7 Steps to Build An Engaging Classroom Environment

How does your classroom support student engagement? While we’d all like to think that our lesson plans keep students interested throughout the entire class period, the truth is there are many factors that influence student engagement. I like to think of my classroom almost as …

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Tips for teachers who are changing grade levels

5 Ideas to Consider When Changing Grade Levels

2026 UPDATE: I originally published this post on changing grade levels a few years ago, but the tips and lessons are still applicable today. This post discusses my transition to teaching 7th grade ELA at a new school district. My first 7 years here have …

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February ELA Activities

February ELA Favorites for Middle School

The month of February brings several opportunities to integrate seasonal activities into your language arts lesson plans. Valentine’s Day is, of course, the most popular event, but February also features Black History Month, Groundhog Day, President’s Day, and one of my favorites, Random Acts of …

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character analysis activities for ELA test prep

Test Prep Favorite: Character Analysis Task Cards

Character analysis can be a difficult concept to teach and practice since there are so many layers to it. From a test prep perspective, students need to be able to identify and understand a character’s thoughts and feelings. The tricky part for some students is …

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last minute valentine ideas for teachers to give to students

Last Minute Valentine Classroom Ideas

I feel like it was Halloween was only a few weeks ago and now Valentine’s Day is already here. Where does the time go? Before long, we will be gearing up for the 4th quarter and the excitement of the summer. Mind blown! On Friday …

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