POETRY! That one, 6-letter word can send shivers down the spine of an unsuspecting middle school student. I have learned that depending on previous experience, it ranks right up there with these ...
ELA Reader Favorites
I created this blog in 2013, originally as a resource to update parents on our classroom activities. Through the years it has grown into place to share ideas with other educators. This section contains the most read and shared posts from my teacher blog.
Back to School Favorites for ELA Teachers
2020 is my 20th back to school! While I began my teaching career in 1998 (with a few years off staying home with my littlest), every back to school season seems even more exciting than the one ...
5-Ways to Prepare for your Classroom Observation
Next week brings with it my first observation of this school year. Despite this being my 19th year, observations still make me a little nervous. Because this is only my second year teaching at my ...
How to Use Reader’s Notebooks in the Middle School Classroom
While I love the first days of the year, my favorite days are the ones that find us in a bit of a routine; when my middle school students are to the point where they are energized and enthusiastic, ...
Interactive Reading Log using Pictures
Reading logs are a tricky thing! I get it! Continuously charting pages and book titles, and gathering signatures is just not a method that encourages and instills a love of reading. I understand ...
50 Best Books for Middle School
It is summer break! An exciting time that allows for teachers and students alike to take a bit of a break, right? We have gotten into this great rhythm over the last 185 days of reading and writing. ...
