Assessment plays a vital role in guiding instruction throughout the school year, but it doesn’t have to mean endless tests and quizzes. From quick check-ins to hands-on activities and digital tools, there are many ways to assess student understanding while… [...]

Teaching literary analysis essays used to feel frustrating for both me and my students. No matter how many times we practiced with Claim + Evidence + Reasoning, or talked about theme, conflict, central idea, or author’s craft while reading, the… [...]

“Bueller? Bueller?”Tired of the awkward silence that follows a detailed reading of your syllabus? You’re not alone. If you want students to remember and engage with your syllabus, it’s time... The post 9 Fun Ways to Cover Your Syllabus without… [...]

Escape rooms and breakout activities are highly effective for middle school ELA because they gamify key literacy skills like close reading, inference, and vocabulary, but in a format that feels like play. Building one requires a clear learning objective, a… [...]