s not the way it used to be… people ain’t the way they used to be.”― Shirley Jackson, The Lottery This quote can take a lead into several themes in with a paired text. Whether you take this into a Dystopian theme or a change is good or population control, use a quote to make aContinue reading “When teaching a text use a quote to introduce a lesson. There is power in quotes.”
ELA On The Move 