Dear Teachers,Many of us are continuing to adapt to the new world of distance learning, but none of us are adapting the same way. Circumstances outside of our control continue to dictate our lives. Although we are certainly in this together, no two experiences are the same. So, no, we are not alone, but in many ways, we are.About a year ago, I was playing a card game (I think it was Who's Most Likely To...) with some friends. The premise was that you read a card with a description of someone and ... VIEW POST

Hi, friends. As we navigate the (new to many of us) online and virtual learning world, I wanted to share some ideas and resources that I have compiled for you.1) If you haven't had a chance to peruse my Google Free Drive, you can click here and see a variety of resources. If you're in a time pinch, check out the folder called Print-Ready Resources.2) A group of English teachers from IG created a spreadsheet of ideas, resources, activities, and our favorite eLearning platforms. Check that ... VIEW POST

Having taught freshmen now for seven years, and with persuasive appeals being part of the curriculum, I have found a variety of ways to have them work with ethos, logos, and pathos. In this post, you'll find some of my favorite ways to teach and review these concepts. Some require more materials and time than others, but I hope that you'll find at least one way that fits your classroom's needs. :)Nailed It! Right before winter break, I went to Walmart to buy graham crackers, icing, candies, and ... VIEW POST

Hi, friends! I am often asked on Instagram how I build my high school classroom library and how I am able to teach new/relevant books. In this post, you'll find some options for how to actually get your hands on the books, but I also wanted to take a moment to talk about book adoption processes and encourage you to get involved with your curriculum.Every year, my English coordinator sends out a Book Adoption Committee request. Teachers can volunteer to become part of the process and suggest ... VIEW POST

For the last 5 years, I have definitely bought into the Pinterest and Instagram classroom decorating trends. I bought the Pacon bulletin board paper/wallpaper, I hawked out the Target dollar spot, I moved to flexible seating, and more. My intent with this blog post is not to be all "I hAvE a PiNtErEsT cLaSsRoOm" but rather reflect on my choices over the years and hope that I can share some tips and lessons learned along the way. :)If you want to read my review of flexible seating and how you can ... VIEW POST

Throughout this school year, my colleague Jake Zebley and I led the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) club at the high school we both work at, and week by week, we had more kids expressing interest in joining.What we thought would be a once-a-marking-period meet-up turned into an every Wednesday lunch session, and now, we have an incredible amount of students showing up, and not just showing up, but wanting to make a change in their school community.In late March, Jake noted that the National Day of ... VIEW POST