Would you like a list of all of the lessons that your students will need this year during writing? This free guide is packed with specific lesson ideas for narrative, opinion and informational writing.
Writing workshop is my jam! Teaching writing shouldn’t feel like a chore. In these articles, you will find helpful strategies for mini lessons, writing conferences, editing, grading, and so much more.
Are your students getting tired of preparing for their tests? I know my son sure is. There comes a point in time where students (and teachers. AND parents) are just over talking about and prepping for testing. We have done review after review, quick drills, practice...
I remember when the social studies and science teachers in my middle school were first told we had to start teaching reading skills. Our reaction was, “Who is helping us teach our standards?” At the time, the science of reading was not a common topic, and most middle...
Last week on the blog we looked at how stress affects the brain. Today we are going to discuss how stress can affect test scores. Before we begin, a quick review on how stress changes the brain. When you get scared, shocked, or stressed you go into your “alligator...
Review is good for students – but only if they are engaged and actively participate. Enter test prep games.
If you had taught my kids in middle school, you might not have even realized they both struggled with reading.
Let’s talk about a few ways we can teach students how not to stress over tests.
Have you heard of hexagonal thinking? Hexagonal thinking is an activity that allows individuals and teams to think about what they have learned and to make connections between ideas.
Teachers should stop reviewing for the test and use strategies to ensure students master skills and concepts.
I have “Best Practices” based on the experiences of students and children. Here are strategies for using novels effectively in your classroom
While I like a party day, I always found it difficult to “give up a day” in the name of fun. Instead, I used Valentine’s Day to my advantage.
Did you know explicit Greek and Latin morphological instruction is the most effective way to improve students’ English vocabulary?
Teaching with paired texts or passages can be daunting at first, but it really isn’t as hard as it seems – it just takes time.
As teachers know, one of the first things many students ask is, “Why do I need to know this? When will I ever use it?” Integrated learning shows students why.
I see teachers beginning to set healthy boundaries as they redefine their values. I have some suggestions that may help you.
New Year’s is often seen as a new beginning or a fresh start. So how can you start fresh in your classroom?
Students always want to know why they need to learn something (especially if it is difficult.) and showing them math “in the wild” is the perfect way to teach them.
What can we do in our classroom that isn’t another animated film or “filler”? I found that boring activities led to behavior problems in the classroom.
Although teachers always look for new books to read with their students, many of us have a shortlist of favorites they pull out year after year. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is on the must-read list of many middle school teachers.
