ELA review games: my secret weapon for the post break blues. I know the struggle—coming back from a break, students feeling the lingering holiday joy, and the challenge of reigniting their focus. That were ELA review games save teh day. These aren’t your ordinary games; they’re my answer to turning the struggle of refocusing into …

As we are just days maybe hours away from winter break, we might want to plan for January and I have the answer: new year reflection questions for students. I know that you are exhausted. And, you just want to give into the cookie coma and sleep in for days. But, January you is going …

‘Tis the season of twinkling lights, cozy sweaters, and the sweet sound of a classroom book club. Yep, you heard me right. In the midst of the tinsel and glitter, let’s have our students have a chance to chat about books.  Student book clubs might not be the first thing that comes to mind when …

Ready to spice up your novel unit activities and banish the mundane? Say goodbye to the days of yawn-worthy comprehension questions because we’re about to dive into novel unit activities that make your students excited! I get it; finding activities that truly captivate your students can be as tricky as navigating a plot twist. But …

Are you tired of your current theme tracker graphic organizer? Maybe you are frustrated by your students forgetting to think about their theme as they read a novel. Friend, I was in the same spot as you for so long! My students struggled to find a theme and they didn’t think about that theme until …

As Halloween draws near, our classrooms are buzzing with excitement, and what better way to channel that energy than by diving into the eerie world of suspense with a Halloween lesson plan? Imagine a classroom filled with anticipation, where every word spoken and every page turned sends shivers down your students’ spines. Welcome to our …

Hey Taylor Swift teacher, have you been thriving with the “In My Reading Era” trend? I mean who better than to get our students to read than the queen herself: Taylor Swift? If you want to promote more independent reading time in your classroom, it all starts with capturing your students’ attention. That’s why creating …

Looking for a refresh on your English 10 short story unit? Still, trying to figure out where to start? Maybe the thought of a short story unit rewrite seems too daunting. Friend, I am here for you! I want to make your life easy. In this post, I will give you my English 10 short …

Thinking that your independent reading ideas need a rewrite? At the start of the school, now is a great time to start thinking about independent reading. If you have tried to have your students read on their own in the past, you know that it can be hard! There is lots of grumbling and so …

Do you have the back to school scaries and your brain is overloaded wondering how to get organized as a teacher? I know the moment I switch over from summer mode into teacher mode, my brain feels like the exploding emoji 🤯I take out my planner and start adding item after item on my to …

In this Taylor Swift classroom, we listen to Taylor’s Version!  Calling all Teacher Swifties. Are you obsessed with Taylor Swift? Are you looking for a refreshing way to start the year? Friend, I have the perfect thing for you: Taylor Swift themed first day stations. Coming off a summer of Taylor Swift playing full blast, …

Do not panic just because you have nothing ready for your first day class activities! Friend, we have all been there. We struggle to decide if we should just keep enjoying summer or dive into back to school mode. At some point, you are going to have to create that teacher plan. If you want …

Are you an ELA teacher looking to create dynamic and engaging learning experiences but not sure how to plan lessons for the year? You are in the right place, friend! In this step-by-step guide, I am going to share my secrets for planning curriculum. From setting your teacher goals for next year to incorporating interactive …

You know what I love in those beginning days of June: my teacher summer checklist. Okay, I confess that my first love is that my time is my own. But my teacher summer to do list is a close second. There is something that is so exciting to me about the thought of the entire …

Are you a teacher about to go on leave and looking for a guide to maternity leave? First, congrats momma! While you might be feeling overwhelmed at the moment, the end goal will be so rewarding. With so many moving pieces, you may need help figuring out where to start. But fear not, because this …

Ever wondered how something as simple as a character autopsy template could transform your classroom? It’s the end of the semester friends and we can see our students dwindling. Their drive is faltering, and they just want to be done. If you aren’t counting down the days at this point, are you even a teacher? …

Searching for new ideas for a book project but not sure where to start? If you are like me, you love finding new engaging ideas for your students. However, finding projects specifically for a novel can be tough. I don’t want to give a test or assign a book report. I really love when students …

It’s March and you know that means it’s time to teach your students how to write an analysis on a poem. As National Poetry Month descends, your feeds are inundated with poetry activities, poems to teach, and of course poetry march madness brackets. You want to teach poetry but there are just too many ways …

Have you ever had your students participate in a Socratic seminar that just crashed and burned? You were hoping for a student-led discussion with deep analysis and unique insights into the novel. Instead, you had forced conversations, long awkward silences, and rapid-fire sharing so that students could earn their points. Friend, I have been there …

As English teachers, we know we should teach a novel but the question is “How to teach a novel unit?” There seems to be so much to consider when planning a novel unit. And it always seems like a daunting task. Sometimes it feels easier to just keep doing what we are doing. And keep …

If you are like me, you might be starting the second semester which means planning your first week of class activities. Having to start over can be a great thing but at the same time, you just don’t have that same excitement that the beginning of the year brings. So, what better way to get …