Interview with a Character (ELA Activity)
There are so many more interesting methods to writing a character analysis than writing an analysis paragraph. Oftentimes, English or language arts teachers forget that there is creativity in language and we should embrace it while also staying on track to grade based on our standards or curriculum...
10 YA Reads for Summer
I just finished my tenth year teaching high school English and let me tell you, teens like to read… well, most of them. Some of you might be doubting me, but hang on!
ELA Skills Depend on the Development of Cognitive Processes
The goals of ELA instruction in middle and high school range from developing basic reading comprehension and writing skills to reading and writing critically and analytically. National standards for middle and high school ELA include objectives targeting lower-level skills like explicit text...
Students Who Love This Streaming Show Will Love These Books!
Students' favorite streaming services, movies, and video games are all packed with compelling storytelling. To get them more excited about reading, I like to recommend books similar to my students' favorite shows. I have a bulletin board in my school's English hallway with "If you liked ____ try...
5 Books I've Slept On
We've all been there– you hear endless praise for a book and buy it, fully intending to learn what all the hype is about. But then it sits on your TBR shelf for months collecting dust.
Women's History Month Webinar: Celebrating Women Storytellers
Join us for a conversation in partnership with Simon & Schuster with women YA and children's authors about the experience of being a woman in the publishing space, how identity informs writing, and writing to young audiences.About our panelists:Alicia D. Williams is the author of Genesis Begins...
Active Reading Notes & Purpose Statement
Whether teaching literature or rhetoric, close reading is an essential and often difficult skill to teach. This note-taking system, which is a modification of the Cornell note system, helps students slow down and examine a text closely through a structured approach that requires them to summarize...
Interactive Plot Map
Carmel McDonald walks you through how she walks her middle school ELA students through narrative structure with an interactive plot map. Download her worksheet below!
10 February Books You'll LOVE!
If you're looking for your next date with a book, here’s a list of 10 young adult love stories that showcase the many different bodies, shades, and faces of love.
