English Education Articles for Teachers - Page 3

Creative writing seems to be one of those things that always gets pushed into its own unit because there are a few students who love it as much as the teacher does, and the rest of the class has collective writer’s block—a phrase they picked up from too many bad Hallmark movies about tortured nov...

Project-based learning is the Holy Grail of teaching. Unfortunately for many teachers, our quests for the Holy Grail are more Monty Python and less Galahad. We want to have strong student-driven projects that use experiential learning to make interdisciplinary connections. Sadly, our reality does...

There are certain items that high schoolers need to know before they reach college. They need to analyze text in English class, be fluent in fractions in math class, and be able to conduct basic experiments in science class. But what if they can’t understand the academic language used to describe...

A common goal among English teachers is to pass on a love of reading, but what if that’s not enough? The Common Core promotes skills-based standards, and what if your kids aren’t even reading and comprehending the text on a surface level? Creating the college-ready readers that you hope for will ...

Often when parents think of helping their children academically, they think that means doing their homework with them (or for them.) I have an idea to share that does not involve homework in the traditional sense, but does start at home. The result, however, can be informational reading experienc...

As classrooms around the country begin the shift to the Common Core State Standards, kids of all ages are required to “…acquire the habits of reading independently and closely, which are essential to their future success.” Work toward college readiness in your classroom by introducing and practic...

Every year, March 2nd is celebrated in elementary schools across the nation as Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Students love their classroom celebration, as it incorporates books that they have enjoyed. However, many times this stops once students leave elementary school. Actually, middle schoolers like Dr...

Contrary to popular belief, English class is not the only one with vocabulary lists and necessary words and concepts students must understand. Every subject has its core language that is vital to mastering the content and there is often new terminology with each unit. Academic Language Brick an...

When teaching, I have found that breaks are very important. They give students time to relax and get their thoughts together, while also giving teachers time to regroup, organize their thoughts, and have a cup of coffee or plan for the next lesson. For me, breaks are a time to speak to my student...

February is Library Lovers Month. Now, I don’t know about your pupils, but it’s safe to say that my classrooms are never teeming with those itching to get to a library. In this technology-crazed generation, the resourcefulness and magic held within these public institutions are often forgotten. U...

Do you enjoy using group work, but fear that some learners are opting out of the work? Keep classmates accountable with purposeful, specific readings where each learner gets to feel like an expert, share their learnings with their home group, and complete an individual assessment. What Does a Ji...

The month of February is going to be a challenging time, and not for the usual reasons—the freezing cold, the lack of sunshine, or the absence of holiday breaks. Mostly, I'll be worried that my DVR is not collecting all of the Olympic events while I'm teaching, running student clubs, and manning ...

Last year, I checked out an iPad from my school library for the year. I changed the wallpaper, synced it with the Apple TV in my classroom, and then stared at it. What now? The librarian had given out a list of potential apps to download, so I loaded a few of those on the device. Over time, I sta...

Do you currently differentiate assignments in your middle or high school classroom? How do you ensure that you’re providing appropriate and challenging material to each of your kids? Consider dividing your class into learning groups to meet learners where they are and push them toward improvement...

As I walked through the streets of Izmir and Ankara, Turkey, the atmosphere was different than the atmosphere in America. The sidewalks were marble, and the streets were often cobblestone—not too easy to walk on when it rained or snowed. There were the smells of simit (a bagel-like bread covered ...